This is the article, which ran in the Kenton Times, HardinCounty, Kenton, Oh on June 24, ’02. It features our
own Ron Bretz
Fast Draw demonstrations, singing cowboys featured at 9th Gene Autry Days
The ninth annual Gene Autry Days was held on Saturday and Sunday, at the Harding County Fairgrounds.
Featured entertainers in this year’s event will be stage; screen and radio star Johnny Western. “The Oklahoma Yodelin Cowboy” Paul Belanger and a special quest, John Buttram.
The festivities kicked off Saturday with a Kenton Hardware Employees reunion. There also was a look-a-like contest.
There was a demonstration by the Ohio Fast Draw Association. Visitors could try the art of the fast draw in “take your best shot” event.
Ron Bretz of South Charleston, Oh is the chairman of the Ohio Fast Draw Association, and he coordinated the fast draw demonstrations. He hoped this would introduce the fast draw sport to the area.
Bretz has participated in fast draw shootouts, including placing third last years in the Wild Bill Hitchcock Days in Deadwood, SD. He said the competitions don’t shoot live ammunition, but rather fire was bullets or black powder.
There are more than 100 members of the Ohio association and Bretz said they dress in western attire and their goal is to promote firearm safety. If the fast draw demonstrations go well at Gene Autry Days, Bretz said he would like to bring a fast draw shootout here next year.
Saturdays’ event concluded wit a“just shoot me” competition featuring local figures competing to raise funds for the mural, the Gene Autry committee is planning to paint on the west side of the Kenton Theatre next summer.
In the competition, contestants in two division (local officials and clubs) are competing to see who can raise the most money for the project. Milk jugs have been place at the banks around town with pictures of each of the participants.
The person in each division with the most money in their milk jug gets the honor of holding a target that will be shot at by a member of the Ohio Fast Draw Association.
Sunday’s event started off with a Quick Draw Contest, during which the crowd voted beforehand on whom it felt could draw and shoot the quickest.
Sunday afternoon, a raffle was held for a Gene Autry cap gun as well as Kenton toys and comic books.
Visitors to Gene Autry will hear the sounds of “the Ballad of Paladin” sung by Johnny Western, original composer and singer of the hit theme from the TV show Have Gun Will Travel.
Another returning favorite is Paul Belanger,"The Old Man of the Mountain". Paul will be back to share his quick wit and yodeling talent.
Billed as a celebrity sound-alike, John Buttram evokes memories of his uncle Pat with his instantly recognizable voice. Pat Buttram was best known as television sidekick of Gene Autry and as Mr. Haney on Green Acres.
Buttram enjoys sharing his love of western, cowboy, and down-home humor with the crowd.
Over 60 tables of cap guns, old toys, and western items were shown from all over the country.
Many outstanding Gene Autry collections were on display.
Admission to the event was $5. for adults, children 12 and under free.
There is a long history behind the Gene Autry Days. In 1936 the Kenton Hardware Co., which manufactured Kenton toys, received the contract to produce Gene Autry repeating cap pistols. They produced over six million of these guns and that contract is credited with saving Kenton. Autry visited the factory and Kenton in 1938 and this visit was a highlight in history for many residents, who got to see him at the Kenton Theatre.
Autry was at the height of his popularity at the time of that visit. He made 635 recordings, 300 of which he wrote or co wrote. He also starred in 91 films. Autry always had fond memories of Kenton as well, and was very generous in granting the Chamber of Commerce permission to use his name and likeness for this event.
Since his passing in 1998, his wife Jackie, through Autry Entertainment,continues to allow this privilege.
Glen Stearns conceived this event and continues to create an original art design annually for advertising and memorabilia.
Everything is produced with the prior approval from Autry Entertainment. The design
will be on T-shirts, mugs, posters, marbles, buttons, and other items available at the show.
own Ron Bretz
Fast Draw demonstrations, singing cowboys featured at 9th Gene Autry Days
The ninth annual Gene Autry Days was held on Saturday and Sunday, at the Harding County Fairgrounds.
Featured entertainers in this year’s event will be stage; screen and radio star Johnny Western. “The Oklahoma Yodelin Cowboy” Paul Belanger and a special quest, John Buttram.
The festivities kicked off Saturday with a Kenton Hardware Employees reunion. There also was a look-a-like contest.
There was a demonstration by the Ohio Fast Draw Association. Visitors could try the art of the fast draw in “take your best shot” event.
Ron Bretz of South Charleston, Oh is the chairman of the Ohio Fast Draw Association, and he coordinated the fast draw demonstrations. He hoped this would introduce the fast draw sport to the area.
Bretz has participated in fast draw shootouts, including placing third last years in the Wild Bill Hitchcock Days in Deadwood, SD. He said the competitions don’t shoot live ammunition, but rather fire was bullets or black powder.
There are more than 100 members of the Ohio association and Bretz said they dress in western attire and their goal is to promote firearm safety. If the fast draw demonstrations go well at Gene Autry Days, Bretz said he would like to bring a fast draw shootout here next year.
Saturdays’ event concluded wit a“just shoot me” competition featuring local figures competing to raise funds for the mural, the Gene Autry committee is planning to paint on the west side of the Kenton Theatre next summer.
In the competition, contestants in two division (local officials and clubs) are competing to see who can raise the most money for the project. Milk jugs have been place at the banks around town with pictures of each of the participants.
The person in each division with the most money in their milk jug gets the honor of holding a target that will be shot at by a member of the Ohio Fast Draw Association.
Sunday’s event started off with a Quick Draw Contest, during which the crowd voted beforehand on whom it felt could draw and shoot the quickest.
Sunday afternoon, a raffle was held for a Gene Autry cap gun as well as Kenton toys and comic books.
Visitors to Gene Autry will hear the sounds of “the Ballad of Paladin” sung by Johnny Western, original composer and singer of the hit theme from the TV show Have Gun Will Travel.
Another returning favorite is Paul Belanger,"The Old Man of the Mountain". Paul will be back to share his quick wit and yodeling talent.
Billed as a celebrity sound-alike, John Buttram evokes memories of his uncle Pat with his instantly recognizable voice. Pat Buttram was best known as television sidekick of Gene Autry and as Mr. Haney on Green Acres.
Buttram enjoys sharing his love of western, cowboy, and down-home humor with the crowd.
Over 60 tables of cap guns, old toys, and western items were shown from all over the country.
Many outstanding Gene Autry collections were on display.
Admission to the event was $5. for adults, children 12 and under free.
There is a long history behind the Gene Autry Days. In 1936 the Kenton Hardware Co., which manufactured Kenton toys, received the contract to produce Gene Autry repeating cap pistols. They produced over six million of these guns and that contract is credited with saving Kenton. Autry visited the factory and Kenton in 1938 and this visit was a highlight in history for many residents, who got to see him at the Kenton Theatre.
Autry was at the height of his popularity at the time of that visit. He made 635 recordings, 300 of which he wrote or co wrote. He also starred in 91 films. Autry always had fond memories of Kenton as well, and was very generous in granting the Chamber of Commerce permission to use his name and likeness for this event.
Since his passing in 1998, his wife Jackie, through Autry Entertainment,continues to allow this privilege.
Glen Stearns conceived this event and continues to create an original art design annually for advertising and memorabilia.
Everything is produced with the prior approval from Autry Entertainment. The design
will be on T-shirts, mugs, posters, marbles, buttons, and other items available at the show.