Rufe Davis

• Name — Rufe Davis • Birth Name — Rufus Davidson • Born — 2 December 1908 • Birthplace — Vinson, Oklahoma, U.S. • Died — 13 December 1974 • Place of death — Torrance, California, U.S. • Resting Place — Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Los Angeles, California, U.S. • Occupation — Actor • Years Active — 1937–1969

Davis was raised on a farm in Vinson, Oklahoma. He was one of 12 children. He went into show business at the age of 20, adopted the name "Rufe Davis" (though he continued to use his real name in private life) and joined the Weaver Brothers and Elviry vaudeville touring company in 1929. He sang and did impressions of animal and train sounds. He would continue to perform live throughout his career. A 1949 review of his act at the Los Angeles Orpheum says, "Rufe Davis wins mitts with his rural comedy routines, imitations of instruments and train whistles." While he was in New York City in the 1930s, Davis was helpful to The Andrews Sisters at the start of their career, lending them money and helping them obtain bookings.

Beginning in 1932, Davis starred on the radio show Rufe Davis and the Radio Rubes. Davis and the Rubes were a quartet who performed comedy sketches and music. Davis and the Rubes also starred in the 1936 comedy/musical short film The City's Slicker.

Davis is perhaps best known to modern audiences for his portrayal of Hooterville Cannonball train conductor Floyd Smoot on Petticoat Junction (and occasionally on Green Acres). Floyd Smoot is a happy-go-lucky and somewhat blockheaded character, similar to Gilligan on Gilligan's Island or Coach and Woody Boyd on Cheers. In the Green Acres episode "Never Trust a Little Old Lady", train engineer Charley Pratt (played by Smiley Burnette) says, "Floyd Smoot, you're a stubborn fool!" To which Floyd replies: "And that goes double for me!" He played Pete Lacey in The Lone Ranger 1949 episode 7 "Pete and Pedro."

In 1964, Davis and his Petticoat Junction co-star Smiley Burnette released the single "Steam, Cinders and Smoke". The song was written by Burnette. Davis voiced the train sounds in the song. The single was given a limited release of around a thousand copies. Davis and Burnette perform the song in the Petticoat Junction episodes "Hooterville A-Go-Go" and "The Almost Annual Charity Show". Davis performs the song solo in the episode "Last Train to Pixley", which was filmed after Burnette's 1967 death. The B-side of the single is "Clickity Clack". Davis sings "The Little Engine that Could" and "The Old Sow Song" on the 1966 children's record Bozo and His Pals.

Rufe Davis died in 1974. He is interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills.

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1937 — Mountain Music — Ham Sheppard • 1937 — This Way Please — The Sound Effects Man • 1937 — Blossoms on Broadway — Sheriff Jeff Holloway • 1938 — The Big Broadcast of 1938 — Turnkey • 1938 — Doctor Rhythm — Al (Zookeeper) • 1938 — Cocoanut Grove — Bibb Tucker • 1939 — Ambush — Centerville Sheriff • 1939 — Some Like It Hot — Stoney • 1940 — Under Texas Skies — Lullaby Joslin • 1940 — Barnyard Follies — Bucksaw Beechwood • 1940 — The Trail Blazers — Lullaby Joslin • 1940 — Lone Star Raiders • 1941 — Prairie Pioneers • 1941 — Pals of the Pecos • 1941 — Saddlemates • 1941 — Gangs of Sonora • 1941 — Outlaws of Cherokee Trail • 1941 — Gauchos of El Dorado • 1941 — West of Cimarron • 1942 — Code of the Outlaw • 1942 — Raiders of the Range • 1942 — Westward Ho • 1942 — The Phantom Plainsmen • 1944 — Jamboree — Rufe Davis • 1945 — Radio Stars on Parade — Pinky • 1945 — George White's Scandals — Impersonation Performer — Uncredited • 1948 — The Strawberry Roan — Chuck • 1949 — Make Mine Laughs — Performer Doing Animal-Sound Imitations On-Screen • 1951 — Joe Palooka in Triple Cross — Deputy Kenny • 1969 — Angel in My Pocket — Old Man