The song that built the LA Angels

Going way back in LA Angels history, well, all the way back; the beginning can be traced to one specific moment.

It was when the LA Angels founder went into a recording booth. 

Gene Autry started singing as a telegraph operator in the late 1920’s. It was a lonely job. He sang to pass the time.

When the showbusiness legend Will Rogers happened to hear Autry, he told him to go to New York. 

He gave the future LA Angels owner the names of a few contacts. 

After a few years of trying and succeeding to sing on the radio, Gene Autry headed to Hollywood to try out for the movies. He also kept recording songs. His movie career took off and he was known as the King of the Singing Cowboys. 

He recorded a number of country western songs, but where Autry really hit the mark was his recording of Christmas holiday songs. His all-time biggest seller was a tune called Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer. 

The success of his movies and songs led future LA Angels founder and owner Gene Autry to diversify his businesses.

He bought a ranch in San Gabriel and turned it into his home and a movie location lot called Melody Ranch. 

There were comic books written about him.

Gene Autry also lent his name to toy manufacturing companies.

He also held prime real estate and invested in many high end hotels. Gene Autry even owned a minority share in the Hollywood Stars Minor League Baseball team. 

Autry had a popular television show, as well. That led him to purchase a television station and several radio stations. He formed Golden West Broadcasting and started KTLA-TV channel 5 in Los Angeles and flagship radio station KMPC-AM 710. 

It was because of his media holdings that led Autry to the 1960 Major League Baseball winter meetings, where the big topic was the first MLB expansion.