Roy Rogers

Lore & Background

Rogers was born Leonard Franklin Slye in Cincinnati, Ohio, the son of Mattie and Andrew Slye. The family lived in a tenement on 2nd Street, where Riverfront Stadium was later constructed. After a houseboat journey up the Ohio River and surviving the Great Flood of 1913, the family settled on a farm near Lucasville, Ohio. There, young Len learned horsemanship from a horse his father brought home, and entertained neighbors with singing, mandolin, and yodeling. He quit school after being ridiculed for falling asleep in night class, and later moved with his family to California in 1930.

In California, Len auditioned for a radio program and joined the Rocky Mountaineers. He co-founded the Pioneers Trio with Bob Nolan and Tim Spencer, which became the Sons of the Pioneers in 1934. The group signed with Decca and recorded classics like 'Tumbling Tumbleweeds' and 'Cool Water.' In 1938, after a contest to replace Gene Autry, Len was given the stage name Roy Rogers by Republic Pictures and starred in Under Western Stars. He appeared in almost 90 motion pictures, often with his wife Dale Evans, his horse Trigger, and his dog Bullet, and hosted The Roy Rogers Show from 1951 to 1957.

Reader's Guide

Roy Rogers was a defining figure in American Western entertainment, bridging film, radio, and television. His popularity is reflected in his 16 consecutive years on the Motion Picture Herald Top Ten Money-Making Western Stars poll, holding first place from 1943 to 1954. He also appeared in the BoxOffice poll from 1938 to 1955, leading from 1943 to 1952. Rogers was the only country singer inducted twice into the Country Music Hall of Fame, and he received four stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the last including the Sons of the Pioneers. His legacy includes the franchise chain of Roy Rogers Restaurants, which bore his name in later years. His signature song 'Happy Trails' remains iconic, and his films and television shows made him an idol for many children.

Did You Know?

• Roy Rogers was born Leonard Franklin Slye in Cincinnati, Ohio, and later joked he was born at second base because Riverfront Stadium was built on the site of his childhood tenement.
• He was the only country singer to be inducted twice into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
• Rogers received four stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, alongside Bob Hope, Mickey Rooney, and Tony Martin.
• His early film roles were uncredited parts in movies by fellow singing cowboy Gene Autry.