Chris Enss - The Cowboy and the Senorita: A Biography of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans

H oward Kazanjian is an award-winning producer and entertainment executive who has been producing feature films and television programs for more than twenty-five years. While vice president of production for Lucasfilm Ltd., he produced two of the highest grossing films of all time: Raiders of the Lost Ark and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. He also managed production of another top-ten box-office hit, The Empire Strikes Back. Some of his other notable credits include The Rookies, Demolition Man, and the two-hour pilot and first season of J.A.G.

In addition to his production experience, Kazanjian has worked with some of the finest directors in the history of cinema. He has worked closely with such legends as Alfred Hitchcock, Billy Wilder, Sam Peckinpah, Robert Wise, Joshua Logan, Clint Eastwood, George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, and Francis Ford Coppola. He is a longtime voting member in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the Producers Guild of America, and the Directors Guild of America. The California native is also a trustee of Azusa Pacific University.

In 2004 Kazanjian and Chris Enss published another book about Roy Rogers and Dale Evans entitled Happy Trails: A Pictorial Celebration of the Life and Times of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans.

C hris Enss is a New York Times Best Selling author who has written more than two dozen books on the subject of women of the Old West. She has written for television and film and appeared in several documentaries, including Fox Networks Legends and Lies series. Enss and Kazanjian have penned several books together, including Mochis War: Tragedy of the Sand Creek Massacre and Ma Barker: Americas Most Wanted Mother. They have been nominated twice for the Will Rogers Medallion Award.

In 2004 Enss and Howard Kazanjian published another book about Roy Rogers and Dale Evans entitled Happy Trails: A Pictorial Celebration of the Life and Times of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans.

A TWODOT BOOK

An imprint of Globe Pequot

An imprint and registered trademark of Rowman & Littlefield

Distributed by NATIONAL BOOK NETWORK

Copyright 2004, 2017 by Howard Kazanjian and Chris Enss

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote passages in a review.

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Information Available

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Kazanjian, Howard.

The cowboy and the senorita : a biography of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans / Howard Kazanjian and Chris Enss ; with a foreword by Roy Dusty Rogers.1st ed.

p. cm.

Roy Rogers filmography: p.

Dale Evans filmography: p.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 0-7627-3830-8

1. Rogers, Roy, 1911 2. Rogers, Dale Evans. 3. ActorsUnited StatesBiography. 4. SingersUnited StatesBiography. I. Enss, Chris, 1961 II. Title.

PN2287.R73K39 2005

791.43028092273dc22

[B] 2004060612

The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information SciencesPermanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992.

Printed in the United States of America.

Dale Evans and Roy Rogers.

I ts been said that Roy Rogers and Dale Evans had a more positive influence on the youth of America during the 1930s, 40s, and 50s than any other famous couple in the country. They were heroes to millions of boys and girlsheroes to my brothers and sisters and me as well, but mostly just Mom and Dad.

Over the last sixty years there has been a lot written about my parents and the impact they had on children of all ages. I consider it a testament to their generosity and talent. They remain such beloved western icons that people desire to know more about their lives and, more importantly, the source of their strength in times of great sorrow.

The pages in this new edition tell the story of my parents lives and times in such a way youll feel you were with themexperiencing their struggles and successes firsthand. Many of the photos have rarely been seen before and will take you back in time. The quotes from fans and celebrities who admired my folks are insightful and endearing and make me very proud. My parents were ordinary people who lived extraordinary lives. They provided a lifetime of inspiration for myself and millions of moviegoers. Their legend continues.

Thousands of fans visited the Roy RogersDale Evans Museum every year before it closed in 2009, hoping to relive a simpler time when honest and fair-minded films ruled Saturday matinees and the good guys were good guys both on and off the screen.

Roy Dusty Rogers

A stunning young woman in a long, white gown strolled out onto a balcony to take in the full moon of a clear, California sky. Soft music drifted out of the spacious hacienda behind her and mixed with the light breeze that stirred her brown mane. A handsome cowboy followed after the striking lady, singing to her about the night, the stars, and love. She joined him in song, every verse echoing her sentiments about the romantic celluloid moment they found themselves in.

It was a sweet introduction for the two musical actors. Portraying a bashful, but courageous, cowhand and an independent damsel in distress, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans lit up the screen in the Republic feature The Cowboy and the Senorita. It was the first film the two appeared in together, one that marked the start of a fifty-six year partnership, both professionally and personally.

Roy and Dale made twenty-nine more movies together, produced and starred in a ten-year hit television series, raised nine children, and enjoyed fifty-two years of marital bliss.

The Cowboy and the Senorita, released in 1944, made their names and lives inseparable.