Rufe Davis

Rufe Davis
Born Rufus Davidson
(1908-12-02)December 2, 1908
Vinson, Oklahoma, United States
Died December 13, 1974(1974-12-13) (aged 66)
Torrance, California, United States
Occupation Actor
Years active 1937-1969
Rufe Davis (standing, 2nd from right) as Floyd Smoot on Petticoat Junction (1966)

Rufe Davis (December 2, 1908 – December 13, 1974) was an American actor. He appeared in over 30 films between 1937 and 1969, including 14 of the Three Mesquiteers titles.[1] Davis played railroad conductor Floyd Smoot on the CBS television series Petticoat Junction from 1963–1968 and in 1970 guest appearances.

Early life

He was born Rufus Davidson and raised on a farm in Vinson, Oklahoma. He was one of 12 children. He went into show business at the age of 20, adopted the name "Rufe Davis" (though he continued to use his real name in private life) and joined the Weaver Brothers & Elviry vaudeville touring company in 1929. He sang and did impressions of animal and train sounds. He would continue to perform live throughout his career. A 1949 review of his act at the Los Angeles Orpheum says, "Rufe Davis wins mitts with his rural comedy routines, imitations of instruments and train whistles." [2] While he was in New York City in the 1930s, Davis was helpful to The Andrews Sisters at the start of their career, loaning them money and helping them obtain bookings.[3]

Radio

Beginning in 1932, Davis starred on the radio show Rufe Davis and the Radio Rubes. Davis and the Rubes were a quartet who performed comedy sketches and music. Davis and the Rubes also starred in the 1936 comedy/musical short film The City's Slicker.[4]

Television

Davis is perhaps best known to modern audiences for his portrayal of Hooterville Cannonball train conductor Floyd Smoot on Petticoat Junction (and occasionally on Green Acres). Floyd Smoot is a happy-go-lucky and somewhat blockheaded character, similar to Gilligan on Gilligan's Island or Coach and Woody Boyd on Cheers. In the Green Acres episode "Never Trust a Little Old Lady", train engineer Charley Pratt (played by Smiley Burnette) says, "Floyd Smoot, you're a stubborn fool!" To which Floyd replies: "And that goes double for me!"

Music

In 1964, Davis and his "Petticoat Junction" co-star Smiley Burnette released the single "Steam, Cinders and Smoke". The song was written by Burnette. Davis voiced the train sounds in the song. The single was given a limited release of around a thousand copies. Davis and Burnette perform the song in the Petticoat Junction episodes "Hooterville A-Go-Go" and "The Almost Annual Charity Show". Davis performs the song solo in the episode "Last Train to Pixley", which was filmed after Burnette's 1967 death. The B-side of the single is "Clickity Clack".[5]

Davis sings "The Little Engine that Could" and "The Old Sow Song" on the 1966 children's record Bozo and His Pals.

Film

Davis appeared in dozens of short and feature-length films. He played "Lullaby Joslin" in 14 of the Three Mesquiteers western films. He performed as a singer in the 1937 film Cocoanut Grove, where he sings "Two Bits a Pair and "Ten Easy Lessons".[6] And he was also known in western films for playing the comedic sidekick to such leading actors as Gene Autry.[7]

Personal life

He was married to Nettie Davidson. He died in 1974.

Selected filmography

References

  1. ↑ "The Three Mesquiteers Republic Pictures". b-westerns.com. Retrieved August 29, 2011.
  2. ↑ The Billboard October 8, 1949 p. 47 retrieved October 26, 2015
  3. ↑ Nimm, Harry The Andrews Sisters: A Biography and Career Record p. 45
  4. ↑ Liebman, Roy Vitaphone Films: A Catalogue of the Features and Shorts (2010) McFarland p. 148
  5. ↑ Leszczak, Bob pp. 86-88 From Small Screen to Vinyl: A Guide to Television Stars Who Made Records Rowman & Littlefield Publishers (2015)
  6. ↑ The Nebraska State Journal from Lincoln, Nebraska June 19, 1938 Page 35 (online at Newspapers.com) retrieved October 26, 2015
  7. ↑ The Montreal Gazette September 3, 1964 retrieved October 26, 2015
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