The studio wanted to find Roy Rogers a strong and noble steed that would compliment him in his leading role, as a populist singing cowboy who helps a group of ranchers get their water rights back, during the Dust Bowl of the ‘30s. In order to find the right horse, Republic Pictures studio gave the lead actor a choice between five rented horses that were lined up for him. Rogers immediately knew which one would be the perfect sidekick for him, and picked a yellow-haired palomino stallion, whose name was Golden Cloud. In fact, Rogers loved the steed so much that he decided to buy it just a few years later.
Everything about this beautiful and powerful steed was perfect, except one thing – his name. Rogers felt Golden Cloud just didn’t get across his uniqueness and talents properly, so he changed his name to the now iconic name, Trigger. The horse was already a veteran in the western film industry, and even appeared in The Adventures of Robin Hood, as the mount of actress Olivia de Havilland’s.
First Steps Into Fame
While The Rocky Mountaineers traveled New Mexico and Arizona, Leonard Slye became good friends with the other members of the band, Bob Nolan and Tim Spencer. Eventually, the group disbanded, but the friends remained close and decided to start a new group called “The Pioneers Trio”. Tim Spencer was the lead singer of the group, Bob Nolan played the bass, and Slye was the guitarist. In addition to Nolan and Slye playing the instruments, both of them also helped Spencer with vocal harmonies.
In 1934, the group expanded by adding Hug Farr, the fourth member of the group, with his signature bassy voice. When the group began appearing on radio, they were referred to as “Sons of the Pioneers”, probably because they were found to be too young to be actual pioneers of anything. The name was loved by both the band’s members and its fans, leading to them officially adopting the new name. The Sons of the Pioneers were quite popular and their fans in the US kept asking for more.
How Leonard Became Roy Rogers
In 1935, popular cowboy actor, Gene Autry, was set to appear in a western film. Like many cowboy movies in the ‘30s, Republic Pictures studio, which produced, the film wanted to hire the charismatic, manly, horse riding Autry, who could also sing and dance. The actor was very popular at the time and began asking for more and more money, until the studio eventually said “enough”, and started looking for a new singing cowboy that would not be as expensive. When Leonard Slye saw the opportunity, he immediately auditioned for the part.
Out of the many cowboys that auditioned for the part, Slye was chosen as the lead actor in the film, in part due to his charisma, charming smile and variety of talents. When the film, called 'Under Western Stars', was finally released, Leonard Slye’s name was changed in the credits to Roy Rogers. The name was inspired by combining the popular western first name, Roy, with the family name of the popular western comic, Will Rogers.
Trigger’s Incredible Talents
Roy Rogers made one of the best decisions of his life when he picked his steed. Trigger was born in 1934 and was 1.6 meters long. The famous horse knew about 150 trick cues, and according to Rogers' friends, was able to walk 50 feet on his hind legs. Trigger's other skills included sitting in a chair, signing his name "X" with a pencil and even lying down for a nap (including covering himself with a blanket).
Despite his incredible personality and entertaining tricks, Trigger had one Achilles heel that could ruin every performance he did — the steed was a huge attention lover and would bow for his audience every time he heard applause, even if he heard it during a trick. One of the horse's most impressive abilities turned out to be exceptionally useful throughout its long career, which involved traveling to hotels, theaters and more. The horse was able to hold his needs while indoors!
Roger’s Tragic First Love
Rogers was truly a traditional and loving man. The singer-actor was always searching for the woman he could commit to and marry (despite living in California, which was always identified with a more open romantic lifestyle). While performing in Roswell, New Mexico, Roy received a call from Grace Arlene Wilkins, who promised him that if he sang her "The Swiss Yodel", she would bake him a pie. This cute comment turned into a loving relationship, and the couple got married three years later, in 1936.
Rogers and Arlene adopted their first daughter, Cheryl Darlene. A few years later, Arlene gave birth to their second daughter, Linda Lou, in 1943. She was then pregnant with their third child, a boy named Ray Jr (Dusty), but Arlene did not make the journey with him and unfortunately died during childbirth due to complications, in 1946. Rogers was heartbroken by his wife’s passing, but continued to provide and take care of his children on his own.