Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Ride Off to Missouri

NYTimes ^ | 6/1/03 | CHARLIE LeDUFF

[RJCogburn]

A small yet not insignificant piece of news occurred in April while the world's attention was turned toward Iraq.

The Roy Rogers-Dale Evans Museum, an old-West cavalry-style fort on Highway 15 in the high Mojave Desert, picked up and moved. It has resettled in Branson, Mo., the transplanted heart of country-western life and culture.

The move was economic, said Victorville city fathers. Fewer and fewer people, it seems, are interested in the life of the "King of the Cowboys" or his wife, Dale Evans, known as the "Queen of the West." After Mr. Rogers died in 1998 and his wife in 2001, museum attendance plummeted.

People had come to this desert outpost to inspect his gun belt, boots and the museum's prized possession and top draw — Mr. Rogers's stuffed horse Trigger.

"It's left a big hole in the heart of Victorville," said Mayor Terry Caldwell, who attended the same church as the first couple of Victorville. "There was a wholesomeness synonymous with Roy Rogers and now that the museum has gone, it marks the end of an era here."

At one point in the 40's and 50's, Roy Rogers was every bit the celebrity Bob Hope was. Like Mr. Hope, Mr. Rogers grew up in Ohio. His name was Leonard Slye and he dropped out of high school, making his way to California and the silver screen. His records topped the charts and his image appeared on 2.5 billion boxes of Post cereal.

The self-taught cowboy was known for his his patriotism. While Mr. Rogers made movies in World War II, he sold millions of dollars in war bonds and made a U.S.O. tour with Trigger. He also made a tour of Vietnam.

Sadly, celebrity fades. The Rogers generation is passing on and the new immigrants who have settled in California have little interest in these icons of old.

"Roy Rogers? He doesn't mean anything," said Rosalina Sondoval-Marin, who was having a beer in the El Chubasco bar on historic Route 66. "There's a revolution going on and it don't include no Roy Rogers or Bob Hope."

Perhaps. But for those who still care about the King of the Cowboys, the new Roy Rogers-Dale Evans Museum and Happy Trails Theater is scheduled to open in Branson in late June. It is behind Yakov Smirnoff's theater, Mr. Smirnoff being that Russian-born cold war comedian whose contributions to the country-western way of life are not entirely apparent.

[RJCogburn]

Happy trails to you, until we meet again.......

[LuisBasco]

Several years ago, while vacationing in California, my wife and I drove up to Victorville to see the museum. Roy was indeed one of my childhood heroes. We enjoyed it very much and met Mr. and Mrs. Jack Palance who were also there to tour the museum for their first time.

Unfortunately, Roy was ill and wasn't coming in that day, but he did talk to Jack Palance on the phone.

It's regretable that children today have no true heroes to look up to and emulate. Roy, like Gene Autry, lived an exemplary life and filled youngsters with many happy thoughts and fond memories.

[Tijeras_Slim]

"Roy Rogers? He doesn't mean anything," said Rosalina Sondoval-Marin, who was having a beer in the El Chubasco bar on historic Route 66. "There's a revolution going on and it don't include no Roy Rogers or Bob Hope."

Yeah right.... Viva Zapata, bitc#.

[ErnBatavia]

I recall reading several articles that much from the museum had to be sold upon the deaths of Roy and Dale...to satisfy the demands of the IRS - Death Taxes, you know.

[whereasandsoforth]

I'll be glad when the IRS is paying death taxes. The government (IRS) could at least donate the confiscated items back to the public. What a warped sense of value we have allow to manifest.

[wita]

Roy was my two gun color movie hero. Unlike Gene, and Hopalong, I remember some of Roy's movies being in color, and I don't think I have seen all of them replayed on satellite tv.

Not being a child anymore, I'm not sure I can say who children today have for their heroes, but there are no saturday morning matinees at the theater featuring those who were our heroes. Today it is saturday morning cartoons.
Do any of them feature the triumph of good over evil?

[Shooter 2.5]

She was the only person the writer could find who didn't admire Roy and Dale Evans.

I hope there was a cop right behind her after that statement who checked for a green card.

[jrushing]

Do any of them feature the triumph of good over evil?
Yes they do, but sadly, it's mostly about the triumph of good (enviromentalism) over evil (corporations).

[pttttt]

If you're in the East, check out Roy Rogers' Restaurants (fast food).

They used to be a big chain and got bought out, but there are still a few franchisees left. One of the few places in the East you can get a decent hamburger.

[Tijeras_Slim]

"Green card!"
"I don't need no steenkin Green card!"

[LuisBasco]

Do any of them feature the triumph of good over evil?

I forced myself to watch a few minutes one morning in order to see the evil to which my grandchildren might be exposed.

As I recall it was Captain Planet (envirohero) punching out Mr. Industry for polluting the stream. Bad Mr. Industry. Good Captain Evironmentalwacko.

If only the kiddies could be exposed to the likes of Roy and Dale. Lucky us. Unlucky current and future generations.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

Statement: "There's a revolution going on and it don't include no Roy Rogers or Bob Hope."

Response: Yep, and the spiritually dead do not even care.

[fishbabe]

and she don't need no stinkin' badges,either!!!!!

[Mike Darancette]

"Roy Rogers? He doesn't mean anything," said Rosalina Sondoval-Marin, who was having a beer in the El Chubasco bar on historic Route 66. "There's a revolution going on and it don't include no Roy Rogers or Bob Hope."

Ms. Sondoval-Marin:
And when you are old and looking toward unknown darkness what will you remember that brought some happiness and meaning to the lives of your generation? Who will be your heroes?

What revolution you bag of pus? The Revolution conceived in a biker bar on Route 66?

Drink your beer and dream of a revolution, have no history, hold nothing dear from the past. Your children will grow to be as jaded and morally vacuous as you are.

[Billy_bob_bob]

""Roy Rogers? He doesn't mean anything," said Rosalina Sondoval-Marin, who was having a beer in the El Chubasco bar on historic Route 66. "There's a revolution going on and it don't include no Roy Rogers or Bob Hope."

Thanks so much for all the wonderful things your wonderful culture has brought to America, Ms. Rosalina Sondoval-Marin. Perhaps you would like a nice flag to wipe your ass with while you're at it? Maybe pee on a copy of the Constitution?

[buffyt]

We went to Roy Roger's museum in Victorville and Roy was there. We got to meet him. My husband and kids got their photos taken with Roy. Dusty was there, also. Dale wasn't in that day. It was between 5 and ten years ago. Roy came out into the museum and chatted with us for a very long time. He was just the NICEST MAN. Then he said "Excuse me, I have a bus coming in." He went out to the tour bus and shook the hand and greeted every person getting off that bus. Then he came in and chatted with all of them. A genuine nice man NOT full of himself at all. What a guy! I have the photos of my family with Roy framed and hanging on the wall!

[buffyt]

BTW he was dressed Western style like he would for a movie.

[7thson]

At the risk of hijacking this post, this reminds me of a conversation my wife and I had with our grandson yesterday. He is 12. We were talking about how the envirowackos want to prevent oil drilling in the US. When asked why, we told him that these people want the US to fail. We then told him how the envirowackos caused loggers to lose their jobs because of an owl. We told him how the loggers lost their jobs and were unable to provide for their families. He thought the actions of these people were downright stupid. He started asking if these people wanted to save the lives of different critters - fleas, roaches, ticks, rats, etc. We replied that yes, these people would rather these critters live than humans. Now here's the clincher. He has come home from school several times over the years and remarked how we are destroying the rain forests. I know he gets this nonsense from his teachers. I then told him that the same people who do not want us to drill, who want to put loggers out of work, and want to save the lives of bugs and critters, are the same ones crying about the rain forests. Now, hopefully his brain will put two and two together.