Lewis William Potter (April 15, 1923 – September 5, 1975),[3] known professionally as Bill Potter, was an American country music singer, Western movie actor, and television personality of the late 1940s and early 1950s.
Potter grew up in Bingham, Maine, and served with the United States Army Air Forces during World War II.[4][3] After being discharged in December 1943,[3] he worked for a shipbuilding company in Orange, Texas.[5] By 1948, he was married to a woman from Dallas and had a son.[6] They later operated a ranch near Orange.[4]
In Texas, Potter was discovered by a talent scout, and appeared in several Western movies by Monogram Pictures in the late 1940s as a singing cowboy.[6][7] Also known as "Cactus Bill" or "Cowboy Bill", Potter went on to appear on early television shows on KFI-TV in Los Angeles and on KPRC-TV in Houston.[8] While living in Houston, he worked as a deputy sheriff in Harris County for approximately three years.[9] In mid-1954, he moved to Corpus Christi, Texas, where he had a children's program on KVDO-TV.[10] He resumed working as a deputy sheriff in December 1955,[9] a role he held through at least December 1956.[11]
In August 1957, Potter was the winning contestant on an episode of Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts, singing a western ballad.[4] Billed as "Hollywood Singing Cowboy Bill Potter", he was featured at several events in Maine the following month.[12][13] From February to May 1958, KPLC-TV in Lake Charles, Louisiana, broadcast the Bill Potter Show on an intermittent basis.[14][15] At the time of his mother's death in June 1958, Potter was again living in Orange, Texas.[16]
Potter died in September 1975 in Orange, aged 52, "following a lingering illness."[1] He was survived by a son and a daughter.[1] He is interred in Houston National Cemetery.[3]
Filmographyedit
Potter is known to have appeared in at least 10 movies, each released in 1948 or 1949:[17]
Potter is known to have released at least two records, both with Starday Records in 1953.[18][19] Additionally, a promotional record from the Shamrock Record Company in Houston is credited to Cowboy Bill Potter and Dickie Jones and His Texas Longhorns, year unspecified.
^ abc"Bingham Native Is Winner On Godfrey Show". Portland Press Herald. Portland, Maine. August 13, 1957. p. 2. Retrieved October 2, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
^ ab"Bingham Man Gets Roles In Hollywood". Morning Sentinel. Waterville, Maine. October 29, 1948. p. 17. Retrieved October 2, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
^"Bingham Native Appears In Picture At Local Theater". Bangor Daily News. Bangor Daily News. January 27, 1949. p. 13. Retrieved October 3, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
^"Talent & Tunes". The Billboard. November 13, 1954. p. 93. Retrieved October 3, 2022 – via Google Books.
^ ab"'Cactus Bill' Named Deputy By Odem Dolan". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. December 20, 1955. p. 16. Retrieved October 2, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
^"Radio, TV Highlights". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. August 8, 1954. p. 13-C. Retrieved October 2, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
^"Christmas Party For Children Set Thursday". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. December 16, 1956. p. 11B. Retrieved October 2, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
^"Hollywood Singing Cowboy Bill Potter". Sun Journal. Lewiston, Maine. August 31, 1957. p. 7. Retrieved October 3, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
^"Big Show and Dance Tomorrow Night". Biddeford Daily Journal. Biddeford, Maine. September 6, 1957. p. 6. Retrieved October 2, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
^"Weekly Television Guide". Crowley Daily Signal. Crowley, Louisiana. February 15, 1958. p. 7. Retrieved October 3, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
^"Saturday's Television Log". The Jennings Daily News. Jennings, Louisiana. May 16, 1958. p. 2. Retrieved October 3, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
bill, potter, musician, lewis, william, potter, april, 1923, september, 1975, known, professionally, bill, potter, american, country, music, singer, western, movie, actor, television, personality, late, 1940s, early, 1950s, bill, potterpotter, 1957background, . Lewis William Potter April 15 1923 September 5 1975 3 known professionally as Bill Potter was an American country music singer Western movie actor and television personality of the late 1940s and early 1950s Bill PotterPotter c 1957Background informationBirth nameLewis William PotterAlso known asCactus BillCowboy BillBorn 1923 04 23 April 23 1923Stratton Maine U S 1 DiedSeptember 5 1975 1975 09 05 aged 52 Orange Texas U S GenresCountryOccupation s Singer actor deputy sheriffInstrument s Guitar 2 Years activec 1948 1957LabelsStarday RecordsMonogram Pictures Contents 1 Biography 2 Filmography 3 Discography 4 References 5 External linksBiography editPotter grew up in Bingham Maine and served with the United States Army Air Forces during World War II 4 3 After being discharged in December 1943 3 he worked for a shipbuilding company in Orange Texas 5 By 1948 he was married to a woman from Dallas and had a son 6 They later operated a ranch near Orange 4 In Texas Potter was discovered by a talent scout and appeared in several Western movies by Monogram Pictures in the late 1940s as a singing cowboy 6 7 Also known as Cactus Bill or Cowboy Bill Potter went on to appear on early television shows on KFI TV in Los Angeles and on KPRC TV in Houston 8 While living in Houston he worked as a deputy sheriff in Harris County for approximately three years 9 In mid 1954 he moved to Corpus Christi Texas where he had a children s program on KVDO TV 10 He resumed working as a deputy sheriff in December 1955 9 a role he held through at least December 1956 11 In August 1957 Potter was the winning contestant on an episode of Arthur Godfrey s Talent Scouts singing a western ballad 4 Billed as Hollywood Singing Cowboy Bill Potter he was featured at several events in Maine the following month 12 13 From February to May 1958 KPLC TV in Lake Charles Louisiana broadcast the Bill Potter Show on an intermittent basis 14 15 At the time of his mother s death in June 1958 Potter was again living in Orange Texas 16 Potter died in September 1975 in Orange aged 52 following a lingering illness 1 He was survived by a son and a daughter 1 He is interred in Houston National Cemetery 3 Filmography editPotter is known to have appeared in at least 10 movies each released in 1948 or 1949 17 Year Title Role 1948 Gunning for Justice Potter Courtin Trouble Steve Graves Hidden Danger Henchman Perry 1949 Susanna Pass Henchman uncredited Across the Rio Grande Pete Henchman uncredited West of El Dorado Guitar Player Phil Brand of Fear Mac Gold Shipper Range Justice Bill as Bill Porter Haunted Trails Deputy uncredited Western Renegades Bob uncredited Discography editPotter is known to have released at least two records both with Starday Records in 1953 18 19 Additionally a promotional record from the Shamrock Record Company in Houston is credited to Cowboy Bill Potter and Dickie Jones and His Texas Longhorns year unspecified Label No A side B Side Format Ref Starday 110 I Lost My Gal Nobody Knows Shellac 10 78 rpm 20 Starday 111 Honk Your Horn Cry Not For Me Vinyl 7 45 rpm 21 Shamrock High Sierra Moon I Got A Yearnin Shellac 10 78 rpm 22 References edit a b c William Lewis Potter Morning Sentinel Waterville Maine September 17 1975 p 2 Retrieved October 3 2022 via newspapers com Television Programs Los Angeles Evening Citizen News August 12 1957 p 21 Retrieved October 3 2022 via newspapers com a b c d U S Veterans Gravesites ca 1775 2019 United States Department of Veterans Affairs Retrieved October 3 2022 via fold3 com a b c Bingham Native Is Winner On Godfrey Show Portland Press Herald Portland Maine August 13 1957 p 2 Retrieved October 2 2022 via newspapers com Bingham Morning Sentinel Waterville Maine February 2 1944 p 5 Retrieved October 3 2022 via newspapers com a b Bingham Man Gets Roles In Hollywood Morning Sentinel Waterville Maine October 29 1948 p 17 Retrieved October 2 2022 via newspapers com Bingham Native Appears In Picture At Local Theater Bangor Daily News Bangor Daily News January 27 1949 p 13 Retrieved October 3 2022 via newspapers com Talent amp Tunes The Billboard November 13 1954 p 93 Retrieved October 3 2022 via Google Books a b Cactus Bill Named Deputy By Odem Dolan Corpus Christi Caller Times December 20 1955 p 16 Retrieved October 2 2022 via newspapers com Radio TV Highlights Corpus Christi Caller Times August 8 1954 p 13 C Retrieved October 2 2022 via newspapers com Christmas Party For Children Set Thursday Corpus Christi Caller Times December 16 1956 p 11B Retrieved October 2 2022 via newspapers com Hollywood Singing Cowboy Bill Potter Sun Journal Lewiston Maine August 31 1957 p 7 Retrieved October 3 2022 via newspapers com Big Show and Dance Tomorrow Night Biddeford Daily Journal Biddeford Maine September 6 1957 p 6 Retrieved October 2 2022 via newspapers com Weekly Television Guide Crowley Daily Signal Crowley Louisiana February 15 1958 p 7 Retrieved October 3 2022 via newspapers com Saturday s Television Log The Jennings Daily News Jennings Louisiana May 16 1958 p 2 Retrieved October 3 2022 via newspapers com Mrs Agnes H Potter Bangor Daily News Bangor Daily News June 16 1958 p 18 Retrieved October 3 2022 via newspapers com Bill Potter IMDb Retrieved October 2 2022 Gibson Nathan D 2011 The Starday Story The House That Country Music Built University Press of Mississippi p 179 ISBN 978 1604738308 Starday Records Discogs Retrieved October 2 2022 I Lost My Gal Nobody Knows Discogs Retrieved October 2 2022 Honk Your Horn Cry Not For Me Discogs Retrieved October 2 2022 High Sierra Moon I Got A Yearnin Discogs Retrieved October 2 2022 External links editBill Potter at IMDb I Lost My Gal via YouTube Honk Your Horn via YouTube Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bill Potter musician amp oldid 1218779413, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
