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

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Reader Comments (Page 5 of 7)

Tyler Jun 15th 2010 7:12PM

What happened to Trigger Jr? I didnt see him mentioned. I loved visiting the museum here in Calif. I got to go everytime the family would visit Vegas. Dad always got a speeding ticket coming back through Victorville and we would stop by the museum on the way to the courthouse.

Diana Jun 15th 2010 7:11PM

ok and again who was the first person to drive the jeep in Roy Rogers

Nam Vet Jun 15th 2010 7:22PM

How sad to see this piece of our child hood memories being sold. Myself with thousand of other boys and girls loved to watch Roy Rodgers and Dale Evens in the afternoon matinee's at the show. Many of us had Roy or Dale cowboy or cow boy outfits that we played with, Along with neat cap guns. Kids can't do that now. It you asked a teenager or younger person who Roy Rodgers or Dale Evens, Trigger, Buttermilk or Nellie Bell are the would look at you and say "WHO?"
Roy Rodgers was always the "Good Guy" he never lied, cheated or was bad in any way. We patterened ourselves after his image. I hope that where ever the pieces from the museum go that are with people who will love them for what they are and what they represent.

Nancy Peterson Jun 15th 2010 7:55PM

What are they thinking? Are they crazy? You don't sell anything from Roy Rogers Museum, ever. When I was a child I fell in love with Roy and Trigger. I must confess that I didn't care much for Dale. After all, it was Roy I loved. Kids! I just cant believe they are doing this. I hope someone with some dollars and sense comes along and buys it all. When my children were small we made a stop at the museum. When I saw Trigger I broke down and cried. How dare they!!!!!!

Randall Jun 15th 2010 7:35PM

I agree - Roy & Dale were Icons as was Trigger. Why on Earth would the family do this? Trigger, Trigger Jr, Bullit and Buttermilk should have peace - bury them next to Roy & Dale. What has happened? The kids need money that bad?

lakotathunder49 Jun 16th 2010 1:43AM

Geez! Get a life people! Stop blaming Roy's heirs. They did their best! Probably went broke trying to protect it too. They have been an active part of and very respectful to their parent's memories and memorabillia. If what some of thes other bloggers have said is true, blame the Taxman and the Economy! Theatres are closing in Branson and Nashville. Folks who where hard working, tax-paying, law abiding citizen's are losing their homes and their retirement thanks to Wall Street and Fed Greed and mismanagement. I love this stuff (the memorbillia). I too, think it should be in a Museum. However, do you know how much of the Smithsonian's collection is stored and archived, never to be seen? Hey isn't "the Ark of the Covenant" lost in there? Oh wait that was just Indiana Jones, never mind. Crying over poor Trigger being stuffed?
Come on people. He's dead, beyond any pain, humiliation or hoof bunions from standing around so long. He's dead. An ex-palamino! The movies and the taxidermy immortalized him. My only complaint is they did a lousy job on his nose. Needs more stuffing and flair the nostrils, please. Maybe show some of those big beautiful horseteeth? After all he was a handsome, great looking horse! I'd love to stuff my horse and me on him when we go! Right now I just stuff them with hay and feed!

jean Jun 15th 2010 7:52PM

I think it is a shame That the government is taking taxes out now.Look how much Roy paid in.All thoses children they took in.Looks like they could come up with some way to hold on to what there daddy treasured.
Jean

tootbuc1939 Jun 15th 2010 8:02PM

I cannot believe all this. How can they just treat these precious memories like so much trash. What is wrong with this picture. Please, someone come up and donate all these items to a museum or finance the museum they are in. I agree they all belong in the Smithsonian. Please, Trigger, Bullet, oh my God, I hope someone can do something and keep them together where they belong. These so called stars that get millions to make a stupid movie, how bout donating some of that loot and save this collection. Please!

OLDERBLUE Jun 15th 2010 8:06PM

Did anyone try to get Benny Hinn or The Crouches or any of those other guys and gals to bring them back to life..?? I mean Dale and Roy were such great contributers to those lovely folks.. Seems they should have gotten somethng out of it... You think..?? no..?? just a thought.

cnasfan Jun 15th 2010 8:31PM

This is probably stupid but, I wonder if they approached the Smithsonian Museum about adding it to their collection?

along1951 Jun 15th 2010 8:33PM

This is so sad, a part of my childhood. I am so happy my husband and I visited the Roy Rogers Museum back in the 1990s when it was still intact and located in Victorville, CA where Roy and Dale started it. We had a very enjoyable time spent wondering through the small museum and remembering our childhood spent at the Saturday movies or watching the show on TV. Happy trails to you, until we meet again....................

Michigan Reader

Linda Jun 15th 2010 8:52PM

WHAT A SHAME THE SMITHSONIAN DOESN'T TAKE HIM. HE WAS WORLD FAMOUS. MORE FAMOUS THAN SOME OF THE CRAP THAT IS IN THERE NOW.

collector12 Jun 15th 2010 9:23PM

There was large article in our paper, I am near Branson, MO, when Dusty made decision to close museum.

Basically it simply was no longer financially able to support itself. Attendance at museum had gotten lower and lower as Roy's fans aged & due to the economy the family had made the decision to close and sell per Roy's wishes.

MrDoughnut Jun 15th 2010 9:28PM

What a shame Roy and Dale made all that history and now the Museum is gone. It is almost like a cancelled show. Seems they were popular to folks who have got old themselves an passed on.

The population of immigrants coming here have no history of cowboys or of Native Americans and they don't care about our country just our jobs.

Dan Jun 15th 2010 9:44PM

Years ago Roy said he wanted to be preserved and mounted on Trigger when he died but that request was not honored. It would've been most bizarre.

carrolldebi Jun 15th 2010 10:09PM

If Clint Black plays Roy in a biopic like they're talking, that would bring Roy Rogers and Dale Evans popularity to a whole new generation. I'm a little too young to remember the show and Roys music, but hasn't everyone heard of Roy and Dale? And as far as the creepyness of stuffing their horses, it was the 50 and 60's. The only politically correct thing at the time was eating dinner as a family every night. They represent all the things that were right in America. The Smithsonian has an obligation to include Roy Rogers and Dale Evans as part of our American history. And the family should be donating every speck of their museum. What's creepy is some weirdo buying Trigger and keeping him his living room for a conversation piece. To the Rogers family, get a conscience and do the right thing.

robert Jun 20th 2010 9:46PM

word purina ring a bell.

linda Jun 15th 2010 10:42PM

There isn't the interest in cowboys, guitars, lovesongs and square dancing like there was with us "baby boomers". We grew up in that era. Today, kids want the latest IPod, and the newest technology they can find on the market to keep their interest.
Unfortunately, the museum in Victorville, Ca is long gone along with the Rogers family idea to make a large entertainment center there. Victorville gave in to new auto dealers as void of customers as the vacant lot across the street from them.
The drive that circled the museum is now a bee-line straight to the courthouse from Roy Rogers Drive. Somehow, Honda and the other dealers do not have the same embiance and esthetic value that the museum did.
The museum prior to Victorville in neighboring Apple Valley, became a bowling alley. The fort-like exterior gave way to brick and the "ugliest color contest" paint job one can ever imagine.
And so time marches on into the cold, electronic sunset. If Dusty is reading this, I am sad to hear the Branson museum is closed as well.
---Sign Language Interpreter, Victorville

carrolldebi Jun 15th 2010 11:02PM

But the whole point of a museum is to bring artifacs that were relevent at one time to a new generation that can learn from them. Maybe not my generation embraces memories of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, but I think we have an obligation to preserve history that was important to many, many people of their generation and pay homage to them. I agree, today everything is instant and in the moment, but I just hate to see the Smithsonian ignore the importance of that whole period of television. I've seen what's in that museum, and to say they aren't interested is shameful considering what's there.

James Nathan Post Jun 15th 2010 10:41PM

Considering that Ronald Reagan was also mummified, stuffed, and mounted behind his desk for the last two years of his administration, maybe there is a museum where they could be together again. I saw him on TV on that Ghosthunters show. The Ghost of Ronald Reagan rose up from the dead, crying out, "Mr. Netanyahu, tear down that wall."

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