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*Real Stories, By "Mr Tex*
*Mr Tex........"the walkin', talkin' encyclopedia of horses"
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These tips and stories have been written by our good friend, * Mr
Tex.* Buffalo Jim & I've gotten to know him from "The Offical Roy Rogers & Dale Evans Official Website, Message Board.
He hails from Canada and was in the "Western Performin'" field, for over 51 years. He's a trick horse trainer and the late,
Roy Rogers is his favorite, "B-Western Hero."
I hope ya'll will enjoy these tips,photos, and stories!! He has told
them to me, in his own words. All photos, tips and stories were summitted by our buddy, to the north of us. Thank ya kindly,
Mr Tex!!
You may reproduced these stories! But only, with the permission of:
Tex Lavallee Click Here to Email Me
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August 27, 2002
Hello Western Fans!!
As promised, here is my *Tips & Stories* for today! I will talk about, how difficult it
was, to become a *Western Performer, Recording Star and Western Movie Star*.
In the 30's, 40's and 50's, the communication ststems were not as fast as today!
Let's talk about such stars as Roy Rogers, Gene Autry and other western cowboys and musicians.
The only opening, was to begain to play at parties, townhalls, and try to write their own songs. Then, to
find a record company and try your luck. Oh boy, that was something! Just think, when Roy, Gene, and many others were in the
recording studio in front of a big microphone, and the producer told you, you gotta to do your best, because at that time
the record was cut direcly to the master acedate, so if the singer make an error, they'd have to do a brand new master record,
and that was expensive in those days. Anyway, your record was complete and everybody was satisfied!
If you were known only in your region, or your town, your new record or 78 rpm, was sent to radio stations
by the producer, but most of the time you had to take your "new release" to the Manager of the radio station, in hopes that
he would play it some.
I was not as lucky, but for Roy Rogers, Gene Autry and Jimmy Rodgers, it was! When their records started
playing on radio, it was something else!
Beleive me, it's different, to hear yourself sing on the radio. I've done that in the past myself, and I
will never forget it!! But I'm not here to talk about me! Let's go back to our stars.
The work, it just begun! You had to make "promotional musical tours", to meet Western Music fans and
to try to sell as many records as you can, so the producer would give you a much better contract. Also, if you're lucky enough,
you might even had your own radio program! So you begn to be in "the business".
For the ones that wanted to be in B - Western Movies; you needed to see every western film producer and company,
and pass an audition. Ya could get a part for bein' an extra, in your first film! Again, "ole Roy" did it, and got a part!!
Today, you become a popular star much faster with the art of television, radio, CD's, and video. Those fancy
satellite systems makes the internet very helpful in promoting your music.
The competition is much bigger today, so you have to keep in the "public eye" at all times! Sometimes, you
become very popular very fast. You can be easily be destroyed if you don't keep ahead of it all! It can "go" as quickly as
"it came!" It's not the same as it was in "the good ole days".
Many new western or country singers have come along. Some are here to stay, while some will fade away!!So
western fans, I hope that you find this interesting. If so, please let me know by this nice website of Buffalo Gal's, or again
by email direcly to me.Click Here To Email Me
So until next time, many Happy Trails and good reading!
Tex Lavallee
"Mr. Tex"
September 1, 2002
Hello Rockn' V Southwestern Ranch Western Fans!
Here's my story for today. I hope you will like it.
As you already know, I've been a western movie fan since I was a little kid. I will never forget all of the
B - Western films I've see when I was a child. Most of them were great, but a part of "ole" Roy, Gene, and another one of
them was also my hero of the silver screen. His name was Lash Larue and one of most popular stars of Producer Releasing Corporation.
It was the guy in black, with his bullwhip and his horse Black Diamond. He was always with his funny sidekick, Al "Fuzzy"
St. John.
As a child, I told my little friends, "I will meet him in person one day." I did too!!
Since that day, many years have past. I too became a Western Performer.
One day, while looking at a TV show, they annouced Lash Larue would be in the state of Vermont, USA, for
a show. My friends and I talked about it the night before and I told them that I would like to see Lash Larue in person.
Early the next morning somebody knocked at the door. It was my cousin, he said, "get up, because we
are going to see Lash Larue. So in a few minutes, we were on our way to Vermont, USA.
When we arrived at the ranch in the Green Mountains, I started to look for Lash, and I saw him near
his blue Buick. I said " hi lash" and he came closer to me. We shook hands and talked for a little while. Then he signed a
picture of himself and his horse, Black Diamond, and I let him go to prepare for his next show. Oh boy, what a show!!
You should have see him with his bullwhip and with his gun tricks. It was something to see.
Late that afternoon, we were back on my farm. I was the happiest kid ever!
Let's get back to Lash, as he was a popular B - Western star in his time. He will be remembered for a long
time, again & again. Remarks I heard, Lash past away some years ago and that he was broke, after suffering some bad experiences.
For me and many other Western Fans, he will be for always, our hero! So until our next visit, Many Happy Trails,
Tex Lavallee
"Mr.
Tex"
If ya like these tips ands stories by Tex, please do us the honor of signin' our
Ranch House Guestbook!!
May the good Lord take a likin' to ya'll!!
Webmaster, Buffalo Gal
_1st_horse.jpg) ** Kid **
*Kid* was the smartest trick horse in eastern Canada, during the 1950's! It was July of 1949, when *Kid* was born. November
of the same year, is when I bought him. Despite the large number of other colts, I selected that colt because of his being
a very nice little hackney.The well conformed sire was Priory Petronius #1197. His color was bright chestnut, with four white
legs.
When I returned to my farm, everyone who saw him, found him to be very nervous and hot.They told me that I wouldn't be
able to do anything with my new equestrian. This advice, it didn't discouage me none!
I began to work with him. I began to train and teach *Kid* some tricks. At the begining, the job wasn't easy. After two
months of hard trainin',he had gentled down and had learned fourteen good tricks. I must tell ya, my neighbors were quite
surprised!! Everyone asked me what I had done to make him so gentle and so smart; in just a few short months. I answered them
"I only train him with gentleness."
Believe me, it was great to have my own trick horse now! Just like my western hero, Roy Rogers and other" big western
movie stars" of that time.
I remember in August 1950, there was an American western performer, offered me a pretty handsome sum, for this colt.I
thanked him, and said, "this colt, he's not for sale for any price!" *Kid* had become "my best pal!"
In following months, I continued to teach him more tricks and with lots of success! In the summer of 1950, *Kid* was doing
32 great tricks!! I made up my mind, right then and there, to take *Kid* out on the road. To make public appearances; at western
performances, in expositions,theater halls, clubs and circus'.
I had a complete show. Includin' a musical band, "Frontier Ramblers;" funny sidekick, "Billy Leonard;" tricks and
fast draw, with my 45(blanks, of coarse). I did some ropin' tricks too. At that time,"western," was really popular. I just
happened to be at "the right place and the right time."
In 1950, *Kid* was very popular. Cause in eastern Canada, he was practically the only great trick horse in the show
attractions, around. To be honest, at the same time, there was another trick horse Thunder; owned by Walter Sidlack.
I continued to perform in public, with *Kid*,for a few more years. But unfortunately, my famous trick horse *Kid*, died
suddenly! I guess, from a heart attack; as I was comin' back from my short mornin' ride. Believe me,it was a very sad day
and I'll never forget it! I took his head in my arms. For a minute or two, he just looked at me. Poor *Kid* just looked at
me to do something, but I was unable to do "anything!!" At least I was near him, when it happened.
The next day, I buried him, with tears in my eyes. That horse, he'd been my "faithful companion!" *Kid* was buried in
a secret place. Known only to my my good friend and me. I buried him with his western saddle and breast collar. I kept his
briddle & western bit. I got a piece of his mane too. I left goin' back home; leavin' behind *Kid,* to rest under a tree
he loved so dear.
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 * Our Baby, Tex *
Now ain't our
baby, Tex a real cutie!! Here he is at 7 months old. |
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.jpg) * Handsome Dude *
Mr Tex
is a "sharp lookin' dude" here, in this photo. Looks mighty handsome in that hat and western shirt he has on. Move over "Duke",
there's a new kid in town. |
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 * Guitarin' Tex *
Here's
our *Mr Tex*, at the age of 31 in 1965. Bet those "cowgirls" just swooned all over him!! Just betcha!! |
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.jpg) * Sidekick, Billy Leonard
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Billy Leonard was Tex's sidekick and comedian, in their "rip roarin'" days of when they performed for many a audience.
Their public appearences: at western events, expositions halls, theater halls, clubs and circus'; well they kept their audiences
at the edge of their seats. When ya is lookin' at this shot of Billy, ya suppose his practicin' for one of them roles in a
Roy Rogers' movie |
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 * Rootn' Tootn' Tex *
*Rootn'
Tootn' Tex* Looks like Mr Tex has drawn his gun, to help out his pardner. Or is he tryin' out for one of Roy Rogers "movin'
picture" shows too! |
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* Priory Petronius, Kid's Sire *