Roy Rogers, born Richard Slye in 1911 in
Cincinnati, spent his entire boyhood in the state. At age 18, he moved with his family to California to help earn a living as a migrant worker.
In the early '30s he formed the now-famous western singing group, "The Sons of the Pioneers." Rogers parlayed this popularity into a contract with Republic Pictures in 1935 at $75 a week.
Roy's first movie (in a bit part) was "Tumbling Tumbleweeds"--filmed with legend Gene Autry. He got his first real break in 1938 when Autry walked off the set in a contract dispute. As a result, Rogers snagged the lead in "Under Western Stars", as a singing cowpoke turned Washington Congressman.
Rogers married Dale Evans, whom he'd met on a set, in 1947. They continued working together on screen making more than 20 films together, with their well-known equine companions "Trigger" (Roy) and "Buttermilk", which Dale rode.
The foursome made their way to television in 1951 and the rest, they say, is history.
