After The Sons of the Pioneers appeared in three Gene Autry films, Republic offered Dad a stock player contract at $75 per week. Dad couldn’t believe his luck — $75 every week. But, he had to get out of the contract he had signed with Columbia Pictures as a member of the Pioneers — and to get out of that contract, he had to replace himself with a new singer/musician that was acceptable to both The Pioneers and Columbia. Dad and “the Boys” (as Dad and Mom always called the Pioneers) finally agreed on a performer they had seen and heard around the Los Angeles music scene, Pat Brady. Columbia accepted Pat to replace Dad, and Leonard Slye became Dick Weston (a name chosen for their new performer by the Republic execs).
The only picture I have seen that Dad signed as Dick Weston.
Dad made two films for Republic as Dick Weston: “Wild Horse Rodeo,” a Three Mesquiteers film released on 12/6/37; and, “The Old Barn Dance,” a Gene Autry film released on 1/29/38.
After “The Old Barn Dance” was released, Gene got into a dispute with Republic and left the studio for a time. Gene’s next project would have been “Wall Street Cowboy.” Since the script was already done, the studio began looking for a new singing cowboy. Thanks in large part to his having worked on the previous Gene films, Dad got a chance to audition to be the new “over night sensation” and he became Roy Rogers and went on to star in 82 films and do cameos and other roles in many more projects.
I will tell you about the cameos and other projects tomorrow, but if you want more information about how Dad’s career and how he became Roy Rogers, you can read my books: “Cowboy Princess: Life With My Parents” and “Cowboy Princess Rides Again.” Both are available here on my website and “Cowboy Princess Rides Again” is also available on Amazon.com.
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It all worked out for the best! he really grew into his own when he became Roy because he did so many original things no other star did.
I love these stories! I highly recommend the Cowboy Princess books too. Just imagining life on Roy’s ranch in those times is magical, especially in the world now and the way LA has changed. And the stories are so good.
I actually have that picture!!
I recently got this picture from my grandfather
Glad he changed his name to Roy, I would probably nt have my name not, and at 78 it would be hard to start a new one. of course, I had to have two names, so My Dad seen a photo of Roy and Gene in the Dr’s Office, so he tells Mom, I finally got a name he is Roy Gene!! I was nearly two months old
I have that picture and also one of him holding my dad and his twin brother as babies.