I wonder if Gene Autry's comment in my summary line above triggered any emotion over the fact that his own movie and TV Western career would soon be over, giving way to perhaps an even more successful business and entrepreneurial one. For Gene, this was a passing of the West tale in more ways than one, as "Last of the Pony Riders" wound up being his very last feature film.
Fittingly, Smiley Burnette's on hand for this ride into the sunset, along with Dickie Jones, a mainstay from Gene's TV show in which he portrayed various characters depending on the story line. I've always thought that Jones was the best rider to ever don a pair of buckskins, and he shows that prowess here with a number of those mounts where he parallels his body to an already running horse, and lowers his legs, hitting the ground to catapult into the saddle. There's probably a name for that maneuver, but I've never heard it, so you'll have to bear with that lengthy description.
There's something else Jones does in the picture that got my attention - he rolls his own cigarette! I only bring that up because my father used to roll his own too - his smoke of choice was Buckhorn.
As far as the story goes, Gene's a Pony Express rider who realizes that the coming of the stage coach and telegraph spell the end of the line for his profession. Interestingly, Gene maintains a personal code that requires looking after his former employer's interest even after he's been fired for investing in a stage coach himself. Autry gives a rousing speech when it appears that Johnny Blair (Jones) is about to quit from the pressure of riding, encouraging the youngster to have faith in himself and not give up. It's the kind of message that earned Autry a place in the hearts and minds of Americans growing up, dating as far back as the Great Depression. Seems to me the country could use a few more voices today that carry the same message of faith and encouragement.
Fittingly, Smiley Burnette's on hand for this ride into the sunset, along with Dickie Jones, a mainstay from Gene's TV show in which he portrayed various characters depending on the story line. I've always thought that Jones was the best rider to ever don a pair of buckskins, and he shows that prowess here with a number of those mounts where he parallels his body to an already running horse, and lowers his legs, hitting the ground to catapult into the saddle. There's probably a name for that maneuver, but I've never heard it, so you'll have to bear with that lengthy description.
There's something else Jones does in the picture that got my attention - he rolls his own cigarette! I only bring that up because my father used to roll his own too - his smoke of choice was Buckhorn.
As far as the story goes, Gene's a Pony Express rider who realizes that the coming of the stage coach and telegraph spell the end of the line for his profession. Interestingly, Gene maintains a personal code that requires looking after his former employer's interest even after he's been fired for investing in a stage coach himself. Autry gives a rousing speech when it appears that Johnny Blair (Jones) is about to quit from the pressure of riding, encouraging the youngster to have faith in himself and not give up. It's the kind of message that earned Autry a place in the hearts and minds of Americans growing up, dating as far back as the Great Depression. Seems to me the country could use a few more voices today that carry the same message of faith and encouragement.