In “Cowboy Princess Rides Again,” in the chapter entitled Republic’s Over-Active P.R. Department I told you about some of the wild stories that the newspapers and movie magazines ran about my dad (Roy Rogers). Well, my friend, Larry Zwisohn, just emailed me a release that the P.R. sent to the Kingsport (Tennessee) Times on January 11, 1942. I hope you enjoy it, as it is a doozy!
Roy Rogers Plays In Person Here At Strand Saturday
Roy Rogers, Republic’s blue-eyed, blond (1) cowboy star, and favorite of millions of horse opera enthusiasts, will appear in person on the stage of the Strand Theatre Saturday with his troupe of western stars. Born in Cody, Wyoming (2), of American, Irish and Indian descent (3), Roy’s ambition was to be a dentist (4). Family fortunes being on the decline (5), however, Roy left school to earn a living, and worked in a shoe-making shop, carving soles. But he sang while he worked (6), and thereby hangs a tale. A customer who overheard him sing, suggested that he try for a radio audition (7). Heading for New York (8), his money ran out by the time he reached Cincinnati (9), where he applied for a radio job (10), and got it.
It was not until 1932 that he began to get attention from radio big-wigs. His break came when he was signed to sing on “The Sons of the Pioneers” program (11). This group later made a tour of the West Coast in personal appearances. When they hit Hollywood (12), Roy was found by a talent scout (13), and given a part in a short subject starring (Vaudeville comedian) El Brendel. It was a comedy called “Radio Scout” but Roy’s singing wasn’t comical. In fact, it was so good that he got another job immediately in pictures. A singing job! For a while he thought his voice was a curse (!!!???)(14), for he was never given an acting part — he remained always a singer. By this time Roy wanted to be an actor!(15) He kept trying alternating between screen and radio, always hoping for the chance to act before the cameras. It wasn’t until late in 1937 that the chance came.
He was signed by Republic Pictures for a part in a Gene Autry picture (16). It wasn’t all singing either. Following the completion of that picture, he was even another part in another Autry western. It as then that the studio signed him on a long-term contract. Roy says this contract brought him the greatest satisfaction of any event in his life (17). No wonder, he had waited long enough for it. Roy’s ambition is to be the best–the top-ranking–singing cowboy of the screen!
Dad and The Sons of the Pioneers in “Way Up That,” made about the same time as “Radio Scout.”
l. to r.; Karl Farr, Dad, Tim Spencer, Bob Nolan and Hugh Farr
Now, for the truth!
(1) Dad was dark haired. (2) He was born in Cincinnati, OH. (3) He was German, Scots/Irish and Choctaw. (4) I think this is where the myth about Dad’s wanting to be a dentist came about. The PR Dept. even got my Dad’s father (Grampy Slye) to say that in an interview he supposedly gave to a movie magazine. As far as I know, Dad had never been to a dentist until he came to California. (5) The family had always been dirt poor. (6) He had always been a mischievous and indifferent student. According to him, he played hooky a lot. So I don’t think he cared about leaving school during the Depression and going to work. (7) I never heard that story before in regards to Dad (Mom, yes, Dad, no!). (8) The only place that Dad, Grampy, Mammy and Dad’s youngest sister headed for was California, where Dad’s older sister lived. (9) He never had any money. (10) He never applied for, nor got, a radio job in Cincinnati. Once he left Ohio for the West Coast, he never lived in Ohio (nor any other state for that matter) again.
(11) Dad wasn’t signed to sing on that show, The Pioneers were signed to do their own show. Dad had been singing on the West Coast with several different groups when Dad, along with Tim Spencer and Bob Nolan, formed The Pioneer Trio. They then added Hugh and Karl Farr, and the five of them became “The Sons of the Pioneers.” (12) They started on the West Coast. (13) Dad was not found by a talent scout. (14) It was The Sons of the Pioneers that were signed to perform in “Radio Scout.” (14) Why in the world would he have thought that his voice was a curse??!!! All he ever wanted to do was play an instrument and sing music! (15) I don’t remember Dad ever saying that he had wanted to become an actor. He didn’t fight the idea — it paid better than just singing. Later in life, he would hardly ever talk about the movies he had made as an actor but he loved talking about his years with The Boys, as he and Mom called The Sons of the Pioneers.
(16) The Pioneers were signed to work in a movie with Mr. Autry. It wasn’t until Dad was singled out for a separate speaking part, that he was signed to a separate acting contract. (17) The reason that Dad was satisfied with the long-term contract was that it was the first time in his life that he knew he could put food on the table for his family on a regular basis.
As you can see, the P.R. didn’t mind stretching the truth. In fact, they didn’t think anything of making up “facts”!!
Hope you enjoyed the above, Cheryl
