The popular song, “Here comes Santa Claus,” which has been played at many Santa Claus parades over the last 70 years made one of its first appearances in a Gene Autry movie, The Cowboy and the Indians (1949). The plot of the film, like many popular westerns of the era was semi-contemporary. Thefts and vandalism had broken out on a reserve. Gene arrived and discovered that the outlawry had been caused by a crooked Indian agent or store owner. One of the measures that he suggested might improve the situation was to bring presents to the reserve children at the school. And so the song was sung as he was bringing a wagonload of gifts to the native children. You can find the song on YouTube:
Jay Silverheels appears in the film as one of the wrongfully accused natives on the reserve. His history (film and athletic) is succinctly told here.
Interestingly, Clayton Moore played one of the actual villains in the film. He and Silverheels would have subsequent career together on The Lone Ranger.
1 comment:
Russell here. This is great. The cowboy singers are back in the saddle with a progressive message!
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