The "Happy Trails to You" Story

LDub in his Roy Rodgers outfit

It was an ordinary day.  The end of an era, since The Roy Rodgers Museum in Branson, MO has closed its doors forever.  Actually the end of an era for quite a few of us who remember the cowboys and cowgirls of yesteryear.  Gene Autrey, Cisco Kid, The Lone Ranger and Tonto, Sky King, Hopp-a-long Cassidy, and Roy and Dale Rogers.  I'm sure you could add a few to the list, but I think you get the idea of the era I'm referring to.  It is extremely sad to see the era lost forever to video games and violent movies.  But, I guess you could make a case for the cowboy era as being as violent as the current era.  These were the great heroes of my childhood who I tried to simulate over and over again when I played cowboys with my friends in the neighborhood.  They actually taught morals and made it easier for parents to raise their kids.  I guess I was born at the right time when honor and patriotism were taught by TV heroes and I was able to learn that lying and cheating were bad.  Learned how to suffer through disappointment and failure and work through it with my heroes and my life was drug free.  Oh, for the good ole days.  The Museum I mentioned was closed and the contents sold, since the museum was starting to operate at a loss and Roy told his son if that ever was the case, close it.  Some of the items sold were Roy's 1964 Pontiac Bonneville with the horns coming out of the grill ($254,500), Roy's script book from the January 14, 1953 episode of "This Is Your Life" ($10,000), Trigger's saddle and bridle ($386,000), one of Roy's shirts ($16,250), one of his cowboy hats ($17,500), a set of Roy's boot spurs ($10,625), a signed baseball from Don Larsen to Roy from Don's perfect World Series Game in 1953 ($2,500), Roy and Dale's dinner ware and silverware ($11,875), the Bible they used at dinner every night ($8,750), one of Roy's guitars ($27,500), "Nellybell," the Jeep seen on his shows ($116,500), painting of Roy, Dale, Pat, Buttermilk, Trigger and Bullet ($10,625), a black and white photo of Gene Autry to Roy from Gene ($18,750), stuffed horse Buttermilk which was Dale's horse ($25,000), stuffed Bullet ($35,000), Dale's parade saddle ($104,500), pair of Roy's cowboy boots ($21,250) and a stuffed Trigger ($266,500).  Yep, certainly a sad day for all of us who have only the memories to hold onto anymore.  It was a great ride through our childhood, wasn't it.  HAPPY TRAILS MY FRIENDS.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

Roy Roger's Museum in Branson, MO

Roy's Pontiac Bonneville

Signed photo of Roy and Trigger

Nellybelle which appeared in many of the Roy Roger's shows.