Biography / Administrative History
Edward Finney was a talent scout and producer for Grand National Studios, when he "discovered" Tex Ritter and signed him to a contract in 1936. Grand National Studios produced B Westerns. Between 1936 and 1938, when the studio folded, Ritter and Finney made 12 features together. They both then moved to Monogram in 1938. In 1941, Ritter signed on with Columbia studios. By the time he left Mongram's employ, he and Finney had made a total of 32 B Western movies together.
Tex Ritter was born Woodward Maurice Ritter on January 12, 1905. He was an American county music singer and motion picture actor popular from mid 1930s into the 1960s. Ritter first appeared on radio, hosting and appearing in such western shows as "The Lone Star Rangers" and "Cowboy Tom's Roundup." In 1936, Ritter moved to Los Angeles. His motion picture debut was in "Song Of The Gringo" (1936) for Grand National Pictures. Ritter later made "singing cowboy" movies for Univeral Pictures and Producers Releasing Corporation. January 2, 1974, Ritter passed away in Nashville, Tenn. (Source: Wikipedia)
From the guide to the Edward Finney/Tex Ritter Papers, 1938-1968, 1938-1939, (Autry National Center. Institute for the Study of the American West)
