Andrews was 6 feet 8 inches (2 m) tall and received the nickname Slim. He used money earned picking strawberries to buy a Model T Ford, and began doing comedy. He joined forces with a traveling showman known as Watso the Musical Wizard, who taught him handsaw and banjo.[1]
Tex Ritter encountered Andrews doing a standup comedy routine in a tent in Monticello, Arkansas. Ritter invited Andrews to work in movies with him. Andrews went on to perform in 15 films with Ritter.[2] Although he acted as a movie cowboy, he had a hatred for horses, which is why he chose to ride a mule in many movies.[2]
When western B-movies began to lose popularity, Andrews toured with Bob Wills, singing and composing songs before he found a new career as a host of weekday children's TV, starting in the early 50s as "The 49er" for KGEO-TV and KMJ-TV in Fresno, California, and then hosting "The Fun Club" at KOAM in Kansas.
Andrews and his wife Lucille returned to Gravette, where they lived until his death in 1992.
