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| The Author Smilin' Bill Cummins |
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| King the Wonder Horse |
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KING and the COWBOY
The Saga of Smilin' Bill and his Wonder Horse King
PRELUDE
His stage name was "King the Wonder Horse" and I headlined as "Smilin' Bill." Looking back I realize just how special our coming together was for both of us. King's owner, Lew Jenkins, offered me the job as manager of his Diamond J Ranch when I was 15 years old. I was only a teenager with a big dream when he asked me to train King for the stage.
If you truly love and understand horses you will feel my excitement when given this opportunity. Running the ranch was a full time job during the summer months. Its main feature was a riding stable located in the famous resort of Russells Point at Indian Lake, Ohio.
In order to understand how I produced an incredible stage routine with King, the book begins with my boyhood dream of becoming a cowboy movie star. Then it tracks many personal trials and setbacks while I perfected my horse training skills.
With lots of hard work I produced one of the finest stage horses ever seen, "King the Wonder Horse." I'm not worried about what others horsemen may think of my training techniques. As you will see by thumbing through this book... they worked for me and they will work for you!
I went from cleaning stables to stage and radio in three summers. From riding and roping to singing, I performed way beyond my teenage years. Assisted by the 'Diamond J Ranch Hands,' I sang a variety of ballads from the 300 songs I had memorized. This book contains the secrets learned from hard work, a lifelong passion for horses, and music from the heartland.
In this book you will discover:
* Why a spinning rope seems to float on air
* Over 30 stage secrets never before revealed
* How to memorize and write the songs you love
* King's complete stage routine, including dialogue
* Over 100 unpublished photographs of Bill and King
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An Excerpt from
KING and the COWBOY
Riding - Roping - Singing ~ Training
He was still a teenager and the colt was barely five years old. They headlined across the Midwest bringing music and entertainment to cowboys, cowgirls, and horse lovers. A beautiful Palomino stallion named King, and the soft country and western ballads of Smilin' Bill Cummins soothed the eyes and ears of the audience.
You could hear
a pin drop when Smilin' Bill appeared on stage astride his wonder
horse, King. As a team they answered questions and performed
unbelievable equestrian acts for the audience. Bill describes their
stage entrance in chapter one of his book...
*** Upon arrival, I outfitted King in a stylish red leather bridle, breastcollar, and surcingle. His rubber horseshoes muffled the sounds as we moved toward the entrance. I patted his neck and whispered,"King, you look great." We both felt the tension increasing as his skin rippled slightly and his ears flipped back and forth. I straddled his back for the grand entrance.
"California, Here I Come" blasted loudly across the show room from the live band behind the stage. Waiting through several bars of music, we heard the introduction... "Now ladies and gentlemen for your pleasure and entertainment... please give a warm welcome to our stars who will delight and amaze you. It thrills me to present to you... Smilin' Bill and His Wonder Horse King."
The band played louder as we quickly made our way through the applause onto the stage. Sitting astride King, I guided him to center stage. It was show time! ***
The purpose of this book is to entertain and educate all horse lovers. You can follow Bill's dream of becoming a singing cowboy like his movie hero, Gene Autry. Filled with photographs, this book is full of cowboy tips and stories that will bring smiles to your face and warm your heart. But be prepared... Bill's last "Goodbye" to King will bring tears to your eyes and prove beyond doubt that, "Loving a horse will enrich your soul and break your heart."
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