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Gene Autry (the town) - This small
Oklahoma town is named after the popular cowboy singing star Gene
Autry. It was the previous site of the Flying A Company which
produced the western adventure THE GENE AUTRY SHOW/CBS/1950-56.
Originally called Berwyn, the town is located on the AT & SF
Railroad line in Carter County in the Ardmore metro area. The town features the stables once used to house Gene
Autry's horse, Champion. Those interested in visiting can write c/o
Chamber of Commerce, PO Box 158, Gene Autry, Oklahoma 73436.
Gene Autry was also involved in rodeo. He performed at major
events, and his Flying A Rodeo company produced a number of
prominent rodeos. Needing a place to keep rodeo livestock, Autry
bought 1,200 acres on the west side of Berwyn, Oklahoma, in 1938.
Cecil Crosby, an area resident and Deputy Sheriff of Carter County,
is credited with the idea of changing Berwyn's name to Gene Autry.
The citizens agreed, and on Sunday, November 16, 1941, the change
took place. Governor Leon Phillips, Gene Autry, and more than 35,000
other people came to Berywn to see the singing cowboy's "Melody
Ranch" radio broadcast and take part in the name change.
The Gene Autry Oklahoma Museum hosts a Western Film and Music
Festival each year in September. It features vintage Western films,
stars of the Western movies, cowboy poetry, music, vendors of
Western art & memorabilia, seminars & workshops, and a memorabilia
auction.
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