Roy Rogers Museum Closed Forever

A bit of nostalgia.


The Roy Rogers Museum has closed  its doors forever.  Here is a partial listing of some  of the items that were sold at auction. Roy  's 1964 Bonneville 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  (est. 100-150 K)

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. They are 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, 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 dinner ware 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 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 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  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 out did 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 sex wasn't as  important as love.  We learned how to suffer through  disappointment and failure and work through it.  So it's  good-bye to Roy and Dale, Gene and Hoppy, The Lone Ranger  and Tonto.  Farewell to Sky King and Superman and 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.
THOSE WERE THE DAYS, MY  FRIENDS!
A time in  history, never to be seen again, but what a ride it  was...HAPPY TRAILS TO YOU!