The Gene Autry Oklahoma Museum

    Ever wish they still made movies like the old “B” Westerns with their singing cowboys and trained horses? Although those films are now only a part of our history, there’s a very special museum that is dedicated to the history and legacy of those singing cowboys. It’s known as the Gene Autry Oklahoma Museum and it’s located in the tiny southern Oklahoma town of Gene Autry. The town took its name from its famous resident, who owned a ranch nearby.
    Colorful, informative displays centering on such stars as Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Eddie Dean, Ken Maynard and others, feature movie posters, LP records, comic books and toys. The Museum and its unusual focus attract the attention of visitors from across the country.
    We are deeply involved in doing volunteer work for the Museum--Tex doing maintenance and carpentry work and Mary doing promotion and event production.  "We invite you to learn about the Museum and consider visiting, either during the big Film & Music Festival in September, or at any other time."
    The Museum is housed in the building that once was the town’s schoolhouse. When the school closed, retired school teacher Elvin Sweeten convinced the town to allow him to bring his collection of “B” Western memorabilia to the facility as the beginnings of a museum dedicated to the singing cowboys. Exhibits and collections are now displayed where sports trophies used to be. The school’s auditorium was given new life as a 500-seat performance hall where the Museum presents its annual Western Film & Music Festival, which is held each year on the weekend nearest Gene Autry’s birthday, September 29th.

The Gene Autry Oklahoma Film & Music Festival
    This year's event, held September 24-28, will celebrate the singing cowboys and have as its theme, "Keeping the Memories Alive!". Headlining the musical part of the Film & Music Festival are country superstar Gene Watson, Les Gilliam, Johnny Western, Judy Coder & Pride of the Prairie, Terry Smith, Eli Barsi, The O'Roark Brothers and Liz Talley. Film stars include Barry Corbin (depending upon availability), Robert Fuller, Lisa Montell, Roberta Shore, Alex Cord and more. Authors and celebrities include Bobby Copeland, Holly George-Warren, Joyce Spizer Foy, Judy Keel and others. Theme shows, classic Western films, film-star and author panels, workshops, a vendor hall and an auction of Western memorabilia round out the celebration. For information about each of the entertainers, film stars, authors and celebrities, plus admission prices, project event schedule and much more, refer to the website indicated here.
    Click here to go to the Gene Autry Oklahoma Museum's website.