Cactus Flower

 Shelby Frederick Wooley was born in Oklahoma in 1921. His first job was as a cowboy on his daddy’s farm. He found more money (and prestige) in the rodeo. He tried to enlist when the U.S. entered World War II, but his many rodeo injuries labelled him 4-F. Wooley worked as a welder, and then he traveled with a band as a country-western singer. In the 50’s, Wooley began appearing as an actor in movies and TV shows. Sometimes he used the name Ben Colder, and sometimes his nickname, Sheb. He also continued his music career, recording his most popular song, “The Purple People Eater,” in 1958. While working on the movie “Distant Drums,” Sheb recorded a scream for his character, who was killed by an alligator. The sound was dubbed the “Wilhelm Scream” when it was reused in “The Charge at Feather River.” The “Wilhelm Scream” has been used in hundreds of movies and TV shows.