Buddy Arnold EST. Bardstown,KY Autographed Photo Ray Whitley Gibson Guitar SJ200

I am honored for to offer many treasured mementos in my E-Bay store from the estate of “Buddy’ Arnold the late beloved co-owner of the legendary Arco Theatre in Bardstown, Kentucky.  Please use my store search tab by typing in (Buddy Arnold) to see a complete list. This particular item is a signed 5 x 7 original photograph of singer and actor Ray Whitley personally inscribed to Wendy & "Buddy” Arnold.
Quick Facts on Ray Whitley: Singing and live performance:
Whitley was born in Atlanta, Georgia. He began his singing career in New York City in 1930. He had traveled to New York where he became a construction worker on the Empire State Building and the George Washington Bridge. While working as a steelworker, he heard of an audition at a local radio station. He was hired as a pop singer and learned a few chords on a guitar to back himself. Soon he was backed by professional musicians, including the Frank Luther Trio. He formed "The Range Ramblers" and began to broadcast on WMCA. He then traveled with the World's Championship Rodeo organization, under the ownership of Colonel Johnson, renaming his band "Ray Whitley and The Six Bar Cowboys." Whitley was skilled in the use of the bullwhip and could remove a cigarette from a man's lips with a single stroke, using either hand.
Whitley recorded for several record labels, including Okeh, Apollo Records and Decca.
*Development of the Gibson SJ-200:
In 1937, Ray Whitley had worked with Gibson on the production of the famous Gibson SJ-200 acoustic guitar, which was initially known as the "Super Jumbo". Whitley used his own time and money to design a guitar which he took to Gibson. He explained the feature and merits of the instrument, suggesting that by presenting them to other stars of the day, would result in really putting the Gibson name on the musical instrument map. As a result, Whitley was the first performer to own a Gibson SJ-200. The first SJ-200, custom built by Gibson for Whitley, is on display in the Country Music Hall of Fame Museum. The SJ-200 has since become an American icon and has been played by hundreds of different guitarists over the years.
Motion picture
In 1938, Whitley was signed to RKO Pictures and made 59 movies, over 20 of them short western musicals where he played the lead role.
In the late 1950s Whitley made appearances on the Roy Rogers TV specials, he also appeared in the feature film Giant starring Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, and James Dean.
Whitley wrote the original western tune Back in the Saddle Again. The song was first heard in the western movie Border G-Man in which he played the part of "Luke Jones". Gene Autry heard it and bought the song for a reported $200, making it his theme song. Whitley and Autry changed the order of verse and chorus, and made a slight change in the melody into the present version that makes it one of the most recognized and recorded Western music tunes in history.
Death and legacy:
Ray Whitley died on February 21, 1979, while on route to a fishing trip to Mexico with his son-in-law, Hal Bracken.
Ray Whitley's original Gibson SJ-200 is on display at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville Tennessee. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1981, and in 1996 Ray Whitley was inducted into the Western Music Association Hall of Fame.
Instruments:
Ray Whitley also endorsed another Gibson made guitar, sold by the mail order house Montgomery Wards under the house brand "Recording King." This highly esteemed guitar was marketed only in 1939, and featured the signature of Mr. Whitley on the headstock. 235 of these were made in mahogany, and 235 in rosewood. One of these instruments was the preferred guitar of American composer John Fahey, who recorded extensively on the instrument from 1969 until the mid-1970s. Fahey destroyed the guitar during a fight with his girlfriend and replaced it with a Martin D-76.[3]
Gibson Shipping Ledgers show the following totals for the Montgomery Ward – Recording King Ray Whitley Jumbo Models:
Total of 147 – RK Ray Whitley Model No. 1027 (Rosewood back & sides, "bat wing" shaped bridge) Total of 170 – RK Ray Whitley Model No. 1028 (Mahogany back & sides, plain rectangle-style bridge)
Breaks down like this: 143 No. 1027s shipped in 1939 Only 4 No. 1027s shipped in 1940
115 No. 1028s were shipped in 1939 55 No. 1028s shipped in 1940

 
( His autograph is considered  rare)




Historical reference: The 750 seat Arco Theater opened January 16, 1942 with the movie "Tarzan’s Secret Adventure". It was built by C.D. Arnold and Pope Sisco at a cost of $60,000.00. The name comes from the first two letters of their last name. Seating was staggered for excellent site lines. The Melody Theater was located next door at 218 N. 3rd Street. The Arco Theater had a balcony which was designated for African Americans. By 1950 it was operated by Affiliated Theaters Inc. of Indianapolis, IN.
The Arco Theater closed December 31, 1965 with the last feature shown being "Mary Poppins". In 2002 the Arco Theater and the Melody Theater next door were bought by Dzevad Kresco and a two year remodel and restoration took place. In 2004 the former theaters were reopened as the Kresco Restaurant. Many of the theater's features were preserved and are in use in the restaurant.
 
*This is an excellent article online in Kentucky living magazine concerning Buddy’s widow named Si Arnold who at age 97 in 2017 is a legend in her own right as a theatrical costume designer.