ROY ROGERS AND DALE EVANS RIDE OFF TO MISSOURI

New York Times ^ | June 1, 2003 | Charlie LeDuff

[JesseHousman]

By CHARLIE LeDUFF (NYT)

VICTORVILLE, Calif., May 27 -- 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.

Copyright 2002 The New York Times Company

[potlatch]

I got to see them in person in St Louis, when I was an itty bitty girl!! LOL!

[BRO68]

Roy Rogers? He doesn't mean anything,

Looks like it's all gone forever, doesn't it.

Love God and go to Sunday school regularly.and Always respect our flag and our country. are absolutely incomprehensible to most of the current generation.

(A tear drops on his keyboard.)

[mlmr]

It is our job to bring it back. Whether it be the old culture or a new version of it with the moral values of Roy and Dale intact.

But it is hard....and I shed a few tears for the past too.

[gopheraj]

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

Apparently it doesn't include any proper english either.

[Saundra Duffy]

Well, I think this is good news. Branson MO is a good place for the museum. They will be more appreciated there. I've never been to Branson but this makes me want to go even more.

[pbear8]

We heard that it was due to close so we made sure to stop in February just before the closure. Captain PBear loved it so much. Trigger looked great but I loved the car decorated with gun door handles, saddle center and lots of silver coins. I'm glad we went and took pictures.

[RightWhale]

Museum attendance off lately? Have they thought of everything? Is Roy stuffed and mounted on Trigger?

[gopheraj]

We go regularly. It has something for everyone and now Roy & Dale too. Lots of shows and the best one we saw was Andy Williams Christmas show. If anyone has ever seen his shows wayyyy back when on tv they would appreciate it. Very good entertainment.

[Doctor Don]

As a youngster of 17 years I got to spend a whole day with Roy and Dale.........wonderful people! My Mom had a professional relationship with them and once was a member of their board established for teaching safety in schools.

[FlyVet]

What heroes and heroines do today's youth have, besides Madonna, Britney, Elton, Kobe, and some other sub-human species?

They never show the old spaghetti westerns on network TV here. Nor the old TV series such as Roy Rogers, Sky King, Gunsmoke, Daniel Boone, Branded, etc. All you get is the cheesy, modern, 1 and 2-star movies. Kids would probably love that stuff. The hero always gets the bad guy.

[potlatch]

As a youngster of 17 years I got to spend a whole day with Roy and Dale

What a wonderful opportunity!! I remember reading Dale's book about a baby they lost - Angel 'something'. They were a good Christian family.

[yarddog]

There was a documentary/movie on tv yesterday entitled, "Roy Rogers, King of the Cowboys"

I always liked Roy and Dale but after watching that show I am absolutley amazed and astounded at just what fine people they were. Almost unbelievable yet it was true.

[junta]

eF that eFing whore I'll give her a revolution. She is a dingleberry on the anus of humanity compared to Roy Rogers and Dale Evans.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

You seem to be the only one who grasped the implications of the quoted statement. It is spooky!

[Judith Anne]

Angel Unawares...they had a Down's syndrome child that only lived to be two years old, a daughter named "Robin" if I recall correctly.

They also adopted a lot of children, as I recall...

[yarddog]

They also had a little girl killed in a Church Bus accident. Also a boy who was killed in an accident in the Army.

[nickcarraway]

ping

[potlatch]

a daughter named "Robin"

You're right on all counts!! It's been a LONG time, and I had forgotten the specifics!!

[BikerTrash]

eF that eFing whore I'll give her a revolution. She is a dingleberry on the anus of humanity compared to Roy Rogers and Dale Evans.

Well worth repeating.

[Judith Anne]

Funny the stuff you remember, isn't it?