March 21, 2019: Sports & Americana Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/21/2019
Gene Autry rode tall in the saddle and personified American ideals and "The Cowboy Code" of honesty and clean living. From 1934-1953 Autry appeared in 93 films, he also became a TV mainstay in the 1950s with his ultra-popular Gene Autry Show. A pioneer in country music, Autry used his films as a vehicle to bring the genre to mainstream American audiences and helped catapult the country sound into the hearts and homes across the land. A lover of baseball, Autry was the original owner of the then Los Angeles Angels, maintaining control of the team until his death in 1998. "The Cowboy" as he was known, also served as Vice President of the American League from 1983 until his death. Chuck Connors was one of the most popular actors of the second half of the 20th century, Conners is best remembered as Lucas McCain in the legendary TV series The Rifleman. Ironically, Connors first turned down the part because it didn't pay as much as he was making as a freelance actor; however, after the shows producers saw Conners in the Disney film Old Yeller, and how their children responded to his on-screen persona, they inked Conners to a deal paying him handsomely. Before acting, though, Connors was a standout athlete at Seton Hall, where he played both basketball and baseball. A lifelong Dodger fan, Connors played one game for Brooklyn and later played with the Cubs. Just as in college, Connor played more than one sport, serving time with Boston Celtics just after WWII. Blessed with natural athleticism and a muscular 6-6 build, Connors was even drafted by George Halas and the Chicago Bears, despite having never played football in college.
Government Postcards Signed By TV Western Stars Gene Autry & Chuck Connors
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