Cowboy Codes Of The West
Cowboy Codes Of The West
Cowboy Codes Of The West
Gene Autry's Code of Honor
A cowboy never takes unfair advantage - even of    an enemy.
A cowboy never betrays a trust. He never goes    back on his word.
A cowboy always tells the truth.
A cowboy is kind and gentle to small children,    old folks, and animals.
A cowboy is free from racial and religious    intolerances.
A cowboy is always helpful when someone is in    trouble.
A cowboy is always a good worker.
A cowboy respects womanhood, his parents and his    nation's laws.
A cowboy is clean about his person in thought,    word, and deed.
A cowboy is a Patriot.
Many of us grew up absorbing the Code of the West from our matinee cowboys, such as Gene Autry, Hopalong Cassidy, Wild Bill Hickok, The Lone Ranger, Roy Rogers, and The Texas Rangers. Sometimes, they even spelled it out for us, so return with us now to those days of yesteryear and listen to our cowboy heroes' codes, creeds, oaths, prayers, and rules.
Gene Autry rode off into the sunset in his final Hollywood picture, Last of the Pony Ride (1953). During his entire film career, the cowboy star remained in first or second place at the box office until he retired from motion pictures in 1953.
He had made nearly 100 movies, basically playing himself-an American cowboy hero, a tough gentleman who possessed tremendous common sense, kind to women and a good friend - which audiences loved.
Gene Autry was the recipient of hundreds of honors and awards. Autry turned to the small screen and had his own television show, "The Gene Autry Show" (CBS, 1950-'56). With its emphasis on the work ethic and patriotism, the Cowboy Code adequately captures the seemingly-benign, though unapologetically sexist values animating the juvenile westerns of America's Cold-War culture.
But "Thou Shall Not Kill" is noticeably missing from Autry's Ten Commandments - and this omission would later come to be the source of much public concern. Based on his beliefs and personal integrity, he established the "Cowboy Code of Ethics" for viewers. Gene Autry helped to establish the "Cowboy Code of Honor" that incorporated many noble behaviors.
Autry retired from show business in 1964, having made almost 100 films up to 1955 and over 600 records. He was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1969 and to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970. After retiring, he invested widely and in real estate, radio, and television, including the purchase from dying Republic Pictures the rights for films he had made for the company.
In 1952, Autry bought the old Monogram Ranch in Placerita Canyon (Newhall-Santa Clarita, California,) and renamed it Melody Ranch. Numerous "B" Westerns and TV shows were shot there during Autry's ownership, including the initial years of Gunsmoke with James Arness.  The world mourned when the legendary cowboy passed away in 1998.
The Lone Ranger Creed
I believe that to    have a friend, a man must be one.
That all men are    created equal and that everyone has within himself the power to make this a    better world.
That God put the    firewood there, but that every man must gather and light it himself.
In being prepared    physically, mentally, and morally to fight when necessary for that which is    right.
That a man should    make the most of what equipment he has.
That "this    government, of the people, by the people, and for the people," shall live    always.
That men should    live by the rule of what is best for the greatest number.
That sooner or    later...somewhere...somehow...we must settle with the world and make payment    for what we have taken.
That all things    change, but the truth, and the truth alone lives on forever.
I believe in my    Creator, my country, my fellow man.
In every incarnation of the character to date, the Lone Ranger has conducted himself by a strict moral code. This code was written by the shows original writer Fran Striker at the inception of the character. He first appeared in 1933 in a radio show conceived either by WXYZ (Detroit) radio station owner George W. Trendle, or by Fran Striker.
The character was originally believed to be inspired by Texas Ranger Captain John R. Hughes, to whom the book "The Lone Star Ranger" by Zane Grey was dedicated in 1915. The radio series proved to be a hit and spawned a series of books (largely written by Striker), an equally popular television show that ran from 1949 to 1957, comic books, and several movies.
A much more well known and influential adaptation of the Lone Ranger was the (1949-1957) television series starring Clayton Moore (though with John Hart as the Lone Ranger from 1952-1954) and Jay Silverheels as Tonto.
The live-action TV series initially featured Gerald Mohr as the episode narrator. He was also narrator for seven episodes of the radio series in 1949, 1950 and 1952. Fred Foy served as both narrator and announcer of the radio series from 1948 to its finish, and became announcer of the TV version when story narration was dropped there.
Actors Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels, taking their positions as role models to children very seriously, also tried their best to live by this creed. Moore often was quoted as saying he had "fallen in love with the Lone Ranger character" and strove in his personal life to take The Lone Ranger Creed to heart. This, coupled with his very public fight to retain the right to wear the mask, ultimately elevated him in the public's eyes to an American folk icon.
In keeping with the nature of the Ranger character, Moore chose to always protect the Ranger's identity and therefore is probably the only actor, or one of very few to have achieved his level of fame, whose face is largely unknown to the public. His full face was never shown in the TV series, although occasionally he would don a disguise and affect an accent, revealing the upper half of his face in the process. However, there is no shortage of photos of Moore unmasked, including many in his autobiography. His many fans though could easily identify him by his instantly recognizable voice.
The Lone Ranger was a TV show that aired for eight seasons, from 1949 to 1957, and starred Clayton Moore as the Lone Ranger and Jay Silverheels as Tonto. Only five of the eight seasons had new episodes. It was the ABC television network's first big hit of the early 1950s. Moore's tenure as the Ranger is probably the best-known treatment of the franchise. Moore was replaced in the third season by John Hart, but he returned for the final two seasons. The fifth and final season was the only one shot in color. A total of 221 episodes were made.
Hopalong Cassidy's Creed
The highest badge of honor a person can wear is    honesty. Be truthful at all times.
Your parents are the best friends you have.    Listen to them and obey their instructions.
If you want to be respected, you must respect    others. Show good manners in every way.
Only through hard work and study can you succeed.    Don't be lazy.
Your good deeds always come to light. So don't    boast or be a show-off.
If you waste time or money today, you will regret    it tomorrow. Practice thrift in all ways.
Many animals are good and loyal companions. Be    friendly and kind to them.
A strong, healthy body is a precious gift. Be    neat and clean.
Our country's laws are made for your protection.    Observe them carefully.
Children in many foreign lands are less fortunate    than you. Be glad and proud you are an American.
On June 24, 1949, Hoppy became the first network Western television series, airing on NBC. At first NBC fashioned the shows out of the films after paying Boyd, who owned the TV rights to his films, a quarter-million dollars for them.
The footage later shot for the TV series starred Boyd, with Edgar Buchanan as his sidekick "Red Connors" and numerous tie-ins. The theme music for the TV show was written by veteran songwriters Nacio Herb Brown (music) and L. Wolfe Gilbert (lyrics). The show ranked number 7 in the 1949 Nielsen ratings.
William Boyd gave generously to children's charities and it wasn't unusual to see him, resplendent on his Hoppy regalia, unexpectedly appear in a children's hospital, making his way through the wards. During personal appearances, he was Hopalong Cassidy in the flesh and not William Boyd in costume.
The two had become so synonymous that when Boyd died in 1972, a number of obituaries actually identified the departed as Hopalong Cassidy. To the public, and to Boyd, the two men were one.
Legend has it that William Boyd hated kids. Nothing could be further from the truth. His own son had died of pneumonia in the early 20s and he had mourned the boy for years. As Hoppy, Boyd dedicated his life to children, even writing "Hopalong Cassidy's Creed for American Boys and Girls".
The Hopalong Cassidy films became a network broadcast over NBC, and early Sunday evenings became 'Hoppy night'. For the 1952-53 and 1953-54 seasons, there were 52 half-hour Hoppy adventures.  A dozen were created (condensed) from the later United Artists films with Andy Clyde and Rand Brooks. And 40 brand new half hour shows were lensed and featured Edgar Buchanan as 'Red Connors'.
The end result of all this air time was that Boyd and the Hoppy character were more popular than ever. In addition to TV, Boyd did circuses, rodeos, personal appearance tours, hospital visits, et al. He was on the covers of magazines such as Life, Look and TV Guide.
As to William Boyd the man, he had gone through a personal transformation and re-awakening. A few years prior to his passing, Boyd had cancer surgery. On June 5, 1937, he and actress Grace Bradley tied the knot, and the result was a happy pairing that continued through Boyd's death in 1972 of heart problems and parkinson's disease. Over the years, William Lawrence Boyd --- and his version of the Hopalong Cassidy character --- blended together to became one and the same.  The parents and kiddies of the time loved him.  And through personal appearances and such, Boyd returned that love and adoration --- you could see it in his face and smile and hear it when he belted out one of his great laughs. Many kids who grew up in the late 1940s and early 1950s owe some of their personal values and beliefs to William Boyd.  That's his greatest accomplishment.
Roy Rogers Riders Club Rules
Be neat and clean.
Protect the weak    and help them.
Be brave, but never    take chances.
Study hard and learn all you can.
Be kind to animals    and care for them.
Eat all your food    and never waste any.
Love God and go to    Sunday School regularly.
Always respect    our flag and our country.
Roy  Rogers Prayer
Lord, I reckon I'm not much  just by myself,
I fail to do a lot of things I ought to do.
But Lord, when trails are steep and passes high,
Help me ride it straight the whole way through.
And when in the falling dusk I get that final call,
I do not care how many flowers they send,
Above all else, the happiest trail would be
For YOU to say to me, "Let's ride, My Friend"
I belong to that generation that remembers Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. Roy and Dale's famous theme song, which Dale wrote and they sang as a duet to sign off their television show, was Happy trails to you, Until we meet again... As a kid I was well exposed not only to their music and movies, but to their philosophy. Kids like me actually joined the Roy Rogers Riders Club and we lived by these rules.
During the 1950s, there were no more beloved heroes than Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. They were role models for millions of children throughout the world. He stood for everything that was good.
Rogers and Evans were also well known as advocates for adoption and as founders and operators of children's charities. They adopted several children. Both were outspoken Christians.
In Apple Valley, California, where they made their home, numerous streets and highways as well as civic buildings have been named after them in recognition of their efforts on behalf of homeless and handicapped children.
In June 1933 met Grace Arline Wilkins at a Roswell, New Mexico radio station. They were married in Roswell, New Mexico on June 11, 1936 after having corresponded since their first meeting. In 1941, the couple adopted a girl, Cheryl Darlene. Two years later, Arline bore daughter Linda Lou. She bore Roy Jr. ("Dusty") in 1946, but died of complications from the birth a few days later, on November 3.
Rogers had met Dale Evans in 1944 when they were cast in a film together. They fell in love soon after Arline's death and Rogers proposed to her during a rodeo at Chicago Stadium. They married on New Year's Eve in 1947 at the Flying L Ranch in Davis, Oklahoma, where they had filmed Home in Oklahoma a few months earlier. Rogers was an active Freemason and a Shriner, and was noted for his support of their charities. When Rogers died of congestive heart failure on July 6, 1998, he was residing in Apple Valley, California. He was buried at Sunset Hills Memorial Park in Apple Valley, as was his wife, Dale Evans, three years later.
"Deputy Ranger" Oath
Live Cleanly.
Have Faith in God.
When asked how many Texas Rangers should be sent to quell a problem the traditional rule and motto of the service was "One Riot, One Ranger." This was not done out of a sense of frugality, but rather the statement proclaimed that the Texas Ranger was so good and in control that it only took one duly authorized Ranger to get the job done.
A number of TV programs featured Texas Ranger characters including Tales Of The Texas Ranger CBS-ABC 1955-59 starring Willard Parker and Harry Lauter; Texas John Slaughter ABC 1958-61 starring Tom Tyron; Trackdown CBS 1957-59 starring Robert Culp; Laredo NBC 1965-67 starring Neville Brand, Peter Brown, William Smith, and Philip Carey; and Walker, Texas Ranger CBS 1993-2001 starring Chuck Norris.
Originally airing on NBC Radio from 1950 to 1952 and later on CBS Television from 1955 to 1958. The radio shows were reenactments of actual Texas Ranger cases. The television version was produced and also directed for several episodes by Stacy Keach, Sr. It was sponsored for part of its run by Wheaties cereal. Captain Manuel T. "Lone Wolf" Gonzaullas, who was said to have killed thirty-one men during his 30-year career as a Texas Ranger, was the consultant for the television series, as he had been for the earlier radio series.
The television version was filmed by Screen Gems. In the television version, Willard Parker assumed the role of Jace Pearson and had a regular partner, Ranger Clay Morgan, who had been an occasional character on the radio show. Morgan was portrayed in the television version by Harry Lauter.
During the opening and closing credits of the television series, the actors march toward the camera as an off-screen men's chorus sings the theme song, "These Are Tales of Texas Rangers", to the tune of "The Eyes of Texas Are Upon You" and "I've Been Working on the Railroad".
The radio series used contemporary cases and modern detective methods to solve crimes; it was a procedural drama, in many ways Jack Webb's Dragnet with a western flavor. The television version had some episodes set in the 1950s. Other episodes were set in the 19th century in a traditional western genre. In each case, Parker and Lauter were involved with chases and shoot-outs. The code was developed for TV viewers, especially the kids watching, on how to be a better person.
Deputy Marshal's Code of Conduct
I will be brave, but never careless.
I will obey my parents. They DO know best.
I will be neat and clean at all times.
I will be polite and courteous.
I will protect the weak and help them.
I will study hard.
I will be kind to animals and care for them.
I will respect my flag and my country.
I will attend my place of worship regularly.
The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok was a western action series about a U.S. Marshall and his 300 pound sidekick who brought bad guys to justice in the old west. The TV show was nominated for "Best Western or Adventure Series" in 1955. Guy Madison (1922-1996) will be forever linked to “Wild  Bill Hickok”, the smash hit TV series that ran in syndication from April 15,  1951, to May 16, 1958, for 113 half hour episodes. (It was also seen later on  CBS and ABC in reruns.)
Madison signed on to be TV’s “Wild Bill Hickok” just when juvenile westerns with  Roy, Gene, Hoppy and Cisco were proliferating on the airwaves. Guy struck gold,  Hickok not only restored Guy’s popularity, it brought him a whole new  television audience.
As  Wild Bill, Guy wore a fanciful, fringed buckskin shirt, a reverse draw brace of  six-guns, rode an Appaloosa (Buckshot) and had overweight Andy Devine  (1905-1977) as his gravel-voiced sidekick Jingles P. Jones (“Hey Wild Bill—Wait  for me!”). Jingles would always introduce him as "The bravest, strongest, fightingest U.S. Marshall in the whole west!
This was pure shoot-‘em-up fiction “Wild  Bill Hickok” never attempted to bring any historical reality to the series. The series, executive produced by William  F. Broidy (1915-1959) through Monogram/Allied Artists facilities, began in b/w,  switched to color after four seasons (61 episodes), then back to b/w for season  six (Ep. #75-87). Season seven in 1956 (#88-100) was in color again. After a  one year layoff in production (reruns of the first 100 filled the air), another  13 color episodes were produced in 1958 by new owner Screen Gems.
Simultaneously, Guy and Andy appeared as Wild Bill Hickok  and Jingles on Mutual Radio from May ‘51-December ‘54 and again from February ‘55-February ‘56. At one point their show was on three times a week for Kellogg  Cereals.
The Wild Bill Hickok Deputy Marshal's Code of Conduct were the kinds of codes often drawn up to impress and influence the behavior of boys who become enamored of the cowboy ideal (or at least used to). It's an ideal akin to the noble qualities of the "perfect, gentle knight," the kind of man who "loved truth and honor, freedom and courtesy" as described by the great English poet Geoffrey Chaucer in his Canterbury Tales. George Walker Bush was born July 6, 1946 and grew up absorbing these codes. Maybe that's why he's called a cowboy. You don't have to have been born in cowboy country to understand and practice its code.