By 1940, “the singing cowboy” Gene Autry was Republic Pictures’ biggest movie star. His films were more expensive and elaborate than the typical “B” westerns of the day, and usually earned top billing in large cities. In the 1940 picture “Melody Ranch”, Autry plays a singing cowboy who returns home and restores order after his former childhood enemies have taken over the frontier town. That musical western must’ve “struck a chord” with Autry, as after he purchased the 110-acre Monogram Ranch in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains in Southern California in 1953, he quickly renamed it “Melody Ranch”. This Vintage 1940s Gene Autry “Melody Ranch” Musical Western Film 40” x 28” Framed Movie Poster is in Good condition, with three horizontal fold lines, one across the upper third, one across the middle, and one across the lower third, a vertical fold line down the middle, some surface tearing at the middle and lower middle front from the intersections of those fold lines, a few small lines of surface tearing at the upper middle front, some tearing at the lower back brown paper backing of the frame, and with some overall fragility and age wear evident. Most interestingly, it measures 40” x 28”, remains well framed, and bears a bright, vibrant illustration at front, with “MELODY / RANCH / A REPUBLIC PICTURE” spelled out along the upper front, a wonderful depiction of a frontier town on a rolling landscape as the backdrop, a depiction of Gene Autry “shooting up the town” standing on a fencepost in the foreground, a depiction of co-star Jimmy Durante riding with the female lead Ann Miller on a musical themed horse (the black musical notes on its white coat give it the look of a “leopard” appaloosa) also in the foreground, the names of the actors and actresses along the lower front, with “GENE AUTRY” having top billing, and the “REPUBLIC PICTURES” logo at the lower left front. This original movie poster was once in Gene Autry’s personal collection, and he then gifted it to his longtime employee, and well known radio disc jockey and television announcer, Roger Carroll (real name Kolman C. Rutkin). This poster was acquired in 2000 when a number of items were auctioned off from Roger Carroll’s collection, and it has since resided in the personal collection of noted gun writer Rick Hacker. A signed letter of authentication from Mr. Hacker will accompany this poster. A fine example of a very rare, original Vintage 1940s Gene Autry “Melody Ranch” Musical Western Film 40” x 28” Framed Movie Poster, and a great relic from the “golden age” of Hollywood.