Cowboy Blues (Columbia Pictures) (1946)

(Biographical Feature) Singing Ken Curtis Born to the Saddle When Ken Curtis recently hit leather in a genuine wild horse round-up for the sole purpose of selecting a powerful stallion to ride in his pictures, it was the first time in the history of Hollywood Western heroes that a cowboy singing star went thru with such a daring stunt. Curtis, now playing in Columbia Pictures’ new action musical, “Cowboy Blues” -at the ... Theatre, used also an unusual method of gettin’ his mount. With the aid of an airplane, a wild horse was cut out of a herd and corralled up a dead-end canyon. Then Curtis rode in, roped the animal and shipped it back to Hollywood. Round-ups aren’t new to him. He is one of the few motion picture cowboys who has actually been a cowboy. Born in Los Animas, he started riding horses when he was four years old and made his first round-up at the grand old age of five. Once, at the age of six, he was lost during a round-up and spent the night on an eastern Colorado prairie, amid coyotes and rattlesnakes. Ken has made a_ round-up every year from 1920 to 1939. His participation in this last one enabled him to ride again with his father, stock man Daniel Gates, for the first time since 1939, when Ken packed his guitar and set off for Hollywood. Arriving in Hollywood, he sang with Tommy Dorsey’s band and then joined Shep Fields. Next, Ken served a two and a half years hitch in the Army, and during this time was hailed as one of the best entertainers ever to hit the Spam Circuit. His first appearance was in “Rhythm Round-Up.” Then he was quickly assigned leads in “Song of the Prairie,” “Throw a Saddle on a Star” and “That Texas Jamboree.” His fan mail has been mounting steadily, so you'll be seein’ Ken around for some time. Curtis is a six-footer, weighing 170 pounds. In sports, he embraces practically all fields of activity. (Reader) Popular Guy Kibbee Joins Action Stars Guy Kibbee has been acting on the screen for many more years than he cares to mention, but it took Columbia’s persuasive casting director to finally get him into Western garb as a rancher in that studio’s “Cowboy Blues”! As soon as the jocular Mr. Kibbee learned that he was to appear with Ken Curtis, the Hoosier Hotshots, Guinn (Big Boy) Williams, Jeff Donnell, Deuce Spriggens and a host of other famous action musical stars, he quickly threw his tengallon hat into the studio ring. The action hit is currently making audiences roar at the ... Theatre. COWBOY BLUES Mat 1-D Popular Guy Kibbee adds to the fun of Columbia Pictures’ action musical, “Cowboy Blues,” now on view at the ............ Theatre. COWBOY BLUES Mat 1-A Ken Curtis, singing cowboy star, has a top role in Columbia Pictures’ action hit, ‘Cowboy Blues,”” now at thep esis . Theatre. ‘Cowboy Blues’ Hit Has Catchy Ditties The new action musical at the ....Theatre, Columbia Pictures’ “Cowboy Blues,” boasts a total score of ten swell tunes. Performed by popular stars of the screen, radio and recordings, the songs include “I’ve Been Down in Texas,” “I’m Thinking Tonight of My Blue Eyes,” “The West Is As Wild As Ever,” “Give Me A Lot of Elbow Room,” “Blue Bonnet Girl,” “Little Cowgirl,” “The Coat and Pants Do All the Work,” “Since We Put a Radio In the Henhouse,”’ “Rhythm Is Our Business” and “The First Thing I Do Every Morning.” Among the headliners gathered for “Cowboy Blues,” latest in the long series of hard-riding, tune-filled hits, are the Hoosier Hotshots from The National Barn Dance, Ken Curtis and Jeff Donnell. Also helping out with the musical chores and comedy moments are Guy Kibbee, Guinn (Big Boy) Williams, Peg La Centra, Mrs. Uppington, Robert Scott and the Town Criers, Deuce Spriggens and His Band with the Plainsmen and Carolina Cotton. Of all the action musicals produced by Columbia Pictures, “Cowboy Blues” easily has the most entertaining musical score. Credit for neatly blending the tunes with the action goes to screenplay writer J. Benton Cheney and capable outdoor director Ray Nazarro. Cowboy Ace, Ken Curtis Has Redskin for Tutor Cowboy star Ken Curtis, currently appearing in Columbia Pictures’ new action musical “Cowboy Blues” at the ...... Theatre, is hardly an amateur with firearms, but he still isn’t satisfied with his degree of skill. Before the filming of “Cowboy Blues,” he spent all his spare hours learning intricate new gun tricks from Roderick Red Wing, Chickasaw Indian expert. Benny Goodman Singer Seen in ‘Cowboy Blues’ Formerly a vocalist with Benny Goodman’s orchestra as well as Artie Shaw’s, Peg La Centra is currently appearing in Columbia Pictures’ new action musical at the .... Theatre, “Cowboy Blues.” Miss La Centra came to Hollywood to play a supporting role in “Humoresque,” Joan Crawford’s next picture, and was signed immediately for “Cowboy Blues.” (Biographical Feature) Hoosier Hotshots Move From Chicago To Land of Films The Hoosier Hotshots are in Hollywood to stay. For many years, residents of Chicago, where they attained fame as the stars of the National Barn Dance radio show, the popular Columbia Pictures’ song and comedy quartet revealed recently that they are moving from the Windy City to the greener fields of California. Currently appearing in the new action musical, “Cowboy Blues,” at the .... Theatre, in which they headline a stellar east of radio and recording stars, three of the Hotshots, Hezzy, Ken and Gabe, originally got together in their teens and started playing for school performances and dances in Indiana. All three of them are natural born Hoosiers. Gil Taylor, the fourth member, is one by adoption, as he comes from Alabama. After school days, the original trio toured from coast to coast several times on the leading vaudeville circuits. It was in 1932 that they did a Red Cross broadcast on station WOWO in Fort Wayne, and this led to a daily program on which they were billed as the Trietsch Brothers and Ward, the Three Hotshots. Shortly afterwards, they changed the name of the act to the Hoosier Hotshots. Between them, the four musical zanies play twenty-eight instruments. In addition, each Hotshot is a song writer. Dozens of their numbers have been recorded and published in sheet music. With their movie fan mail piling up steadily, the Hotshots’ decision to sing out “California, Here We Come” is definitely a wise move. Also, latest reports are that they will appear in several more of the popular action musical features. The Hotshots, just as amusing off-screen, are among the most popular guests currently attend ing Hollywood’s big parties. (Catchline Reader) Action Musical Hit Loaded with Laffs, Sparked by Rhythms Grab your partner ’n swing ’n sway ... there’s a grand action musical headin’ your way! A dude ranch rampage of singin’, clownin’, shootin’ stars from the radio, rodeo and screen! Sizzling with hot lead . . . hot tunes . and Bar-B-Cuties! A blueschasin’ action musical hittin’ the star-studded trail at the... Theatre! It’s Columbia Pictures’ new “Cowboy Blues!” Headlining the stellar cast are the Hoosier Hotshots from The National Barn Dance. Ken Curtis, Jeff Donnell, Guy Kibbee, Guinn (Big Boy) Williams, Mrs. Uppington, Robert Scott, Peg La Centra and the Town Criers, Deuce Spriggens and His Band with The Plainsmen and Carolina Cotton are importantly featured. J. Benton Cheney’s original screenplay was directed by Ray Nazarro. (Reader) Curtis Writes Book Based On His Horse Ken Curtis, Columbia Pictures’ Western singing star currently appearing in “Cowboy Blues” at the .... Theatre, has started work on a book for juveniles to be based on the life of the horse he uses in his cowboy films, “Coyote.” Color photos for the volume have already been taken by Curtis, who was a magazine photographer for a time before starting his picture career. (Feature) Lovely Jeff Donnell Enjoys Comedy Roles COWBOY BLUES Mat 1-C Once again, saucy Jeff Donnell stars in an action musical, Columbia Pictures’ “Cowboy Blues,” at the ....... Theatre. (Reader) Pert Jeff Donnell Busiest Performer Jeff Donnell is one of the busiest actresses in Hollywood these days. She’s certainly the busiest young lady on the Columbia lot. Two weeks after completing the leading feminine role in Columbia’s new action musical, “Cowboy Blues,” now playing at ithelsareyeeirers Theatre, she began work in “Singing on the Trail,” next in the popular series of outdoor jamborees. She had also been set to play one of the leads in “It’s Great To Be Young.” Ray Nazarro, director of “Singing on the Trail,” shot first the scenes in which Jeff appeared so that she could be ready for an appearance in her third picture within one month. Despite all this activity, Jeff is thriving in cinemaland. Her health has never been better and her disposition is sunnier than ever. A vacation for her is indicated soon, but Jeff would be just as happy if it never turned up. Radio’s Mrs. Uppington Gets Role in New Film Mrs. Uppington, well-known radio character actress heard on the popular Fibber McGee and Molly fun program, is currently playing an important role in Columbia Pictures’ new action musical at the....Theatre, “Cowboy Blues.” Film fans will be glad to hear that she continues her comical impersonation of a high-toned society matron which she made famous on the radio. Star of ‘Cowboy Blues’ Signed to New Contract As a result of his fine performance in support of Rita Hayworth in “Gilda,” Robert Scott has been handed a new long-term contract by Columbia Pictures. His latest film is the new action musical, “Cowboy Blues,” now playing at the .... Theatre. After Months on Stage Guy Returns to Movies Ending an 18-month absence from motion pictures, Guy Kibbee is now playing in Columbia Pictures’ latest action musical, “Cowboy Blues,” at the ...... Theatre. Kibbee has been making personal appearances in various parts of the country, including eight weeks of entertainment for wounded GI’s in army hospitals. With practically everyone in Hollywood wanting to change from the type of role in which he or she became popular (you know, that ex-crooner to movie tough-guy, the Academy Award portrayer of a famous saint to a “bad” girl in her latest film, a former glamour queen turned dramatic star, et al), it is a novelty when Jeff Donnell announces that comedy is her forte and that she wants to continue in roles which call for lightness and a large amount of her own sparkling wit. On the few occasions when studio executives have tried to give her a glamour build-up, Jeff just didn’t go for it — it wasn’t her sort of part. “When they started dressing me in those sexy-looking clothes that they use for so many of the stars, I didn’t even feel comfortable, “explains Jeff. “Made me feel as if I were a root beer float standing alongside a dry martini.” Currently appearing in Columbia Pictures’ new action musical, “‘Cowboy Blues” at the... Theatre, Jeff can always point to her fan mail, if proof were needed, to show that movie-goers like the refreshing, warm-hearted character she usually portrays on the screen. So many of the letters, sent by boys in the service, carry this same general thought: “You remind me so much of the girl I went with back home — nothing fancy or glamorous, but a wholesome, fun-loving kid.” Notes from members of her own sex are genuinely interested in Jeff’s home life and the way she is bringing up her young son, Michael Phineas (Mickey Finn for short!). Jeff’s warm personality and ready humour recently resulted in an honor which it is safe to say no other actress has ever received. The crewmen on her latest picture unanimously proclaimed her “the girl I would rather be if I had to be a girl — heaven forbid!” No small tribute that! (Reader) Hoosier Hotshet Does Solo Vocal Gil Taylor, one of the Hoosier Hotshots from The National Barn Dance, makes his debut as a solo vocalist in films in Columbia Pictures’ action musical, “Cowboy Blues,” currently playee fy Wd) canons Theatre. Of course, he joins the rest of the comedy team for several song numbers. Other featured members of the cast include Ken Curtis, Jeff Donnell, Guy Kibbee, Guinn (Big Boy) Williams, The Town Criers, and Deuce Spriggens and His Band with the Plainsmen and Carolina Cotton. Ray Nazarro directed. COWBOY BLUES Mat 1-E Mirthfal Big Boy Williams has his best role to date in Columbia Pictures’ “Cowboy Blues,” currently at the Weccestcrrsessers Theatre. Page 7