For Sale: Roy Rogers' Preserved Horse For Sale: Roy Rogers' Preserved Horse Cowboy movie star's late dog up for sale, too By M. Morris , Newser Staff Posted Jul 9, 2010 2:20 PM CDT View 7 more images (Newser) – An auction next week in New York will feature the belongings of movie cowboy Roy Rogers—including the preserved remains of his famous horse, Trigger. Christie's in Manhattan held a preview today, the AP reports . The items are from the now-closed Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Museum in Branson, Mo. Rogers had his faithful companion preserved with taxidermy in 1965. The presale estimate for the dead horse is $100,000 to $200,000. The auction also will offer another kind of horsepower—Rogers' 1964 Bonneville convertible, adorned with collectible silver dollars. It's estimated at $100,000 to $150,000. Hand-drawn music for the theme song "Happy Trails" has a presale estimate of $300 to $500.

Also for sale: The remains of Rogers' dog Bullet and Evans' horse Buttermilk. This 1984 file photo shows Roy Rogers and Dale Evans before the stuffed remains of Trigger, Roy's horse, at the Roy Rogers museum in Victorville, Calif. (LENNOX MCLENDON) An employee of Christie's auction house inventories some of movie cowboy Roy Rogers' belongings in New York, Friday, July 9, 2010. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) A Christie's auction house employee with some of the possessions of movie cowboy Roy Rogers, in New York, Friday, July 9, 2010. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) The 1963 Pontiac Bonneville parade car that belonged to movie cowboy Roy Rogers on display at Christie's auction house in New York, Friday, July 9, 2010. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) A Christie's auction house employee places identification cards on some movie cowboy Roy Rogers' belongings in New York, Friday, July 9, 2010.

(AP Photo/Richard Drew) The preserved remains of Roy Rogers' horse Trigger and dog Bullet on display at Christie's auction house in New York, Friday, July 9, 2010. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) Gil Perez, a doorman at Christie's auction house, wears an outfit and holds a guitar belonging to Roy Rogers. At rear are the preserved remains of Rogers' horse Trigger and dog Bullet, July 9, 2010. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) My Take on This Story Roy Rogers Roy Rogers Roy Rogers was another of the singing Western movie stars who moved real easily onto the TV screen. His show ran from the beginning of 1951 through most of 1957. What I remember most about this show was "Bullet", the dog. I think this was the first regular cowboy show to have a dog that was almost as big a star as the star's horse! In the Fall of 1951, Post Cereals agreed to sponsor "The Roy Rogers Show". So they had a 30-minute premier called "Presenting Roy Rogers - King of the Cowboys" (today we would call this a "pilot").

They featured songs by Dale (and the Whippoorwills), some funny stuff by Pat Brady, and Bob Hope promoting "Son of Paleface", the movie he and Roy had just made together. They even had Trigger in a sketch with Roy and Bob Hope. Then they showed the movie which established the setting and the characters for the TV series. All About the Show The Roy Rogers Show was more contemporary than the other old TV cowboy shows - it wasn't like the "old West" - they had cars and telephones, but the action was mostly on horseback. Dale Evans, Roy's wife, co-starred. And their bumbling helper was Roy Roger's sidekick, Pat Brady. "Trigger" was his beautiful Palomino horse; "Buttermilk" was Dale's buckskin horse; and Pat had his cantankerous jeep "Nellybelle". Not only did this show provide us with the usual horse star (Trigger was beautiful, very talented, and all decked out in fancy sadle and bridle), but it went one step further and gave us "Bullet", the dog star (a really smart German Shepherd)! Did you know there were several Triggers?

Roy owned the Double R Bar Ranch in Mineral City and Dale ran the Eureka Cafe. The "King of the Cowboys" got plenty of help from his assortment of partners while he fought for law and order. He wanted kids to see that life rewards courtesy, bravery and hard work. In his show, goodness always prevailed. He took care of all the bad guys, taught us kids some important lessons in the process, and managed to keep those colorful, fringed shirts that he always wore neat as a pin! Roy and Dale created the "Riders Club" for all the little buckaroos who were their fans. The Club had these 10 rules for us kids to live by: 1. Be neat and clean. 2. Be courteous and polite. 3. Obey your parents. 4. Protect and help the weak. 5. Be brave but never take chances. 6. Study hard and learn all you can. 7. Be kind to animals and take good care of them. 8. Eat all your food and never waste any. 9. Love God and go to Sunday School regularly. 10. Respect your country and its flag. They loved children and were a great role model for us!

Would you like to see the show's opening again? Just click on the center button in the video box below for that familiar scene! Each show closed with Roy Rogers and Dale Evans singing their famous theme song "Happy Trails To You"! To hear Roy and Dale, and see some great pictures of them, just click on the center button in the video box below, sit back, and enjoy! Visit the Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Museum website. What Happened to the Actors? Leonard Slye (Roy Rogers) was born on Nov. 5, 1911 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Before becoming Roy Rogers, he starred in movies under the stage name Dick Weston, but the studio thought that name was too bland and wanted to change it. So they chose Rogers because Will Rogers was loved by all America, and added the first name of Leroy. That was shortened to Roy and, in 1938, Leonard Slye became Roy Rogers. In 1942 he made the name change legal. Roy Rogers appeared in his last movie, "Mackintosh and T.J.", in 1976. He died of natural causes on July 6, 1998.

He was 87 years old and his health had been failing in the 2 years prior to his death. Frances Octavia Smith (Dale Evans) was born on Oct. 31, 1912 in Uvalde, Texas. She suffered from congestive heart failure and died, surrounded by her family singing the hymns that she loved so much, on Feb. 7, 2001. Robert Ellsworth O'Brady had always been called Pat, so his character's name became Pat Brady. He was a lifelong friend of Roy Rogers, was a very funny guy, and was a member of the "Sons of the Pioneers". He served in France with Gen. Patton's 3rd. Army during WWII and was decorated with 2 Purple Hearts. Alcoholism plagued his life after the war and he died in an alcohol rehab center on Feb. 27, 1972 at the young age of 57. What do you remember most about Roy Rogers? Do you have favorite memories of the Roy Rogers Show? Maybe it's Trigger, or Nellybelle. Please share them with us!!

Roy Rogers Memories Roy Rogers - Biography - IMDb Roy Rogers Biography Showing all 49 items Jump to: Overview (5) | Mini Bio (1) | Spouse (3) | Trivia (33) | Personal Quotes (6) | Salary (1) Overview (5) 5' 10½" (1.79 m) Mini Bio (1) Roy Rogers (born Leonard Slye) moved to California in 1930, aged 18. He played in such musical groups as The Hollywood Hillbillies, Rocky Mountaineers, Texas Outlaws, and his own group, the International Cowboys. In 1934 he formed a group with Bob Nolan called Sons of the Pioneers . While in that group he was known as Leonard Slye, then Dick Weston. Their songs included "Cool Water" and "Tumbling Tumbleweeds". They first appeared in the western Rhythm on the Range (1936), starring Bing Crosby and Martha Raye . In 1936 he appeared as a bandit opposite Gene Autry in "The Old Coral".

In 1937 Rogers went solo from "The Sons Of The Pioneeres", and made his first starring film in 1938, Under Western Stars (1938). He made almost 100 films. The Roy Rogers Show (1951) ran on NBC from October 1951 through 1957 and on CBS from 1961 to September 1964. In 1955, 67 of his feature films were released to television. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Ed Stephan <stephan@cc.wwu.edu> Spouse (3) ( 8 May 1933 - 8 June 1936) (divorced) Trivia (33) His dog's name was Bullet and appeared in almost as many of his films as did Trigger . Bullet DID NOT appear in "almost as many" of Roy Rogers films as did Trigger. Trigger was in every feature film and every TV episode, while Bullet was only in a few (very, very few)feature films. Consequently, Bullet didn't come close to appearing as much as Trigger...much less anywhere close to "almost as many.".

Elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1980 as a member of the Sons of the Pioneers and elected again in 1988 as Roy Rogers . Nicknames: Roy Rogers "King of the Cowboys", Dale Evans "Queen of the West", Trigger "Smartest Horse in the Movies" There is a Roy Rogers & Dale Evans Museum at Branson, Missouri. Roy got his horse Trigger in 1938 and rode him in every one of his films and TV shows after that. He had appeared in one earlier movie, ridden by Olivia de Havilland in The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938). Trigger died in 1965 at age 33. Roy's theme song, "Happy Trails", was written by Dale Evans . He had two children and 1 adopted daughter with Arlene Wilkins. He and wife Dale Evans adopted four children, one of whom-- Cheryl Rogers --later became an actress. One of his and Dale's daughters died in a bus wreck in Aug. 1964. One adopted son choked to death in Nov. 1965. The little town of Portsmouth, Ohio (USA) also claims to be the hometown of Roy.

They also have a little museum with mementoes and hoofprints of Trigger , handprints of Roy and Dusty in the sidewalk in front of the museum. Every year they had a Roy Rogers Day and Roy or Dusty would make an appearance. Once received 78,852 fan letters in a single month. Star of Mutual (1944-1951) and NBC Radio's (1951-1955) "The Roy Rogers Show." His guest appearance on Wonder Woman (1975) in 1977 reflected his real life, as the character he played was a western man who had adopted several children. Roy's conservative side showed through, though, when he insisted to the show's producers that, in order for him to agree to do the episode, series star Lynda Carter needed to wear more clothing than the "bathing suit" type of costume she normally wore. Rogers won out and Carter wore a sleeved solid red top and white chino pants. Inducted (with his wife Dale Evans ) into the Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in 1976.

Inducted (as a member of the Sons of the Pioneers ) into the Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in 1995. Was a Master Mason. In other words, he became a member of the Masonic Fraternity. Was a strong opponent of gun control, and once appeared in TV commercials put out by the National Rifle Association opposing a proposed ban outlawing certain types of guns in California. Once lived next door to actor Val Kilmer (when Val was a child). When Roy moved, the Kilmers later moved into to his old ranch. Then, in 1999, Val led a Trigger lookalike on stage at the 1999 Academy Awards in honor of Roy Rogers. Biography in: "American National Biography". Supplement 1, pp. 522-525. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002. In his autobiography, "Happy Trails: The Story of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans," the former Leonard Slye stated that his stage name of Roy Rogers was given to him by executives at Republic Pictures when he became their new singing cowboy to replace Gene Autry.

The Rogers came from Will Rogers, the beloved western comic and storyteller who had recently died in a plane crash in Alaska and Roy was made the first name because it is the French word for "king," as in "Roy Rogers, King of the Cowboys." Roy said he had no input at all in the renaming decision. Arline Wilkins, his second wife, died a few days after giving birth to their son, Roy Rogers Jr. (Dusty). She had complications from the cesarean--a blood clot formed, traveled to her brain and killed her. Dale Evans , his third wife, became his children's mom when Dusty was 15 months old. He and Arline had three children: two girls and Dusty. Childhood home was on real estate that later included second base in Cincinnati's Riverfront Stadium. His adopted daughter is Little Doe Rogers . Besides his most famous role as Roy Rogers himself, "King of the Cowboys", Roy may be one of the few actors, if not the most famous one, to have played three of the West's greatest legends: Wild Bill Hickok, William F. Cody (aka Buffalo Bill) and Jesse James .

Also, in Billy the Kid Returns (1938), he played the slain gunslinger as well. Profiled in "Back in the Saddle: Essays on Western Film and Television Actors", Gary Yoggy, ed. (McFarland, 1998). Rogers was asked to run for Congress on the Republican ticket at one time. He replied, "I have both Democrat and Republican fans and I can't afford to lose any of them!". He was awarded 3 Stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Motion Pictures at 1752 Vine Street; for Radio at 1733 Vine Street; and for Television at 1620 Vine Street in Hollywood, California. The Sons of the Pioneers were awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6843 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California. Godfather of Robbie Lee . The Roy Rogers/Dale Evans Museum has closed. All the memorabilia was sold at auction in April and May of 2011.

In 1951, several years before the airing of his feature films on TV and just months before the premiere of his long running TV series "The Roy Rogers Show"(1951-57), Roy did TV Ads for "Quaker Oats" and "Mother's Oats" oatmeal. These commercials carried the then unusual slogan, "Quaker and Mother's Oats (oatmeal) are the same". However, things wouldn't remain the same. Following the TV success of "Hopalong Cassidy" feature films,"The Lone Ranger" (1949) and "The Gene Autry Show"(1950), "The Roy Rogers Show" debuted on Dec.30, 1951. "Post Cereals" was the sponsor and Roy's association with "Quaker" and "Mother's Oats" was soon forgotten. His horse, Trigger, would often receive second billing, even above his wife and co-star, Dale Evans. He and his third wife Dale Evans were one of three married couples to make guest appearances in The Muppet Show (1976).

The other two were Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge and Robert Shields and Lorene Yarnell Jansson . Personal Quotes (6) If there were no valleys of sadness and death, we could never really appreciate the sunshine of happiness on the mountain top. When I die, just skin me out and put me up on old Trigger and I'll be happy. [in 1982] Another thing that burns me up is that California voted in capital punishment and they haven't electrocuted anyone yet. [in 1982, when asked about Republic Pictures owner Herbert J. Yates , his boss for many years] I don't want to talk about Yates. Let's just say he wasn't very flexible. [in 1982] Not long after Will Rogers died, they turned his ranch into a museum. And it didn't have anything in it. So I made up my mind I was gonna keep everything. [Advice to his son, Roy Jr. regarding the Roy Rogers Museum] If the museum starts costing you money, then liquidate everything and move on. [The museum closed its doors in December, 2009.

The assets were auctioned off at Christie's in July 2010.] Salary (1) Roy Rogers Trigger, along with dog Bullet, sold to Nebraska TV network at auction - CSMonitor.com Roy Rogers Trigger, along with dog Bullet, sold to Nebraska TV network at auction Roy Rogers Trigger, his faithful steed, along with his dog Bullet, were sold at auction this week to a Nebraska TV network that plans to air Roy Rogers fare this fall. By Associated Press Save for later Saved Gil Perez, right, a doorman at Christies auction house, wears an outfit and holds a guitar belonging to Roy Rogers as he stands alongside the preserved remains of Rogers' horse 'Trigger' and dog 'Bullet' at the New York auction house, July 9. AP Photo/Richard Drew View Caption of New York — After sitting stuffed and mounted for more than 40 years in a museum, Roy Rogers ' horse Trigger and dog Bullet will be TV stars once more. Rural cable network RFD-TV bought Bullet for $35,000 on Thursday and Trigger for $266,000 a day earlier at an auction in New York City . RFD-TV owner Patrick Gottsch said the Omaha , Neb.

-based network will begin airing old Roy Rogers movies on Saturdays starting November 6. The movie cowboy's son, Roy Jr., will introduce each film, as Trigger and Bullet stand in the background. Photos of the Day Photos of the day 02/08 Trigger and Bullet were part of a Christie's auction of items from the now-closed Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Museum in Branson, Mo . On Thursday, more than 1,000 items hit the auction block, including the Rogers family dining set, which sold at $11,875, triple the presale estimate; Trigger's flower-bedecked straw hat, which fetched $2,750, compared with the $500 to $1,000 estimate; and the hand-drawn music and lyrics to "Happy Trails," which sold for $27,500, compared with the estimate of $500. All sale prices include the buyer's premium of 25 percent for most items, or 20 percent for prices in excess of $50,000. The total sale realized $2.98 million, according to Christie's. No items went unsold.

Auctioneer Cathy Elkies said Rogers' silver Jeep Nellybelle was the most anticipated item up for auction, with an estimated sale price of between $20,000 and $30,000. Pam Weidel, a horse trainer from New Jersey , went home with Nellybelle for $116,500. She said she always felt a special attachment to Nellybelle when she watched Roy Rogers Westerns as a child. "I called all my cars that over the years. I'd say, 'C'mon Nellybelle,'" she said. Now that she has the real Nellybelle, Weidel says she's planning to keep it in the private museum of businessman John B. Haines IV, who is in the construction industry, in Pennsburg, Pa. Julie Ann Ream, the niece of another famous singing cowboy, Rex Allen , said she and others in the audience were nervous about where the pieces of the collection would end up. She said the crowd cheered when an item went to a collector they knew would put the item back in a museum for public viewing. "A lot of it, you just don't know where it's going," she said.

Trigger's new owner said he's heard from thousands of relieved Rogers fans. "Over the last 24 hours, I've received so many e-mails of thank you, just wonderful letters, saying 'Thank you for saving Trigger,'" Gottsch said. With a Western icon on the line, Gottsch said the auction was heart-pounding. RFD-TV CFO Steve Campione sat at Christie's auction hall Wednesday night while Gottsch yelled into Campione's headset from Omaha. "We almost lost Trigger at $200,000," Gottsch said. "Steve couldn't hear me, and I was yelling on the phone, 'Hit him! Hit him! Hit him!' and he was saying 'What?'" But they snagged the golden palomino after all. Gottsch said children will be able to come to RFD-TV's new headquarters in Omaha to visit the famous horse. The other two preserved horses up for sale, Rogers' wife Dale Evans ' steed, Buttermilk, and Trigger's body double, Trigger Jr., both went to private U.S. buyers for $25,000 and $18,750.

Elkies, the auctioneer, said it was the "most colorful, emotional and sentimental" sale she had experienced in her 20 years at Christie's. At the end of the auction, the audience broke out spontaneously in a rendition of the Roy Rogers theme song "Happy Trails." Related: Roy Rogers' Dog, Bullet, Auctioned for $35k Lifestyle Kiki Survives a Car Crash and Double Amputation, Thanks to a Family Who Wouldn’t Give Up on Her After 40 years in a stuffy museum with his favorite equine at his side, it’s happy trails for Bullet the Wonder Dog, the faithful friend of Roy Rogers. The taxidermed dog sold at a NYC auction of 1,000 items that belonged to the TV cowboy. Trigger, Rogers’ famed horse, sold for a whinny-worthy $266,000, according to an AP story . The horse and dog will s00m resurrect their TV career together. The buyer of both animals is rural cable company RFD-TV, which plans to air old Roy Rogers movies starting this fall. Rogers’ son, Roy Rogers Jr., will introduce each film, with Bullet and Trigger behind him.

Judging by the photo below, they look pretty good for all their years. At least the dog and horse do. We haven’t seen Roy Jr. (The human in the photo below is not stuffed, in case that macabre thought crossed your mind. He was a costumed doorman at Christie’s auction house.) Roy Rogers (1911 - 1998) - Find A Grave Memorial San Bernardino County California, USA Actor, Singer. He was born Leonard Franklin Slye in Cincinnati, Ohio to a musical family. His father played guitar and his Kentucky-born mother was a singer. Leonard grew up in Duck Run, Ohio a little town near Portsmouth. He quit high school after two years forced to work in a shoe factory to help support his family. At nineteen, he moved to California and formed a band which became known as the Sons of The Pioneers. Soon, they were on the radio and with the songwriting of Bob Nolan a band member, they yodeled and sang their way to stardom. Their recording "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" becoming a number one hit on the charts. Leonard began working as an extra at Republic Pictures.

Given the name "Roy Rogers" he teamed up with his horse Trigger, and made his first picture "Under Western Stars" while receiving a contract with Republic Pictures which lasted 13 years producing some 37 movies. During World War II, Roy became "The King of The Cowboys," while making numerous USO tours with his horse Trigger raising millions of dollars through the sale of War Bonds. He began making movies with Dale Evans known as "The Queen of the West." which led to marriage and a partnership which lasted the rest of their lives. With the onset of television, The Roy Rogers Show staring Roy, Dale and co-star Pat Brady, Trigger, Dale's horse Buttermilk and their dog Bullet aired on NBC lasting for seven years while the song penned by Dale, "Happy Trails" became a hit and the Rogers theme song. His continued recordings produced another major hit with "Candy Kisses" and finally while Roy and Dale were running their museum in Victorville, California in late life another hit which put him back on the charts "Hold On Partner" from a special "Tribute" album he made at age 80. In 1988, he was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame.

The couple remained favorites through their connection with Christian programs and the Roy Rogers Museum in Victorville. Roy Rogers died at the age of 86 in his home in at Apple Valley, California from heart failure. A public service was held at the Church of the Valley with a western theme laced with frontier Army traditions. With the singing of his western songs by the Sons of the Pioneers, his body was conveyed in a glass enclosed 1898 hearse drawn by a single Clydesdale to his final resting place while accompanied by an array of people dressed in old western style garb. Dale joined him upon her death and even the animals who starred with the famous couple, Trigger who lived to be 33, Dales horse Buttermilk and even the dog Bullet were all mounted with places of honor in the Roy Rogers-Dale Evans Museum. However: the stuffed animals as well as the museum, suffering from dwindling attendance, hit the trail and was moved from Victorville to Branson, Missouri in 2003. (bio by: Donald Greyfield) The Roy Rogers Show (TV Series 1951–1957) - IMDb IMDb There was an error trying to load your rating for this title.

Some parts of this page won't work property. Please reload or try later. X Beta I'm Watching This! Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Error The Double R Ranch featured "The King of the Cowboys" Roy, his "Smartest Horse in the Movies" Trigger, "Queen of the West" Dale, her horse Buttermilk, their dog Bullet, and even Pat's jeep, Nellybelle. Stars: A tyrannical Boston financier travels to Mineral City to confront his son, and inadvertently becomes enmeshed in a local jail break. 9.2 Jerry Hill is the star witness against the Collins outlaw gang. After Jerry is ambushed and almost killed, Roy has to make sure he keeps Jerry alive and well so he can testify against the gang. 8.1 A former police officer (House Peters, Jr.) who believes he has lost his nerve, teams up with Sheriff Roy to corral bandits attempting to recover buried holdup loot.

8.0 a list of 27 titles created 15 Jan 2013 a list of 43 titles created 02 Apr 2014 a list of 29 titles created 07 Apr 2015 a list of 33 titles created 7 months ago a list of 29 titles created 5 months ago Title: The Roy Rogers Show (1951–1957) 7.5/10 Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy. See more awards » Photos The adventures of the masked hero and his Native American partner. Stars: Jay Silverheels, Clayton Moore, John Hart Marshal Earp keeps the law, first in Kansas and later in Arizona, using his over-sized pistols and a variety of sidekicks. Most of the saga is based loosely on fact, with historical badguys...

See full summary » Stars: Hugh O'Brian, Jimmy Noel, Ethan Laidlaw After the Civil War, nomadic adventurer Cheyenne Bodie roamed the west looking for fights, women and bad guys to beat up. His job changed from episode to episode. Stars: Clint Walker, Clyde Howdy, Chuck Hicks Frontier hero Daniel Boone conducts surveys and expeditions around Boonesborough, running into both friendly and hostile Indians, just before and during the Revolutionary War. Stars: Fess Parker, Patricia Blair, Darby Hinton The already legendary singing cowboy rode with his comic pal Pat from town to town bringing justice, song and his horse Champion to the old Southwest. Stars: Gene Autry, Champion, Pat Buttram Dressed-up dandy (derby and cane), gambler and lawman roams the West charming women and defending the unjustly accused. His primary weapon was his wit (and cane) rather than his gun. Stars: Gene Barry, Allison Hayes, Allen Jaffe Stories of the journeys of a wagon train as it leaves post-Civil War Missouri on its way to California through the plains, deserts and Rocky Mountains. The first treks were led by gruff, ...

See full summary » Stars: Frank McGrath, Terry Wilson, Robert Horton Bret and Bart Maverick (and in later seasons, their English cousin, Beau) are well dressed gamblers who migrate from town to town always looking for a good game. Poker (5 card draw) is ... See full summary » Stars: Jack Kelly, James Garner, Roger Moore Hopalong and his horse Topper catch bad guys with Red Connors for comic relief. Stars: William Boyd, Edgar Buchanan, Andy Clyde Mike Nelson is a Scuba Diver in the days when it was still very new. He works alone and the plot was always mostly carried through his voice over narrations. These gave the show a flavor of... See full summary » Stars: Lloyd Bridges, Ken Drake, Courtney Brown The adventures of a gentlemanly gunfighter for hire. Stars: Richard Boone, Kam Tong, Hal Needham Lawman is the story of Marshal Dan Troop of Laramie, Wyoming and his deputy Johnny McKay, an orphan Troop took under his wing. In the second season Lily Merrill opens The Birdcage Saloon ...

See full summary » Stars: John Russell, Peter Brown, Peggie Castle Edit Storyline The Double R Ranch featured "The King of the Cowboys" Roy, his "Smartest Horse in the Movies" Trigger, "Queen of the West" Dale, her horse Buttermilk, their dog Bullet, and even Pat's jeep, Nellybelle. Pat Brady 's horse was Phineas. See more » Quotes [title sequence] Announcer: "The Roy Rogers Show," starring Roy Rogers, King of the Cowboys; Trigger, his golden palomino; and Dale Evans, Queen of the West; with Pat Brady, his comical sidekick; and Roy's wonder dog, Bullet. (United States) – See all my reviews WHEN WE HAD CBS with THE GENE AUTRY SHOW, the National Broadcasting Company answered with THE ROY ROGERS SHOW. It was as if the two friendly rivals were truly slugging it out; although not going toe to toe for their ratings, they still had to establish who was truly number one TV Cowboy.

WHEREAS THE "B" MOVIE fans were very familiar with this sort of series Western from studios like Republic*, Coluimbia, Monogram and Producers Releasing Corporation, no real beach head had been established on the newly created realm of Television. WELL THAT SURE didn't last very long as Flying A Productions (GENE AUTRY, ANNIE OAKLEY,RANGE RIDER) and Bar Double R produced the ROY ROGERS SHOW. Others, many others followed. AS FAR AS the Rogers production, there was far more continuity with more regular cast members. Roy and Dale Evans Mrs. Rogers in real life) always managed to get involved with whatever local hugs had planned for 'Mineral City' and vicinity. They were great help to somewhat laid-back and inept middle aged Sheriff, played by Harry Harvey. Then there was "Roy's comical sidekick", Pat Brady, thrown in for,. that's right, comic relief.

THE ONE THIG that always was a puzzlement to us as kids was that whereas Roy rode his palomino horse, Trigger and Miss Dale rode her mare, Buttermilk; why did Pat Brady drive a jeep with the name of "Nellie-belle?" After all, how could one have a Jeep, an automobile, in the Old West? THE ANSWER OF course is that THE ROY ROGERS SHOW, as were so many of the old "B" Western Sderies Poctures, was set in the modern, then contemporary times of the 1950s. WE ALSO WOULD like to make mention of one other regular cast member. That would be Bullet, Roy's faithful German Shepard puppy dog. ROY KNEW THAT he needed all the help ion his 'rivalry' with Gene. And, as any schoolboy knows, people just love dogs. NOTE: * Both men had worked at Republic and Roy had been a member of the Western Musical group, THE SONS OF THE PIONEERS when he arrived there. When Gene went to the Service in World War II, it was the former Leonard Sly ()Roy's birth name) who replaced him.

Upon his return, Gene established his own company, FLYING A PRODUCTIONS and struck a deal for release with Columbia. 3 of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes CNN - Roy Rogers, 'King of the Cowboys,' dead at 86 - July 6, 1998 Roy Rogers, 'King of the Cowboys,' dead at 86 Web posted on: Monday, July 06, 1998 11:19:56 AM VICTORVILLE, California (CNN) -- Roy Rogers, the King of the Cowboys who appeared in more than 100 films and rode atop his trusty horse named Trigger in most of them, singing his theme song "Happy Trails," died Monday morning at the age of 86. The singing television and movie star passed away at his Apple Valley home after suffering from congestive heart failure, a statement from his publicist said. Funeral services are being planned. Following news of his death, the entertainment world tried to put in perspective what Rogers stood for in his films and TV shows, and in life. "He just seemed to be the ultimate good guy," film historian Leonard Maltin told CNN.

"He was a good looking man, a good singer. There was just something easy-going and likeable about him." RELATED VIDEO 56K Go West, young man Born Leonard Slye on November 5, 1911, in Ohio, Rogers worked on his family's farm until 1929. With the Great Depression sweeping the country, Rogers packed up a guitar that he bought for $20 and headed west for Hollywood. "You couldn't beg, borrow, or steal a job in 1931, 1932," Rogers once said. "It was really tough." But Rogers survived and thrived. He worked as a truck driver, peach picker and country singer. Forming a band called "Sons of the Pioneers," Rogers enjoyed moderate success, appearing on Los Angeles radio. His big break came in 1937 when he snuck onto the lot of Republic Pictures and landed a $75-a-week contract. "The funny part of it is, I say I must be where God wants me or I wouldn't be here," he said.

"I just got in the door and a hand fell over my shoulder." Rogers rode Trigger in all his films and on his television show Roy and Dale Rogers appeared in his first film, "Way Up Thar," in 1935. By the late '30s, he had changed his name to Rogers, was playing himself in each movie -- a singing cowboy in a white hat -- and would soon earn the nickname "King of the Cowboys," a title that, in the eyes of his fans, placed him above his friend and Hollywood cowboy rival Gene Autry. It was while making the 1944 film "The Cowboy and the Senorita" that Rogers met Dale Evans. They married three years later, 14 months after his first wife, Arlene, died. Evans became the reluctant queen to his cowboy empire. Through the 1940s and into the 1950s, Rogers career rode the crest of an incredible wave. For 12 straight years he was the No. 1 Western star at the box office in a magazine poll of theater operators. His television series, which ran from 1951 to 1957, and thereafter in reruns, had similar appeal.

Rogers with his wife, Dale Evans, who became known as the "Queen of the Cowboys" The Roy Rogers theme In films and on TV, Roy Rogers' style of entertainment followed his theme song, "Happy Trails." He played the good guy who would shoot the gun out of the villain's hand, rather than shooting and wounding the villain. "When I was a boy, our parents taught us that hitting below the belt was a cowardly thing," he once said. "I don't believe this kind of thing is 'entertainment' no matter how you look at it." In his films, Rogers was often accompanied by his trusty sidekick, bewhiskered George "Gabby" Hayes, and his dog Bullet. Evans often played the female lead. Rogers bought his first guitar for $20, left his parents' farm in Ohio and headed west Trigger happy And then there was Rogers' horse, Trigger, who reached heights of popularity paralleling that of his famous rider. Billed as "the smartest horse in the movies," Trigger often received billing over Evans.

"Cowboys weren't allowed to kiss girls in pictures, so one time I gave Dale a little peck on the forehead and we got a ton of letters to leave that mushy stuff out," Rogers recalled. "So I had to kiss Trigger instead." Trigger appeared in all the films and TV shows in which Rogers starred. When the horse died in 1965, at age 33, he was stuffed and remained a fixture at Roy and Dale's museum in Apple Valley. "So many people loved him through the years, that I just didn't have the heart to put him in the ground," Rogers said. At first, Evans tried to talk Rogers out of it. "I told him, 'OK, when you die I'm going to stuff you and put you on him," she said. Evans later had a change of heart and even had her own horse, Buttermilk, put on display. The golden years The couple spent their later years greeting fans at the museum and enjoying life with their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In 1993 they were honored for their humanitarian efforts.

Rogers' rodeo grossed $425,000 on a tour of state fairs, and he estimated it cost $30,000 in 1960 just to answer his fan mail. "I'm an introvert at heart," Rogers once said. "And show business -- even though I've loved it so much -- has always been hard for me." It made him a millionaire, though. With his wholesome image and shrewd business sense, Rogers made a fortune, becoming second only to Walt Disney in souvenir sales and licensing -- everything from cap pistols to lunch boxes. Nearly 600 restaurants bear his name and have paid him a percentage of the profits. Rogers' estate was once valued at over $100 million. Rogers is survived by Evans; sons Roy Rogers Jr. and Tom Fox; daughters Cheryl Barnett, Linda Lou Johnson and Dodie Sailors; 15 grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren. Correspondent Sherri Sylvester and Reuters contributed to this report. Message board: Roy Rogers' Horse Trigger Home » Trigger Roy Rogers’ Horse Trigger (1932?

– 1965): A Biography It seems like there wasn’t a child in the world from the late 1930s into the 1950s that didn’t instantly recognize the name Trigger. He was a cowboy’s best friend, a high rearing, fast running superhero that could shoot a gun and untie ropes, but still allow the weakest and most timid of children to sit safely on his magnificent back. Trigger was a horse, officially known as The Smartest Horse In The Movies, and he belonged to the King Of The Cowboys himself, Roy Rogers. In their hearts children knew that Trigger loved them, and dreamed that up on his back they could be a cowboy hero, too. Trigger brought sunshine into the lives of people worldwide, particularly children, with the brilliance of his golden coat, and with his bravery and brains on movie and television screens. He brought encouragement and hope to people in a very personal way when he walked quietly up stairs or rode in elevators to visit those who needed him most while they were in hospitals or shelters. As much as we love and remember his owner and best pal Roy Rogers, we also love and remember Trigger, The Smartest Horse In The Movies.

(If you’re looking for the Breyer model of Trigger please see this page. ) Trigger: Beginnings as Golden Cloud The golden palomino stallion that would become famous to the world with the name Trigger was born on a ranch in San Diego, California. In researching this article we found conflicting information that he was born in either 1932 or 1934. The manager of the ranch was a man named Roy F. Cloud, and the name originally given to Trigger was Golden Cloud. Golden Cloud’s sire was a thoroughbred and his dam was an unregistered mare sometimes described as a cold-blooded mare. At around the age of three Golden Cloud was sold to Hudkins Stables of Hollywood, California, a stable that provided horses for use in the movie industry. Golden Cloud’s first job in the movies was as a mount for Olivia de Havilland for her role as Maid Marian in the 1938 movie “The Adventures of Robin Hood.” Roy Rogers’ golden palomino stallion, Trigger.

Buy This Item Starring Roy Rogers and Trigger, Too In 1938, the same year Golden Cloud appeared in “The Adventures of Robin Hood,” a young singing cowboy who had recently changed his name from Leonard Slye to Roy Rogers was cast in his first leading role in a movie. The movie was a Western called “Under Western Stars” and like any good cowboy the new leading man needed a horse. Several different stables in the area brought horses to Roy for him to try out. Roy remembered that there were six or seven really good horses to choose from, everyone of them good looking, fast, and well trained. One of those horses was Golden Cloud. When Roy Rogers rode Golden Cloud for the first time it was love at first ride. The horse had speed and power, an easy lope, and a calm and willing attitude. The young actor remembered that after he rode Golden Cloud he never even considered any of the other horses.

One day after Roy had chosen Golden Cloud he was on the set of “Under Western Stars” practicing his quick-draw when the character actor Smiley Burnette, who played Roy’s sidekick in the movie, commented, “Roy, as quick as that horse of yours is, you ought to call him Trigger.” Roy liked the suggestion and began calling Golden Cloud by his new name of Trigger from then on. When “Under Western Stars” was released it was a success with critics and audiences both. It was a “B” grade Western but its popularity caused it to be shown in many first-run movie theatres. The crowds loved Roy Rogers and they loved Trigger, too. One of the most successful duos in entertainment history was born. Publicity photo of Roy Rogers and Trigger. “Sell The Palomino To Me” In the months after “Under Western Stars” was released Roy toured the country promoting the film. People everywhere asked him about the horse he rode in the movie, and he quickly realized that audiences loved Trigger almost as much as he did himself.

From the beginning Roy openly and apologetically loved the horse, and wanted to own him for his own so he could not only ride him in more movies, but take him out on personal appearances, too. As the full measure of Trigger’s popularity began to sink in, Roy also realized that a huge part of his newfound stardom was because he had been paired with Trigger, and he began to worry that the horse might be paired with someone else. As badly as he wanted to own Trigger, however, and even though “Under Western Stars” had made him a star, he was a contract player with Republic Pictures making $75.00 per week. It hardly seemed like enough to take care of himself and his wife and have enough left over to buy a rising equine star. But Roy Rogers often described himself as an optimist, and having no idea how he would actually afford the horse he went ahead and asked Clyde Hudkins of Hudkins Stables to sell him Trigger. Clyde Hudkins agreed to sell Trigger to Roy for the whopping sum of $2,500 (roughly equivalent to $30,000 today). Roy’s head spun when he heard the amount, but he shook hands on the deal.

He made payments on Trigger, “just like a bedroom set,” until the horse was completely paid for. Roy would later say it was “for sure and certain the best $2,500 I have ever spent.” Note: When writing this article we were able to find photocopies of invoices for Roy’s purchase of Trigger from Hudkins Stables showing the first payment of $500 made in September of 1943, and a second payment of $2,000 made in December of 1943. However, the Roy Rogers, Dale Evans autobiography “Happy Trails, Our Life Story” indicates the purchase was probably made in 1938 or 1939 right after “Under Western Stars” was made with the payment amounts being smaller. Trigger and Roy Rogers Trigger The Superstar Starting from Roy Rogers’ very first leading role in “Under Western Stars” Trigger appeared in all of Roy’s movies, 88 movies total by Roy’s count. Trigger also appeared with Roy in all 100 episodes (some sources say 104) of The Roy Rogers Show on television, which aired on NBC from 1951 – 1957.

As Roy Rogers career soared to super stardom Trigger carried him along for the ride, becoming just as much an American icon as his human counterpart. As soon as Roy had enough influence with the movie studio he insisted that Trigger got top billing, right along with himself. Trigger dazzled audiences with his beauty and brains, performing a seemingly endless list of tricks that included untying ropes and shooting a gun. While Roy and Trigger always stood for what was right they never let that get in the way of a lot of good, heart-pumping action. In movie after movie and in their television shows Roy and Trigger never failed to thrill audiences with their wild cowboy-and-faithful-horse adventures. Trigger and Roy not only starred in movies and television together but also made countless personal appearances all across the country, and tirelessly visited children in hospitals and shelters. Trigger’s star power was obvious to everyone from the beginning. It wasn’t only obvious to Roy and his fans, but also to Herbert Yates, the head of the movie studio Roy was under contract with. Not long after Roy and Trigger had established themselves as a highly successful team Mr. Yates wanted to cast Roy in a non-Western as a cigarette smoking, hard drinking reporter.

Roy refused the part, telling Mr. Yates he knew his fans wouldn’t like him in that kind of a role and he didn’t want to let them down. Herbert Yates was furious at Roy’s refusal and retaliated by telling him that if he didn’t take the part he would take away his upcoming roles in Westerns. Not only that, Yates went on to say that he would let another actor ride Trigger, confident the horse could make a star out of anyone. The argument ended abruptly when Roy told the studio head that he had purchased Trigger for his own, and if Yates continued to try to cast Roy in the role of a drunkard Yates wouldn’t just be losing him in upcoming Westerns, he would be losing Trigger, too. As furious as he was Herbert Yates quickly backed down, casting someone else as the reporter and never taking away any of Roy’s cowboy roles, either. He had been angry enough to lose Roy, his wildly popular human star, but he wasn’t about to lose Trigger, too. Goodbye, Trigger Trigger retired from show business when Roy stopped doing “The Roy Rogers Show” on television in 1957.

According to “Happy Trails, Our Life Story,” by Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, Trigger was retired to a stable near the Rogers’ home where he could roam through green grass and relax in the California sunshine. Trigger passed away peacefully in 1965. Assuming he was born in 1932, he would have been 33 years old at the time of his death. Upon hearing of Trigger’s death the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. asked Roy for Trigger’s body for their collection of historical Americana. Roy declined, not wanting Trigger’s final resting place to be so far away from himself out in California. Dale Evans, Roy’s wife and co-star in many of his movies and in “The Roy Rogers Show” on television, wanted Trigger to have a nice funeral with a beautiful headstone. Roy wasn’t comfortable with that idea either, not liking the thought of putting his friend and partner of so many years into the ground. Roy knew he wanted to preserve Trigger not only for himself but for all the fans that loved him too, so he contacted Bischoff’s Taxidermy, located at that time in Los Angeles, California.

With great care Bischoff’s mounted Trigger’s hide over a plaster likeness of a horse in a rearing position, a famous pose recognizable to Roy Rogers and Trigger fans everywhere. The mounted Trigger was first put on display at the Roy Rogers-Dale Evans Museum when it originally opened in Apple Valley, California in 1967. The entire museum, including Trigger, was relocated to nearby Victorville, California in 1976. After Roy’s death in 1998 and Dale’s death in 2001 the museum was moved in 2003 to Branson, Missouri. Trigger, the museum’s most popular attraction, again made the move. Dale’s buckskin horse Buttermilk and Bullet the Wonder Dog (a German Shepherd who was also a family pet) were also mounted after their deaths and put on display at the museum, too. Sadly for fans of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans everywhere, the museum closed on December 12, 2009. More Than One Trigger? Roy Rogers’ and Trigger’s popularity soared so high so quickly that Roy knew early on that it would take more than one horse to meet his needs for movies, personal appearances, and later on, television shows.

While the original Trigger was mostly reserved for movies and television, Roy purchased another palomino for personal appearances, a horse he called Little Trigger. Little Trigger was not registered with any breed organization and was used extensively by Roy for personal appearances in the 1940s and the 1950s and also appeared in some of Roy’s movies. Roy also purchased another horse to give the original Trigger a break. The second “other Trigger” was a registered Tennessee Walking Horse with the registered name of Allen’s Gold Zephyr, but Roy called him Trigger Jr. Roy Rogers didn’t like to publicly discuss that there was more than one Trigger, and liked to keep up the outward appearance that there was just one. Roy knew that many of his and Trigger’s fans were children too young to understand that one horse shouldn’t be asked to keep up the same demands Roy himself kept. Roy loved his young fans, and never wanted the ones that saw him and Trigger in person to miss out on the thrill of believing they were seeing the horse they had fallen in love with on the movie and television screen right before their very eyes. Trigger with Roy Rogers in “Lights of Old Santa Fe,” (1944). This horse is the original Trigger.

The white of his bald face extends over his left eye (upper arrow), and also completely covers his right nostril (lower arrow). A close-up of Trigger’s face in “Lights of Old Santa Fe,” (1944). This is also the original Trigger. Notice that his bald face does NOT completely cover his nostril on the LEFT side of his face. Not shown: The original Trigger had a left hind sock, but this sock was difficult to see in many of his movie and television scenes. Little Trigger and Trigger Jr., in comparison, had stockings on all four legs. Trigger Trivia Trigger’s original name was Golden Cloud. He was born on a ranch in San Diego, California in either 1932 or 1934. Roy Rogers changed Golden Cloud’s name to Trigger in 1938 for their first movie together, “Under Western Stars.” When Trigger died in 1965 his hide was mounted over a plaster cast of a rearing horse. The mounting was done by Bischoff’s Taxidermy, originally located in Los Angeles, California, but currently located in Burbank, California.

Trigger’s first movie role was with Olivia de Havilland for her role as Maid Marian in the 1938 movie “The Adventures of Robin Hood.” Miss de Havilland may be best know for playing Melanie in “Gone With The Wind” (1939). She also won two Oscars, one for Best Actress in “The Heiress” (1949) and one for Best Actress in “To Each His Own” (1946). Roy Rogers purchased Trigger from Hudkins Stables of Hollywood, California for the amount of $2,500, paying for the horse on payments, Rogers said, “just like you would a bedroom set.” When writing this article we were able to find photocopies of invoices for Roy’s purchase of Trigger showing the first payment of $500 made in September of 1943 and a second payment of $2,000 made in December of 1943. However, the Roy Rogers, Dale Evans autobiography “Happy Trails, Our Life Story” implies the purchase was probably made in 1938 or 1939 with the payment amounts being smaller.

In 1943 $2,500 was roughly equivalent to $30,000 today. Every chance he got when making personal appearances, Roy placed Trigger and his fancy horse trailer outside of the arena or building where they were appearing before the show. He wanted all the kids to be able to see Trigger, especially the ones that couldn’t afford to buy a ticket. Trigger’s finest saddles were made by Edward H. Bohlin, known as the Michelangelo of saddle making. Mr. Bohlin got his start as a famous saddle maker by making tack for Tony, the famous movie horse of cowboy actor Tom Mix. Many of Trigger’s saddles were covered in intricate patterns in silver and gold, and some of them weighed as much as 150 pounds. The word “palomino” is a description of a horse’s color, not its breeding. A palomino horse has a coat of varying shades of a yellow or golden color, and a white mane and tail. Trigger was a golden palomino, meaning his coat was a deep gold.

While Trigger was not registered with any horse breed association, he was registered with the Palomino Horse Association, an association that registers horses according to their color as opposed to their breeding. Roy Rogers was careful not to overwork his equine partner, so, along with the original Trigger, there was also Little Trigger (not registered with any breed association) and Trigger Jr. (a registered Tennessee Walking Horse with the registered name of Allen’s Gold Zephyr). Neither Little Trigger or Trigger Jr. were related to the original Trigger. The original Trigger remained a stallion his entire life, but never sired any offspring. The Roy Rogers-Dale Evans museum was moved from Victorville, California to Branson, Missouri in 2003. Trigger, Trigger Jr., Dale’s buckskin horse Buttermilk, and Bullet the Wonder Dog (a German Shepherd who was also a family pet) were all mounted after their deaths and could be seen on display there. The museum closed on December 12, 2009. Trigger passed away peacefully in 1965. Assuming he was born in 1932, he would have been 33 years old at the time of his death.

Question: What was the name of the dog that belonged to the cowboy Roy Rogers?
Answer: Bullet