Albie's Note: Although I was born late [1964] to be a probable fan, I LOVE what are now called "B-westerns," the Matinee fare that dominated rural boys' and girls' cinematic viewing habits at hinterlands film theatres from the 1920s to the 1950s. Say what you want about this whole celluloid mythology... at its core it was truly allegorical... by this I mean that these films were really fables about good vs. evil, and they consistently taught respect for fellow human beings as well as the "minding of one's own business."
No wonder Hollywood got rid of westerns!!
Now... a lot of people have made loving tributes to these films, but the very greatest nod may well have been this Top 30 Country song from back in 1974. Behold The Statler Brothers great single "Whatever Happened to Randoph Scott?":
Everybody knows when you go to the show
you can't take the kids along.
You've gotta read the paper and know the code of G, PG, and R, and X,
and you gotta know what the movie's about
before you even go.
Tex Ritter's gone, and Disney's dead,
and the screen is filled with sex.
[CHORUS]
Whatever happened to Randolph Scott
ridin' the trail alone?
Whatever happened to Gene and Tex,
and Roy, and Rex, the Durango Kid?
Oh, Whatever happened to Randolph Scott,
his horse plain as could be?
Whatever happened to Randolph Scott
has happened to the best of me.
[ guitar ]
Everybody’s tryin' to make a comment
about our doubts and fears.
True Grit's the only movie
I've really understood in years.
You gotta take your analyst along
to see if it's fit to see.
Whatever happened to Randolph Scott
has happened to the industry.
[CHORUS]
Whatever happened to Johnny Mack Brown,
and Alan "Rocky" Lane?
Whatever happened to Lash LaRue?
I'd love to see them again.
Whatever happened to Smiley Burnett,
Tim Holt, and Gene Autry?
Whatever happened to all of these
has happened to the best of me.
Whatever happened to Randolph Scott
has happened to the industry.
PEACE
2 comments:
Howdy, Albie the Great. Enjoyed the song.
Thanks friend, and welcome back to blog-land :)
Post a Comment