The end of an era

[oldbuddy]

The young guns may not understand the meaning of this, but you might.  The Roy  Rogers  Museum in Branson, MO has closed its doors forever. The contents of the museum were sold at a public auction. 

Roy Rogers told his son, if the museum ever operates at a loss, close it, and sell the contents.

He complied.
 
Here is a partial listing of some of the items that were sold at auction:
 
Roy's 1964 Bonneville (Pontiac) 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.
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)
 
His flight jacket sold for $7,500
 
His set of dinnerware 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 (the Jeep) sold for $116,500.
 
Bullet (stuffed) 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 (stuffed) sold for $266,500.
 
 
Do you remember the 1938 movie The Adventures of Robinhood, 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 outdid 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 that sex wasn't as important as love. We learned how to suffer through disappointment and failure and work through it.  Our lives were drug free.
 
So it's good-bye to Roy and Dale, Gene and Hoppy (Hop-a-long Cassidy), the Lone Ranger and Tonto.  Farewell to Sky King (and Penny)and Superman and (Dragnet) 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.
 
 Happy Trails My Friends. 

P.S. Don 't show this to anyone under 50.... they won't understand!

[ghunter]

Never hear of the store,  maybe because they did not have one in Georgia

[UGetPaid]

<Under 50 here, but I do understand     
More from second hand stories of those greats from my dad than first hand exposure.

[hitch0403]

Not sure why they waited so long.....$$$$$$$$$$$

I wasnt a fan in case some cant understand.

I was more into The 3 Stooges,Superman and cartoons cos i am from that era.

[hkckk5]

Thanks for posting this. It was a delight to read although I hate to see the museum close its doors. I never got to go there but my dad did and he always said we should go. However, we never made it there. Now I can't. My loss!!

[Nancy5]

Thank you for the post.  I remember Roy Rogers and Dale Evans very well.  Love the Lone Ranger and the Texas Rangers.  I remember most of the shows you said.  We grew up in a different era than now and I'm glad I did.  Like you said, we learned values and manners.  The only time we stayed in the house was pouring rain, or heavy snow, and couldn't wait until they stopped so we could go out.  We didn't sit in front of a computer playing games all day.  Things really were different then.

[bshee58]

I love all of his shows, the jeep, Trigger, he made awesome shows.

[catchow]

Awesome post thank you My mother was here visiting and I read it to her, towards the end my voice got a little shaky. My mother watched and still does these shows when she can find them on tv. So she enjoyed this post as well. She was sad as she just told me she always wanted to visit the museum but never made the time to. And now she cant.

My aunt and her boyfriend did go see the museum and even got their pictures taken with Dale, I cant even recall how many years ago that was. But I remember seeing the pictures

[alina6]

Thank you - I am on the border of all that - big captain kangaroo fan!!!

[heypeg]

Sad that this has happened but the prices are unbelievable.

[sdenimandlace1]

I never got to go, wish I had made time for it.

[linderlizzie]

The young guns may not understand the meaning of this, but you might.  The Roy  Rogers  Museum in Branson, MO has closed its doors forever. The contents of the museum were sold at a public auction. 

Roy Rogers told his son, if the museum ever operates at a loss, close it, and sell the contents.

He complied.
 
Here is a partial listing of some of the items that were sold at auction:
 
Roy's 1964 Bonneville (Pontiac) 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.
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)
 
His flight jacket sold for $7,500
 
His set of dinnerware 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 (the Jeep) sold for $116,500.
 
Bullet (stuffed) 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 (stuffed) sold for $266,500.
 
 
Do you remember the 1938 movie The Adventures of Robinhood, 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 outdid 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 that sex wasn't as important as love. We learned how to suffer through disappointment and failure and work through it.  Our lives were drug free.
 
So it's good-bye to Roy and Dale, Gene and Hoppy (Hop-a-long Cassidy), the Lone Ranger and Tonto.  Farewell to Sky King (and Penny)and Superman and (Dragnet) 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.
 
 Happy Trails My Friends. 

P.S. Don 't show this to anyone under 50.... they won't understand!

When people review the old television programs, such as the ones you mentioned as well as others such as Father Knows Best, the Rifleman, Andy Griffith Show, etc., they call them maudlin and sexist and other demeaning things.

They were wonderful to watch. You could learn values as well as ways to handle difficult situations and to give everyone respect instead of sarcastic comments. 

It is truly the end of an era as your post states. Thanks for the memories!

[sbenkoski]

I love all of his shows, and now all they  have is junk to watch.

[oldbuddy]

Never hear of the store,  maybe because they did not have one in Georgia

There was only one in the whole world and now there will never be another.

[madeara]

I am sorry the museum is closing.  It truly is the end of an era.  Roy Rogers was a legend.