HOUSTON, GEORGE

(1896–1944)

George Houston was one of the singing cowboyscoming out of the opera tradition and responding to the popularity of Nelson Eddy rather than the country tradition of Gene Autry. Houston was a graduate of Julliard and sang with the American Opera Company before entering movies in 1935. Through a series of 11 films, he played The Lone Rider for PRC with Al St. John as his comic sidekick. Houston never seemed comfortable in his role as singing cowboy, and St. John probably carried the series. Like most PRC Western productions, Houston’s films were made on the cheap and hastily put together. Two years after the end of The Lone Rider series, Houston died of a heart attack.