Dad (Roy Rogers) was a shopkeeper for a short time when I was a baby. There is a great short film called “Meet Roy Rogers” that was produced by Harriet Parsons (Luella’s daughter). The short can sometimes be seen on Utube. Part of the short is my introduction to Hollywood (I had just been adopted by Dad and Mommy (Arline Wilkins Rogers).
The last part of the short is about Dad’s new store. It features numerous friends of Dad including: Gabby, Gene Autry, Judy Canova and other popular Western and comedic performers from that time.
Now, I don’t remember Dad having a western store. It wasn’t until I saw the short that I realized he had a business other than being an actor/singer/musician. Since I found out about the store, Larry and I and some of our friends, have speculated where the store might have been. Thanks my friend, Dave Burns, I now have the address. This puts it just a couple of doors from Dupar’s Coffee Shop (Dad’s favorite place to get pancakes) on Ventura Blvd. (Dupar’s is still there and still a great place to eat) in Studio City. The address also puts it just a block or two from Republic Studios.
I am really surprised at the brochure as it appears that Dad was in the catalogue ordering business in 1940!!!
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And you thought you knew everything about Roy Rogers 🙂
I remembering reading in one of Roy/Dale’s books that Roy owned a Western clothing store, but that it didn’t last long. Interesting to know a little more about it!
It’s wonderful to see that little paper! The little drawings are so cute. That’s a treasure!
How ahead of his time he was, thinking about merchandising that early on. I gotta find that short film!
I found it! The link is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qfamx6DDGms and it is excellent!
I use peggo.tv to download online Roy videos and put them on disc so I can watch on TV! Works with music videos too, if you want to add Roy or Sons of the Pioneers music to your collection like I do. I’m thrilled to capture this one now!