Sharing a wonderful email
Thank you Bruce
I tried to think of who I knew that was old enough to
appreciate this..... then you came into mind.
I didn’t send
this to the young guns as they may not understand the meaning of this, but I’m
sure you will.
The Roy Rogers
Museum in Branson, MO has closed its doors forever.
Happy trails to
you -- the end of an era !!
Roy Rogers was
raised on Duck Run, less than 10 miles from Portsmouth, Ohio.
All of Roy’s
& Dale Evans’ children were adopted
The contents of
the museum were sold at a public auction.
Roy Rogers told
his son, if the museum ever operates at a loss, close it, and sell the
contents. He complied.
Happy trails to
you -- the end of an era
Note the
follow-on article truly the end of an era.
Here is a
partial listing of some of the items that were sold at auction:
Roy's 1964 Bonneville (Pontiac)
sold for $254,500. It was estimated to sell between 100 and 150 thousand
dollars.
His script book from the January
14,1953 episode of This Is Your Life sold for $10,000 (EST. $800-$1,000).
A collection of signed baseballs
(Pete Rose, Duke Snyder, and other greats) sold for $3,750.
A collection of signed bats (Yogi
Berra, Enos Slaughter, Bob Feller, and others) sold for $2,750.
Trigger 's saddle and bridle sold
for $386,500.
One of many of Roy's shirts sold
for $16,250 and one of his many cowboy hats sold for $17,500.
One set of boot spurs sold for
$10,625. (He never used a set of spurs on Trigger)
A life size shooting gallery sold
for $27,500.
Various chandeliers sold from
$6,875 to $20,000, very unique and artistic in their western style.
A signed photograph by Don Larsen
taken during his perfect game in the world series against the Dodgers on Oct.
8, 1953, along with a signed baseball to Roy from Don, sold for $2,500.
Two fabulous limited edition BB
guns in their original boxes with Numerous photos of Roy, Dale, Gabby (Hayes),
and Pat (Brady) sold for $3,750.
A collection of memorabilia from
his shows entertaining the troops in Vietnam sold for $938. I never knew he was
there.
His flight jacket sold for $7,500
His set of dinnerware plates and
silverware sold for $11,875.
The Bible they used at the dinner
table every night sold for $8,750.
One of several of his guitars
sold for $27,500.
Nellybelle (the Jeep) sold for
$116,500.
A fabulous painting of Roy, Dale,
Pat, Buttermilk, Trigger, and Bullet sold for $10,625.
One of several sets of movie
posters sold for $18,750.
A black and white photograph of
Gene Autry with a touching inscription From Gene to Roy sold for $17,500.
A Republic Productions Poster
bearing many autographs of the People that played in Roy's movies sold for
$11,875.
Dale's horse, Buttermilk (whose history
is very interesting) sold below the presale estimate for $25,000. (EST. $30-40
K).
Bullet (stuffed) sold for $35,000
(EST. $10-15 K). He was their real pet.
Dale's parade saddle, estimated
to sell between $20-30 K, sold for $104,500.
One of many pairs of Roy's boots
sold for $21,250.
Trigger (stuffed) sold for
$266,500.
Do you remember
the 1938 movie The Adventures of Robin Hood, with Errol Flynn and Olivia de
Havilland? Well, Olivia rode Trigger in that movie.
Trigger was
bred on a farm co-owned by Bing Crosby. Roy bought Trigger on a time payment
plan for $2,500.
Roy and Trigger made 188 movies together.
Trigger even
outdid Bob Hope by winning an Oscar in the movie Son of Paleface in 1953.
It is extremely
sad to see this era lost forever. Despite the fact that Gene and Roy's movies,
as well as those of other great characters, can be bought or rented for
viewing, today's kids would rather spend their time playing video games.
Today it takes
a very special pair of parents to raise their kids with the right values and
morals.
These were the
great heroes of our childhood, and they did teach us right from wrong, and how
to have and show respect for each other and the animals that share this earth.
You and I were
born at the right time. We were able to grow up with these great people even if
we never met them.
In their own
way they taught us patriotism and honor. We learned that lying and cheating
were bad, and that sex wasn't as important as love. We learned how to suffer
through disappointment and failure and work through it.
Our lives were
drug free.
So it's
good-bye to Roy and Dale, Gene and Hoppy (Hop-a-long Cassidy), the Lone Ranger
and Tonto.
Farewell to Sky
King (and Penny) and Superman and (Dragnet) Sgt. Friday.
Thanks to Capt.
Kangaroo, Mr. Rogers, and Capt. Noah and all those people whose lives touched
ours, and made them better.
It was a great ride through childhood
HAPPY TRAILS MY
FRIEND
