Rex Allen

Letters to The Hobbledehoy, Thanksgiving 2025

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Cynthia writes:

I stumbled upon The Hobbledehoy while looking up Cliff Edwards on the internet to learn more about him. I’d spent several hours on YouTube listening to his recordings as I have done periodically over the last years, as I fell in love with Jiminey Cricket’s voice as a child. Then I found your website and saw your I Stand with Ukraine flag; Richard Thompson’s music; a repost of Heather Cox Richardson’s post; and knew I’d found a kindred spirit out in the ether. My heart is lifted. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Hi Cynthia!
I’m glad that you stumbled upon The Hobbledehoy, and thank you for your kind words about the website.
I, too, was introduced to the talents of Cliff “Ukelele Ike” Edwards through his iconic performance voicing “Jiminy Cricket” in Disney’s 1940 film Pinocchio. I grew to love Cliff’s distinctive voice and ukulele on tunes like “Singing In the Rain”(recorded for a film by Cliff in 1929, over twenty years before Gene Kelley’s version), “I’ll See You in My Dreams,” and of course, Cliff’s “Jada” – one of the first big hits of the jazz age

Glad to have lifted your heart!

For fellow hobbledehoy that missed it, here’s a link to my piece:
Give a little whistle: The life and sad death of Cliff Edwards, voice of Disney’s Jiminy Cricket

Monte writes:

Hi Mike, Forgive me if I’m barking up the wrong tree here, but I’m trying to contact Oliver Kornetzky (sic) to seek approval for the use of an article he wrote about his return to his hometown in Wisconsin. I have recently done a road trip through the red states of the US and am currently editing the resulting book, and would love to republish the work in full therein, since it is the most articulate explanation of America’s degradation at a human level as I have encountered. Please advise if this is acceptable, and if you wish to see the relevant chapter to view its inclusion. Warm regards, Monte

Hi Monte!
Thank you for your letter and best of luck with your upcoming book.
Unfortunately, I do not have any contact information for Oliver Kornetzke.
Kornetzke’s post remains one of The Hobbledehoy’s most viewed. There is growing suspicion online that Oliver Kornetzke is actually an AI creation. If true, that’s one AI that I would welcome to my Thanksgiving dinner table.

Felipe (again)writes:

I’m writing to you because many women between 25 and 40 are actively seeking solutions to improve their quality of life. If this is a topic that resonates with your audience, this information is for you
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It’s specifically designed to help women achieve:
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A real boost in day-to-day vitality. Improve comfort and natural lubrication.

Hello again Felipe!

Your product sounds wonderful! Tell me – can I also use your product for the purpose of home insulation? I have several old windows that allow drafts into the house, and New England winters can be brutal! Please let us know asap, as Hobbeldehoy subscribers will surely also benefit from this information!

Letters to The Hobbledehoy, October 2025

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Kathy writes:

For Oliver Kornetzke ~ EVERYONE IS Equally Important, Beautiful And Sinful. We are Also ALL Equally And Uniquely LOVED BY GOD. THANK GOD for our President, Melania and Barron. Whoever thinks that they are better than someone else ~ Luke 18 NLT ~ Parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector … We’re equal sinners, but in our own ways.

Hi Kathy!
Thanks for visiting The Hobbledehoy. The post by Oliver Kornetzke remains one of The Hobbledehoy’s most viewed. I do agree with you that we are all sinners. I’m not so sure about your “equal sinners” idea, however. Also, it’s curious that you thank God for Trump’s son, Barron, without mentioning Trump’s older sons, Beavis and Buthead. I’m informed by The Google that Trump also has two daughters, both blonde. So you probably should thank God for these siblings as well.

Howard writes:

Just read your comments about Rex Allen. [Cowboy singer Rex Allen and the Carousel of Progress]
First, I live in Tucson and did not know how Rex Allen died. Truly sad Wish I knew he was around. I would have reached out to him when he was alive. Second is “Carousel of Progress’” I remember it very well. First, as the General Electric. exhibit at the 1964 New York World’s Fair. “It’s a Great Big Wonderful Tomorrow” was magic as it played as the transition between the “ scenes” of GE’s technological progress. The show moved to Disneyland and, I think, Disney World. GE eventually dropped the sponsorship, but Disney continued to run it. They had to update the show as “tomorrow’s technology” became yesterday’s technology. If you didn’t know, the “carousel” in the show was the audience moving around the different scenes. In the 1970’s I had the opportunity to work with Marty Sklar, the first head of Disney Imagineering on EPCOT’s Land Pavilion. I realized then that so much of the honest, kind, warm culture expressed in so many of Disney’s “show” were a reflection of Marty’s world view. He was a gem.

Hi Howard!
Thank you for your letter. Like you, I love Rex Allen’s work, as you may have guessed from my article. Though I’ve traveled all around the world, I’m one of the few Americans who has never once been to Disney! I just turned 68 years old. Do you think it’s too late for me?

Steven writes:

I love your blog! Are you from Scotland or Wales, by chance? I’m from Pennsylvania originally, but have lived in Spain, Costa Rica, and Puerto Rico and am now in God-Forsaken Florida!

Hi Steven!

I live in Rhode Island – the smallest state in the USA. Yes, my people originated from Scotland, Ireland and Wales on my Dad’s side, Ireland and Germany on my mom’s side. My Welsh great-aunt Theresa once told me our ancestry goes back to the Pirate Morgan! I’m a huge fan of several Welsh folk performers currently making music: Katell Keineg, Gwenifer Raymond, and Cerys Hafana, especially.

As for “God-forsaken” Florida – I have no real desire to visit there. I do like their orange juice, however.

You are a well-traveled soul, Steven. Good for you! Check out this article written by travel authority Rick Steves, Britain’s Pub Hub. We’ve been in Rick’s company many times and enthusiastically recommend his tours. Here’s Rick’s advice for seniors traveling in Europe

Felipe writes:

I’m writing to you because many women between 25 and 40 are actively seeking solutions to improve their quality of life. If this is a topic that resonates with your audience, this information is for you
•••• is a unique, natural formula that delivers concrete results.

It’s specifically designed to help women achieve:
Increase desire and sexual response.
A real boost in day-to-day vitality. Improve comfort and natural lubrication.

Hi Felipe!

Your product sounds wonderful! Tell me – can I also use your product for the purpose of home insulation? I have several old windows that allow drafts into the house, and New England winters can be brutal! Please let us know asap, as Hobbeldehoy subscribers will surely also benefit from this information!

Cowboy singer Rex Allen and the Carousel of Progress

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By Dai Bando for THE HOBBLEDEHOY

Rex Allen

Throughout the 1950s, Rex Allen made dozens of B-list cowboy movies with titles like Border Saddle Mates, Utah Wagon Train,  and  Down Laredo Way. In each of these, Rex was paired with his trusted steed, aka “Koko the Miracle Horse.”

For his contributions to the film industry, Allen received a motion pictures star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1975, located on Hollywood Boulevard.

As well as his work on the silver screen, in 1956 Allen tried his luck in television, cast as Dr. Bill Baxter for the half-hour weekly syndicated series Frontier Doctor. The storyline of episode #26 of the series is about a man accused of murdering his brother, who say he has amnesia. Dr. Baxter tries a new technique called hypnotism to help him regain his memory. One day you’re grabbing your six-shooter; the next you’re using your skills as a hypnotist – oh, that “Carousel of Time.”

A  ”singing cowboy” in the style of Roy Rogers and Gene Autry, Rex Allen wrote over 250 songs – dozens of these hits played over country music radio stations. He recorded “Crying in the Chapel” – which was later covered by Elvis Presley and even later by Bob Marley. (Marley changed the title to Selassie in the Chapel, an idea that probably never occurred to Rex Allen.)

In 1962 Rex had another hit song, the regrettable “Son, Don’t Go Near the Indians” – a title that today conjures up images of MAGA hat-wearing brats taunting a Native American elder. The single reached #17 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #4 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.

“Son, Don’t Go Near the Indians” is actually about … ugh, just give it a listen (below) but don’t say you were warned.

While contracted with Disney, Rex also recorded a wonderful song written by The Sherman Brothers (who composed songs from Mary Poppins, Winnie the Pooh, The Jungle Book, and many other Disney classics) called “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow.” That song didn’t appear in a movie, but is famously featured in the attraction Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress. I personally have never witnessed The Carousel of Progress at Disney Park or elsewhere, but I count myself as a fan of this dated and decidedly likable song.

Memorable narrator in Disney’s lean years

In my opinion, Rex Allen was at his best when narrating those short films that appeared Sunday nights on The Wonderful Wold of Disney during the 1960s, a decade when Walt Disney was in a bit of a slump (Chitty, Chitty Bang Bang. ‘Nuff said). Rex narrated  Ringo the Refugee Raccoon, Charlie the Lonesome Cougar, and several more stories about wild animals entering people’s homes, knocking shit over the place, and eventually escaping back to the wild. I loved Ringo, Charlie – all of ‘em! I still can hear the warm and wise voice of Rex Allen saying, “careful there, furry friend. That pitcher of buttermilk is going to tip over right on Grandma’s new quilt.”  Or something like that.

Unfortunately, the only version of Ringo the Refugee Racoon currently available for viewing on YouTube is a Spanish-language version retitled “Ringo, El Mapache Refugiado.” The Spanish narrator is “muy talentoso”, but he’s no Rex Allen.

Rex also narrated the animated musical Charlottes Web (1974), which was a childhood favorite of my daughter Caleigh’s (and mine).  Rex’s voice begins the movie: 

”This old world is filled with wonders, but to me there is no place more wonderful than a farm in springtime, when the sun is just lifting from the skyline. The air is so sweet and everywhere you look, little miracles are happening …” 

Beautiful.

“Don’t Go Near the Indians” …and watch your ass in the driveway

Rex died tragically in 1999 in Tucson when he was run-over by a car in his own driveway. It was not a black-hatted hombre or a renegade raccoon behind the wheel of the car, but his own caregiver. There would be no miracles performed by his horse, as Koko had passed on in 1969.

So, appreciate the cougars and raccoons and forgive any wild animals that spill your buttermilk. And watch your ass, even in your own driveway. 

Thank you, Rex Allen. You done good, pardner.