The King of the Cowboys
In 1943 Republic Studios declared Roy Rogers to be the "King of the Cowboys".
The cowboy superstar from Duck Run, Ohio, fit the silver-saddle throne like no man before or since.
As a sagebrush movie hero, he shot the straightest, and rode the fastest. He sang, yodeled and strummed the guitar. He was fabulously well-dressed in fringe, and his partner, Dale Evans, was just about the prettiest cowgirl there ever was.
Roy and Dale were simply the most popular cowboy and cowgirl the world has ever known.
So . . Do you remember Roy Rogers?
As a baby boomer I grew up during the 'Golden Age' of TV cowboys. I fondly look back on many afternoons rushing home from grade school and turning on the television just in time to have my cowboy hero of the moment come riding, guns blazing, into my living room.Yes to me Roy was the king, but he stood shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Gene Autry, Hopalong Cassidy, Wild Bill Hickok, The Cisco Kid and many, many others.
Did Republic Studios get it wrong?
Roy Rogers - The King of the Cowboys?
Roy was crowned "King of the Cowboys" by declaration of Republic Studios 1943. No one ever challenged his right to that crown, which he wore until his death in 1998.
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Leonard Slye aka Roy Rogers the Early Years
Leonard Slye was born on November 5, 1911 in Cincinnati and grew up as a farm boy in Duck Run, Ohio. Leonard learned to love music from his parents. His father played the guitar and his mother who was an accomplished singer.He spent his childhood on a farm where he developed his love of animals and his naturally athletic abilities. Due to hard times he was forced to drop out of high school after two years, and to go to work in a shoe factory beside his father.
In 1931 he moved to California with his father where they worked as fruit pickers.
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Roy gets a Band
Leonard loved music and as a way to make extra income he joined a band called the Rocky Mountaineers. Later he was involved with a band know as the Texas Outlaws.In 1933, he, Tim Spencer and Bob Nolan started a band called "The Pioneer Trio". They developed a unique style of close harmony with a distinctive cowboy sound and soon became very popular on the radio and in concerts in Southern California.
They later added Hugh Farr on the fiddle and changed their name to "The Sons of The Pioneers" at the suggestion of a radio announcer who thought they looked too young to be Pioneers.
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Roy gets his Big Break
While the "The Sons of The Pioneers" were beginning to take off in the music world, Slye heard that Republic was searching for a new singing cowboy leading man. An old friend Sol Siegel arranged an audition.The Republic decision makers liked what they saw in this handsome young cowboy with a great voice. Soon a young Leonard Slye, then 26, was signed to a contract for $75.00 per week and given the screen name of Roy Rogers because the studio execs felt it was more 'western' sounding.
Great Roy Rogers Stuff on CafePress
cowboy Large Mug
Roy Rogers, Gene Autry or Hopalong Cassidy? Who's your favorite movie cowboy? Who ruled the golden west on the silver screen?
Roy's Star Rises
Roy had never had an acting or singing lesson in his life, but he immediately began working hard at becoming the best singing cowboy he could possibly be. He rented a horse and spent hours in the saddle, learning how to ride. He bought a pair of six-shooters and practiced handling a gun - fast draw, twirling, and shooting. From the very beginning Roy knew what he needed to do to be the best.Roy made his movie debut in "Under Western Stars," which was an instant smash hit for Republic. In it he rode a magnificent palomino stallion initially named Golden Cloud, but renamed Trigger for Roy's film.
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Roy gets a Saddle Partner
By the early 1940's Roy had become a huge star. The Rogers films eschewed traditional Western plot lines with action sequences and a sprinkling of musical presentations. This formula worked well for the public, as Roy soon became the screen's top Western star.From 1943 through 1954, he was the number one ranked Cowboy Star, based on box office receipts, and for a few years, he even ranked in the top ten for all movie stars!
In 1944 Rogers did a film entitled 'The Cowboy and the Senorita' alongside a feisty cowgirl, by the name of Dale Evans. The combination was well received and the studio, at Roy's request, invited Dale back for several other films. In 1947 Roy and Dale were married.
Roy Rogers on Flickr
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Roy achieves Super Hero Status
By this time Roy Rogers was at the peak of his career. From the early 1940s to the mid-1950s, he was making as many as six pictures a year, which were seen annually by more than 80 million Americans - over half the population of the country.In 1950 there were more than two thousand Roy Rogers fan clubs around the globe. He once received over 78,000 pieces of fan mail in a single month. Roy and his wife Dale were in great demand for public appearances. They regularly rode in all the biggest parades and performed at all the grandest rodeos throughout the nation.
In 1951 Roy and Dale moved to television and starred for six years on "The Roy Rogers Show", with co-star Pat Brady, and his dog Bullet. They also created several long-running radio series that featured their singing duets and dramatic sketches. Roy Rogers and Dale Evans were simply the most popular cowboy and cowgirl the world has ever known.
Roy Rogers the Family Man
Roy and Dale loved children and spent a lifetime devoted to children and children's charities, including the Happy Trails Children's Foundation for severely abused and neglected children. Through the years, they made hundreds of visits to children's hospitals and orphanages all over the country.But their love of children showed most in their home life. They where the parents to nine children, with 15 grandchildren, and 33 great-grandchildren. They truly had an International family, adopting Dodie, an American Indian girl, Debbie, a Korean American girl, and Sandy, a little boy from Kentucky, who had been severely abused. Marion, a foster daughter from Scotland, came to live with them as a teenager.
Roy Rogers a Man of Many Talents
Roy was a man of many interests. He was a rancher, horse breeder and trainer. He was a sportsman, outdoors man, hunter and fisherman. He was an avid bowler and an occasional golfer. Roy was a successful businessman, entrepreneur, restaurateur, and real estate developer. He was a philosopher, philanthropist and raconteur. He also had a way with animals and at one time owned 37 coon dogs. He even raised and raced pigeons.Roy Rogers and Dale Evans were proud Christians, who at the top of their careers in 1950, made a decision to include a religious song in each of their many live performances. In later years, Roy and Dale appeared many times with Billy Graham in Crusades all over the country, singing gospel songs and giving their testimony.
Roy Rogers Trivia:
- Roy was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame twice. Once as a member of "The Sons of the Pioneers" in 1980, and again in 1988 as Roy Rogers.- His biggest song hit was "Happy Trails" which was penned by Dale.
- Some of Roy's best-loved movie sidekicks include Gabby Hayes, Andy Devine, Pinky Lee and Pat Brady.
- Roy was a 33rd Degree Mason
- Roy performed many of his own stunts. He was an outstanding athlete and stayed in superb physical condition. He was an excellent marksman, with handguns, rifles, shotguns, and even a bow and arrow.
- He was perhaps the best horseman of all the leading cowboys in Hollywood.
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More Roy Rogers Trivia:
- Roy was a patriot who loved his flag and country. He sold millions of dollars worth of War Bonds during World War II and made numerous USO tours of military bases with Trigger. Years later he also made a tour of Vietnam.- Roy was a firm believer in our 2nd Amendment Rights, and appeared in TV commercials as an NRA spokesman.
- At one time Roy was asked to run for Congress on the Republican ticket. His reply was, "I have both Democrat and Republican fans and I can't afford to lose any of them!"
- The Roy Rogers & Dale Evans museum is located in Branson Missouri. Their joint autobiography, "The Story of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans: Happy Trails," was published in 1979.
Lenses in the spirit of Roy and the Old West
Ride on over to these Ranches to see more Cowboy and Western reading that would make Roy proud.-
Gene Autry
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Gene Autry - succeeded at just about anything he undertook: radio, records, songwriting, movies, TV, real estate and business. Known as 'America's Favorite Singing Cowboy', he is the only entertainer to have five stars on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. He...
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Hopalong Cassidy
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Hopalong Cassidy and William Boyd were familiar names during the 1940's and 50's. The hero in black rode across the plains of the old west and into living rooms across America in his fight for law and order. Whenever a bad guy needed a lesson taught...
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Clayton Moore
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Hi Ho Silver, Awayyy . . . CLAYTON MOORE as - The Lone Ranger In today's world of multi-million dollalr sports, rock and television stars and super-stars the term and concept of ROLE MODEL; is often used and abused repeatedly. In the 1950 's CLAYTON...
Roy rides on . . .Happy Trails!
Open-heart surgery and other health problems curtailed his workload in the 1980s, but in 1987 he and Dale taped a series of reminiscences to introduce their old movies for cable TV.In 1991 he was prevailed upon to record a new album, called "Tribute," which served as a valedictory for his career. The album had the 80 year-old cowboy singing with Kathy Mattea, Ricky Van Shelton, Randy Travis, and nine other country stars. It ended with them all singing "Happy Trails" together. One of the songs a musical duet with Clint Black titled "Hold On Partner," found it's way onto the country music charts.
On July 6th, 1998 The King of the Cowboys rode off into the sunset.
Happy Trails, Roy...until we meet again!
Roy Rogers fans will love these sites
If you just can't seem to get enough Roy Rogers you might try these links:
- Roy Rogers Collectibles
- Roy Rogers and Dale Evans collectible merchandise and information on how to determine current market value.
- Roy Rogers Dale Evans
- The OFFICIAL Roy and Dale Website
- Roy Rogers Ranch
- Roy Rogers Double R Bar Ranch site
- Happy Trails Highway
- Site for Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Fans ANYONE Else who Loved them!!
Websites by Author
- Cowboy Kid Corral
- Everything Cowboy or Western for Kids
- The University of Golf
- Your Golf Education Starts Here
- The University of Bowling
- Your Bowling Education Starts Here
- The College of Martial Arts
- Find Apparel, Training Equipment, Books, Videos, and DVDs on over twenty major martial arts.
- Quality Surplus RV Parts
- A site for RV, and motor home owners to easily locate hard to find discount parts and accessories.
- The Old Cookie Jar Shop
- THE online auction portal for finding collectible vintage Cookie Jars at affordable prices, and valuable information for enthusiasts.
- Quality Surplus Big Truck Parts
- A site for 18 wheeler owners to easily locate hard to find discount parts and accessories.
- Old Railroad Watches
- Railroad watches are under valued today. Savvy collectors know this! Invest in some yourself. You'll be glad you did!
- Old Phone Store
- As collectibles old phones are very under valued today, and knowledgeable collectors know this!
- Discount Crystal Skulls
- Are you one of those that finds yourself drawn to becoming a care taker for crystal skulls?
- Discount Hood Ornaments
- A resource portal for connecting those that are looking for a particular vintage car hood ornament with those that are seeking to sell them.
- Ye Olde Tyme Village Christmas Shoppe
- Everything Christmas for your home. A fun internet site for locating new and used Christmas decorations at discount prices.
- Antler Lamp Shop
- Everything Antlers for your home. A fun internet site for locating new and used Antler Lamps at discount prices.
- Discount Navajo Arts
- Your internet source for substantial discounts on Navajo Indian works of art.
Shout Out For Roy Rogers!
Let's hear what you think.
Roy Rogers the legend, Roy the man, Roy the movie star.
Roy touched many of us on many different levels. Please take a moment to tell us how Roy rode through your life, or how you feel about this lens.
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- darlkay52 darlkay52 Nov 22, 2008 @ 9:54 pm
- Great lens! Roy Rogers was one of my heroes!
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- ClassyGals ClassyGals Aug 26, 2008 @ 9:45 pm
- Very impressive work, well done. Please consider joining my new group, Country Western Living. Your lens would be more than welcome! Five stars and favored.
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- Christopher_Scott Christopher_Scott Dec 11, 2007 @ 8:13 pm
- Roy Rogers was a cool dude!
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- flaminglacer flaminglacer Dec 7, 2007 @ 3:53 am
- Great Lens - Squid Angel Blessing...
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- SemperFidelis SemperFidelis Dec 6, 2007 @ 11:57 pm
- Super job dewittsenior! Fantastic lens on Roy! Keep up the good work. 5* :o)
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- AMK AMK Dec 6, 2007 @ 4:14 pm
- Read this on the Angels forum. Great Lens. Packed with lots of info. Keep up the good work :)
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- mulberry mulberry Dec 5, 2007 @ 4:09 pm
- Very Nice. A multimedia extravaganza...breaks it up beautifully. Information has a nice progression.
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- rockycha rockycha Dec 5, 2007 @ 9:30 am
- Excellent Squidwhooeyyy!!! Yippie Kiy Aye Yay! fivers!
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- GypsyPirate GypsyPirate Dec 5, 2007 @ 9:10 am
- What a fantastic tribute you have created here! Great job.
by dewittsenior
Hello world. My name is DeWitt Mosby Sr. My new credo in life "work is a 4 letter word". You see, I recently retired at the age of 62, with a desire t...
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