Father Geek bids farewell to the voice of the West

Auto accidents claimed the lifes of two Silver Screen icons last week. James Bond's "Q" Desmond Llewelyn was killed in a head-on collision near Firle in East Sussex while returning home from a book signing. (See Harry's goodbye below) Also Father Geek must inform you that REX ALLEN, "The Voice of the West" died Friday after being run over by a car.

Rex started out as a Vaudeville and Rodeo singer who cut several hit records. He signed with Republic Pictures and made over 30 B-Westerns between 1949 and 1976's SECRET OF THE NAVAJO'S CAVE. He rode along side of Slim Pickens in many of these Saturday Matinee Films. His pardner in most of his films was KOKO "The Miracle Horse". Some of his popular titles were THE ARIZONA COWBOY, THE HILLS OF OKLAHOMA, THE TRAIL OF ROBIN HOOD, and THE PHANTOM STALLION.

He played the lead in the television series FRONTIER DOCTOR and worked as a voice actor on radio and in cartoon features like CHARLOTTE'S WEB, but most of you are probably most familar with REX ALLEN from the 80+ Walt Disney films that he narrated over the years.

Back in the early 50's when FATHER GEEK was 6 years old I met REX ALLEN. He was appearing at the big San Antonio rodeo as their featured guest star out at the old Joe Freeman Fair Grounds, and 4 or 5 of my friends and I were hanging out near the horse barns out back when up rode REX. He was all decked out in cowboy flash (colorful silk shirt covered in sparkles ala Roy Rogers), his guitar was strapped across his back, and he sported twin nichol plated .45 Peacemakers on his hips. KOKO's saddle was encrusted in silver and gold. We were dumb-struck, this was totally unexpected. "Howdy Boys!" the all too familar voice boomed out, "How Ya Doin?" as he swung down off of KOKO. WOW!!! "Here son, why don't you hold KOKO for me." as he handed me the reigns. I was Dying. Literally shaking in my boots. "You'awl see the show?" "No, we didn't have tickets" I responded. "We just came to the carnival" I added. "Well that's ashamed, You'awl want to ride on KOKO?" My knees went weak. One by one he helped each of us into the saddle, talking to us, walking a few yards alongside the horse that not only starred with him in the movies, but that was pictured with him on dozens of comicbook covers. Comics I had at home. After the last of us had mounted the stallion REX hefted his pistols out of their holsters, gave them a couple of spins ending up back in their starting places. "Well, I've got to bed KOKO down, its been a long day." he finished up as he disappeared into the darkened barn. We turned and headed back through the sea of horse trailers and pickups to the beckoning neon of the carnival midway. That was 48 years ago, I've never forgotten that very special moment... or REX ALLEN... Adios.