Rex Allen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rex Allen
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Allen and Koko, 1952
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| Born |
Rex Elvie Allen
December 31, 1920 Willcox, Arizona, U.S.
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| Died | December 17, 1999 (aged 78) Tucson, Arizona, U.S.
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| Other names | Rex E. Allen Rex Allen, Sr. "Cactus Rex" "The Arizona Cowboy" "The Voice of the West" |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1930s-1986 |
| Spouse(s) |
Doris Winsor
(m. 1940, divorced)Bonnie Linder
(m. 1946; div. 1973)Virginia Hudson
(m. 1992; div. 1999) |
| Children | Five, including Rex Allen, Jr. |
Rex Elvie Allen Sr. (born December 31, 1920 – died December 17, 1999) was a famous American actor, singer, and songwriter. He was known as "the Arizona Cowboy." Rex Allen also narrated many nature and Western movies for Walt Disney Pictures.
In 1975, he received a special star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. You can find it at 6821 Hollywood Boulevard. This honor recognized his important contributions to the film industry.
Contents
Early Life and Beginnings
Rex Allen was born on a ranch in Arizona, near a place called Willcox. His parents were Horace E. Allen and Luella Faye Clark. From a young age, Rex loved music. He played the guitar and sang at local events. His father often joined him, playing the fiddle.
After finishing high school, Rex traveled around the Southwest. He even worked as a rodeo rider for a while. He started his show business career on the East Coast of the United States.
Becoming a Singing Cowboy
Rex Allen began his singing career on the radio. First, he sang on station KOY in Phoenix, Arizona. Later, he became more famous performing on the National Barn Dance show from Chicago.
In the late 1940s, "singing cowboys" like Roy Rogers and Gene Autry were very popular in movies. In 1949, a Hollywood studio called Republic Pictures gave Rex Allen a screen test. They liked him and signed him to a contract.
Starting in 1950, Rex Allen starred in 19 Western movies. In these films, he played a clean-cut, good-hearted American hero. He wore a white Stetson hat and rode his loyal horse, Koko. He also had a funny sidekick who joined him on adventures. His early sidekicks included Buddy Ebsen and Slim Pickens. Rex Allen was so popular that his character even appeared in comic books!
Family Life
Rex Allen had five children. One of his sons, Rex Allen Jr., also became a singer, just like his father. Rex Allen was married three times during his life.
Later Career and "The Voice of the West"
Rex Allen wrote and recorded many songs. Some of these songs were even used in his own movies. His film career as a cowboy star was fairly short. This was because Western series movies became less popular by the mid-1950s. However, he still starred in several "B-Westerns" during that time.
When other cowboy stars moved to television, Rex Allen did too. He played Dr. Bill Baxter in a TV series called Frontier Doctor. In 1961, he was one of five hosts for a show called Five Star Jubilee.
Rex Allen had a wonderful, clear voice. This made him perfect for narrating films and TV shows. He narrated many Walt Disney Pictures wildlife films. This work earned him the nickname "The Voice of the West." He narrated movies like The Legend of Lobo, The Incredible Journey, and Charlie, the Lonesome Cougar.
He was also the voice of the father in the famous "Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress" attraction. This ride first appeared at the 1964 World's Fair. Later, it moved to Walt Disney World. Rex Allen also narrated the 1973 animated film Charlotte's Web. For many years, he was the voice in commercials for Purina Dog Chow.
Death
Rex Allen passed away on December 17, 1999, in Tucson, Arizona. His ashes were scattered at Railroad Park in Willcox, Arizona.
Legacy and Honors
Rex Allen received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It is located at 6821 Hollywood Boulevard. This star honors his work in motion pictures.
In 1983, he was added to the Western Performers Hall of Fame. This is at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.
His life story was told in a book published in 1989. It was called Rex Allen: My Life, Sunrise to Sunset – The Arizona Cowboy.
The Rex Allen Arizona Cowboy Museum and Willcox Cowboy Hall of Fame is in Willcox. It displays many items from Rex Allen's career. These include photos, movie posters, cowboy outfits, and musical instruments. There is also a bronze statue of Rex Allen near the museum.
Rex Allen was a cousin of Glenn Strange. Glenn Strange played the bartender Sam Noonan on the TV show Gunsmoke.
Music Albums
Rex Allen released several music albums during his career. Here are some of them:
| Year | Album | US Country | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | Under Western Skies | — | Decca |
| 1958 | Mister Cowboy | — | |
| 1960 | Rex Allen Sings | — | Hacienda |
| 1961 | Say One for Me | — | Buena Vista |
| 1962 | 16 Golden Hits | — | |
| Faith of a Man | — | Mercury | |
| Sings and Tells Tales of the Golden West | — | ||
| 1964 | Western Ballads | — | Hilltop |
| 1968 | The Smooth Country Sound of Rex Allen | 42 | Decca |
| 1970 | Touch of God's Hands | — | |
| 1973 | Boney Kneed Hairy Legged Cowboy Song | — | JMI |
| 1980 | Love Gone Cold | — | Longhorn |
Popular Songs (Singles)
Rex Allen also released many popular songs as singles. Some of these songs appeared on music charts.
| Year | Single | Chart Positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country | US |
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| 1949 | "Afraid" | 14 | — | singles only |
| 1951 | "The Roving Kind" | – | 20 | |
| 1951 | "Sparrow in the Treetop" | 10 | 28 | |
| 1953 | "Crying in the Chapel" | 4 | 8 | |
| 1961 | "Marines, Let's Go" | 21 | — | |
| 1962 | "Don't Go Near the Indians" | 4 | 17 | Sings and Tells Tales of the Golden West |
| 1964 | "Tear After Tear" | 44 | — | single only |
| 1968 | "Tiny Bubbles" | 71 | — | The Smooth Country Sound of Rex Allen |
Movies and TV Shows
Here is a list of some of the movies and TV shows Rex Allen was a part of:
- The Arizona Cowboy (1950) as himself
- Hills of Oklahoma (1950) as himself
- Redwood Forest Trail (1950) as himself
- Under Mexicali Stars (1950) as himself (also known as Mike Jordan)
- Trail of Robin Hood (1950) as himself
- Silver City Bonanza (1951) as himself
- Thunder in God's Country (1951) as himself
- Rodeo King and the Senorita (1951) as himself
- Utah Wagon Train (1951) as himself
- Colorado Sundown (1952) as himself
- The Last Musketeer (1952) as himself
- Border Saddlemates (1952) as himself
- I Dream of Jeanie (1952) as Mr. Tambo
- Old Oklahoma Plains (1952) as himself
- South Pacific Trail (1952) as himself
- Old Overland Trail (1953) as himself
- Iron Mountain Trail (1953) as himself
- Sweethearts on Parade (1953) as Jim Riley (singing voice, uncredited)
- Down Laredo Way (1953) as himself
- Shadows of Tombstone (1953) as himself
- Red River Shore (1953) as himself
- Phantom Stallion (1954) as himself
- The Wetback Hound (1957, Short) as narrator (voice)
- The Hound That Thought He Was a Raccoon (1960) as narrator (voice)
- For the Love of Mike (1960) as himself
- Tomboy and the Champ (1961) as himself
- The Legend of Lobo (1962) as narrator
- The Saga of Windwagon Smith (1961) as narrator (voice)
- Yellowstone Cubs (1963) as narrator (voice)
- The Incredible Journey (1963) as narrator (voice)
- Swamp Country (1965) as Sheriff Jim Turner
- Run, Appaloosa, Run (1966) as narrator
- Charlie, the Lonesome Cougar (1967) as narrator
- The Virginian (TV series) (1971) season 9 episode 20 (Tate: Ramrod) : as Square Dance Caller
- Charlotte's Web (1973) as narrator (voice)
- Starbird and Sweet William (1973) as narrator (voice)
- Vanishing Wilderness (1974, Documentary) as narrator
- The Secret of Navajo Cave (1976) as narrator
See also
In Spanish: Rex Allen para niños
- List of actors with Hollywood Walk of Fame motion picture stars
