In the 1960s, I watched many cowboy shows with my dad. It was then that my love for westerns, cowboys, and horses was birthed. One of my dad’s favorites and mine was Roy Rogers.
Rogers started out as Leonard Franklin Slye, born November 5, 1911 in Cincinnati, Ohio. His family relocated to California in the late 1920s, where Slye held jobs as a fruit picker and factory worker. His first venture into the music world was playing at square dances and local theaters with his cousin, Stanley. Slye soon met Bob Nolan and Tim Spencer, and they began playing music together. They called their group the O-Bar-O Cowboys. The band went through various name changes, performing as the Pioneer Trio and the Sons of the Pioneers. They even appeared together in several motion pictures.
The Carson City Kid |
Roy Rogers & Trigger |
Slye went through more than one name change himselft. During his early stint in the Sons of the Pioneers, he went by Dick Weston, which is how the credits read for his first film, Slightly Static (1935). In 1937, Republic Studios offered him a seven-year contract, and Leonard Slye became Roy Rogers for eternity. His big break came the next year when he replaced Gene Autry, who was involved in a contract dispute, to star in Under Western Stars (1938). The movie was a huge hit, and Rogers went on to star in an average of seven singing B-Westerns every year until the early 1950s, all of which featured his trusty palomino, Trigger, and his dog, Bullet.
Gene Autry and Roy Rogers were often rivals for starring roles, but Rogers later out scored Autry in box office sales. During the era of western musicals, Roy Rogers became known as the "King of the Cowboys" after appearing in a film of the same name.
Advocating patriotism and heroism, Rogers gained an enormous following of mostly young fans. With his endorsement of a multitude of products—from children's toys to cereal brands—Roy Rogers and Trigger, and later Dale Evans, evolved into pop cultural icons.
Roy Rogers appeared in his first film with actress Dale Evans in 1944. The Cowboy and the SeƱorita sparked an irresistible on-screen chemistry between the two, quickly gaining Evans the nickname, "Queen of the Cowgirls.” From 1944 to 1951, they appeared in nearly 30 films together, including The Yellow Rose of Texas (1944), Utah (1945) and Apache Rose (1947). From 1951-1957, Rogers starred in his own popular television series, The Roy Rogers Show, which also featured Dale Evans, who wrote the show's theme song, Happy Trails. Following a revamping, the show re-aired as The Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Show in 1962.
Rogers had two previous marriages before he wed Dale Evans on New Year's Eve in 1947. Several years later, they had a daughter, Robin, who was born with a heart defect and Down syndrome. Sadly, little Robin died in 1952. Evans later wrote about her in her book, Angel Unaware, which is written in Robin's point of view as she recounts her life as she looks down from heaven. As she speaks to God about the mission of love she just completed on earth, the reader sees how she brought her parents closer to God and encouraged them to help other children in need.
After their marriage, both Rogers and Evans became out-spoken advocates of their Christian faith. Beginning in 1949 they were part of the Hollywood Christian Group founded by their friend and Bel Air Church's Organizing Pastor, Louis Evans, Jr. Billy Graham and Jane Russell were also part of the Hollywood Christian Group.
Throughout his life, Roy Rogers was known as much for his kindness as for his movie roles. For instance, he appreciated his fans so much that he attempted to respond personally to every piece of mail he received, despite the fact that his film studio refused to pay for postage, and the cost came out of his own pocket. He will forever be known as an honorable man and the King of the Cowboys.
Do you remember watching Roy Rogers on television or in the movies?
When Sarah Worley rejects Luke McNeil’s marriage proposal to pursue property in the Oklahoma Territory land lottery in 1901, the ranch hand pulls up stakes and goes after her. But he’s the last person she wants to see. The land lottery gives Sarah the chance to realize her dream of independence and a home of her own. But with it comes challenges she never considered. When her dream becomes a nightmare, she must decide whether to stay on her land or give up and return to the life she left. Luke hopes that by winning a claim, he can give Sarah the home she’s always wanted. How can he prove his love and show the stubborn woman that he’s the right man for her?
Bestselling author Vickie McDonough grew up wanting to marry a rancher, but instead married a computer geek who is scared of horses. She now lives out her dreams penning romance stories about ranchers, cowboys, lawmen, and others living in the Old West. Vickie is an award-winning author of more than 40 published books and novellas. Over a million copies of her books have been sold worldwide. Her novels include the fun and feisty Texas Boardinghouse Brides series, and End of the Trail, which was the OWFI 2013 Best Fiction Novel winner. Whispers on the Prairie was a Romantic Times Recommended Inspirational Book for July 2013. Song of the Prairie won the 2015 Inspirational Readers Choice Award. Her latest series, Land Rush Dreams, focuses on the Oklahoma land runs. Vickie has recently stepped into independent publishing with Frontier Hearts and The Bull Rider's Bride.
Vickie has been married over forty years to Robert. They have four grown sons, one of whom is married, and a precocious ten-year-old granddaughter. When she’s not writing, Vickie enjoys reading, antiquing, watching movies, and traveling. To learn more about Vickie’s books or to sign up for her newsletter, visit her website: www.vickiemcdonough.com
Vickie, you forgot their faithful dog Bullet, a beautiful German shepherd that helped them round up the bad guys in their television show! I saw them all in person at an arena in Charlotte, NC, when I was about twelve or thirteen. As a fan of their show, I was thrilled to pieces to be close to them, though I didn't get to shake their hands.
ReplyDeleteHow fun to see them in person! I did mention Bullet, but I didn't find a picture of him.
DeleteVicki, thank you so much for great post about Roy Rogers, King of the Cowboys. Yes, I remember watching Roy Rogers and Dale Evans as a youngster. I read the books you mentioned by Dale Evans but I no longer have them in my personal library. Roy and Dale's faith did shine out to the world. Happy memories and every once in a while I can find a rerun of the Roy Rogers show.
ReplyDeleteI loved the shows when I was younger, but I believe it was their strong faith that kept me a big fan as I grew older.
DeleteI watched a lot of these reruns. Thanks for the trip down memory lane!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! Where do you find the reruns? I haven't seen one in years.
DeleteI loved your post, Vickie! I grew up watching Westerns with my dad and Roy and Dale and their show was one of my favorites. They had such tragedies in their personal lives but they never turned their back on God.
ReplyDeleteYou and me both! They were such a powerful testimony of their faith, even when it was strongly tested.
DeleteLoved this Vickie. I grew going to Saturday movies to watch Roy Rogers and Trigger. Don't think I missed a one after he started with Dale Evans. I was 8 years old when I saw their first movie together. I wanted a lunch box with Roy and Dale and Trigger on it, but Mother said they were too expensive and a brown bag did just as well. (She decorated our bags with crayon drawings so they'd be special) Roy and Dale were our idols and my sister and cousins loved to play cowboys and cowgirls like them. After I married Rex in 1959, people teased me and asked if we were kin to Roy. Read Dale's book and cried all the way through it. Beautifully written from the heart. Thanks for the memories.
ReplyDeleteI knew we were kindred spirits, Martha. :) What's not to love about Roy Rogers and Dale Evans? In spite of their fame and family troubles, they were such wonderful roles models. No wonder you wanted to imitate them.
DeleteI enjoyed reading this article! I live in Apple Valley, CA now, where Roy and Dale lived, until they passed away. Roy in 1998 and Dale and 2001. I work in a museum in Apple Valley that has some memorabilia. Sadly, their museum has been closed since 2009, but we at least keep his memory alive here in Apple Valley. :)
ReplyDeleteHow fun to live in the same town! I read that the Rogers' museum was moved to Branson, MO, but that it has now closed. I left it out of my article so it wouldn't be too long. I was sad to hear the museum had closed. I live close enough that I could have visited it.
DeleteVicki, you tapped on my childhood memories big time with this post. I was a Roy Rogers fan from the time we first got a television. Every Sun. afternoon I'd be parked in front of our little black and white TV watching the Roy Rogers show with Roy, Trigger, Dale, Buttermilk, Bullet, and Pat Brady driving his jeep, Nellybelle. That was when I began to love cowboys. I knew everything about Roy and Dale and their family of adopted kids. It didn't matter to me that he was born in Cincinnati under a different name. He was a cowboy now. I never got to see him in person, but about 12 years ago I met someone who grew up in Texas and he told me that when Roy and Trigger came to their area to appear at the county fair, they kept Trigger at their farm while Roy was in town to perform. I looked at him with eyes wide and a bit of envy and said, "Trigger stayed at your farm?" If I'd known years ago that there was a boy in Texas living on a farm where Trigger was kept when he and Roy weren't performing and I would meet him many years later, I would have been thrilled. And, yes, I did have the coloring books, and whatever else had Roy's name on it. I'm not sure about the lunch box because I always came home for lunch so I can't imagine my parents would have bought it for me if I wouldn't have been able to use it. What fun it was to read this!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad to have stirred your memories. You definitely were a big fan. I'd forgotten about Buttermilk. How fun it must have been to meet someone who kept Trigger. Just think how often he got to see Roy. :)
DeleteOh, I was in love with Roy Rogers! Nevermind that I was about five years old watching black and white movies or shows on television, I just knew someday he would ditch Dale for me! Of course, as I grew older, I really appreciated the couple's outspoken Christian faith.
ReplyDeleteOh, and thank you, Vickie, for this post. I really enjoyed reading about my first hero.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! We need more heroes who'll stand up for their faith nowadays.
DeleteHere's an interesting note to your post, Vickie. I ride my bike past Roy Rogers home several times a week. I love the house and wish I had a picture to share. The gates have the RR in them and I've been told it is in the contract that those gates must stay with the house. Right now, the home is up for sale, so if you're looking for a house to buy, there you go. :) Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThat's fun! It's sad the house is for sale, though.
DeleteLove, love, love it! Happy Trails to you, Vickie!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Janet. I enjoyed walking down Memory Lane as I wrote the post.
DeleteGreat post, Vickie. I'd heard of RR and DE, but never really knew anything about them or why they were so famous. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDelete