In 2000 Golden Landmarks lost one of its own, Pete Smythe. He was not only a poineering radio personality of our area, he was a contributor to the Golden community for half a century. For many years Pete Smythe was the voice of East Tincup, the fictional old west town of his creation. But for a time, this fiction became incarnate in Golden, and this exhibit commemorates one of Smythe's special contributions to our community.
Pete Smythe for a Golden charitable benefit, 1957
Photo courtesy Colorado Transcript
Pete Smythe was born in Glen Rock, Wyoming, the son of ranchers who ran the town's general store. There in his early years Smythe developed a love for music, and organized a touring band, the Whiz Bang Four. In 1934, he graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Although Smythe was a business major he continued with his music, playing clarinet and saxophone and leading the Pete Smythe Orchestra at the University. After a brief departure from Colorado, he returned to Denver to marry Peggy Simpson. The happy couple had three children: Pete Jr., Brooke and Shelley.
Smythe debuted in radio in 1941, becoming the first disc jockey in Denver's history. His show, "Meet the Boys in the Band," was aired on radio station KMYR. With his radio career taking off, Smythe took off for the glitz of California and wrote radio shows for Edgar Bergen, Bing Crosby and Celeste home, but by 1948 Smythe had returned to Denver. At KTLN he created the "Pete Smythe General Store" show, which soon broadcast on KOA Channel 4 when that station went on the air in 1954. There it continued to run until 1969.
In 1951, Smythe founded the imaginary town of East Tincup, and became mayor for eternity. East Tincup made its home on the Barbed Wire Network with KOA. With a thinly disguised voice, Smythe created many townspeople for the public to meet, including Moat Watkins and Elmy Elrod. Infusing western folksy humor, tales and lore East Tincup and Smythe endeared themselves to the hearts of many Coloradans. After radio, Pete Smythe by no means faded away. In 1971 Smythe became the voice of First Federal Bank, appearing in its advertisements and in bank lobbies for 28 years, working from his general store set inside the First Federal offices, until the bank was absorbed by Commercial Federal. In 1972, Smythe was appointed as Arapahoe County Commissioner by Governor John Love. The National Western Stock Show honored Pete with the Citizen of the West award in 1983. Smythe during the 1990s became the voice of Denver International Airport's train system and the Regional Transportation District's light rail. He also served as a member of the Colorado Historical Foundation, Colorado Racing Commission, Denver Rotarians, Round-up Riders of the Rockies, National Western Stock Show, Colorado Cattlemen's Commission, Golden Landmarks Association, Colorado Author's League, the Cactus Club, and was chairman of the Easter Seals Drive.
Peggy Smythe died in 1995, but Pete himself was not through living yet. He married Goldenite Jacquie Craig in 1998, and the two were proclaimed the sweethearts of the year by the Golden Chamber of Commerce. Pete's involvement in Golden far predated this, however, having as a radio personality appeared at many benefits for local organizations, and also creating Golden's 2nd recreation of the Old West, the incarnate East Tincup. Golden Landmarks thanks the Rocky Mountain News, Denver Post and Golden Transcript for their work without which this narrative on Pete Smythe's life would not be possible. GLA wishes to honor the legacy of our departed member by giving people a glimpse of the real version of the town sprung from Smythe's imagination.