The Roy Rogers Show
Encyclopedia
The Roy Rogers Show is an American Western
television series that broadcast 100 episodes on NBC
for six seasons between December 30, 1951 and June 9, 1957. The show starred Roy Rogers as a ranch owner, Dale Evans
as the proprietor of the Eureka Cafe in fictional Mineral City, and Pat Brady
as Roy’s sidekick and Dale's cook. Brady's jeep Nellybelle had a mind of her own and often sped away driverless with Brady in frantic pursuit on foot. Animal stars were Roy's Palomino
horse, Trigger
and his German Shepherd wonder dog, Bullet.
The show was filmed at the Samuel Goldwyn Studio
, and originally sponsored by General Foods
(Post Cereals
, Jell-O
). The show's theme song, “Happy Trails
”, was written by Dale Evans and sung over the end credits by Rogers and Evans. The show received an Emmy nomination in 1955 for Best Western or Adventure Series. CBS
broadcast reruns for 3½ seasons on Saturday mornings four years after the show’s cancellation on NBC. Reruns aired in France in 1962. Reruns are currently being aired on RFD-TV.
Like Rogers’s films, the series featured traditional cowboys and cowgirls but worked contemporary touches such as automobiles, telephones, and electric lighting into the mix. Typical episodes followed the stars as they rescued the weak and helpless from the clutches of dishonest lawmen, claim jumpers, rustlers, and other "bad guys". The show was merchandised for the juvenile market with comic books, play sets, western costumes, and many other items made available.
Western (genre)
The Western is a genre of various visual arts, such as film, television, radio, literature, painting and others. Westerns are devoted to telling stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the American Old West, hence the name. Some Westerns are set as early as the Battle of...
television series that broadcast 100 episodes on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
for six seasons between December 30, 1951 and June 9, 1957. The show starred Roy Rogers as a ranch owner, Dale Evans
Dale Evans
Dale Evans, was an American writer, movie star, and singer-songwriter. She was the third wife of singing cowboy Roy Rogers.-Early life:...
as the proprietor of the Eureka Cafe in fictional Mineral City, and Pat Brady
Pat Brady
Pat Brady was best known as cowboy Roy Rogers' "comical sidekick." Pat's full name was Robert Ellsworth Patrick Aloysious O'Brady and this was shortened to "Bob Brady," although it is not known when the "O'" was dropped from "O'Brady."Born in Toledo, Ohio, Pat Brady first set foot on-stage at the...
as Roy’s sidekick and Dale's cook. Brady's jeep Nellybelle had a mind of her own and often sped away driverless with Brady in frantic pursuit on foot. Animal stars were Roy's Palomino
Palomino
Palomino is a coat color in horses, consisting of a gold coat and white mane and tail. Genetically, the palomino color is created by a single allele of a dilution gene called the cream gene working on a "red" base coat...
horse, Trigger
Trigger (horse)
Trigger was a palomino horse, made famous in American Western films with his owner/rider, cowboy star Roy Rogers.-Pedigree:...
and his German Shepherd wonder dog, Bullet.
The show was filmed at the Samuel Goldwyn Studio
Samuel Goldwyn Studio
Samuel Goldwyn Studio was the name that Samuel Goldwyn used to refer to the Pickford-Fairbanks Studios lot and the offices and stages that his company, Goldwyn Pictures, rented there during the 1920s and 1930s...
, and originally sponsored by General Foods
General Foods
General Foods Corporation was a company whose direct predecessor was established in the USA by Charles William Post as the Postum Cereal Company in 1895. The name General Foods was adopted in 1929, after several corporate acquisitions...
(Post Cereals
Post Cereals
Post Foods, LLC, also known as Post Cereals is a food company that was founded by C.W. Post in 1895 with the first Postum, a "cereal beverage," developed by Post in Battle Creek, Michigan. The first cereal, Grape-Nuts, was developed in 1897. Post has its headquarters in the Bank of America Plaza...
, Jell-O
Jell-O
Jell-O is a brand name belonging to U.S.-based Kraft Foods for a number of gelatin desserts, including fruit gels, puddings and no-bake cream pies. The brand's popularity has led to it being used as a generic term for gelatin dessert across the U.S. and Canada....
). The show's theme song, “Happy Trails
Happy Trails (song)
"Happy Trails," by Dale Evans Rogers, was the theme song for the 1940s and 1950s radio program and the 1950s television show starring Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Rogers, always sung over the end credits of the program. Happy Trails was released in 1952 as a 78 RPM and 45 RPM by Rogers and Evans with...
”, was written by Dale Evans and sung over the end credits by Rogers and Evans. The show received an Emmy nomination in 1955 for Best Western or Adventure Series. CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
broadcast reruns for 3½ seasons on Saturday mornings four years after the show’s cancellation on NBC. Reruns aired in France in 1962. Reruns are currently being aired on RFD-TV.
Like Rogers’s films, the series featured traditional cowboys and cowgirls but worked contemporary touches such as automobiles, telephones, and electric lighting into the mix. Typical episodes followed the stars as they rescued the weak and helpless from the clutches of dishonest lawmen, claim jumpers, rustlers, and other "bad guys". The show was merchandised for the juvenile market with comic books, play sets, western costumes, and many other items made available.