This feature film from 1937 is B-movie Western directed by Robert N. Bradbury. It stars Tex Ritter as Tex Randall, a roving horse-trader who becomes embroiled in a horse-theft scheme in Pecos County. The film also stars Jerry Bergh, Tommy Bupp, Earl Dwire, Jack C. Smith, Archie Ricks, and Hank Worden. Like many of Ritter’s pictures, the film includes several songs performed by the recording artist. It also features performances by Ray Whitley’s band, the Range Ramblers. Whitley is perhaps best known for co-writing “Back in the Saddle Again,” which would ultimately become Gene Autry’s theme song.

Woodward Marice Ritter, better known as Tex Ritter, was a country music singer and film actor born in Murvaul, Texas on January 12, 1905. He attended South Park High School in Beaumont, and studied government, political science, and economics at the University of Texas at Austin. In 1928, Ritter began singing cowboy songs on the Houston radio program KPRC-AM. Moving to New York City later that year, Ritter appeared in Broadway productions and television series in addition to furthering his work on radio. Ritter began his recording career in 1933, signing with American Record Company, now Columbia Records, and later Decca Records. In 1936, Ritter moved to Los Angeles. He made his cinematic debut in Song of the Gringo (1936), filming several B-movie westerns throughout the 1930s and 1940s. In 1942, Ritter became the first artist signed by the newly formed Capitol Records, releasing several country hits through the 1960s including “I’m Wasting My Time on You.” He also became one of the founding members of the Country Music Association and an advocate for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, both in Nashville, Tennessee. For his contribution to the recording industry, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1964. Ritter died of a heart attack in Nashville on January 2, 1974, just 10 days before his 69th birthday.

Pecos County

1930s 1930’s Pecos County edit edited Hittin’ the Trail Hitting the Trail “Hittin’ the Trail” film films filming feature film feature films movie movies b-movie b-movies b movie b movies narrative film narrative films cinema production productions genre genres western westerns action adventure adventures comedy comedies music musical musicals romance romances Boots and Saddles Pictures Grand National Pictures

Grand National Films Grand National Films, Inc. director directors directing directed by Robert N. Bradbury Robert Bradbury R.N. Bradbury Bradbury, Robert N. Bradbury, Robert Bradbury, R.N. cast casts casting star stars movie star movie stars Hollywood star Hollywood stars starring actor actors acting singer singers singing Tex Ritter Ritter, Tex Woodward Maurice Ritter Ritter, Woodward Maurice Hank Worden Worden, Hank Norton Earl Worden Worden, Norton Earl White Flash horse horses animal

animals scene scenes set sets song songs soundtrack soundtracks score scores cowboy cowboys west old west horseback horseback riding riding rider riders outlaw outlaws trader traders horse trading horse trader horse trader trading plot plots arrest arrests mistaken identity gang gangs sheriff sheriffs saloon saloons bar

bars Ray Whitley and His Range Ramblers The Range Rambles Ray Whitley Whitley, Ray Raymond Otis Whitley Whitley, Raymond Otis performance performances band bands artist artists performer performers stolen theft thefts thief thieves dog dogs kid kids child children child actor child actors outdoors nature landscape rustler rustlers country frontier country music country singer country singers chase chases

horse chase horse chases gun guns gunfire gunshot gunshots singing cowboy singing cowboys protagonist protagonists antagonist antagonists