The Gene Autry Oklahoma Museum

The Museum that houses hundreds of items about the B-Western films of the 1930s, ‘40s and ‘50s has ventured into high-tech. Its summer fundraising effort, scheduled for June 20 and 21, is being kicked off with an Online Auction, published at the Gene Autry Oklahoma Museum online.

“Part of our ‘Summer Jamboree’ fundraiser event is a Silent Auction,” said coordinator Mary Schutz, “so we thought we’d kick it up a notch and put the auction online and open it to others via this site.” The high bid from the Online Auction will become the opening bid at the Silent Auction, which happens Saturday, June 20, beginning at 4:30 p.m.

The Auction is only one of the activities planned for the Museum’s “Summer Jamboree” event. Youngsters who enjoy performing traditional music are invited to participate in the Young Entertainers’ Showcase, Saturday at 10 a.m as the Museum searches for young talent for its Film & Music Festival held in September. Informal concerts featuring performers of country and cowboy music as well as cowboy poetry begin at 1 p.m. and continue throughout the afternoon. The BBQ Supper and the Silent Auction both begin at 4:30 p.m. and continue until 7 p.m. Saturday’s festivities culminate with a concert by Les Gilliam, the Oklahoma Balladeer. Then, for those who’d like to stay over (there’s free parking for RVs) or those who’d like to return on Sunday, there’s a Cowboy Church service, beginning at 10 a.m., with gospel music by Tex & Mary Schutz and Les Gilliam and an inspiring message by Pastor Sharen Hale, of the Gene Autry Methodist Church.

The “Summer Jamboree” will raise funds to help with the Museum’s general operation. No admission will be charged, except for the BBQ Supper, which is $10 for adults and $7 for youngsters 12 and under. Donations will be appreciated for the various other activities.

“Our endeavor here at the Gene Autry Oklahoma Museum is to keep the memories of the B-Westerns and their singing cowboys alive, and pass them on to future generations,” said Schutz. “This event is an opportunity for folks to come out and take a look at our many collections that focus on such stars as Gene Autry, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, Jimmy Wakely, Rex Allen, Monte Hale, Hopalong Cassidy, Ken Maynard and many others.”

To get to the Gene Autry Oklahoma Museum, take exit 40 off Interstate 35, go five miles east on Hwy 53, then one and one-half miles south on Happy Trails and two miles east on Tumbleweed Road. For more information about the various activities of the event, or to donate auction items or cash, call 903-467-9545 or 580-294-3047.