Roy Rogers & Dale Evans
They were a good Christian couple that adopted several children, some with handicaps. After retiring, they created a museum in Branson, Missouri. Roy told his son that if the museum ever operates at a loss, close it and sell the contents at auction. His son complied!
The Roy Rogers Museum in Branson, Missouri, closed its doors forever. December 12, 2009
The contents of the museum were sold at a public auction.
Below is a partial listing of some of the items that were sold at auction.
His script book from the January 14,1953 episode of This Is Your Life sold for $10,000.
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.
A life size shooting gallery sold for $27,500.
Various chandeliers sold from $6,875 to $20,000.
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, and Pat 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.
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.
Trigger was bred on a farm co-owned by Bing Crosby and was purchased for $2,500.00 on a time payment plan. Roy and Trigger made 188 movies together. 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.
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 Autry and Hopalong Cassidy...the Lone Ranger and Tonto.
Farewell to Sky King and Superman and Sgt. Friday. Thanks to Captain Kangaroo...Mister Rogers... and Captain Noah and all those people whose lives touched ours and made them better.
It was a great ride through childhood.
HAPPY TRAILS MY FRIENDS
