13 Facts About Rex Allen

Rex Allen got his start in show business on the East Coast.

Rex Allen began his singing career on radio station KOY in Phoenix, Arizona, after which he became better known as a performer on the National Barn Dance on WLS in Chicago.

One of the top-ten box office draws of the day, whose character was depicted in comic books, on screen Rex Allen personified the clean cut, God-fearing American hero of the Wild West, who wore a white Stetson hat, loved his faithful horse Koko, and had a loyal buddy who shared his adventures.

In 1940, Allen married Doris Windsor, with whom he had one child.

Rex Allen wrote and recorded many songs, a number of which were featured in his own films.

Rex Allen had a rich, pleasant voice, ideally suited for narration, and was able to find considerable work as a narrator in a variety of films, especially for Walt Disney Pictures wildlife films and television shows.

Rex Allen was the voice of the father on Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress, first presented at the 1964 World's Fair and now at Walt Disney World.

Rex Allen provided the narration for the 1973 Hanna-Barbera animated film Charlotte's Web.

Rex Allen was the voice behind Purina Dog Chow commercials for many years.

Rex Allen wrote and sang the theme song for the early 1980s sitcom Best of the West.

Rex Allen had collapsed in his driveway after suffering a heart attack and was then accidentally run over by his caregiver.

Rex Allen's cremated ashes were scattered in Railroad Park, across the street from the museum, near a bronze statue of Allen.

Rex Allen was a cousin of the Gunsmoke cast member Glenn Strange, who played bartender Sam Noonan.