Gene Autry owned half interest in the CBS Television station in Phoenix with Tom Chauncy and he was in town quite often. I was a great fan of his. I, too, saw Gene and Champion who appeared on state at a movie theater in Waco, Texas in the early 1940's. He owned a ranch (The Lightening C was the name as I recall) near Dublin, Texas, which is not far from where I grew up. I saw him perform at the Dublin Rodeo in about 1943 with the Cass County Boys, and he was in his Warrant Officer uniform when he performed in the arena.

Art: The story I heard about "Riding Down the Canyon" was Gene and Smiley were riding through Oak Creek Canyon, here in Arizona, and that Smiley wrote the song as they headed south to Phoenix. I don't know if Mudcatters are familiar with that area of Arizona, but many "B" Western movies were filmed there because of the unusual beauty of the red rocks that abound. When I heard the story, I never doubted it because the song so clearly describes that area. I have no reason to doubt your view of the story though.

DougR