Roy Rogers, 'The King of the Cowboys', auctions at Christie's

Christie's is auctioning a remarkable collection from the Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Museum on July 14 and 15, in association with High Noon Western Americana.

The Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Museum of Branson, Missouri, US closed its doors last autumn after over 40 years of celebrating one of the most popular cowboys and cowgirls the world has ever known.


Roy Rogers and Dale Evans

The auction will include over 300 iconic lots from suits by Nudie the Rodeo Tailor, saddles, personal photos, awards, the famous Nellybelle jeep from the 1950s TV Show, to arguably the most famous horse of all time, Trigger.

This historic sale will pay tribute to Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, who'll always be renowned for their wholesome and caring treatment of their family, friends, and fans.

Nicknamed "The King of the Cowboys," Roy Rogers - born Leonard Franklin Slye - remains an enduring icon of American culture.

A two-time inductee into Nashville's Country Music Hall of Fame, Roy Rogers along with The Sons of the Pioneers had a syndicated radio show, and recorded 32 songs for Decca Records before going on to appear in over 100 films and star in the television hit The Roy Rogers Show.

Nicknamed "Queen of the West," Dale Evans, married Roy Rogers in 1947 and starred alongside her husband in The Roy Rogers Show from 1951 to 1957.


Trigger, mounted in his iconic rearing position on two legs

In addition to her successful TV shows, more than 30 films and some two hundred songs, Evans wrote the well-known song "Happy Trails." Role models and heroes to boys and girls, men and women, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans will live on in the hearts and memories of many.

Just as iconic to the show's fans was Trigger - an integral part of Roy's life both on and off the stage throughout the years. Together, they performed all over the country during World War II, raising millions in the sale of bonds to aid the war effort.

It was also Trigger that gave Roy his legs as he proposed to Dale Evans in Chicago during a performance. The horse died, aged 30, from old age on July 3, 1965, just one day before his 31st birthday.

Inspired by the animals on display in the Smithsonian, Rogers decided to have Trigger mounted in his iconic rearing position on two legs and put on display at the Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Museum.


Roy's heavily customised iconic 1964 Pontiac Bonneville Convertible

Undeniably one of the most memorable horses that ever lived, the mount of Trigger will appear in Christie's sale estimated at $100,000-200,000.

Also appearing is Roy's Bonneville - originally a stock 1964 Pontiac Bonneville Convertible from which all traces of the original interior material and carpeting were removed, replacing it with exquisitely hand-tooled leather.

Then came the application of hundreds of genuine collectible silver dollars, along with chrome-plated pistols, horseshoes, miniature horses and rifles. It iconic car will auction priced $100,000- 150,000.

 

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