When Dad (Roy Rogers) started starring in movies, the studio tried several things to get him to open his eyes wider. You can see in the above photo (just received from my friend, Larry Zwisohn) why the studios thought they needed to do that.
Flash cameras just didn’t have a fast enough shutter speed to catch his eyes before they reacted to the light. But the giant foil-covered reflectors (3 X 5 panels) they used on location were even worse. The makeup people tried eye drops and even tried gluing his upper eyelids open.
He said that the eyedrops gave him headaches but the glue made his upper lids raw and his eyeballs felt burnt by the late morning. I’m surprised that he didn’t have trouble with his eyes later but he had been blessed with incredible vision — that’s one of the reasons why he was such a great athlete.
I think his laughing eyes were his best features!
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I agree with you. Those eyes just brought out what I call his boyish good looks and seemed as if he had a twinkle in them when he smiled.
Thank you Cheryl for the clip. It really did bring on the memories and good feelings.
Ha ha! no camera was fast enough to catch Roy’s reactions! That’s great! I never heard that before, that’s why I always enjoy your stories Cheryl!
All those procedures sound very sadistic! He was a good sport to tolerate that. I’ve seen one of those early movies where his pupils are huge, all dilated and spooky. I bet it was odd to see up close.
They butchered Bob Nolan’s nose back then too. Nobody can say those guys didn’t suffer for their art. I’m so glad they didn’t permanently damage Roy!
my boyhood friend who was a GENE AUTRY fan used to say are you going to see squinty ROGERS at the pictures
today.wE WERE NOT FRIENDS FOR LONG.
I met your Dad & Mother in Vietnam. It was a wonderful thing for me. I watched Him and Her in many a movie as a kid. Roy let me handle his guns. Wow what a treat!! He shared Their faith in my Lord Jesus Christ. I have several pictures of them with me in Sadec, Vietnam 1967. They were my true heroes. God bless you.
Author
Hi, if you email me a couple of your photos, I will share them on this website. My email is cheryl@cherylrogers.com.
I’m so glad you got to meet them as they were exceptional people! Thanks for your comment.
Roy’s eyes were Indian eyes. I think he was part Navajo and some Native American tribes have oriental eyes.
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Dad was actually part Choctaw.
Thanks so much for this story. I agree his eyes were one of his best features.
P.S. Loved Cowboy Princess and its sequel.
Roy and Gene were HERO”s to millions of us little “cowboys” when we were growing up. We never cared about eyes, we wanted the entertainment we got. I also miss the clean films we got.
I saw him as a very young child at the Indiana state Fairgrounds, sitting in the first row as he rode by he glanced at me smiling. My mind took a perfect photo of his eyes surrounded by “laugh wrinkles” as our eyes met for a fleeting moment. I was an instant fan and have never forgotten it!
I thought Roy had an Asian background. Funny thing is , years later I discovered I did. G.G Grandad came to Australia from Hong Kong. Roy was hugely popular here too.
I always wondered if he was partially native American. His eyes were the tipoff. I always had a crush on him
growing up. Always wanted a horse like Trigger. Never got a horse but settled on a dog named “Mindy”
I was able to shake his hand and see him at Roy Roger’s Roastbeef Restaurant in Metairie, Louisiana (I was from Chalmette, Louisiana-and originated from Aransas Pass & Galveston, Texas) when I was 16! My step-dad brought me after much begging, and asked if I was embarrassed-I said, “NO Way!”I was surrounded by younger children with their cap guns going off, but I did not care (even though I was short for my age-I was still taller than the children there LOL). I will never forget that moment in time, and felt forever blessed! He was my idol, because of his movie career, life, and his care of children. I also belong to the Eastern Star group, and have taught Biology and physical Science for 41 years. I try to give back to my community just as he did! He was a great role model!
I was always a fan and had the joy of getting to see Roy and Dale at some fair up in the Toronto, Ontario area around 1956 or ’57 as they rode around the track on Trigger and Buttermilk. We had somehow managed to be at the very front of the crowd and up against the rail where my mom placed me for the better view. I was waving like crazy and they both waved back to me. Shortly afterwards, I was left with Grandma while Mom went to use the restroom. Who should she encounter on her way there but Roy who was handing out little button memorabilia. When he saw Mom he asked, “You’re the mother of that pretty little girl, aren’t you?” and as she confirmed it, he handed her one of the buttons. Sweet memory there!
Roy Rogers was a very handsome man…loved his eyes!!!
Where can I get a large print of this photo
O my gosh I loved Roy rogers so much
He was such a wonderful man. I’m so glad to read all this today. Glad his children are leading good lives. He was our hero
Seeing that photo of him and 2 sons I can’t believe he didn’t have Japanese ancestry bu I guess it’s the Choctaw. Bless his heart. I’d love to know more about Dusty too
One of my uncles used to call me Linda Lou: I loved it 😊
I loved Roy Rogers. As a child I would tell everyone I’m going to marry Roy Rogers!!