Francis E. Bates Collection

Special Features

THE FRANCIS E. BATES COLLECTION

The late Francis E. Bates, an early New Hampshire fan, is responsible for one of the best-known photographs of the Sons of the Pioneers. More of Mr. Bates' pictures are here courtesy of G S Thompson who explained:

"I have the signed original. Fran Bates took several pictures the day we were there, developed them that night and we went back the next day to get it signed. I thought I would be able to send it but found I am too sentimental to part with it at this time."

Mr. Bates also took many snapshots when the Sons of the Pioneers were in Boston for the rodeo in 1942. Two of these were enlarged and oil tinted by his wife.

• Reed's Ferry, New Hampshire, 1941

• Boston Garden Rodeo, 1942

Reed's Ferry, New Hampshire, 1941

The Lone Star Ranch was situated in Reed's Ferry, New Hampshire, a town just south of Manchester. In 1938 it was opened by country radio singer, Baron West, who built the ranch as a country music venue on property owned by Curtis Bell.

Baron died during his second season and in 1940, "Sagebrush" Jim Marshall and his band began operation of the ranch featuring the Sons of the Pioneers, Elton Britt, Georgia Mae, Hoosier Hot Shots, various movie stars and Grand Ole Oprey entertainers.

Shortly after these photos were taken, young Jim Marshall himself died in a car accident. In 1942, Ken Lane and his band from Lynn, Massachusetts and Ken McKenzie from Portland, Maine helped keep the ranch open.

Back: Tim Spencer, Hugh Farr, Lloyd Perryman and Karl Farr

Front: Pat Brady and Bob Nolan

Back: Tim Spencer, Hugh Farr, Lloyd Perryman

Front: Pat Brady, Bob Nolan and Karl Farr

Back: Tim Spencer, Hugh Farr, Lloyd Perryman

Front: Pat Brady, Bob Nolan and Karl Farr

Back: Tim Spencer, Hugh Farr, Lloyd Perryman

Front: Pat Brady, Bob Nolan and Karl Farr

Back: Tim Spencer, Hugh Farr, Lloyd Perryman

Front: Pat Brady and Bob Nolan

Pat Brady, Lloyd Perryman, Tim Spencer, Bob Nolan and Hugh Farr

Back: Hugh Farr, Bob Nolan, Tim Spencer and Karl Farr

Front: Lloyd Perryman and Pat Brady

Back: Karl Farr, Tim Spencer, Bob Nolan and Hugh Farr

Front: Pat Brady and Lloyd Perryman

Back: Karl Farr, Tim Spencer, Bob Nolan and Hugh Farr

Front: Pat Brady and Lloyd Perryman

Back: Karl Farr, Tim Spencer and Hugh Farr

Front: Pat Brady, Lloyd Perryman and Bob Nolan

Back: Karl Farr, Tim Spencer, Bob Nolan and Hugh Farr

Front: Pat Brady and Lloyd Perryman

Bob Nolan

Pat Brady

Pat Brady

Ruth Trotter with Hugh Farr

Hugh Farr signing autographs.

Karl Farr Farr signing autographs.

Pat Brady

Bob Nolan and unidentified man.

Bob Nolan

Boston Garden Rodeo, 1942

Standing: Karl & Hugh Farr, Bob Nolan and Lloyd Perryman

Front: Pat Brady and Tim Spencer

Pat Brady

Standing: Karl & Hugh Farr, Bob Nolan and Lloyd Perryman

Front: Pat Brady and Tim Spencer

Standing: Karl & Hugh Farr, Bob Nolan and Lloyd Perryman

Front: Pat Brady and Tim Spencer

Standing: Karl & Hugh Farr, Bob Nolan and Lloyd Perryman

Front: Pat Brady and Tim Spencer

Back: Pat Brady, Bob Nolan, Hugh and Karl Farr

Front: Lloyd Perryman and Tim Spencer

Bob Nolan

Lloyd Perryman

Lloyd Perryman

Karl Farr

Pat Brady and sailor

Pat Brady

Tim Spencer and Karl Farr

Bob Nolan, Tim Spencer, unidentified, Lloyd Perryman, Karl Farr and Hugh Farr in the background.

More personal snapshot collections and other photos from this era:

The John Fullerton Collection

The Martha Retsch Collection

The Terry Sevigny Collection

The Jan Scott Collection

The Tumbleweed Topics and the Prairie Prattler fanzines contain first person descriptions of some of the Sons of the Pioneers performances.

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