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14SmokeSignalsThisisthelargestover20000itemsondisplayitisdedicatedtothesingingcowboysandallotherb-westernsfromWilliamS.HarttoRexAllen.In1938GeneAutrypurchased1200acresoflandattherailroadstopofBerwynOK.Hebuiltalargestonestructureforhisstockandapartmentforhismen.ItwascalledTheFlyingARodeoRanch.Mr.Autryhadalandingstripforhispersonalairplane.HeflewbackandforthtohishomeinStudioCityCA.ThefirstChampionwaspurchasedandboardedhere.ThefirstpistolbitsforChampionweremadeinArdmoreOKafewmilesaway.TheFlyingaRodeoShowwouldboardtrainsinBerwynandgoeast.GeneAutrysfirstMadisonSquareGardenrodeolivestockwerefromthisranch.Mr.Autryownedandmanagedalltherodeostockandhiredhiscowboystoworktheshow.OfcoursethemusicwasprovidedbyMr.Autry.Thenameofthetownchanged.ThepeopleofBerwynOklahomapopulation800askedtheirfamousrancheriftheycouldusehisnamefortheirtown.Mr.Autryagreed.HeknewthetownwasnevergoingtobeabigcitybutthehonorofbeingonaUSAmapwasquiteanhonor.OnSundayNovember161941aflatbedtrailersetupwithradioremotebroadcastingabilityforGenetoperformhisMelodyRanchShowarrivedattherailroadstationinBerwynOklahoma.Itwasadvertisedhewouldbehere.TourtrainsfromseveralcitiesandstatesbroughtpeopletowatchGeneAutrygetonhisfamoushorseChampiontoropetheonlysignandpullitdownatthetraindepot.TheynailedupthenewsignwiththenameofthetownofGeneAutry.ThiswasfilmedbyRepublicStudios.Over30000peoplecametoseethemostfamoussingingcowboytoeverhitHollywood.HewasthetopmoneymakingstarofB-Westerns.HepassedoutsticksofWrigleygumhisradioandtelevisionsponsorfornineteenyears.InrecentdaysIhavepersonallyinterviewedpeoplewhowerethereaschildrenandtheyproudlydisplayedinaplasticbagthegumhegavethemthosemanyyearsago.December71941thisdatechangedAmericaforever.RepublicStudiosHollywoodCaliforniatoldtheirstarmakingthemostmoneythattheywouldgethimGeneAutryanexemptionfromservinginthemilitary.Letsomeoneelsebleed.ThatisnotwhatGenedidthough.HewentonhiscoasttocoastradioshowandhadaMajorswearhiminasPrivateGeneAutry.LikealotofHollywoodmoviestarshewouldnottakearank.Hedidaskfortwofavorsforhisfame.HepromisedhisfanstheywouldnotseehimwithoutcowboybootssotheArmyhadthegoodsensetograntthisfavoraslongasGenepaidforthem.Hewasalicensedpilotsohewantedtofly.TheArmyallowedthatthiswasnoproblem.HegothiswingstoflyattheLoveFieldAirbase.HewastransferredtoIndiatoflysuppliesovertheHimalayaMountainstoChinaTheaterofwar.Hewasdischargedin1946GenecompletedthreefilmsforRepublicStudioshonoringhiscontract.ThenhemovedtoColumbiaStudios.Allofthistookplacein1946.ThemakingofaghosttownGeneAutrysoldtheFlyingARodeoRanchattheendofthewar.HehadanewrodeopartnerinTexas.Hisnamewasnotonit.TheschoolinGeneAutryneverhadmorethan115studentsinalltwelvegrades.Theonlysporttheschoolplayedwasbasketball.OneyearastudentwrotetoMr.Autryandexplainedtohimthebadshapeoftheiruniforms.YesyouarerightMr.Autryboughttheteamuniforms.Hekeptincontactovertheyears.Bythelate1960stheschoolwhichwasbuiltin1938haditslastgraduationfromhighschool.ConsolidationTheLastoftheB-WesternMuseumsByEdHendersonCowboyEdHIGHNOON