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Roy Rogers rides his stunt horse "Trigger" while pulling the surrey for a special finale of "Oklahoma" on the St. James Theatre's stage in New York City, Nov. 5, 1945. Betty Jane Watson portraying Laurie is in the surrey.
In this Feb. 15, 1984, file photo, Roy Rogers is shown with his wife Dale Evans before the stuffed remains of Trigger, Roy's horse, at the Roy Rogers museum in Victorville, Calif. An upcoming New York auction will feature Rogers belongings including the preserved remains of his famous horse, Trigger. The presale estimate for the dead horse is $100,000 to $200,000.
Roy Rogers rides his stunt horse "Trigger" while pulling the surrey for a special finale of "Oklahoma" on the St. James Theatre's stage in New York City, Nov. 5, 1945. Betty Jane Watson portraying Laurie is in the surrey.
AP photo
In this Feb. 15, 1984, file photo, Roy Rogers is shown with his wife Dale Evans before the stuffed remains of Trigger, Roy's horse, at the Roy Rogers museum in Victorville, Calif. An upcoming New York auction will feature Rogers belongings including the preserved remains of his famous horse, Trigger. The presale estimate for the dead horse is $100,000 to $200,000.
I grew up watching Roy Rogers on TV, a big part of which was his horse, Trigger. I didnƵt know Trigger was so famous until I stumbled upon an article on Facebook.
Trigger was born in San Diego. Though often mistaken for a Tennessee walking horse, his father was a thoroughbred, and his mother a palomino.
In the early 1940s when Roy Rogers was preparing to make his first movie in a starring role, his producers offered him a choice of five ƵmovieƵ horses. Roy chose this soon-to-be-famous horse. Rogers liked him so much that he bought him and named him Trigger for his quickness of foot and mind.
Trigger learned 150 trick cues and could walk 50 feet on his hind legs. He had so many tricks that directors ran out of ones to film. Trigger became such a ham that as soon as he heard applause, he would start bowing and ruin whatever trick he was performing. He could sit in a chair, sign his name with an ƵXƵ using a pencil, lie down for a nap, and cover himself with a blanket.
RogersƵ most carefully guarded trade secret was getting Trigger housebroken, a rare feat for a horse. That became important because Trigger spent so much time in hotels, theaters and hospitals.
Trigger was ridden by Rogers in many of his motion pictures, becoming much loved by the youthful audience (including me) that saw him in theaters and on television. Trigger starred in the 1950s TV series with RogersƵ wife, Dale Evans, who rode her horse, Buttermilk. Roy Rogers was known as ƵThe Singing CowboyƵ and did much of his singing while horseback on Trigger.
Trigger became the most famous horse in Hollywood, even having his own comic book recounting his exploits. Roy Rogers made many personal appearances with Trigger. A number of times, he escorted Trigger up three or four flights of stairs at hospitals to visit sick children.
Trigger was internationally famous and traveled overseas to perform. While appearing in a show in Scotland in 1954, Trigger was presented with a custom-made kilt to wear.
Roy Rogers and Trigger left their hand and hoof prints on the famous sidewalk in front of GraumanƵs Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. After Trigger died in 1965, Rogers arranged for a taxidermist to preserve him.
Trigger was put on display in the Roy Rogers Museum when it opened in Apple Valley, California, in 1967. He was later moved to several different museums. Trigger remained so popular that when one museum closed, Trigger was auctioned off for the fantastic sum of $266,500 to another museum.
A 24-foot fiberglass replica of a rearing Trigger was created to sit atop the Roy Rogers Museum in Victorville, California. The 1,300-pound replica could be seen from the freeway and served as a landmark until the museum closed and moved to Branson, Missouri.
Rogers was approached by the owners of the Denver Broncos to allow them to make another statue. Today, TriggerƵs twin stands above the scoreboard of the Denver BroncosƵ football field.
Now that I have discovered all this, I need to go to Denver to see TriggerƵs twin and then watch all the Roy Rogers movies with Trigger in them.
Grant McGuire is a Huntington resident. His email address is grant11955@gmail.com.
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