Sons of the Pioneers (1942)

"Roy Rogers B-Western Series ... Sons of the Pioneers (1942) ... Republic Pictures "

Republic Pictures presents "SONS OF THE PIONEERS" (2 July 1942) (62 mins/B&W) (Fully Restored/Dolby Digitally Remastered) --- Roy Rogers (born Leonard Slye) moved to California in 1930, at the age of 18 --- played in such musical groups as The Hollywood Hillbillies, Rocky Mountaineers, Texas Outlaws and his own group, the International Cowboys --- In 1934 he formed a group with Bob Nolan and Tim Spencer called "Sons of the Pioneers" --- While in that group he was known as Leonard Slye, then Dick Weston and finally Roy Rogers --- Their songs included "Cool Water" and "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" --- They first appeared in the western "Rhythm on the Range" (1936), starring Bing Crosby --- In 1937 Roy went solo and made his first starring film in 1938, "Under Western Stars" (1938) --- He made almost 100 films --- then came television, "The Roy Rogers Show" (1951) ran on CBS from October 1951 through September 1964.

Under Joseph Kane (Director / Producer), Mauri Grashin (Screenwriter), Robert T. Shannon (Screenwriter), M. Coates Webster (Screenwriter), Bud Thackery (Cinematographer), Cy Feuer (Composer (Music Score) / Musical Direction/Supervision), Edward Schroeder (Editor), Russell Kimball (Art Director) - - - - Our story line and plot, Roy Rogers plays an eastern etymologist and descendent of two famous lawmen, is drafted as sheriff of a western town --- his task is to round up land grabbing outlaws harassing local ranchers --- although the action muted in this feature, the music is very good --- Sons of the Pioneers are re-teamed once again with Roy and the songs come puring in --- Pat Brady, a member of the Pioneers makes the first of many screen roles as Roy's comical sidekick --- some wonderful tunes, THINGS ARE NEVER WHAT THEY SEEM -- TRAIL HERDIN' COWBOY -- THE WEST IS IN MY SOUL -- HE'S GONE UP THE TRAIL -- COME AND GET IT -- SHE'S THE LILY OF HILLBILLY VALLEY -- E FLAT STOMP.

the cast includes
Roy Rogers ... Roy Rogers
Trigger ... "Smartest Horse in the Movies"
George 'Gabby' Hayes ... Gabby Whittaker
Sons of the Pioneers ... Musicians, Cowhands
Bob Nolan ... Bob Nolan (as Sons of the Pioneers)
Pat Brady ... Pat (as Sons of the Pioneers)
Hugh Farr ... Fiddle player (as Sons of the Pioneers)
Karl Farr ... Guitar player (as Sons of the Pioneers)
Tim Spencer ... Singer (as Sons of the Pioneers)
Lloyd Perryman ... Singer (as Sons of the Pioneers)
Maris Wrixon ... Louise Harper
Forrest Taylor ... Jim Bixby
Minerva Urecal ... Ellie Bixby
Bradley Page ... Frank Bennett
Wally Wales ... Henchman Matt (as Hal Taliaferro)
Chester Conklin ... Old-timer
Fred Burns ... Rancher
Frank Brownlee ... Hired hand
Horace B. Carpenter ... Rancher
Tommy Coats ... Henchman
Frank Ellis ... Cowhand at dance
Karl Hackett ... Dr. Thompson
Tex Harper ... Cowhand
Tom London ... Henchman
Art Mix ... Cowhand at dance
Bud Osborne ... Henchman
Jack O'Shea ... Henchman Pete
Pascale Perry ... Henchman Joe
Herbert Rawlinson ... Townsman
Duke Taylor ... Townsman

BIOS:
1. Roy Rogers (aka: Leonard Franklin Slye)
Date of Birth: 5 November 1911 - Cincinnati, Ohio
Date of Death: 6 July 1998 - Apple Valley, California

2. George 'Gabby' Hayes (aka: George Francis Hayes)
Date of Birth: 7 May 1885 - Wellsville, New York
Date of Death: 9 February 1969 - Burbank, California

Check out a new book from Empire Publishing - "THE ROY ROGERS BOOK: A REFERENCE TRIVIA SCRAPBOOK" (Paperback) --- reference trivia scrapbook of Roy Rogers written by Western film historian David Rothel whose accounts of thrilling adventures of B-Western heroes during the Saturday matinees of yesteryear takes us back to our childhood, family and friends --- this is a wish come true, reliving those wonderful years from the past through the pen of David Rothel --- Roy was a top box office draw for Republic Pictures when you went to see him on the big screen, you got exactly what the marquee said --- plenty of thrills, action and hard riding with a song or two thrown in for good measure --- Elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1980 as a member of the "Sons of the Pioneers" and elected again in 1988 as Roy Rogers "King of the Cowboys" --- Roy got his horse "Trigger" in 1938 and rode him in every one of his films and TV shows after that --- "Trigger" died in 1965 age of thirty-three --- Roy's dog's name was "Bullet" and appeared in almost as many of his films as "Trigger" did --- Roy's theme song, "Happy Trails", was written by Queen of the West and his wife Dale Evans --- inducted (with his wife Dale Evans) into the "Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum" in 1976 --- inducted as a member of the "Sons of the Pioneers into the "Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum" in 1995 just three years before his death --- Don't miss this one --- now appearing on Amazon and Empire Publishing --- Don't hesitate - rush out and pick up your copy today --- Great reading in the days and weeks to come --- I guarantee it!

Hats off and thanks to Les Adams (collector/guideslines for character identification), Chuck Anderson (Webmaster: The Old Corral/B-Westerns.Com), Boyd Magers (Western Clippings), Bobby J. Copeland (author of "Trail Talk"), Rhonda Lemons (Empire Publishing Inc), Bob Nareau (author of "The Real Bob Steele") and Trevor Scott (Down Under DVD Com) as they have rekindled my interest once again for Film Noir, B-Westerns and Serials --- looking forward to more high quality releases from the vintage serial era of the '20s, '30s & '40s and B-Westerns ... order your copy now from Amazon where there are plenty of copies available on DVD --- stay tuned once again for top notch action mixed with musical adventure --- if you enjoyed this title, why not check out Amazon where they are experts in releasing B-Westerns --- all my heroes have been cowboys!

Total Time: 62 min on VHS/DVD ~ Republic Pictures ~ (6/24/2003) October 4, 2007

Light hearted fun

If you grew up watching Roy and Gene( and all the others) at the movies on Saturday, or on early 50's TV, then you should enjoy this trip back to when times were simpler. Chases, singing,and a happy ending on a pretty good quality DVD, what else could you ask for???? October 6, 2006

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