Roy Rogers

by Frank M. Roberts

March 2016

Here's another entry in my series of yesteryear's cowboy stars. Color this one inevitable: Roy Rogers. O.K. - give me space.

Leonard Franklin Slye (a great name for a villain) was born in 1911 in non-cowboy country: Cincinnati. He was raised on a farm in the li'l ole village of Duck Run and, it was in that 'ducky' place he learned to ride, rope, and work hard - things which, of course, would hold him in good stead later on. (Is there such a thing as 'bad stead'?) And, possibly no surprise, it was there that he became one of Ohio's premier square dance callers. (I don't think that state was inundated with those callers).

It was in 1929 that he decided to leave farm life behind. He went to work at the U. S. Shoe Co. in Cincy. Well, he was fed up with farming, then he was fed up with life in a factory - so, it was 'shoo' to shoes. Dear ole dad was not only sympathetic, he piled the family in a car and heeded the advice to, "go west young man". Did they sing that old song, "California, here I come?"

Leonard's first jobs there were as a truck driver, and a peach picker. It was a peachy job. Peachier still was an appearance on an amateur radio show and, soon, he joined a group which ultimately became one of the greatest in western music. Yep - the Sons of The Pioneers. What a great beginning.

By 1935 they were, to put it mildly, a hot item - hot enough to make a brief appearance with Gene Autry in, "Tumbling Tumbleweeds." Then, they landed a spot with Charles Starrett in "Gallant Defender." They became backup singers.

After more Starrett flicks and two more with Autry, the sly Slye slipped past the guard at Republic and auditioned to be their newest singing cowboy. The rest, as they say, is history.

Not everyone at the studio was thrilled with the Ohio-an. A few hotshots there wanted to show him the exit sign but, director Joe Kane stepped in. Kane was keen and offered Slye a contract. That was in 1937. For obvious reasons they changed his name. No, not to Roy Rogers. He became Dick Weston. Well, he was in 'west-er-on' movies.

The big break came the following year. Autry went on strike - Dick Weston moseyed in. (How do you 'mosey'?). Anyway, he began making a movie and the studio decided on yet another name. Slye was out, Weston was out, Rogers was in. He had yet another name - or - title. He was promoted as 'King Of the Cowboys'. Autry going into the service with Unc Sam left a gaping hole which Mr. Rogers filled. Fans enjoyed Mr. Rogers neighborhood.

In 1942 he changed his name, legally and starred in a film, "Don't Mess With My Moniker." Nah - anyway he was sort-of pushed into stardom. Roy Rogers was up to the task and his movies got good budgets, and good directors - a killer combination.

He was a Republic Pictures star from 1938 to 1951. In that time, he worked under only four directors. The best? Joseph Kane, and Bill Whitney. Check those credits. It was Whitney who directed RR's final 27 films - some of the best 'B' westerns ever made.

Of course, you gotta talk about Roy's equine, the beautiful Palomino who was christened, 'Trigger'. Did Rogers love that animal? You betcha. He purchased it for himself. Later, there was Trigger Jr. Both were billed as,"the smartest horse in the movies." Man and horse made many personal appearances. As you probably know, both 'Trigger' and T Jr. were stuffed and are on display at the cowboy's museum in Branson - it moved there from Victorville, Cal. Stop by and pat the animals, but don't expect 'neigh' in reply.

Just a few of the Rogers-Trigger films: "Grand Canyon Trail," "Under California Stars," in Trucolor, "Saga Of Death Valley," which co-starred his colorful, perennial sidekick, George 'Gabby' Hayes. Also in the cast was another cowboy star, Donald Barry, and Frank B. Thomas AND Doris Day who sang "Que Cowboy Sera Sera."

Another title - "Bad Men Of Deadwood," which featured, of course, 'Gabby' and Carol Adams, Henry Brandon, and a young lady oft seen in cowboy films, Sally Payne. There was also a "Colorado" with Gab, Pauline Moore, and two movie vets, Milburn Stone, and Maude Eburne. Geographically, he also stopped, "In Old Caliente." More geography - "Twilight In the Sierras." Still more - "Eyes Of Texas," and a place called, "Heldorado," a combo, I suppose, of the devil's home, and Colorado.

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Unless you're a complete idiot (I'm incomplete) you don't discuss Roy w/o talking about his lady love. He was not her first choice as a husband. There was Dale Butts, August Johns, and Thomas Frederick Fox. (A 20th century Fox). She divorced 'em all before meeting Mr. Right. Mrs. Right's right name was Frances Octavia Smith and, to her credit, she's a Texan - Uvalde. She was raised there and, in Arkansas.

She was 14 when she first wed, and a mother at 15. At least the order was correct. She moved to Memphis, worked with an insurance company while, on the side, she took on singing jobs, becoming quite popular on an area radio station. She moved to Louisville where she continued singing on radio. That's when she changed her moniker to Dale Evans. (Dale was her third husband's middle name). She was a band singer for awhile, working with the Anson Weeks Orchestra.

Then, to Chi-town and more singing. Radio audiences and studio executives liked what they heard, and she was on the way up. There were a few small roles in western flicks - then - Kazoom. She was Rogers' leading lady. The pair clicked and western movie history was made.

In 1946, Rogers wife died. At the same time, her divorce to Butts became final. The way was being paved. A year later - as they say in the westerns - the two got hitched. It was a happy union but there were some unhappy times - the loss of three children.

Roy and Dale were familiar on screen, and in the pages of inspirational books written, mostly, by Evans. Next, a teevee series which still plays regularly on RFD-TV.

I would be remiss if I failed to mention that Jimbo has a host of those movies - so - he has a host of those movies. Now, I'm not re-miss. Pass the popcorn - excuse me - pass the buttered popcorn.

I talked about Roy's horses so, I should mention Miss Dale's animal, with the feminine name of Buttermilk. (Remember Hoagy Carmichael's song about "Ole Buttermilk Sky?").

Miss Dale wrote one of the great cowboy anthems. "Happy Trails" became the couple's theme song. It was hurriedly written on the back of an envelope. She also wrote the very popular gospel song, "The Bible Tells Me So."

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Also on these pages we take a look at sidekicks and/or the villains. Right now, a look at Tom London who participated in movie history as one of the actors in "The Great Train Robbery," the pioneer western. He was the right age - born in 1883.

He made a host of non-westerns including "King Of Kings," and "Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde." Westerns include, "The Cowboy And the Lady," and "Vigilantes of Dodge City" with Wild Bill Elliott.