 | Early 1950s at Village Barn country nightclub, NYC - Fan postcard. Last promo piece as a singing cowboy. Subsequent promotional postcards and mailers promoted Tex as a "folk" artist. In 1957, Tex sold his home and other real estate holdings in Westchester County, New York and the second of the three restaurants he owned and moved the whole brood to a suburb of Rapid City (at the time not much of a city at all), South Dakota, his adopted home state where he was well known as its "Official Singing Cowboy" by then-Governor, Sigurd Anderson. Photo courtesy Fletcher Family Archives. |
 | Circa 1930, likely the earliest "proper" publicity shot for first pro gig at WOR radio in New York. Note that he's holding a Gibson. I do not know which model this is. Once established, Tex acquired a number of Martin guitars over the years and was never again photographed with anything other than a Martin guitar. As far as he was concerned, the least expensive Martin was head and shoulders above any other company's "best." Photo courtesy Fletcher Family Archives. |
 | With his Cowboys at The Village Barn, NYC, 1941. Top : Clockwise from left: Tony Fuscaldo, accordion; Pee Wee, bass; Big Chief Woah Woah; Center: Tex with D-42. Courtesy Tony Fuscaldo. |
 | With his Cowboys at Village Barn, NYC, December 1941. The Fletcher family still has those very expensive boots! Courtesy Tony Fuscaldo. |
 | Publicity still for "Six Gun Rhythm." Taken at Walker Ranch in Placieta County, CA. The original ranch house used in this and literally scores of other oaters still stands as a memorial to silver screen cowboys. Photo courtesy Fletcher Family Archives. |
 | The first Tex Fletcher Song book. The copyright is 1937 on the book. The Martin D-42 was brand new. Photo courtesy Fletcher Family Archives. |
 | Tex Fletcher and His Rhythm Rangers at 1936 World's Championship Rodeo at Madison Square Garden, October 9-25, 1936. L-R Jack "2-Gun" Gillette, violin, trumpet, Tex with a brand new D-42, Jimmy Dixon, bass. Seated, Tony Fuscaldo, accordion. Also on the bill, Roy Rogers and the Sons of the Pioneers. Courtesy Tony Fuscaldo. |
 | Hosting the "Tootsie Hippodrome." Early '50s at ABC Studios in New York City. Rarely were regionally aired shows filmed or kiniscoped for posterity, so there is very little information available on the show's history or run. Photo courtesy Fletcher Family Archives. |
 | Tex, at rear with what appears to be a Martin 0-18, as a member of Rex Cole's Mountaineers (later known as Emerson's Mountaineers), a popular "Hillbilly" recording and radio group of the 1930s. This photo taken in 1933 for WMCA in New York. Photo courtesy Fletcher Family Archives. |
 | Among the Short Pines of the Black Hills of South Dakota, circa 1927. This is where Tex Fletcher had all the others beat. He was a real cowboy, or at least learned to be one. He could outride most of his contemporaries, and was a good shot. Stunt double Davy Sharp had little to do for Tex in "Six Gun Rhythm." Except for a couple of scenes requiring some trick riding, there was no need. It was during his cow punching years when Tex absorbed not only the manner of real cowpokes, but their music and lore, as well. This is when Jerry Bisceglia of Harrison, NY became Tex Fletcher of South Dakota. Photo courtesy Fletcher Family Archives. |
 | Tootsie Hippodrome, early 1950s. Happiest when performing, that's a very real smile on Tex's face. By this time the Martin D-42 was beginning to show its twenty some years of road wear. It was at about this time that Tex acquired his first of his two Martin 000-28s as a back up instrument, which he used extensively for the later part of his career. The D-42 was repaired numerous times over the years, including bridge reglues and pearl inlay replacement, but when Tex turned it over to Martin company historian and family friend, Mike Longworth in the early 1970s, it was barely playable.
The holster and guns he is wearing, as well as the 000-28 disappeared mysteriously from his home in the 1970s. Literally brokenhearted, he spoke of the guns on his death bed, asking that the family continue the search for them. They were silver plated, United States Cavalry issue Colt .45 caliber single action revolvers with two-piece pearl handles. To this day there is still a reward for their return to the family. Photo courtesy Fletcher Family Archives. |
 | A very early shot, probably late '20s, with his Martin 000-45. Photo courtesy Fletcher Family Archives. |
 | Early publicity shot, probably late '20s. One of only a few pieces that survived a major flood in the 1960s. Most of his memorabilia, recordings, stage outfits and related belongings were lost to several floods over the years. Photo courtesy Fletcher Family Archives. |
 | Tex loved kids and was active in every community he lived. He emceed and performed gratis for churches, orphanages, hospitals and school functions throughout his career until his full retirement in the 1970s. He founded the Tex Fletcher Boy's Club in Buffalo, South Dakota in the 1950s, and was active in the Police Athletic League and similar organizations in his home city for many years, Yonkers, NY. Photo courtesy Fletcher Family Archives. |
 | Another posed for publicity still from "Six Gun Rhythm," with the 000-45. This is not a scene from the movie. Photo courtesy Fletcher Family Archives. |
 | Tex's cowboy classic, "Tipperary" has been covered by many singing cowboys, including latter day cowboy/folklorist, Glenn Orlin, but oddly, it was never recorded by its author. Photo courtesy Fletcher Family Archives. |
 | In the 1930s, the concept of "soundtrack" albums was a long way off, so a full song book and a few songs from "Six Gun Rhythm" were released to Tex's largely rural audience. Though the inference is that Tex authored the collection, he shares writing credit on only a few numbers. Courtesy Fletcher Family Archives. |
 | Performance for Franklin D. Roosevelt: Not a bad gig for a 24 year-old. It was reported nationally that Tex performed "Home on the Range" because it was his understanding that it was among the President's favorite tunes. President Roosevelt in turn denied the song was a favorite and lots of good, free national publicity for the singing cowboy newcomer ensued. Program courtesy LaFalce family. |
 | At the Village Barn with one "Mr. Smith" at the piano. 1940. Courtesy Tony Fuscaldo. |
 | Publicity still for Tex Fletcher Song books in consort with "Six Gun Rhythm." Photo courtesy Fletcher Family Archives. |
 | Fan mailer, presumably for "Six Gun Rhythm," with his old Martin 000-45. Literally thousands of these cards were mailed out by Tex personally in response to fan mail. In later years the responsibility went to his wife, Ada Mae. The family has acquired a few of these back from collectors with Tex's personal messages to his fans. Photo courtesy Fletcher Family Archives. |
 | With yet another "Cowboys" lineup. mid-1940s. Sorry, simply can't get IDs for these guys. The bassist may be Roy Horton, who had something to do with Peer-Southern publishing. Photo courtesy Fletcher Family Archives. |
 | Early '50s with his trusty back-up guitar, his 000-28. Photo courtesy Fletcher Family Archives. |
 | Tex's reputation as a top-notch live entertainer was wide and attracted many celebrities of the day to the Village Barn in NYC, including Roy Rogers; Hopalong Cassidy; "Texas" Jim Lewis; Wilf "Montana Slim" Carter; old friend and Hollywood room mate, Tex Ritter as well as many radio and early TV stars. Here he is shown with his guests, Gene and Ina Autry, circa 1945. Somebody had written over the face of this photo and we spent a great deal of time restoring it. Photo courtesy Fletcher Family Archives. |
 | This button is just one of dozens of "Six Gun Rhythm" fan specialty items created by Grand National pictures for the artist whom they were betting on to be the next major cowboy star. Had the company not gone under upon release of the film, the picture was slated for heavy national distribution and, who knows what kind of success for its star. An even more amazing fact is that even without distribution, the film is surprisingly well known among fans and collectors of the B Western genre, and was a staple of late night television for many years ... and still is. Barely a month goes by where the picture is not shown somewhere in the world.
Upon Grand National's demise, Tex acquired several 16 mm prints of the film and promoted it with self booked personal appearances throughout the Northeast, often accompanied by his accordionist, Tony Fuscaldo. To this day an unprecedented feat of self determination and the single reason for the picture's longetivity. After a year or so of endless engagements along the East coast, Tex entered the United States Army. Upon his return, he went back to WOR and the Village Barn and eventually television, rejecting all offers to go back to Hollywood - offers which continued right into the 1980s, shortly before his death. For this cowboy, Hollywood was just a stage stop along the way, not a destination. Photo courtesy Fletcher Family Archives. |