ROY'S HERO FOREVER!
ROY'S ALL-TIME HERO
In 1978, Roy mentioned to Irv Atkins that Roy Rogers was Roy's all-time hero and he arranged a meeting with Art Rush, who was Roy's agent for over forty years. Art Rush was a very interesting man. He was the agent for the opera singer Mario Lanza and movie star, Alan Ladd. Also while running RCA, he recorded Frank Sinatra and many others.
celebrities ART RUSH was AGENT FOR
irv and art tell roy this story
The Show was a Big Success
Irv and Art had been friends for many years and they told Roy this story. Some years ago the agent for "The Lone Ranger" took a pilot for the show to the owner of Langendorf Bread Company to try to get him to sponsor it. He did not believe that the world was ready for a masked man and an Indian and passed it up. The Lone Ranger became very popular sponsored by his competitor, Weber Bread. Irv and Art then put together then put together a show featuring "Red Rider and Little Beaver" and sold the idea to Langendorf. Bill Elliot played Red Rider and Bobby Blake of "Little Rascal" fame played Little Beaver and the show was a big success. You may recall, Blake after a long career in show business was tried for the murder of his wife.
ROY'S ALL-TIME HERO
A Dream Come True. WOW!
After getting to know Art Rush he set up a meeting for Roy with Roy Rogers. The plan was to go to the Roy Rogers Museum in Victorville and fit John Aglar, Roy's best friend, with hearing aids while Roy watched.
What a treat it was to meet Roy's all-time hero, a dream come true. WOW!
Jean was with Roy and said when Roy Rogers walked in it was like sunshine entering the room.
Roy and Jean also met Francis (Francie) Williams, Roy's girl Friday for the previous 30 years. Roy certainly made his own decisions but, she was the guard at the door. Shortly after successfully fitting John Aglar, he made an appointment to test Roy's hearing. Roy had a moderate high frequency hearing impairment. Roy did not want to be seen with hearing aids. He said hearing aids did not fit the "King of Cowboys" image. He fitted Roy with a set of deep canal hearing aids that could not be seen which made him happy. Over the next few years, Roy Rogers, the King of Cowboys, Roy's childhood hero, became his very best friend. He will always treasure the time he spent with him.
time with roy rogers
They would all share a meal a couple of times a month. One day Dale had spaghetti & took her leftovers in a to-go box. Headed back to the museum, Roy was driving, Dale thought Roy had pulled into the wrong lane and she screamed and threw the spaghetti in the air, what a mess. When they got back to the museum Roy asked him, "Does Jean ever do that?" Roy answered, "Are you kidding, I would never let
On a number of occasions Roy went to his ranch where he had a number of Palomino colts sired by Trigger. There were actually two Triggers. The big Trigger was the smart one that did all the tricks and starred in all of the movies. The smaller Trigger was used when Roy was on the road. Roy purchased the big Trigger (then called Golden) from Bing Crosby for $2500 in 1939.
ROY'S POEM TO ROY ROGERS & DALE FOR THEIR 50TH WEDDING ANNiv
"My Hero Forever"
One day Roy Rogers said to Roy, "Look at you, all dressed up in your suit and tie, that's the way you're supposed to look. Look at me. I look like the king of cowboys, that's the way I'm supposed to look. Let's stop dressing up for each other." Roy, pointing at a row of boots with a Thunderbird on each one and said, "I won't wear those boots and you don't wear your shined shoes." From then on we became much more comfortable when we were together. They shared stories about their lives from childhood forward and the conversations were always great. Roy won't go into great detail about Roy Rogers except to say he was number one at the movie box office for twelve years running. His TV show featuring "The Double R Ranch" in Mineral City, his horse "Trigger", Queen of the West, "Dale Evans", sidekick Pat Brady with a tricked-up jeep "Nellybelle" and a dog named "Bullet" was a must watch show starting in 1951. Roy was always the good guy in the white hat who spent his life teaching young folks good from evil. He never shot the bad guys in his movies and he never kissed a woman even though he did kiss his horse. Roy was always happy when Roy Rogers referred to him as a good friend. Roy Rogers once told Roy he was like one of his kids and he always felt like a father to Roy. His attitude towards Roy Rogers is possibly best expressed in this poem he wrote and presented to him on his and Dale's 50th wedding anniversary.
A WINDY DAY AND A FUNNY STORY
Good Times in Victorville
One day it was very windy in Victorville and Roy was in a short-sleeved shirt. Roy Rogers handed Roy one of his leather jackets with hand embroidered flowers on it to wear to lunch. When they got back Roy said, "I really like the way that jacket looks on you and I want you to keep it." Roy accepted his wonderful gift.
One time they were talking and Roy told Roy Rogers that the ants in his ant farm were dying. He said, "No problem, we have lots of ants outside the museum." He then emptied a salt shaker and they went hunting. They found big red ones, black ones, and some were red and black. There Roy was with his hero crawling around in the dirt catching ants. Roy took the ants home and put them into his farm. Jean called Roy at work and told him that she didn't like Roy Roger's ants. Roy's ants were all fighting and killing each other. When he told Roy the story he found it funny that his ants were so mean.
one of roy's greatest honors
ROY ROGERS' PLACED HIS TRUST IN ROY
After four years of friendship, Roy Rogers and Dale along with Jean and Roy were having lunch. Roy Rogers leaned over and asked Roy if he would like him to endorse their hearing aids. Of course, Roy accepted and asked if he should get in touch with Art Rush. He said that was not necessary that they could do it together. He said he thought he could say, "Ever since I got my Nu-Ear hearing aids, I hear every word the minister speaks, every note the choir sings and Dale doesn't have to holler at me anymore!" Roy then asked him how he should pay him. He put his arm around Roy's shoulder and said, "You are my friend, don't worry about it!" He never even charged Roy a dime. On the way back to the museum, he was driving and looked back at Roy and said, "You know if you had ever asked me to endorse your products, I had planned to tell you no. It's because you never asked that I decided to do it." Roy gave him a free hand using his likeness and his good name. To think that this great man with his great reputation placed his trust in Roy was one of the greatest honors he has ever received and is still somewhat mind blowing.
grand opening
When they moved Nu-Ear to a new factory location in 1984, Roy, Dale and Art Linkletter attended, it was a Grand Opening.
Part of the dedication of Nu-Ear was to put in a new flag pole. Art Linkletter, Roy Rogers Matt Burak and Roy placed their hand prints into the concrete flag pole base.
roy rogers and dale's life story in poetry
A Wonderful Relationship with Roy Bain and his Hero
In 1989, Roy wrote another poem for Roy Rogers and Dale called "Trails of Happiness!" It told Roy and Dale's life story in poetry. One day, Roy Rogers asked Jean and Roy to follow him downstairs to the museum, he said he had something a friend gave him and he wanted to show it to them.
There it was, "Trails of Happiness" hanging on the wall in the museum. Believe Roy, he had a few glasses of Champagne and toasted himself thinking about his wonderful relationship with his Hero, and what an honor it was to have the poem he wrote hanging in the Roy Rogers & Dale Evans Museum.
NEW YEAR'S EVE
Roy & Jean Celebrate Roy & Dale's 43rd Wedding Anniversary Together
Roy Rogers called Roy one day and asked him what he and Jean were doing on Thursday night and told him they had nothing planned. He said he and Dale would like to come to San Diego and take them to dinner. After Roy got off the phone he realized Thursday was New Year's Eve and that was Roy and Dale's 43rd wedding anniversary, WOW! Roy set it up at the Hyatt in La Jolla. They had a great time and took some wonderful pictures.
ROY AND JEAN MEET ROY CLARK
Jean and Roy were in Las Vegas attending the Roy Clark show. They sat in the front row right next to the stage. While Roy Clark was performing, Roy handed him a note on the back of his card. He told him he was a friend of Roy Rogers and would like to speak to him. He asked that they come to the stage door after the show. Jean and Roy had met Roy Clark at an awards show about ten years prior.
Roy started the conversation with, "I haven't seen you in ten years and you're looking great." He said "Thanks!" Then Roy asked, "How do I look?" He laughed! Turned out Roy Rogers was Roy Clark's all-time hero too. Roy also had a developing hearing loss so, Roy made an appointment to meet him in Branson, Missouri. He fitted both Roy Clark & his agent, John Hitt with hearing aids. Roy told him tha
At a later date, Roy Clark was doing a show at the fair grounds in San Bernardino & asked if Roy could bring Roy & Dale. Roy called Roy Rogers & invited him & Dale. At first he said no because Dale had a TV appearance the next day & didn't want to be tired and spend the evening with Roy signing autographs. He told Roy Clark and he said he would make sure no one ever got near them. He called Roy Ro
Roy and Dale told Roy Clark they would appear on the "Hee Haw" show. Roy Clark saw Roy's "Roy Rogers Hat" and asked if he could get him one. Roy Rogers said if Roy would get the hat he would block it. Roy got in touch with Resistol Hat Company and ordered two; one for Roy Clark and another one Roy Rogers blocked for Roy. Roy Rogers died on July 6, 1998. His last words were, "Lord it's been a rough
introductions
Roy Introduces Roy Clark to Roy and Dale
They rented an executive suite at a San Bernardino Hotel and set up Hors d' oeuvres for their guests Roy, Dale, John and Fern Aglar, Roy Clark and his band members. From there they went in Roy Clark's beautiful bus to the fair grounds. They were back stage while the auditorium filled with people. The front row seats were left empty with ushers guarding them so nobody could get near. Roy Clark asked Roy if he thought it would be all right to introduce Roy and Dale. Roy asked Roy Rogers and he said "Sure." When the lights went down they emerged from back stage and the crowd went wild! They were screaming, "Roy Rogers!" Bert had his hat off waving to everyone like he was a star too. Roy jokingly asked him later who he thought he was. They took the font seats and watched and listened to a show directed at Roy and Dale; it was great. They sang a number of Roy's songs including "Tumbling Tumble Weeds" and "Happy Trails to You."
childhood hero!
As a kid, Roy Bain's favorite game was "Cowboys and Indians." The Indians never won. Years later, however, the Indians got even with him when they opened their gambling casinos.
Considering Roy's name was LeRoy which he shortened to Roy. He always played the part of Roy Rogers, the King of Cowboys & his broomstick horse was "Trigger." Roy Rogers was his all-time hero. There was God, Santa Clause & Roy Rogers. Sometimes Roy has questioned the reality of God. Santa turned out to be a fib. Roy Rogers never failed him.
Kids discover, "There is no Santa, it's your dad!"
The tr
Roy Rogers had a sidekick in most of his movies named Gabby Hayes. Gabby was a bearded ornery old guy with missing teeth. Roy later found out that in real life he was a very dapper English gentleman.
Roy Rogers had a number of leading ladies, the best in Roy's opinion, was Queen of the West, Dale Evans.
Roy Rogers was always the "Good Guy" in the white hat.
Every Saturday Roy and his brothers went to the Granada Theater on Mission Street to watch the matinee. Two cowboy shows and a cartoon for 10 cents.
watching thirteen inch tv in black and white
