One memory that has always stood out in my mind is the time Mama took me to the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium to see Gene Autry and Annie Oakley. I am pretty sure that the year was 1956. I had never been to a show like this, so it was a big deal for me. It was probably a big deal for Mama, too, as she was a real Gene Autry fan. Even though I was so young, I always cherished my Souvenir Program from this show and, after being stored, moved, and thumbed through for 58 years, it's still in pretty good condition!
Though I don't remember anything about the show itself, what I do remember is when Gene Autry rode his horse, Champion, down the aisle from the back of the auditorium and right up onto the stage! Boy, was I impressed! Here is a picture from the February 5, 1956 Spartanburg Herald-Journal of Gene riding Champion down the aisle.
Here is the article that was with the above picture.
Inside the front cover of the Souvenir Program was this ad for Gene Autry merchandise.
Here is the rest of the souvenir booklet. On any of these pictures, you can click on it to make it larger and more easy to read.
GENE AUTRY
ANNIE OAKLEY
THE AUTRYS OFF THE RANGE
BIOGRAPHY OF A CHAMPION
PAT BUTTRAM
THE CASS COUNTY BOYS
CARL COTNER
THE STRONGS - RUFE DAVIS - AUDREY HAAS
and
THE CYCLING VILLENAVES
GENE'S WARDROBE
