Special thanks to Don Stevens for sharing his memories and photos with us. Don writes:
I was just a teenager with a $5.00 camera that was lucky enough to be at the right place at the right time. I hung around WLS a lot ... got to know most of the acts ... I was able to go all over the place. Went out with Phyllis Brown for a while who was a singer on WLS. Rex Allen and I got along pretty good. He even had a pair of boots made for me ... I wish I had them now.
Scroll down toward the bottom of this WLS History webpage and there's a shot of the outside of the WLS Eighth Street Theater (including the marquee): http://www.wlshistory.com/NBD/ |
(Courtesy of Don Stevens) Above from L-to-R are Leo Carrillo (Pancho), Don Stevens and Duncan Renaldo (the Cisco Kid) after a 1953 show in Milwaukee. (Courtesy of Don Stevens) Above from L-to-R are Sons of the Pioneers member Hugh Farr (and autograph) and Chicago musician Kelly Shank at a rodeo at the Chicago Stadium, 1947 or 1948. (Courtesy of Don Stevens) Above from L-to-R are Sons of the Pioneers members Hugh Farr, Pat Brady and Karl Farr at the Chicago Stadium, 1947 or 1948. (Courtesy of Don Stevens) Above is Gene Autry at the back door of the WLS Eighth Street Theater, late 1940s, National Barn Dance show. (Courtesy of Don Stevens) Above is a mid 1940s dressing room photo of Gene Autry and Don Stevens. Gene is wearing his WW2 Air Corps/Air Force uniform and teenaged Don is wearing a CAP (Civil Air Patrol) uniform. (Courtesy of Don Stevens) Above is a closeup of Gene Autry riding past Soldier Field, Chicago during a 1941 rodeo appearance. (Courtesy of Don Stevens) Above is Gene Autry getting ready to do his 1941 Chicago rodeo show. |