-BE SURE TO VISIT MY WEBSITE AT http://www.royrogers.com/Roy Rogers: Actor, singer, singing Cowboy.His given name Leonard Franklin Slye born on November 5, 1911, in Cincinnati, Ohio. One year and 1/2 after his birth, the Slyes, young Leonard and clan left the city of Cincinnati to settle on a farm near Duck Run, Ohio. Later, Leonard dropped out of high school and visited California in 1929, then moved there in 1930. He was best known as a singing cowboy. Rogers, and his famous horse Trigger, appeared in almost 100 films during the 1930s, ‘40s and ‘50s, many of them featuring his wife Dale Evans.Roy Rogers & Trigger
..BIOGRAPHYIn 1931 Roy was driving a truck on a farm. He got his start in the music business with his cousin Stanley, playing at square dances and local theaters. His sister talked him into yodeling on a local radio show called the "Midnight Frolics". Later, Rogers met Bob Nolan and Tim Spencer, and formed the O-Bar-O Cowboys in 1933. Which they later changed to the Pioneer Trio and then again by no choice of their own the name was changed to The Sons of the Pioneers in 1934. As Roy was busy with music recordings, radio work, and films he married his first wife Arlene in 1936. He and Arlene adopted their first daughter, and then their own daughter was born later. Roy left the Pioneers in 1937 and in that same year had a small part in a Gene Autry film. Rogers original film name was "Dick Weston".One day in 1938, Leonard heard that Gene Autry's studio, Republic Pictures, was holding open auditions the next day for a new singing cowboy. He decided to take his chances and went to the studio not knowing he needed a pass to get in and was not allowed in without one. Len would not be so easy to get rid of though and managed to slip by when some other employees went in after lunch hours. Right after Leonard managed to get in the guard noticed him in the group and called him to "get back here", Leonard was immediately recognized by producer Sol Siegel who knew him from his film appearances with the Pioneers. It was clear to the producer at that moment that Republic had their new singing cowboy star. This was the magical moment that his name was changed to "Roy Rogers", and Autry was replaced in the film "Under the Western Skies" 1938. While Autry was the tops, Roy's popularity continued to grow. Autry joined the army during World War II, and Roy Rogers and Trigger filled the void Autry had left on the American movie screen. In 1942, Roy Rogers made his stage name his legal name. 1 year later, Republic dubbed him "King of the Cowboys". Some of his other films included Sunset in El Dorado (1945), My Pal Trigger (1946), and The Golden Stallion (1949). With Roy's example of patriotism and heroism, he gained an enormous following of mostly young fans. Roy Rogers Enterprises endorsed a multitude of products from children’s toys to lunch boxes, cereal brands, tooth brushes, toy guns, hats, comics (20 million sold in 1952 alone)cookies, etc. It's no doubt that Roy Rogers, Dale Evans and Trigger, would evolve into major pop cultural icons.Soon after the birth of his first son, Roy Jr., 1st wife Arlene died suddenly of a blood clot. With three children in tow, Roy continued his career often coupled on screen with beautiful actress/singer Dale Evans.Won't you be a friend of mine?
..They met during the making of the film "The Cowboy and the Senorita" in 1944. While filming, the couples own personal experience together could have made a wonderful story in it's own write. Roy proposed to Dale backstage at a joint appearance in 1947 in Chicago and they married on New Year's Eve. Evans quickly gained the title, “Queen of the Cowgirls,†to match the reputation of her on-and-off-screen sweetheart. Between the years of 1944 and 1951, Dale appeared with her Cowboy Prince in nearly 30 films together. Particularly in the mid-to-late 1940s, the duo appeared in several back-to-back productions, The Cowboy and the Senorita (1944), Utah (1945), Apache Rose (1947) and many more.Trials continued on though, when their first child was born with Down's Syndrome, and died before her second birthday. In the 1950s, Rogers and Evans adopted four more children, known as Dodie, Sandy, Marion Swift and Debbie Lee. The Rogers family was struck with tragedy once again when, in 1964, Debbie died in a church bus accident, and one year later their son Sandy would choke to death while serving in the Army. Through all of this, the family remained strong, and Roy and Dale would eventually have 16 grandchildren and 27 great grandchildren!It was 1965 when Rogers and Evans established the Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Museum in their hometown of Victorville, California. The museum now located in Branson Missouri, still features the one and only "Trigger". When the horse died that same year at the age of 33 Rogers did not have the heart to bury him and instead chose to preserve him.Rogers always seemed to be known as much for his kind, all American, wholesome demeanor as for his movie roles. It is known that he appreciated his fans so much that he attempted to respond himself to each piece of mail he received. Despite the fact that his film studio refused to pay for postage, and didn't bat an eye at paying for it out of his own pocket.In 1946, Roy's song "My Chicashay Gal" became a top 5 country hit. He continued recording, reuniting with the Sons of the Pioneers in 1950 for his hit single "Stampede". Roy's Republic contract ended in 1951 when his sights turned toward the new medium of Television, thus was born the Roy Rogers Show. Rogers starred in this series, from 1951-1957, which also featured Dale Evans. The song “Happy Trails,†was the closing theme written by Evans. Later with some minor changes, the show aired again as The Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Show in 1962.In 1988, Rogers was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame. In addition to numerous awards and accolades, he has four stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, in recognition of his achievements in radio, music, film, and television.Six months after celebrating the 50th anniversary of his marriage to Dale, Rogers died in Victorville, California, on July 6, 1998, of congestive heart failure.
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