Monte Hale

Who was Monte Hale?

Monte Hale was an American B-Western film star and country musician.

Often reported to have been born in San Angelo, Texas, he was actually born as Buren Ely in Ada, Oklahoma; a Texas birthplace reportedly sounded better for the movies. Starting to sing and play the guitar at an early age, Hale started playing in cities of Texas as well in Vaudeville and local rodeo shows. He then got a job during World War II as a replacement guitarist with the Stars Over Texas Bond Drive. Hale had joined with several Republic Pictures celebrities and staff.

When signing to the company for seven years, he changed his name from Buren Ely to Monte Hale. He soon starred in his first major role in Home on the Range. During his film run in the early 1950s, he began to sing at rodeos and circuses. He soon retired from movies and began to appear at western conventions. In 1998, a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs, California, Walk of Stars was dedicated to him.

On November 12, 2004, for his work in movies, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He was also instrumental in the foundation of what is now the Autry National Center of the American West.