Roy Rogers Museum Auction Includes Trigger, Nellybelle

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
Jun 14th 2010 at 9:01PM

Last month I wrote about the auction of Roy Rogers' mineral collection and I wondered where the rest of the contents of the Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Museum would end up. It will be auctioned off by Christie's on July 14 and 15 in association with High Noon Western Americana. The museum was closed last year and the auction will include everything from saddles, personal photos, awards to the famous Nellybelle jeep from the 1950s TV Show and even the horse Trigger. A press release notes that High Noon Western Americana, in conjunction with the Rogers family, did try to place Trigger, another horse Buttermilk and the Rogers' dog Bullet with a national museum but found that because of the recession museums did not have funds available to expand their permanent collections.

The Roy Rogers Personal Firearms & Hunting Collections will be sold at Brian Lebel's Old West Auction at the Denver Merchandise Mart on June 25-27. Roy's firearms will be sold including his very first belt and double holster rig. his gold-plated 101 Ranch revolvers, the shotgun he bought off Clark Gable, and one of Dale Evans' only guns, a pearl handled Colt. The collection includes antique, modern and commemorative firearms. Artifacts supporting Roy's avid hunting interests will be offered including his favorite hunting hat as well as his 1964 Lincoln Continental convertible and the last motorcycle he owned before retiring from riding, a 1982 V45 Honda, driven only 2,000 miles will also be sold at this auction.

UPDATE: A Nebraska cable TV network, RFD-TV paid $266,500 for Trigger, at the auction.The company's owner, Patrick Gottsch, was interested in buying the whole Roy Rogers collection but found out about the auction too late to get a deal together. RFD-TV is looking to put a Western museum together but until then Trigger will likely find a home either in the office lobby or in Gottsch's home.

Tags: dale evans, nellybelle, roy rogers, roy rogers museum, trigger, western memorabilia

Filed under: Auctions

Subscribe to these comments

Reader Comments (Page 4 of 7)

David S. Jun 15th 2010 5:01PM

I'm guessing the family is selling off this stuff because the generations who appreciated Roy Rogers and Dale Evans are passing away and there is little interest in it. The last few generations have no interest in this stuff, and likely don't know much about who these people are. Same reason when farmers die off their children sell the family farm to developers. They don't want to deal with it. Indeed, if there is no money in it, why should they?

Ivory Bates Jun 15th 2010 5:34PM

I grew up with Roy and Dale. Kinder folks you'll never meet. Great role models. All that was great about America has and is being destroyed by the anti "so called" americans. They think they have a better way. I spent much time in the USSR ......The fools have no idea what thier headed for. Eliminate all that was good and wholesome , preach, protest & teach lies...control......make right wrong and wrong right, than when you've torn down the basis of this great nation. Call up your maos, stalins, pol pots and hitlers to reform and reeducate the masses. Than you fools, they'll eliminate you!

Carol Jun 15th 2010 5:34PM

Please, these horses were a part of history. I hope the Smithsonian buys them. I would love to visit them in washington DC. Don't they have a wax museum there also? These children should think of how their parents made all of that money they are leaving them and be respectful of what Roy and Dale would have wanted. I agree the best thing would be for the animals to be cremated and buried with their owners.

Billy Starr Jun 15th 2010 5:58PM

I'm really heart broken I'm from N Y and while visiting L V I drove to Calif to see the meseum With my daughter She could not believe how happy I was ..... It was wonderful to see all thoese things I remembered from the T V show Made me feel like a kid again. Is there nobody with Money who would buy them and donate them to the Smithsonian ..... Please .......... I don't want to see them go and I will try and keep an eye on what hgappens to them .................... My Heart is crying

WSTARHOPPER Jun 15th 2010 6:01PM

How sad. I got to talk to Roy Rogers on the phone one time and thank him for all of the wonderful memories he and Dale gave me growing up. They were both American icons. What a sad ending.

rogers fordge Jun 15th 2010 6:10PM

I wish they would put all of the old reruns on tv again and show the kids of today. I doubt all of the kids would enjoy it but there would be some that might. Roy Rogers, The Cisco Kid, Rin Tin Tin, Lassie, Mr. Ed, Fury, and I'm sure I missed a few. I would love to see some of these shows again on regular tv not just cable.

I hope they keep the animals together.

sue Jun 15th 2010 6:19PM

When my brothers, sister and I were very small kids, we used to get up early on Saturdays to watch "Kids Only." Whoever was the first one up would run around yelling: "Kids Only is on!!" "Kids Only is on!!" They always showed westerns, many of which were of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. Of course, there was also the regular Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Show. We really enjoyed those wonderful old westerns! I guess I can understand the museum failing for lack of interest (and poor economy). Why WOULD the young kids of today want to go to a Roy Rogers museum? Still, it's a shame old Trigger, Buttermilk, and Bullet can't somehow be kept together. I agree with some of the other posters: as a last resort, cremate them and scatter over Roy and Dale.

Angi Jun 15th 2010 6:20PM

wasnt 'nellybelle' Pat Brady's JEEP???

Mary Scirdinsky Jun 15th 2010 6:34PM

Visited the Rogers Museum when it was in Apple Valley, Ca. Dusty brought it to Branson, Mo. My neice is a nuse in Apple Valley and she took care of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans when they both had hospitals stays. She was on duty when Roy died, but Dale died in a hospital in LA I believe. Or somewhere around Chatsworth, thats where the the Double R Bar ranch was when they did the TV show.

thghstridr Jun 16th 2010 1:33PM

This is a down right shame that this is happening

Van Worman Jun 15th 2010 6:48PM

Pat Brady was a genuine war hero in WW2. Nellybelle should be enshrined with other armor, since Pat was a tanker.
Who knows that David Niven went to Sandhurst, and when the war broke out, he bailed Hollywood and went back in service for Britain? It was his duty, and he did it.
Most Hollywood maggots these days only care about the money.

Pat Jun 15th 2010 6:52PM

How sad this story is. I can still hear them singing " Happy Trails to you".

zackisculinary Jun 16th 2010 12:38AM

As a child growning up in Chapel Hill, NC I watched every Black and white TV segment with Roy, Dale, Trigger, Bullet, Nelly Bell and sang along with "Happy Trails to you, until we meet again." At age 6 year old, Roy was my first crush. All I had to do was get rid of Dale! Daddy used to tease me and tell me that Roy was a "Dottle Bug" and lived in a little hole in the ground...Searched bug holes, but never found him!...I followed Roy and Dale through the passing of a child, Robin and respected their faith and contributions to so many...Did hear that the kids wanted to have the museum kept intact, reached for some prominent actors who could have made a difference. I hope that someone has the vision to keep as much memorabilia together and a sunset forever for Roy and Dale.

Mary Scirdinsky Jun 15th 2010 7:46PM

I was in High School when Dodie died. In English class we had to read a book and write about it. I chose Dale's book Angel Unaware. It took Robin from when they got her to her death. It was very sad reading. When it was my turn to read my report I had all the girls in the class, crying. Some went to the Library and got the book out to read. If you are a very emotional person and want to read this book have alot of hankies and tissues on hand. It is well worth reading tho.

CAV44 Jun 15th 2010 7:08PM

Met Roy Rogers a couple of times, Great guy! The fact that RR Jr. would sell off his families history and heritage doesn't say much for his character or integrity as far as I'm concerned. There are enough kid's in that family, (adopted) that together, could afford to at least store their family history untill other arrangements were made. Obviously their memories of their parents, aren't as fond as mine.

Larry Jun 15th 2010 7:06PM

I remember when I was stationed in Victorville. I remember going to the Apple Valley Inn and seeing the polar bear roy killed standing on its hind legs at the entrance to the lobby. Seems like trigger was on the other side.

From Victorville to Apple Vallry Inn you had to pass Roy and Dale's home.

I saw Roy one time while putting on a charity event for Victorville Community College in the house on the hill behind the Inn. I always thought it was neat how the mountain top came through the living room floor and the swimming pool that was 1/2 in the living room and 1/2 outside next to the putting green.
as far as I know Roy never lived up on the hill.

I remember seeing some of those old (pre-1938) movies he was in under his real name of Leonard Slye.

Diana Jun 15th 2010 7:08PM

ok i have one for you people,
who was the first one to drive the jeep (nellybelle) in Roy Rogers.

warmhrt195 Jun 15th 2010 7:07PM

directed at Rostrom........Dusty dies in Germany many, many years ago. He was stationed with the Army at the time. He vomited in his sleep and inhaled it. He was the oldest of the children. I too would love to have some of the items, but don't have the funds to bid. I would think that the Smithsonian would want some items along with items from Cassidy and Autry. It saddens me to read the article

Mary Scirdinsky Jun 15th 2010 7:26PM

It wasn't Dusty who died, it was a younger brother Rusty I believe that was in the Army. Dusty ( Roy Jr.) was the one who ran the Museum in Ca and then took it to Branson. They also lost a little girl who was killed in a bus accident, she was with a church group on way back from an outing.

Sally Jun 16th 2010 12:03AM

Dusty did not die in Germany. It was their adopted son,m Sandy who died in Germany. Dusty is Roy's natural son with his first wife, Arlene, who hemoraged after the baby was born and died.
Dusty is very much alive and well.

Previous 20 Comments | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Most Recent | Next 20 Comments