Roundup for Cowboys’ Gear

The new exhibit at the Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum is more than just Wild West show and tell.

Called “Western Heroes: Hoppy, Gene and the Lone Ranger,” the exhibit features some of the outfits, saddles and other paraphernalia that Hopalong Cassidy (William Boyd), Autry and the Lone Ranger (Clayton Moore) used and wore circa 1930 to 1960. It also has some biographical movies about the trio and a lot of goods that were merchandised in connection with their films.

A lot of goods.

The show will (1) possibly serve to remind you that you might not be as smart as you think you are, and (2) probably attract lots of the current crop of movie-merchandising hotshots to steal ideas as fast as they can write them down.

A short list of some of the Hoppy, Gene and Lone Ranger movie-related merchandising items displayed include cereal cartons, bread, milk cartons, a junior fork, spoon and knife set, tricycles, bicycles (including one with gun and holster), hats, clothing, pillows, bed linen, tents, camping equipment, toys and games, bunkhouse bedroom furniture, flashlights, cameras, rings, towels, soaps and brushes, in addition to the usual lunch boxes, pencil cases, book bags and books.

In case you were worried about how these cinematic cowboys were going to make it once they rode off the silver screen and into the sunset, don’t. They knew how to say, “My percentage,” even then.

Autry owns a major league baseball team, hotels and reportedly a good bit of property between Sunset Boulevard and Palm Springs. A prosperous-looking Clayton Moore still shows off with his six-shooters and stays fit and trim. Both were at a private opening before the public showing, which is now under way. Boyd died in 1972.

Moore said he is happy and healthy, but there is one thing nettling him that he would like to correct. The Lone Ranger says, “Hi-yo, Silver,” not “Hi-ho, Silver,” he wants you to know.

There is lots to discover in this exhibit, even for older aficionados who think that they already know it all.

For example, were you aware that:

* The Lone Ranger was dreamed up by a Detroit radio station owner to help keep the station from bankruptcy?

* The Hoppy pocketknife sold 1 million units the first week it was on the market?

* Will Rogers heard Autry sing and advised him to go professional?

* Republic spent $1 million to make the first 15-chapter Lone Ranger serial?

* Before the Hopalong Cassidy character was sanitized for the movies, he was a drinking, smoking, cursing cowpoke in books by novelist Clarence Mulford?

* Autry has five stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one each for radio, records, film, television and live performance?

Even if you don’t remember, don’t know and don’t care about any of this, the exhibit will probably make you smile and the youngsters will love it.

The Western Heroes exhibit continues through Sept. 11 at the Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum, 4700 Western Heritage Way near the Los Angeles Zoo. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. Admission is $5.50 for adults, $4 for seniors and students with identification, and $2.50 for children ages 2 through 12. For information, call (213) 667-2000.