Rogers, Roy 1992-02-04
Roy Rogers, renowned "King of the Cowboys" and star of over 90 films, discusses his experiences in the music industry and touring in West Texas during the 1930s.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Roy Rogers
Additional Parties Recorded: None
Date: February 04, 1992
Location: Victorville (Roy Rogers Museum), California
Interviewer: Lanny Fiel and Buck Ramsey
Length: 1 hour 50 minutes
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1: Lubbock, Texas,
1933 visited town on a tour,
Career,
1931 first appeared on amateur show in California,
Received job offer from Ed Bowen and his Rocky,
Mountaineers,
1933 tour to Arizona, New Mexico and Texas,
Personal life,
Met first wife, Arlene, in New Mexico while on tour,
Married in 1936,
Career (again),
Jobs after returning to California from the 1933 tour,
Visited a hat shop and heard about auditions,
Auditioned at Republic Studios,
Columbia studio released him and replaced him with Pat Brady,
Stayed at Republic for fourteen years,
Featured in over 90 films,
Lubbock, Texas (again),
Remembrances of town,
Length of stay,
Activities,
Background,
Reared in a musical family,
Learned to harmonize as a child,
Sons of the Pioneers,
Received an invitation to play at Texas Centennial,
celebration in Dallas,
Origin of name,
Background (again),
Recalls parents’ musical ability,
Tours,
Problems which occurred on trips,
Lack of money,
Recalls paying hotel bill with his watch,
Great Depression,
Influenced him to be a successful musician,
Career (again),
Description of first guitar,
Quality of harmony,
Discussion of his inability to read music,
Always memorized songs,
Origin of songs,
Discusses some of his favorite songs,
Sings a portion of "Little Joe, the Wrangler",
Vaudeville,
Stories behind the songs he sang,
Problems in shows due to lack of advertising,
Impact of touring West Texas,
Played dances,
Called square dances.
Tape 1, Side 2: Career (again),
Californians’ attraction to country music,
Family background influenced him,
Rogers the last living original "Pioneer",
Describes pioneer fiddle player,
His influence on the music industry.
Tape 2, Side 1: Roy Rogers’ entry into show business,
Englewood, California amateur show,
Joined Rocky Mountaineers,
Pioneer Trio formed,
First tour,
Arizona, New Mexico and Texas,
Lubbock, Texas radio show (KFYO),
Roswell, New Mexico,
Meeting first wife, Arlene,
Lemon pie,
Pioneer Trio,
Members,
Radio show on Hollywood station KFWB,
Screen test with Republic Pictures,
Columbia Pictures,
"Tumbling Tumbleweeds",
"Cool Water",
First picture, 1938,
90 total movies,
Lubbock, Texas (again),
Great Depression,
Tim Spencer, announcer,
Daily routine,
Roy Rogers’ boyhood,
Background in music,
Yodeling,
Square dancing,
Music only diversion,
Sons of the Pioneers,
Rehearsals,
Performing on KFWB,
"Last Roundup",
Bernie Milligan’s newspaper columns,
Texas Centennial,
Origins of name,
Roy Rogers,
Musical influence,
Jimmy Rodgers,
Early radio songs,
Western singers,
Lubbock, Texas (again),
Pre-Pioneer days,
"Tumbling Tumbleweeds",
Forming the Pioneers,
Lubbock, Texas (again),
O Bar O Cowboys band,
Members,
Roy Rogers (again),
On-staff at KFWB radio,
Hugh Farb joins Pioneers,
Lubbock, Texas memories,
First tour experiences,
Hard times,
Early interest in music,
Depression’s impact,
Peach picking,
First guitar,
Sons of the Pioneers (again),
Developing style,
Music memorization,
Early cowboy songs,
Developed from poetry,
"Little Joe, the Wrangler".
Tape 2, Side 2: Rodeo,
Roy Rogers (again),
Influence on young,
Movies family oriented,
Teaching right from wrong,
Played himself in movies,
Adoption of daughters,
Hope Cottage,
Wonderment of fiddler players,
Jack Webb,
Hugh Farb (again),
Recording of "Happy Trails",
Written by Dale Evans (Roy’s second wife),
Theme song,
"Pioneer Mother of Mine"—emotional.
Range Dates: 1931-1998
Bulk Dates: 1931-1942
Access Information
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Transcript:
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