CLASSIC VIDEO SHOWPLACE: The Roy Rogers TV Show

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For over a hundred years some of the greatest video treasures of all time have been produced. Some have been lost in the sands of time and others, soon to be rediscovered, will become fan favorites for a whole new generation.

 Each week we will feature just one of the many hidden gems that you can see on RCN TV with insights and commentaries on classic television shows and legendary cinematic performances.

Name the star of his own television show that also starred in over a hundred films, recorded scores of popular songs, was voted the most popular western star for 12 years in a row and lent his name to a popular fast food chain.

The answer?

Len Slye.

Better known as Roy Rogers, his shows and movies became a favorite local stop for fans of all ages.  

A few months ago here at the Showplace, we examined Rogers early movies in great detail. But Roy’s TV career also had a different kind of success on its own.

Joining Roy and his wife, Dale Evans,  for the television series was a rotating group of popular sidekicks:  his trusty horse Trigger and his loyal dog, Bullet.  Those and other TV show friends featured many of these same characters throughout the series’ run in helping Roy in fighting lawlessness in the Ol’ West, with enough time left over for some humor and usually a song or two.

The origin of the TV show actually has an interesting story attached to it. According to RoyRogersWorld.com, Rogers approached his film studio Republic Films and asked to do a TV show. The movie company refused, indicating that television was only going to be a passing fad. 

Rogers, however, learned that Republic was secretly trying to make their own deal to sell Rogers to a TV network. Roy realized that he had a clause in his contract with the film studio that denied them the ability to use his likeness for any other media outlet.  This clause allowed him to strike his own deal with NBC without involving Republic and denying them any financial profit of his show.

In addition to being one of the most popular Western television shows of the era, The Roy Rogers Show stood apart from other westerns in that it often taught a moral lesson while addressing contemporary issues that were almost ahead of their time, like environmentalism, saving natural resources and taking proper steps for gun safety.

Another unique aspect of the show is that, while set in the late 19th and early 20th century, it had “modern day” technologies like automobiles (including sidekick Pat Brady’s sometimes “riderless” Jeep, “Nannybelle”), electricity, more sophisticated guns and other inventions that didn’t exist in the “typical” western era but we’re devices commonly used in the time period of when the shows aired.

The show ran for six seasons on network television and received an Emmy nomination for Best Western or adventure series in 1955, and several times finished its seasons and the Top 30 show, according to the Nielsen ratings historical records.

When the show ended its network run on NBC, the program was picked up by CBS, who ran reruns of the show for several more years.  It remained popular through syndication avenues for the next three years, then became a popular Saturday morning staple with children for the next generation in the 1960s.

Rogers himself remained popular through various guest appearances in television over the next several decades and was even featured in a 1990s country music video with Clint Black.

And did you know that Roy’s trademark song “Happy Trails” was actually written by his wife/co-star, Dale Evans? On the TV show you can hear her sing the duet with her husband on almost every episode.

Tune in and set your DVRs for The Roy Rogers Show every Friday morning at 11am on RCN-TV.  Also, catch a special Roy Rogers movie marathon starting this Monday at 9 am.

To see the full listing of classic programming on RCN TV, check out the weekly listings here on our website.