This upload was created to complement a film review of "Square Dance Jubilee" (1949) in tribute to the late, iconic, tough-as-nails westerns and crime-drama film and TV actor Don "Red" Barry. If there is an issue, leave a comment below and it can be removed. However, there's a wealth of Don's work uploaded, as well as the film (by others), without incident.
My grandfather and dad loved Don "Red" Barry westerns . . . and they got me hooked. I love this guy!
Sure, there's great Spade Cooley tunes in the frames, but Red Barry made one of his rare singing efforts in this "jukebox musical" directed by Paul Landres and written by Ron Ormond -- courtesy of a great tune written by westerns film director, producer and screenwriter Albert C. Gannaway. Just another fun film form the golden days of UHF-TV from the resume of producer-distributor Robert L. Lippert, he who gave us a few horror and sci-fi films mixed in with westerns for which he was noted. You can't go wrong with a movie carrying the Ormond, Gannaway or Lippert name , as well as Paul Landres, he of the horror classics "The Return of Dracula" (1958) and "The Vampire" (1957). When it's all of them on one picture, I'm sold!
Sadly, as with today's -- and even tomorrows -- celebrities, there was a dark side to the careers of Spade Cooley and Red Barry.
Spade Cooley had a contentious marriage with Ella May Evans, a singer in his band. She’d go on to have an affair with TV and film cowboy Roy Rogers . . . and Cooley was eventually convicted of murdering Ella May. Spade's biggest hits during his ’40s heyday were the #1 “Shame on You,” the #2 “Detour,” and the groundbreaking-influence on popularizing the use of the steel pedal guitar, “Steel Guitar Rag.”
The twice-divorced Don “Red” Barry had an affair with Susan Hayward in the mid-’50s . . . who got in cat fight with another woman visiting his apartment. In July 1980, Barry shot himself in the head, shortly after a domestic dispute with his estranged, third wife, Barbara.
I hope you enjoy listening to this tune as much as I.
Still and song capture by R.D Francis.