Roy Rogers’ Interesting Life Story
When it comes to Western music, very few people have influenced Americans as much as Roy Rogers. Known as the “King of the Cowboys”, he performed in numerous films during the ’40s and ’50s, and played country music throughout much of the ’30s. He was one of the brightest gems of America and is still revered today. We take a look at the life of an icon through these vintage photos.
Early life
Roy Rogers had a very humble start to his life. Originally named Leonard Slye, he was born to Andrew "Andy" Slye and Mattie Slye née Womack on November 5, 1911, in Cincinnati, Ohio.
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The family lived in a small tenement building on the second street - the very same place where Riverfront stadium would be built later. However, soon after Rogers' birth, the family decided to make some changes in their lives which set Rogers' journey in motion as well.
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Up the Ohio River
Soon after Rogers' birth, the Slye family decided to seek out their fortune in greener pastures, away from the city life. In 1912, Andrew Slye and his brother Will built a 12 by 50 ft houseboat out of salvaged lumber and decided to sail their way up the Ohio River to Portsmouth, Ohio.
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The family purchased a plot of land in Portsmouth where they intended to build a house, but the Great Flood of 1913 forced them to live in the houseboat for a few more years. This is where Roy Rogers spent the earlier part of his childhood.
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Love for Horses
A few years after moving to Portsmouth, the Slye family relocated again in 1919, this time to Duck Run, a farm outside Lucasville, Ohio. Roy's father, Andrew Slye took a job in a shoe factory in Portsmouth, only coming home on weekends and bringing gifts along.
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One of the notable gifts was a horse, on which Roy Rogers learned the basics of horsemanship. He had always possessed a love for horses, and this gift from his father was what set him up to be a true western star.
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Born to Perform
Roy Rogers' rise to fame was no accident. Although it came much later in life, he was already popular in his neighborhood due to his extraordinary talents. Since the location of the farm was in a rural area, the sources of entertainment were limited - with no radio to listen to.
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The Slye family would often invite neighbors for square dances, during which Rogers would sing, play the mandolin and call the dances. He also learned to yodel during this time. These early performances helped him discover his passion for entertainment, which he soon followed.
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High School Days
Roy Rogers, who was still Len Slye back then, attended high school in McDermott, Ohio. He was a bright kid, but he would never graduate. After his second year in high school ended, the family moved back to Cincinnati again in 1927, where his father worked in another shoe factory.
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He realized that his family needed financial help, so he joined his father at the factory in Cincinnati. He tried to balance work and studies by attending night school, but he kept falling asleep, and soon called it quits on his education.
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Beginning of a Legend
The Slye family relocated a few times more, and in 1931, they lived in Inglewood, California. This is where Rogers would get his first chance to shine. Rogers appeared on a radio show called Midnight Frolic. His singing and yodeling caught the interest of a local music group called "The Rocky Mountaineers".
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The group toured around several states, playing in local bars and radio shows. They eventually changed their name to "The O-Bar-O Cowboys". The group was only moderately successful, but it planted the seeds for Rogers to become an entertainer.
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First Marriage
Rogers began dating Lucile Ascolese in 1932, whom he met during the acquisition of a palomino colt named Golden Cloud, which Rogers renamed as Trigger. Ascolese was an admirer of Rogers, and they tied the knot in 1933.
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However, their honeymoon phase was short-lived. The couple soon realized they weren't right for each other, and felt that they rushed into a commitment too soon. Their relationship turned sour fast, and Rogers and Ascolese split up in 1936.
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Second Marriage
Although his first marriage failed terribly, love soon blossomed in Rogers' life again. During his tour with The O-Bar-O Cowboys, Roy met Grace Arline Wilkins in 1933 in Roswell, New Mexico, where she called in and promised to bake him a pie if he sang "The Swiss Yodel".
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Rogers followed through, and the two kept in touch. After his marriage with Ascolese ended, Rogers and Wilkins began dating - and eventually married in June 1936.
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The O-Bar-O Cowboys
Roy Rogers hoped to make his big break with the O-Bar-O Cowboys but it failed poorly. Many musical artists struggle in the first steps of their careers, and it was no different for Rogers. He went on tour with the Cowboys across several states, and they were fairly popular locally and in radio stations.
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However, the timing was ill-fated. The Great Recession soon hit hard, and people did not have enough to pay for concerts, thus ending their tour in complete failure.
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Sons of the Pioneers
Rogers' success with The O-Bar-O Cowboys didn't see much light, and the musical group split up by 1933. Rogers looked to form a new group, and he teamed up with Bob Nolan and Tim Spencer to form The Pioneers Trio. The Pioneers Trio was later joined by Hugh Farr, a fiddle player who added a bass voice.
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Whilst performing for a radio show, an announcer changed their name to "Sons of the Pioneers", stating they were too young to be pioneers themselves. The group graciously accepted the renaming and went along with it.
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Success
Roy's rise to success began with music - whilst working with the Sons of the Pioneers. Since their rechristening by the radio announcer, their popularity grew widely. By the summer of 1934, their popularity extended beyond the Los Angeles area.
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In the same year, they also signed a recording contract with Decca Label. The Sons of the Pioneers paved the way for Roy to get into films. The Sons had a few parts in movies as background character roles, but Roy made himself stand out and eventually found himself landing a few minor gigs in Hollywood.
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Entry to Film
Rogers began to take his career as an entertainer seriously, and from 1935, he began to take baby steps into the film industry. He would often appear in supporting roles at the beginning of his career.
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He made his big break in 1938 when he auditioned for a "singing cowboy" star for Republic Pictures. Rogers got the part, and he made his starring debut in 1938 in the film Under Western Stars. The film was very popular and paved his way into Hollywood.
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The Split of the Sons of the Pioneers
Rogers found his first big musical success through the Sons of the Pioneers, where he worked with musicians like Bob Nolan, Tim Spencer, and Hugh Farr - with whom he would remain friends for life. However, due to contract complications, he eventually had to leave the group.
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The group was contractually obligated with Columbia Pictures to appear in a few films. Thus, in order to seriously pursue his film career, he had to leave the Sons of the Pioneers to sign up with Republic Pictures.
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Married Life
Roy Rogers married Grace Wilkins in 1936, and they were extremely happy together. However, tragedy struck when they began trying for a baby. Doctors informed them that due to medical reasons, they would not be able to conceive naturally.
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The couple was demoralized, but this did not stop them from attempting to have a family. Roy and Grace adopted Cheryl Darlene Rogers in 1941 - their first and newest addition to the family.
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Surprises and Heartbreaks
Whilst doctors informed them otherwise, Roy and Grace were overjoyed to realize that they were wrong about the couple's inability to get pregnant. Grace was pregnant soon after the adoption of their first daughter, and in 1943, they welcomed Linda Lou Rogers into the world.
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In 1945, Grace was pregnant once again. She gave birth to their first son, Roy Jr. in 1946. However, it came with heartbreak for Roy as well. Grace passed away a few days later due to complications, leaving Roy Rogers devastated and widowed.
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New Blossoms
Grace's loss was a big blow to Rogers emotionally, having spent more than a decade together. He was still determined to raise his three children by himself, but he didn't need to. Soon after Grace's passing, Roy reconnected with the charming actress Dale Evans.
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Roy had met Evans earlier on the set of a film in 1944. After Grace passed away, the two found themselves with feelings for one another, and they married each other in 1947. The two remained married until he passed away in 1998.
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The Wedding
Roy Rogers and Dale Evans met on set in 1944, and fell in love after his second wife, Grace Arlene passed away in 1946. They wed each other in 1947 - but it was undoubtedly a tumultuous event, which was a cause for laughs a few years afterward. The wedding was held in a ranch in Davis, Oklahoma.
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The minister was delayed because of a snowstorm and had to ride up there on horseback. A fire also started in one of the upstairs bedrooms - which Roy and his best man put out, but it left Dale confused and wondering where her groom was for several minutes at the altar.
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Film Success
Since his first great gig in 1938, Rogers soon made a name for himself. He was arguably the biggest advocate of the Western genre with his unique charisma and natural talent for music.
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He worked in popular movies like King of the Cowboys and Son of Paleface. He retained the position of the number one actor in Westerns for over a decade, a legacy that would eventually be taken over by legends like John Wayne and John Ford.
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A Man of Business
Roy Rogers was not only talented in the field of entertainment, but in the field of commerce as well. He knew what he was worth. So in 1940, he wrote into his contract that he would preserve the rights to his name, likeness, and voice.
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This had some serious implications. He gained tons of money from the merchandising of his identity and characters. There were Roy Rogers toys, comics, and action figures - all of whose profits were kept by Rogers.
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Cutting Ties
Rogers' first contract was with Republic Studios, which offered him the lead position of Under Western Stars in 1938. Whilst his film career with Republic was very successful, he wanted to move into television, a move that was vetoed by the studio.
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Later, Rogers discovered that Republic were trying to make TV shows out of his films during the peak of popularity. Rogers owned the rights to his name and was able to stop them. He was dropped from the contract by Republic, which worked out for the best, as it gave birth to The Roy Rogers Show.
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Emergence in Television
Having achieved insurmountable success in radio and film, Rogers challenged the field of television next. He ventured into The Roy Rogers Show - a western television series that portrayed Rogers as a cattle rancher who brought justice to the city.
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He represented a western version of Batman, if you will. The show ran from 1951 to 1957, and still maintains an astonishing rating of 7.2 on IMDB. The show also featured his wife Dale Evans, along with his horse Trigger, and was appreciated by viewers around the US.
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The Flipside of the Coin
Rogers' career was not all highs, though. Just like a mountain has its ups and downs, so did Rogers' time in television. Five years after The Roy Rogers Show ended, Rogers and Evans began to film The Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Show in 1962.
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This show, however, did not see the light of success. It was canceled before the first season, and foreshadowed the demise of Rogers' and Evans' stardom - no longer being the center of the Hollywood western genre the way they once were.
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Trigger
Rogers' love for horses was well known in Hollywood, and his favorite was Trigger - the palomino colt he had acquired in California. Trigger accompanied him in several films and competed with him in terms of popularity. Trigger learned over 150 tricks and even outshined Rogers in some performances.
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They worked together in several films, including Rainbow Over Texas and Song of Nevada. Trigger even got his own musical film called My Pal Trigger.
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Hall of Fame
Rogers was a popular figure both in the musical and the film scene, and it was only natural that he received recognition for it. He was one of the most popular figures in country music at that time.
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Rogers was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame twice - the only person to accomplish that. His first induction came as a member of Sons of the Pioneers, and the second as Roy Rogers himself.
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Walk of Fame
The Country Music Hall of Fame was not enough for Rogers; he pushed boundaries in Hollywood as well. He'd been recognized by the Hollywood Walk of Fame - and so, he received three stars to his name for his work in radio, film, and television.
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Later in life, he received several other awards and accolades. In 1983, he was awarded the Golden Boot award. This followed him in 1996 when he received the Golden Boot Founders' Award as well.
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Popularity
Being a celebrity has its quirks, and even more so during the '40s and '50s. As one of the top western actors of his time, Rogers had a very dedicated fan base. Rogers handled his fame graciously.
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He would constantly receive letters from fans who would praise him, ask for his autograph, or even ask to meet him. He once received over 78,000 fan letters in a month. There were even reports of fan clubs dedicated to his horse, Trigger!
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Memorabilia
Roy Rogers and Dale Evans were immensely popular in their lifetimes, and they even had a whole museum for it. The Roy Rogers-Dale Evans museum was set up in 1967 and included a collection of memorabilia that were presented by Roy himself.
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The Roy Rogers-Dale Evans museum was set up in Branson, Missouri, and included several artifacts from the couples' careers. The museum eventually closed down in 2009 due to decreasing visitor rates.
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Rejections
Roy's entry to a film career, however, was not easy. Hollywood back then put a lot of emphasis on looks, and many big stars were turned down at first because studios were not happy with their appearance.
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Rogers was no different. In 1937, he appeared for a screen test for Universal Film Studios. The studio turned him down because apparently, he looked too young. Rogers got the last laugh though, turning out to be one of the biggest stars on the planet.
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Becoming Roy Rogers
As we've mentioned earlier, Rogers was born as Leonard Slye. So how did he become Roy Rogers? And why did he choose the name Roy Rogers, in particular?
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In Hollywood, studios often change the screen names of actors to get the right feel. Leonard Slye began acting with the pseudonym, Dick Weston. In 1938, when he first signed a deal with Republic Studios, they bestowed the name "Roy Rogers" upon him - as a tribute to the recently deceased Will Rogers.
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Charity and Public Appearances
Roy Rogers knew he was popular, but he never let it get to his head. Instead, he used his popularity to achieve other means - such as giving back to the public in the form of charity and appearances.
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One of his favorite things to do was visit sick children in hospitals, as Rogers was the most popular amongst the younger demographics. He would even take Trigger with him sometimes, who could climb stairs and navigate hospital floors.
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Political Views
Hollywood celebrities get a lot of spotlight from their fans, which is why many celebrities eventually turn to politics after they retire. For example, Ronald Reagan served as the President of the United States.
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Rogers was asked to make a bid for the House of Representatives, but he was adamant in his position. He maintained a neutral stance in politics, citing that he had fans across the political spectrum and didn't want to upset any of them.
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The Muppet Show
Running from 1976 to 1981, The Muppet Show created by Jim Henson was one of the greatest shows to ever hit the television. The show was star-studded with guest appearances, and Roy Rogers and Dale Evans were also invited.
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In an episode in 1979, Rogers and Evans appeared as a couple on the show - the only one besides Robert Shield and Lorene Jansson, and Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge. The episode premiered on May 17, 1979.
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Sidekicks
What comes to your mind when you think of westerns? Desert rodeos, train robberies, a hero in a cowboy hat, and of course, a sidekick! Movies back then always included a sidekick with the hero, and Rogers was joined by one as well.
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His sidekicks were often the same faces. He often co-acted with veteran sidekick actors such as Smiley Burnette, George Hayes, and Pat Brady, who were acclaimed by the audience as well.
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Food for Thought
As we've already established, Rogers was a very intelligent and capable businessman - creating a merchandising franchise of his own name. But he was not only limited to toys and action figures. He founded restaurants as well.
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In 1968, Rogers agreed to give the Marriott Company a license to establish a series of restaurants by his name. The Roy Rogers Restaurants popped up throughout the Mid-Atlantic and the North-East. As of 2019, there are still 48 locations of Roy Rogers Restaurants in the US.
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Racehorses
Trigger was not the only horse that was loved by Rogers. He had been a fan of horses since his childhood, and he had a penchant for raising them as well. He was particularly fond of a racehorse he owned, who was called Triggairo.
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Triggairo was moderately successful in his field, just like his owner. Triggairo won 13 races in the race tracks, including the El Encino Stakes in 1975, a prestigious annual race run held in Arcadia, California.