Melody Ranch, a popular Western variety radio show, aired between 1940 and 1956 in the United States on CBS and was sponsored by Doublemint gum. Starring "hard-riding, sweet-singing" Gene Autry, the show featured songs, comedy, and action-filled drama. After a brief hiatus due to Autry's enlistment in the United States Army during World War II, the show returned and continued its success. The episodes were typically 30 minutes long and took place in a campfire atmosphere. Over the years, Melody Ranch included a diverse cast of talent, including various vocalists, musicians, and character actors. In 1964, a television version premiered on Los Angeles' KTLA channel 5, airing for almost a decade.