Hello Western fans!!

As promised, here are some of my own stories!

I will talk about how difficult it was to become a

*Western Performer, Recording Star and Western Movie Star*.

In the 30's, 40's and 50's, the communication systems were not as fast as today!

Let's talk about such stars as Roy Rogers, Gene Autry and other western cowboys and musicians.

The only opening, was to begain to play at parties, townhalls, and try to write their own songs. Then, to find a record company and try your luck. Oh boy, that was something! Just think, when Roy, Gene, and many others were in the recording studio in front of a big microphone, and the producer told you, you gotta to do your best, because at that time the record was cut direcly to the master acedate, so if the singer make an error, they'd have to do a brand new master record, and that was expensive in those days. Anyway, your record was complete and everybody was satisfied!

If you were known only in your region, or your town, your new record or 78 rpm, was sent to radio stations by the producer, but most of the time you had to take your "new release" to the manager of the radio station, in hopes that he would play it some.

I was not as lucky, but for Roy Rogers, Gene Autry and Jimmy Rodgers, it was! When their records started playing on radio, it was something else!

Believe me, it's different, to hear yourself sing on the radio. I've done that in the past myself, and I will never forget it!! But I'm not here to talk about me! Let's go back to our stars.

The work, it just begun! You had to make "promotional musical tours", to meet Western Music Fans and to try to sell as many records as you can, so the producer would give you a much better contract. Also, if you're lucky enough, you might even had your own radio program! So you begn to be in "the business".

For the ones that wanted to be in B - Western Movies; you needed to see every western film producer and company, and pass an audition. Ya could get a part for bein' an extra, in your first film! Again, "ole Roy" did it, and got a part!!

Today, you become a popular star much faster with the art of television, radio, CD's, and video. Those fancy satellite systems makes the internet very helpful in promoting your music.

The competition is much bigger today, so you have to keep in the "public eye" at all times! Sometimes, you become very popular very fast. You can be easily be destroyed if you don't keep ahead of it all! It can "go" as quickly as "it came!" It's not the same as it was in "the good ole days".

Many new western or country singers have come along. Some are here to stay, while some will fade away!!

So western fans, I hope that you find this interesting.

So until next time, Many Happy Trails and good reading!

Tex Lavallee
"Mr. Tex"

Hello Rockn' V Southwestern Ranch Western Fans!!

Here's my story for today. I hope you will like it.

As you already know, I've been a western movie fan since I was a little kid. I will never forget all of the B - Western films I've see when I was a child. Most of them were great, but a part of "ole" Roy, Gene, and another one of them was also my hero of the silver screen. His name was Lash Larue and one of most popular stars of Producer Releasing Corporation. It was the guy in black, with his bullwhip and his horse Black Diamond. He was always with his funny sidekick, Al "Fuzzy" St. John.

As a child, I told my little friends, "I will meet him in person one day." I did too!!

Since that day, many years have past. I too became a Western Performer.

One day, while looking at a TV show, they annouced Lash Larue would be in the state of Vermont, USA, for a show. My friends and I talked about it the night before and I told them that I would like to see Lash Larue in person.

Early the next morning somebody knocked at the door. It was my cousin, he said, "get up, because we are going to see Lash Larue. So in a few minutes, we were on our way to Vermont, USA.

When we arrived at the ranch in the Green Mountains, I started to look for Lash, and I saw him near his blue Buick. I said " hi lash" and he came closer to me. We shook hands and talked for a little while. Then he signed a picture of himself and his horse, Black Diamond, and I let him go to prepare for his next show. Oh boy, what a show!! You should have see him with his bullwhip and with his gun tricks. It was something to see.

Late that afternoon, we were back on my farm. I was the happiest kid ever!

Let's get back to Lash, as he was a popular B - Western star in his time. He will be remembered for a long time, again & again. Remarks I heard, Lash past away some years ago and that he was broke, after suffering some bad experiences. For me and many other Western Fans, he will be for always, our hero!

So until our next visit, Many Happy Trails,

Tex Lavallee
"Mr. Tex"

Hello, Parners!!

Mr. Tex is here, with another story for ya'll.

I will talk about Rex Allen, last of Republic's, B-Western stars. Rex Allen was a very good Western Star, a good singer, and a good horseman. He made a lot of interesting films at Republic such as, *Under Mexicali Star*. His first film was, *The Arizona Cowboy* in black and white, but most of his films were released in "true colour". His horse Koko, a very nice saddle horse and a good trick horse too. His films were full of action and always had alot of good songs. Rex Allen past away, a few years ago but he will-be remembered for many years to come.

His son and western performer Rex Allen Jr., is a very good singer! He looks alot like his father.

In conclusion, it's too bad that Rex Allen came at the end of the B-Westerns. If he'd been there towards the beginning, he'd have been more of a popular cowboy star. Solong for now!

Many Happy Trails,
Tex Lavallee
"Mr. Tex"



Here's a "Hoppy" story for ya.

William Boyd, (his movie and actor name) became a very popular B -Western star, when he was signed to play Hopalong Cassidy in the late 30's. During many years, he made alot of good westerns, including "Bar 20 Rides Again".

As you know, he was dressed in black, and riding a very nice white horse gelding, named 'Topper".

Hoppy made alot of money when TV arrived. He bought "all the rights" to his movie westerns. He made his own TV shows, and they were very popular.

In his B- Western days, his sidekick was often , George "Gabby" Hayes. On his television show, "Hopalong Cassidy", Edgar Buchanan was his sidekick.

I remember, I read his comic books often and saw his movies, at my village's small theater.

Hopalong Cassidy did lot's, for the promotion of the "Western Culture". He'll be remembered for "teachin', right from wrong" and helping to preserve "the Western Culture & Heritage" for generations to come. 'Til next time!

Many Happy Trails,

Tex Lavallee
"Mr. Tex"




Howdy, Western Friends!!

I will concentrate on the "original Trigger", the great trick horse of Roy Rogers, *King of the Cowboys*. As you already know, "the old man, Trigger", is still always popular on different web sites. Trigger died, July 3, 1965, but will never be forgotten!! Because, from to time we play a video or a western film of Roy Rogers, or we see him on TV or by satellite. We all go back in time, when Roy and Trigger were riding across the silver screen.

For the lucky ones, Trigger can be seen, at the BRAND NEW Roy Rogers - Dale Evans Museum, in Branson, MO.

I believe Trigger was a "very special, movie horse". He was very smart!! Trigger and Roy were "real pals" and made a perfect pair on the silver screen, or in the show ring. You see, some horses are very special and became great pardners, with theirs owners.

I know what it was to have "a great horse partner", beleive me! If you ever see a video, or documentary of Roy Rogers, when he talks about Trigger, you will know what I mean. "Trigger, the old man", we'll never forget you!!

Many Happy Trails,
"Mr. Tex" Lavallee

Hello Western Fans!

Today, I'll talk about Whip Wilson. He made many B- Westerns in the late 40's and 50's. Wilson's features were always interesthing, and with a lot of action of course. His B-Westerns were low budget, but good. Here are two of his many films, "Silver Raiders" and "Riders of the Dusk'.

One important thing about this fine actor was his was of using a bull whip, like Lash Larue. He was very good with it!

Some of his westerns were released by Monogram. I never heard Whip sing in his movies, so I'm thinking he was not singing cowboy, like many others of this era. I remember that he was riding a very nice white horse across the silver screen.

Whip Wilson died many years ago, around age 57 or 58. But he's still in the memories of many a western movie fan.

Many Happy Trails,

Tex Lavallee
"Mr. Tex"



Howdy, Cowboys and Cowgirls!!

I hope you're all well! It's been a few weeks, since I talked to you all. As you know, I'm not feeling good at all!

Today I decided to share some news. Friday I was showing the Roy Rogers western feature, *North of the Great Divide* with my video big screen projector, to pass the time and relax. The phone rang. It was Buffalo Gal, Buffalo Jim and Shirley Duke, from Texas. It was a "big surprise" and a happy one for sure!! We talked for a long time on the phone of different things about our "western heros", Roy and Dale. We spoke of "Dusty", Trigger,and many more! It was a real pleasure for me to receive this phone call!!

Today, I went to train *Trigger*, my pal, at the farm. He learned one more trick. I will send, in the near future some new pictures of him with me. So that you all may see him.

Well, that's it for now pardners!

Many Happy Trails,

Tex Lavallee
"Mr. Tex"



October 20, 2002

Howdy, Cowboys and Cowgirls!

Sorry I was not able to talk for a while, because of my computer. It was not working good. But now everything seems to be fine now.

This past week I started my work, in the "recording studio", to produce my NEW CD and my 4 track cassettes. I was able to complete two songs. Next week, I'll go back in the studio to continue my work. I just got in recording session, for about three hours each time, as I am not "feeling too good". This CD will be produced on my own company's label. In a simple way, with just a few musicians in them, you'll find my many compositions. Included, is the song I wrote "In Memory of Roy, Dale, Trigger", and we'll remember "The Son of the Pioneers*. They'll be about four other western classics like, "Along The Navajo Trail" and "The Old Spanish Trail", for example.

So, until next time!

Many Happy Trails,

Tex Lavallee
"Mr. Tex"



"The Story of Will James"

In a small town, a young Canadian boy was born June 6 1892. When he became older, he changed his name to Will James, and becamed one of America's "best drawing and writing artist". He represented "the west" in all forms.

Like most young boys, Ernest Dufault had dreamed of becoming a real cowboy, but for a young, French Canadian, in the province of Quebec, he had to work hard to realise his dream.

At the age of around 15 or 16 he decided to take the train and go to Western Canada, were he began to learn, "the real cowboy life", and learned the English langage. In a short time, he had learned the English languge, but life was difficult in those times.

After some time he decided to go to Mexico and then onto California. When he was in California and Nevada, he got in trouble with the law. He told them, he was "not guilty", but they didn't beleive him. He was put in jail for sometime.

Durin' his incarceration, he started drawing all kind of western scenes, with always some horse in them. Everybody that saw his drawings, found him to be very good!!

When his time in jail was finished, he went back to his western, "cowboy life". He decided to become a "Western Artist, in Drawing" and he told a story with his drawin's.

In Nevada, Will James got his first studio, where he was able to sketch and draw, his "fine drawing" and begin to write his many nice western stories.

In 1920, Will married Alice Conrad and worked very hard to try to sell somes of his western stories and drawings, to different news papers and puplishers.

Will James' popularity continued to increase.

It took him to Hollywood, CA. Twenieth Cenury Fox made him an offer to take his famous horse storie "Smokey", to the big silver screen and also signed him to appear with Victor Jory. The film was a big succes when it was released in 1933. Will James had writen "Smokey" around 1927.

With the success of "Smokey", James reached great notority with his differents books, stories, and drawings. They were selling very well, so he decided that it was time to buy "the big ranch", that he alway dreamed of, since he was a little boy. His dream had finally came true when he got the ranch, in Prior, Montana. He aquired, all the horses he wanted! Included with the ranch, was a new working studio, where he was able to continue to produce a lot of nice things. Somes of his great books and stories were, "Smokey", "Sand & Sun Up", "Lone Cowboy", "Big Enough" and others.


I wrote just a small part of "Will James" life.
You see, when I was just a boy myself, I dreamed like all children, of "western aventures" and when I saw his film "Smokey", and read his stories, I was in love with his work!

I must say, Will James was an important star to me, because he was representing what I liked best; the cowboy life, the horses that I love so much like him, and everything in connection with the westerns, just like my heros, Roy Rogers, Gene Autry and others.

Will James died when he was only 50 years old, in 1942. He will be remembered for many many years to come.

For anyone interested in learnin' more about this great artist Will James, you may purchase some of his books, from Mountain Press Publishing Company, in Montana, USA. Also, more information can be obtain at the Will James Preservation Society, in Billings, Montana, USA.

In conclusion, I must say that I write his partial life story, from my personal file of this artist, that I've gathered over many years. They're from documentary films about him, released by National Film Board of Canada, which Jacques Godbout was the producer.

Friends, I hope that you like this story!

Many Happy Trails,

Tex Lavallee
"Mr. Tex"



Howdy Westerns Fans!!

Here's some of the old B Western stars of the 1930's and 1940's. I'm sure you'll hear some of these names for the first time ever! I'm sure that you'll find this list interesting! Of course, most of these western stars were very popular in their day and I hope it will be interesting for all as reference, so here is this list.

1. Newton House
2. Jack Mower
3. Bill Cody
4. Rex Bell
5. Jack Hoxie
6. Buck Jones: He died a hero in 1942 after having saved many lives in the disasterous fire at Boston's Cocoanut Grove. He was fatally burned trying to save more.
7. Bob Steele
8. Tom Keene
9. Tim Mc Coy
10. Fred Scott
11. Buzz Barton
12. Fred Church
13. Art Accord
14. Jack Luden
15. Roy Stewart
16. Fred Thompson
17. Buddy Roosevelt
18. Terry Frost
19. Robert Livington
20. Jimmy Wakely
21. Smith Bellew
22. Art Jarrett
23. Ken Maynard

So, to all you western movie fans, "Pardners, that's it for tonight"

Happy Trails,

Tex Lavallee
"Mr. Tex"