Tumbleweed Topics (1940–1942)

In 1939, the Sons of the Pioneers began a one-page mimeographed weekly fan publication called The Prairie Prattler. Within a year they renamed it Tumbleweed Topics, a name chosen by one of their fans. The paper quickly expanded to an eight-page magazine. It was produced by their manager, Sam Allen, and each of the Pioneers—plus Roy Rogers—had his own column so fans could keep track of the activities of the popular group. The fanzine was humorously and simply written, appealing to younger fans as well as the adults. Some of it was pure invention, but Hugh Farr's column was informative, detailing schedules and describing the actual movie-making part of their lives. Free photographs were offered, and their songbooks were advertised.

Their intention was to publish monthly, but it was impossible to keep to that schedule because of their own full slate of performances on stage, radio, and film. Because of war-related activities, the Pioneers and Sam Allen became exceptionally busy, and Tumbleweed Topics was put on the back burner and gradually faded away. Number 16 may be the last issue of Tumbleweed Topics.

Calin Coburn and John Fullerton (with the help of Josh Heston) have scanned their own personal copies of Tumbleweed Topics. Click on the picture of the issue you'd like to read.