Music Video: The Things We Did Last Summer

Contributed by Claire Schwartz

1. Claire Schwartz
   • I made this tribute to Vaughn Monroe with photographs I had on hand and a music file I received from Lou.  When I view it now,  I think about summer being the time when Vaughn was with us and in his prime, and winter being now...the time in between, as we wait for that endless summer when we'll all be together again. One correction must be noted --Vaughn received FOUR gold records, not three as stated in the clip.

1. Claire Schwartz
   • This is an awesome video in memory of the creator's grandfather. The artist incorporates Vaughn's version of "Ghost Riders" with original animation that sweeps this haunting ballad into the present. It is a personal tribute that leaves a lasting impression.

Meet the Bandleaders: Riders in the Sky & Ballerina

Contributed by James Stewart

1. Claire Schwartz
   • This is a clip from the 1966 performance included on the television special "Meet the Band Leaders." You can read more about the show in the Resume section of this website. "Ghost Riders in the Sky" and "Ballerina" were two of Vaughn's top selling hits--nobody does them like the Moonracer! You'll notice that he ad libs a little here and there while singing "Ballerina," but it makes the performance all the more endearing.

Meet the Bandleaders: Let It Snow & Racing with the Moon

Contributed by James Stewart

1. Claire Schwartz
   • Vaughn's Dot recording of "Let It Snow" was featured in the Die Hard movies and is the most requested song during the winter season. Here is Vaughn performing two of his trademark songs in 1966.

Toughest Man in Arizona: The Man Don't Live Who Can Die Alone

Contributed by James Stewart

1. Claire Schwartz
   • This clip is from Vaughn's second starring role in a western movie. "Toughest Man in Arizona" was released in 1952, and co-starred popular actress Joan Leslie and the ever rough-around-the-edges Edgar Buchanan (Uncle Joe from television's "Petticoat Junction"). Vaughn plays Sheriff Matt Landry who ends up rescuing a young woman and two orphaned children from a wagon train attacked by Indians. A young Harry Morgan, veteran of movies and television, makes an appearance as the cowardly husband of Vaughn's love interest (Joan Leslie) who is believed to have been killed in the wagon train attack, but turns up on the opposite side of the law.

BROKEN

Singing Guns: I'm Singing My Way Back Home

Contributed by James Stewart

1. Claire Schwartz
   • This clip is from Vaughn's first starring role in a western movie. "Singing Guns" was released in 1950, and this is one of the songs that Vaughn had a hand in writing (both words and music) with the collaboration of Al Vann. Vaughn plays Rhiannon aka John Guinn in the movie. Nan, the sassy gal behind the bar is played by Ella Raines, and Richards, the dour-faced villain sipping on the whisky, is played by Jeff Corey. George Chandler pokes his face around the side of the piano as Smitty-the piano player.
2. Lee Morelli
   • Wow! So nice to see the "Singing My Way Back Home" video. I remember playing my father's 78 of that song. What was on the flip side of the 78? ["Mule Train" was on the flip side of "Singing My Way Back Home."  Claire]

RCA Victor Television Commercial (Peter Pan)

Contributed by Ira Galen

1. Your Name Here
   • none

Two RCA Victor Television Commercials

Contributed by Jerry Furris and James Stewart

1. James Stewart
   • These are REAL gems...love it when Vaughn spins "Racing with the Moon."
2.  

BROKEN

RCA Victor Television Commercial

Contributed by James Stewart

1. James Stewart
   • Vaughn Monroe cranked out a sizeable number of major hits for RCA Victor records, which led to him becoming "the voice of RCA," doing many of their television commercials. You could catch him often on Sunday nights during the early 1960's singing the praises of RCA color TV's on "Bonanza," where he also guest starred in one episode.
2. Claire Schwartz
   • From James: I forgot to tell you where I found the commercial. Someone sent me a video of an old Arthur Godfrey Show with The McGuire Sisters (one of their very first appearances on that show from the early 50's). As you probably know, I am friends with all three McGuire Sisters, and converted their extensive kinescope and video collections to DVDs, and knew they didn't have this show in their collections...and wanted to get copies to them. There were some other shows on the video, like an Eddie Fisher 15 minute NBC show with Teresa Brewer, and then along came the Vaughn Commercial...needless to say I was surprised and pleased and couldn't wait to get it on YouTube.

1. Claire Schwartz
   • You can also link to this 5-minute public service announcement video from the Resume section of this website, where it is part of the Prelinger Collection posted in the Internet Archive.