Starz Encore Group LLC's Westerns channel is giving Gene Autry fans something
to sing about -- again.
The premium-multiplex channel said it is working with Gene Autry
Entertainment, and it has retained RPG Productions to restore 89 of the 'Singing
Cowboy's' feature films. These titles will be added to Westerns' lineup
beginning in January.
Not since they were screened in theaters a half-century ago have all of
Autry's films been available in their uncut theatrical lengths. Previously, only
a half-dozen pictures were restored and released on home video, according to
Starz Encore.
RPG is restoring the movies by using elements from Autry's personal film
collection of original 35-millimeter and 16-mm material that is housed at the
Autry Museum of Western Heritage in Los Angeles.
Last year, Westerns and Autry's Flying A Pictures partnered together to
restore all 91 episodes of The Gene Autry Show. The series is currently
airing on the network.
