News Archive: 2002

Image Entertainment and Gene Autry Entertainment team up to release a winning world series of "The Singing Cowboy's" films on DVD in '03.

Fully restored motion picture classics include South of the Border, Rovin' Tumbleweeds, Melody Ranch, Home on the Prairie, Bells of Capistrano, Sioux City Sue, Gaucho Serenade, Robin Hood of Texas, Shooting High and Heart of the Rio Grande.

As the Angels square off against the Giants in the World Series, Image Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: DISK), long recognized as the market leader in music video long forms on DVD, and Gene Autry Entertainment, home of the former Angels owner's film, television and music legacy, have teamed up for a winning series of their own with the release of several fully restored Gene Autry films on DVD in 2003.

The films include South of the Border (1939) and Rovin' Tumbleweeds (1939), available March 11; Melody Ranch (1940) and Home on the Prairie (1939), available May 20; Bells of Capistrano (1942) and Sioux City Sue (1946), available July 15; Gaucho Serenade (1940) and Robin Hood of Texas (1947), available September 9; and Shooting High (1940) and Heart of the Rio Grande (1942), available November 11.

Many of Autry's movies were based on his songs, such as "Melody Ranch," "South of the Border," and "Sioux City Sue." Autry made a total of 93 movies, and according to CNN, is the only Western star on the list of top 10 box office moneymakers. In addition, his 700 plus recordings have sold more than 60 million copies and have earned multiple gold and platinum records.

While remaining a multi-faceted treasure of popular culture – with significant contributions to film, TV, music, radio and, of course, rodeo (just one aspect of his live performances), with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for each – this beloved icon, who was 91 when he died in 1998, was dedicated to preserving the history of the West. To this end, he founded in 1988 the Autry Museum of Western Heritage which is devoted to preserving and interpreting the rich history and traditions of the American West.

Just as the museum's fascinating collections trace the evolution of the West, Autry's collection of accolades portray his growth from a singing guitar-strumming telegrapher who was discovered by Will Rogers, through 60 years as an influential entertainer in every medium. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Nashville Songwriters' Hall of Fame, the National Cowboy Hall of Fame, and the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame. He received a Los Angeles Area Governor's Emmy from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, a Board of Directors Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Achievement in Arts Foundation, a Songwriters' Guild Life Achievement Award, a Hubert Humphrey Humanitarian of the Year Award, a Lifetime Achievement Award from ASCAP, and an American Academy of Achievement Award.

About the only thing Autry didn't achieve in his lifetime was a championship with his beloved Angels baseball team. It's time for both Autry and the Angels to ride tall in the saddle once again!