Gene Autry starring role by Levine in 1935 in the 12-part serial "The Phantom Empire." Shortly thereafter, Mascot was absorbed by the newly formed Republic Pictures Corp. and Autry went along to make a further 44 films up to 1940, all B Westerns in which he played under his own name, rode his horse, Champion, had Burnette as his regular sidekick, and had many opportunities to sing in each film. Pat Buttram was picked by Gene Autry, recently returned from his World War II service in the United States Army Air Forces, to work with him. Buttram would co-star with Gene Autry
The Strawberry Roan The Strawberry Roan The Strawberry Roan is a 1948 American Western film directed by John English and starring Gene Autry, Gloria Henry, and Jack Holt. Based on a story by Julian Zimet, the film is about a singing cowboy who prevents the shooting of a horse that bucked a young boy off, paralyzing him. The cowboy trains the horse hoping to return it to the boy and help him overcome his disability. Joe is paralyzed by a wild horse, a strawberry roan. His father, Walt, tries to kill the horse in anger but is unsuccessful and the horse escapes. Autry,