Gene Autry Visits The 1936 Texas Centennial Exposition

The Texas Centennial half dollar was issued to commemorate the centennial of Texas independence from Mexico in 1836.

The coins were issued for several years from 1934 to 1938.

United States Half Dollar 1935-S Texas Centennial
Silver, 12.5 mm, 30.60 gm

Along with the coin there was the Texas Centennial Exposition in Dallas, a World's Fair held from June to November 1936.

Gene Autry was the most famous "singing cowboy" movie star of the 1930's and in 1936 he filmed a movie titled "The Big Show" at the Texas Centennial Exposition.

The film had a story of Gene Autry impersonating another film actor and becoming involved with the other actor's "friends".

Gene Autry makes an entrance in an open car

Gene enters in a more traditional way

The Texas Centennial buildings

An example of 1930's Art Deco

The Texas Cavalcade of flags

Old West cowboys meet the future