About Gene Autry Entertainment
© Copyright 2025 Gene Autry Entertainment. All rights reserved.
The Official Website for Gene Autry
America's Favorite Singing Cowboy
Known as America's Favorite Singing Cowboy, Gene Autry's career spanned some 70 years in the entertainment industry. He became famous in radio, records, film, television, and live tour performances including rodeo. From the late 1920s through the early 1950s, Gene Autry recorded and wrote hundreds of songs; he was the most successful singing cowboy, appearing in 93 movies and starring in 91 episodes of his television series. Gene Autry was ranked among the most celebrated film stars, and for years was considered to be the most popular Western film actor. In his later years, Gene Autry owned television and radio stations across the country and was the original owner of the Angels Major League Baseball team in Anaheim, California.
Gene Autry Activities and Events
Updated November 3, 2025
- Autry Museum's Western Wonderland Holiday Extravaganza
Get into the holiday spirit with festive treats, live music, and a visit from Santa Claus! Activities include Santa's Christmas Village with kids crafts & games, bouncy houses, live music, and holiday treats for purchase. Shop for gifts a the Autry Museum Store - Members enjoy a 20% discount. Visit the Autry Museum's website for more info. Details Here. -
Autry Museum of the American West
The Autry Museum of the American West in Griffith Park, originally the Gene Autry Museum of Western Heritage, was co-founded by Jackie and Gene Autry and Joanne and Monte Hale. With the opening of the Museum in 1988, Gene Autry realized his dream "to build a museum which would exhibit and interpret the heritage of the West and show how it influenced America and the world." Discover the art, history, and cultures of the American West at the Autry Museum. Read More -
Autry Museum's Online Store – Gene Autry Items
Visit the Autry Museum Store's special Gene Autry section featuring LPs, DVDs, vintage Christmas Cards and more! Read More
Gene Autry YouTube Clip of the Week
Posted November 3, 2025
Posted November 3, 2025
Has your local radio station started playing all Christmas music all the time? Are you saying, "It's too early for Christmas music! Back in the day we never heard Christmas songs on the radio before Thanksgiving!" Well....not so fast. America's Favorite Singing Cowboy was debuting and performing Christmas music on his radio show before Thanksgiving and even before Halloween as far back as 1942.
Our YouTube Clip of the Week is a Christmas song that you might not associate with Gene Autry – “White Christmas.” Gene's performance of "White Christmas" on this broadcast is significant not only because it was the first time he sang this song, but also it was only the second time he sang a Christmas song on his radio show. Gene never recorded “White Christmas” for commercial release but it was significant enough to him that he performed it on his Melody Ranch radio show over a dozen times between 1942 and 1955.
Visit the Official Gene Autry YouTube Channel for more Gene Autry musical clips from his radio, movie, and television career. Be sure to subscribe so you'll receive updates whenever Gene Autry Entertainment uploads new videos! Read More
Of Course It Is Not Too Early for
Gene Autry Christmas Music!
Posted November 3, 2025
"Frosty the Snow Man" Record Sleeve (1950)
Gene Autry sings with Rudolph (1949)
"The Original: Gene Autry Sings Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (1957)
Folks today like to complain that Christmas music is played too early and it never used to be like that years ago. Well, Gene Autry Entertainment wants you to know that America's Favorite Singing Cowboy was performing Christmas music on his radio show before Thanksgiving and even before Halloween as far back as the 1940s! Yes, it is true. Gene would include a Christmas song on his radio shows among his Western tunes in October and November and audiences didn't complain. Here are a few examples:
- November 8, 1942 Sgt. Gene Autry introduces "White Christmas" by saying, "But our time is getting close to the end of our radio part of the entertainment and Christmas is not too far away...." This particular performance is significant because it is the second performance by Gene of a Christmas song on his radio program. The first Christmas song that he sang on his show was "Silent Night" on December 22, 1940 in the drama. The very first Christmas song on his Sgt. Gene Autry radio show was this one.
- October 8, 1949 Johnny Bond asks "Who's Rudolph?" and Gene explains saying "'Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer' is a song I recorded just a while back..." and then debuts the song that would go on to sell millions of records.
- October 7, 1950 Gene Autry debuts "Frosty the Snowman" on his Melody Ranch radio show and admits that he "might be rushing the season" but he wants to introduce his audience to "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer's friend."
- November 1, 1953 Gene says, "Well sir, here it is Sunday, November 1st, all of which reminds me of two things. One, there are only 46 more shopping days until Christmas, and two, a very close personal friend of mine just sent me a wire from the North Pole sayin' he'd be back bigger than ever again this year. Red nose and all. Who is it? Well..." The radio audience of course knew that he was talking about "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer."
Over the years, Gene did debut several Christmas songs on his radio show in the months of October and November. He may have done that to generate record sales and give a song time to become popular when December rolled around. Whatever the reason, his holiday hits remain popular today.
Check out our Gene Autry Official YouTube Channel for more Christmas songs from his radio show here.
Our Hearts Still Melt for “Frosty the Snow Man” on Its 75th Anniversary
Posted October 15, 2025
Posted October 15, 2025
To celebrate the 75th Anniversary of Gene Autry's "Frosty the Snow Man" Columbia Records recording, Gene Autry Entertainment commissioned his official biographer Holly George-Warren to write about its history.
When America’s Favorite Cowboy Gene Autry segued from Western hitmaker into holiday magic maker, character-driven songs became his forte – via such beloved subjects as Santa Claus in 1947, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer in 1949, and in 1950, Frosty the Snow Man.
Record Sleeve of “Frosty the Snow Man”
Record Label of “Frosty the Snow Man”
Record Label of “When Santa Claus Gets Your Letter”
That first year of a new decade was monumental for Gene. By 1950, his massive fanbase had expanded from his first generation of admirers who’d been watching his films and buying his records since the 1930s to a new crop of devotees: Following World War II, the children of his original audience fell in love with the singing cowboy’s movies and weekly CBS radio program. Then he captured even more fans with his brand-new TV show that debuted in 1950, a line of Gene Autry comic books, and, of course, his recordings. That spring, he’d scored another holiday hit with the Easter-themed song, “Peter Cottontail.” Soon after, the catchy number’s songwriters – Steve Nelson and Walter E. “Jack” Rollins – presented to Gene a new holiday classic: “Frosty the Snow Man.” Originally spelled “Snow Man” on its sheet music and the record’s picture sleeve – but today usually spelled Snowman – the song would be the fourth holiday smash forever associated with Gene Autry. Read the full article on our website.
Gene Autry Social Media
Updated November 3, 2025
Gene Autry connected with his fans during the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s via letters, phone calls, official Fan Club magazines, and of course personal appearances. Today fans can connect with Gene's music, movies, and more via official Social Media outlets like Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. Folks can also subscribe to streaming services like Spotify for Gene's music and Shout! TV for Gene's films and television series.
For information on how to sign up for and use Gene Autry's official social media and streaming sites. Read more on our website here.
Facebook
Follow our Gene Autry Official Facebook Page:
www.facebook.com/GeneAutryOfficial
Instagram
Follow our Gene Autry Official Instagram Profile:
www.instagram.com/geneautryofficial
Shout! TV
Stream Gene Autry's movies and television series on Shout! TV:
Movies:
https://watch.shout-tv.com/section/Gene%20Autry%20Film%20Collection
TV Series:
https://watch.shout-tv.com/series/1629
Wild West TV:
https://shoutfactorytvlive.com/wild-west-tv
Spotify
Follow Gene Autry's Profile on Spotify:
open.spotify.com/artist/5ixB75BQR3ADoWQkcHQJTs
Youtube
Subscribe to the Gene Autry YouTube Channel:
www.youtube.com/user/GeneAutryOfficial
Gene Autry's Cowboy Code
Posted November 3, 2025
Gene Autry's movies, radio dramas, television episodes, and comic books always had storylines with Gene doing the right thing or helping folks make the right choices in tough situations. In the late 1940s a formal code of ethics emerged and was known by his fans as "Gene Autry's Cowboy Code" or the "Cowboy Commandments."
Gene Autry's Cowboy Code with Republic Pictures Era Gene Autry photo
Gene Autry's Cowboy Code with Columbia Pictures Era Gene Autry photo
You can read about the history of Gene Autry's Cowboy Code from biographer Holly George-Warren, check out a YouTube clip of Gene reciting an early version of the Cowboy Code on his radio show, and buy merchandise relating to Gene Autry's Cowboy Code on our website here.
Jackie and Gene Autry Collection at the Autry Museum
Store
Updated October 15, 2025
Several items from Jackie Autry's jewelry collection are for sale in the Jackie and Gene Autry Collection. Each of these pieces meant a great deal to Mrs. Autry and were worn by her on very special occasions such as the Autry Museum Galas and special Western events she attended with Gene.
Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of Gene Autry’s
“Peter Cottontail”
Posted March 31, 2025
To celebrate the 75th Anniversary of Gene Autry's "Peter Cottontail" Columbia Records recording, Gene Autry Entertainment commissioned his official biographer Holly George-Warren to write about its history.
Spring and Easter signify rebirth and new beginnings, and for Gene Autry it was only natural that he’d record an Easter song. After all, he’d had massive success with holiday smashes “Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Way),” in 1947, and “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer” in 1949. Soon after, kicking off a new decade, Gene would create the most enduring secular Easter song of all time, “Peter Cottontail,” beloved by generations of children of all ages. The year 2025 marks the 75th anniversary of the perennial classic: Gene Autry’s recording of everyone’s favorite, “Peter Cottontail.”
Gene Autry Circa 1950
Record Sleeve for “Peter Cottontail” 1950
Who doesn’t love adorable Easter bunnies? Certainly, kids and parents alike. And by 1950, when Gene cut “Peter Cottontail,” his huge audience had expanded from his original fans who’d been watching his movies since the 1930s to a huge new generation of baby boomers – the children of his original audience – who loved America’s Favorite Singing Cowboy’s movies, his brand-new television show, his weekly CBS radio programs, his comic books – and, of course, his recordings. Read the full article on our website.
Gene Autry Social Media
Connect with Gene Autry's Offical Social Media by clicking on the icons below.
Licensing Gene Autry
Intellectual Properties