“A little song, a little riding, a little shooting and a girl to be saved from hazard” was how a Christian Science Monitor writer once described The Roy Rogers Show. The program was first broadcast in 1944 on the Mutual Network, and switched between that and NBC over the decade it was on the air. The show was originally sponsored by the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, and later Miles Laboratories, Quaker Oats, Post Toasties and Dodge automobiles financed this popular evening western adventure.
Roy Rogers, the “King of the Cowboys” in the movies, was the star. Naturally, his iconic steed Trigger played a big role on the series, as did Roy’s group the Sons of the Pioneers, who originally provided the vocal music along with Roy and the lovely Pat Friday. A year later, Roy’s new wife and co-star Dale Evans joined the program (along with her horse Buttermilk), as did the Riders of the Purple Sage and Foy Willing. Roy’s comical sidekicks included former Sons of the Pioneers member Pat Brady and the legendary Gabby Hayes, as well as Forrest Lewis, who portrayed the wisest trail scout of them all, Jonah Wilde.
Here are several Roy Rogers episode that you can enjoy listening to right now. You can find the link to download the entire Roy Rogers radio show collection below the playlist.
The show was transcribed from the outset, as Roy’s contractual obligations precluded him from performing live. The program’s original opening theme was “It’s Round-Up Time on the Double-R-Bar”, which was also the name of Roy’s fictional ranch in Paradise Valley on the series. This was later supplanted by the famous “Happy Trails” song, written by Dale Evans. Roy would often close the show, in reference to his Christian beliefs, with the phrase “Goodbye, good luck, and may the good Lord take a likin’ to ya. ”
The information in this synopsis was culled from Radio’s Golden Age by Vincent Terrace and On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio by John Dunning.
NOTE: This Updated Release Includes~
Added episodes and upgraded sound; added audio biography for Roy Rogers.
This huge collection of Roy Rogers radio shows will make a great gift for that special someone that loves family friendly radio or enjoys good radio theater entertaiment from the golden age of radio. This is also great entertainment for those commutes to work or on trips with your family or by yourself.
The shows audio files are in MP3 format.
Don’t miss your chance to own this rare collection of radio history now. More than 80 episodes with many extras.
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Attributions: Much thanks to the radio researchers groups and radio lovers everywhere for their help in preserving this valuable history.
