Gene Autry 12 acres. A decade after he purchased Melody Ranch, a brushfire swept through in August 1962, destroying most of the original standing sets. However, the devastated landscape did prove useful for productions such as "Combat!." A complete adobe ranch survived at the northeast section of the ranch. In 1990, after his favorite horse Champion, which lived in retirement there, died, Autry put the remaining 12-acre ranch up for sale. It is now known as the Melody Ranch Motion Picture Studio and Melody Ranch Studios on 22 acres. The ranch has Melody Ranch Museum open year-round; and one weekend a year,
Gene Autry filmography Gene Autry filmography This Gene Autry filmography lists the films and television episodes starring the American singing cowboy Gene Autry. From 1934 to 1953, Autry appeared in 93 films. Discovered by film producer Nat Levine in 1934, Autry and his sidekick Smiley Burnette made their film debut for Mascot Pictures in "In Old Santa Fe" as part of a singing cowboy quartet. In 1935, Levine gave him the starring role in the 12-part serial "The Phantom Empire". When Mascot was absorbed by the newly formed Republic Pictures, Autry went along to make 57 B Westerns in which he played under