The Last Roundup Trivia Quiz

Answer: Trigger

Trigger was a beautiful palomino, half Throughbred. Before Roy Rogers purchased him, he had previously been seen in "The Adventures of Robin Hood" as Maid Marian's horse. He was very talented, having over 150 trick cues.

After his death, he wasn't stuffed, but his hide was stretched over a frame
that mimicked his body. Two other statues were made, one for the Denver Broncos, and then the mold was broken. I saw him once in a parade, and he was glorious.

Answer: Gene Autry

Although he couldn't read music, Gene was a talented singer and composer.
Songs he wrote or co-wrote include "Here Comes Santa Claus" and "Back in the Saddle Again".

His ranch, motion picture studio (formerly Monogram) and radio show were all
named "Melody Ranch".

Answer: Smiley Burnette

Smiley was in eighty-one films with Gene Autry, but they were real-life friends as well.
Both had been in radio in Illinois, then Smiley joined Gene's radio act. After
becoming known in the mid-west, they headed for California and the movies, together.

Smiley's best known ballad, written for Gene, was "Ridin' Down the Canyon", which has been recorded by many musicians. Many versions of this song can be
seen on You Tube. The song is one of the top ten most beautiful ballads - who
says so? The United States Congressional Hall of Fame.

Answer: Lash LaRue

Lash LaRue, was a handsome cowboy (in westerns only), who always dressed in black, unlike others who used black as a sign of a villain. His skill with a bullwhip made him an outstanding character, his very name came to be used in songs and references in later movies.

Answer: Happy Trails To You

Dale Evans married her co-star, Roy Rogers in 1947 and they lived a happy life for as long as they lived. Theirs was a blended family of eight; three his, one hers, one theirs (who tragically died very young) and others adopted or fostered.

Dale wrote quite a few songs, including the popular, "The Bible Tells Me So", and also wrote books.

She was cast in her first movie with Roy in 1944, "The Cowboy and the Senorita", they went on to star in twenty-eight films together. They were known as "The King of the Cowboys" and "Queen of the West".

Answer: Charles Starrett

Starrett has the distinction of having starred in more B-westerns than any other star, not always as The Durango Kid. In his career he had many sidekicks, including the aforementioned Smiley Burnette.

Charles was originally from Massachusetts and a graduate of Dartmouth. He got his start in a stock company and hoped to become a major movie star. When his fate decreed him a western star, he embraced the genre and enjoyed making those types of films. He invested his earnings well and became a wealthy man. His father being the founder of Starrett Precision Tool Company, didn't hurt, either!

Answer: Audie Murphy

The hero of western movies, but most of all, the hero of W.W.II, Audie was a Texan who had joined the army at age l8, after a hard-scrabble life during the depression years.

Like the W.W.I hero, Alvin York, Audie had grown up hunting small animals for his family's survival and become a crack-shot. This served him well as a soldier.

After the war, he became a film star of forty movies, including one based on his autobiography, "To Hell and Back". In addition to his movie career, he was also a successful songwriter. Sadly, he died in a plane crash in 1971 at the young age of 46.

Answer: William Boyd

William Boyd was the first and only actor to portray Hopalong Cassidy. He won the role for the first film in 1935, and stayed with it through it's television success in the 1950's. The movies made in this series were thought by film critics to be a cut above other westerns of the day; better scripts, plots and longer than other western movies of the genre.

After the days of B-westerns began to fade, Boyd took the series on to great success in television, radio, a theme park, comic books and merchandising of all-related items. I recall, best of all, the Hopalong Cassidy lunchbox my sister had.

Answer: George "Gabby" Hayes

Although he was a sidekick to other stars, the one he is most associated with is Roy Rogers. At a TCM Film Festival, Roy's daughter recalled how Gabby was
helpful to Dale Evans in her first role in a Roy Rogers movie.

George Hayes started in vaudeville where he perfected his character, "the old fella", who later became Gabby. He moved to the movies where he played many roles in films, sometimes more than one role in a movie. His first sidekick role was with Hopalong Cassidy, as Windy. Then in 1940 joined Roy Rogers, and became known as Gabby.

Answer: Broncho Billy

Gilbert "Broncho Billy" Anderson, as a young man, became interested in vaudeville and theatre. He soon had the opportunity to be in the early film "The Great Train Robbery" where he played three roles. He realized what a hit it was in those early days, and he and a friend started their own studio where they made their own successful shorts.

The ones that became most popular, were the 140 westerns in which he played Broncho Billy. Since he retired from acting so early, in 1916, many people today do not know there was actually a Broncho Billy, although is is a well-known name. (And not just from this quiz).