Roy Rogers, King of the Cowboys Quiz

Answer: Leonard Slye

Leonard Franklin Slye was Roy's birth name. It was changed later, when he got into films. Roy was born on November 5, 1911, in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was born in a tenement building on the present location of Riverfront Stadium. This fact is based on statements made by Roy himself.

Sylvester Stewart was the leader of Sly and the Family Stone, singing group of Woodstock fame. Bruno Sanmartino was a famous wrestler. The other name I made up.

Answer: Trigger

Trigger was well known by all adults and children in the 1950s. He was truly a wonder horse and seemed almost human. He was known also as "The smartest horse in the movies."

Carry Back was a famous racehorse that almost won the Triple Crown, but not quite. Champion was Gene Autry's horse. Traveller was Robert E. Lee's horse.

Answer: German Shepherd

Bullet was a beautiful German shepherd, or that is the American designation. In Europe they are called Alsatians or Schafers. I had a couple of these dogs and they are smart, wonderful animals.

Answer: Nelly Belle

Pat would get going very fast on a bumpy road and he would be barely able to hang on to the wheel. He would be yelling out "Whoaaaaaaaaaaaa Nelly Belle!" He was there mostly for humor, but occasionally he would help Roy get the drop on some bad guys.

Often he would have a hard time getting it to crank and would have to sweet talk it saying things like "oh, come on, Nelly Belle, come on darlin'." It was ridiculous, but all part of the act. Pat had actually met Roy when he had been a member of the "Sons of the Pioneers."

Answer: The Queen of the West

Dale met Roy when they were cast in a movie together in 1944's "The Cowboy and Senorita". Roy was married at the time, but his wife died suddenly in 1946. He and Dale became better friends at that point and married in 1947. Roy was Dale's fourth husband. She had actually married at age 14 and had a son at age 15!

Dale was a singer before she met Roy. She had been born in Texas in 1912, with the name Lucile Wood Smith. While she was yet an infant her name was changed to Frances Octavia Smith. One would well imagine that you would sell more records with the name Dale Evans than either of those!

Answer: Itinerant fruit picker

Roy and his Dad, Andy Slye worked the fields for very low pay, doing hard work. Later in life, Roy would read Steinbeck's "Grapes of Wrath" and would remark how realistic the book was.

Answer: The Sons of the Pioneers

The Sons of the Pioneers worked with Roy often through his career, often appearing with him and backing him on many a recording. They were an outstanding Western group.

Together, Roy and The Sons of the Pioneers recorded many songs. Some of those song include the 1934 release of "Tumbling Tumbleweeds", "Way Out There", "Moonlight on the Prairie" and "Ridin' Home."

Roy said that they signed a contract guaranteeing them a penny for every record sold!

Answer: Christianity

They were Christians and not in name only. They regularly spoke of their relationship with Jesus Christ and often did good to help others. They led clean, good lives.

Answer: Gene Autry

Gene was a huge star and his disagreement with the studio gave Roy the break he needed. The studio changed his name to Roy Rogers and gave him the lead in a 1938's "Under Western Skies"...and a star was born!

The other answers listed were all cowboy stars in their own right.

Answer: Happy Trails to You

"Happy Trails to You" is a sweet song. Dale Evans wrote it in 1950, as they were preparing for a radio show. They thought they needed a theme song, and Roy had been signing autographs using the epithet "Happy Trails, Roy Rogers" for a long time. The song was magic and a natural fit for them.

You do have to watch out for coyotes, but there is no song to that effect that I know of. "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" (recorded in 1934) is another Rogers's song, but not his theme. "I thought about you" is a Sinatra song.

Information about the theme song "Happy Trails" can be found at http://www.cowgirls.com/dream/cowgals/daleevans.htm

Answer: The Double R Bar Ranch

The double R's in The Double R Ranch stood for Roy's initials. They had a bar underneath the two R's in their brand, but it was normally written out so people would know what it was.

Answer: Angel Unaware

Dale wrote this book after their daughter Robin was diagnosed with Down Syndrome in infancy. The Rogers' were advised to put her away in an institution, but they refused and raised her the best they could. She died after two and half years, but the Rogers' felt that God had touched them in a very special way by letting them have Robin for the short time that they did.

It was Dale's contention that the Down Syndrome kept Robin pure of any of the flaws that we humans always fall prey to: greed, selfishness, etc. Her disease kept her unable to comprehend those things, so they saw their daughter as a little angel and perfectly innocent. I have read the book and it was one of the most inspiring books I ever read. I have read accounts of many people who had their own Down Syndrome child and took away with them great inspiration from Dale's book.

Others said they read the book as a teen and later had a Down Syndrome child. One can do a lot of good or harm by what they say or write! Dale is gone, but her goodness remains with us through what she said and wrote.

Answer: Victorville, CA

Roy used to live in Apple Valley, CA and he put his museum in nearby Victorville. It used to be situated on the I-15 that runs from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. Victorville is not a big tourist destination, so the museum languished.

His heirs decided to move the museum to Branson, MO, which is a huge tourist area, specializing in country music. The sort of people who patronize that kind of music are very likely to appreciate Roy, Dale, Trigger, Bullet and the good things they stood for.

Answer: "Your life is the only Bible some people will ever read."

I don't know if someone said that before her, but it is often attributed to Dale. She was a fine lady and an excellent singer, too. I can still see Roy and Dale singing "Happy Trails to You" as the credits rolled at the end of their TV show.

That era was considered a great genre. Back then, there seemed to be many more role models for younger kids to admire.

Answer: United Kingdom

According to the official Roy Rogers website, the London Club located in London, England (the United Kingdom), had 50,000 members in 1950, a phenomenal number. This, of course, predated Elvis Presley, who must have smashed these numbers later.

No matter, Roy's honesty and decency did not change with changing times. He stuck to what he knew was right whether it was popular or not. I remember seeing Roy on a variety show once when he was in his 70s. He still looked incredibly good in his white hat and western shirt. He sang beautifully and yodeled. The host and audience were amazed. Everyone was stunned that they were in his presence. Roy was a great man.