Search the Western Clippings Site

An Interview With…
        - Archives

Will "Sugarfoot" Hutchins
    - July 2023
    - April 2023
    - January 2023
    - October 2021
    - January 2021
    - November 2020
    - June 2020
    - April 2020
    - December 2019
    - November 2019
    - September 2019
    - August 2019
    - July 2019
    - May 2019
    - March 2019
    - September 2018
    - August 2018
    - March 2018
    - February 2018
    - January 2018
    - September 2017
    - August 2017
    - July 2017
    - May 2017
    - April 2017
    - January 2017
    - December 2016
    - October 2016
    - September 2016
    - August 2016
    - July 2016
    - May 2016
    - March 2016
    - February 2016
    - January 2016
    - December 2015
    - November 2015
    - September 2015
    - August 2015
    - July 2015
    - May 2015
    - April 2015
    - March 2015
    - February 2015
    - January 2015
    - December 2014
    - November 2014
    - October 2014
    - September 2014
    - August 2014
    - July 2014
    - May 2014
    - April 2014
    - March 2014
    - February 2014
    - January 2014
    - December 2013
    - November 2013
    - October 2013
    - September 2013
    - August 2013
    - July 2013
    - June 2013
    - May 2013
    - April 2013
    - March 2013
    - February 2013
    - January 2013
    - December 2012
    - November 2012
    - October 2012
    - September 2012
    - August 2012
    - July 2012
    - June 2012
    - May 2012
    - April 2012
    - March 2012
    - February 2012
    - January 2012
    - December 2011
    - November 2011
    - October 2011
    - August 2011
    - July 2011
    - June 2011
    - May 2011
    - April 2011
    - March 2011
    - February 2011
    - January 2011
    - December 2010
    - November 2010
    - October 2010
    - September 2010
    - August 2010
    - July 2010
    - June 2010
    - May 2010
    - April 2010
    - March 2010
    - February 2010
    - January 2010
    - November 2009
    - October 2009
    - September 2009
    - August 2009
    - July 2009
    - June 2009
    - May 2009
    - April 2009
    - March 2009
    - February 2009
    - January 2009
    - December 2008
    - November 2008
    - September 2008
    - August 2008
    - June 2008
    - April 2008
    - March 2008
    - February 2008

Do You Remember?
    - Archives

Comic Book Cowboys
    - Archives

Westerns of...
    - Archives

Heavies and Characters
      - Archives

The Stuntmen - Neil Summers
    - Archives

Western Treasures
    - Archives

Circus Cowboys
    - Archives

Radio Range Riders
    - Archives

Rangeland Elegance
    - Archives

Western Artifacts
    - Archives

Film Festival Fotos
    - Archives

Silent Western Reviews
    - Archives

Serial Report
    - Archives

Subscribe to Western Clippings

COLLECTIBLES FOR SALE:

Western Clippings Back Issues

Daily Comic Strips
    - Page 1 (1910-1949)
    - Page 2 (1950-1979)

Sunday Comic Strips
    - 1907-1990

Books

Miscellaneous Collectibles

Autographs

Lobby Cards

Movie Posters

Home

FEBRUARY 2010

A few years ago my wife Babs and I were guests at the Roy Rogers Festival in his “home town”, Portsmouth, OH. Jocko Mahoney, Lash LaRue and Dale Evans were there.

One morning we all broke breakfast bread by an indoor swimmin’ pool. We had to make speeches—tremble! I can’t ad lib a belch after a Hungarian dinner. I arose on tremblin’ legs. Suddenly, in a flash, a story once told me by my pard from the past, Antonia Christina, came to mind, and I blurted it out as best I could recall—It went well. Dale smiled and nodded.

I reckon you might like to read the story as penned in a recent letter from my ol’ pard. Tell it again, Chris—“As a youngster, I lived in Hollywood, one block north of Hollywood Blvd. in a one room apartment. I would sit in a soft chair, next to the radio, play music, and while rocking back and forth for hours at a time, go into a trance-like state and dream. My favorite dream (at age 7), was imagining I was Roy Rogers’ daughter. I was too young to be his wife, and he was happily married to Dale anyway. However, I heard they loved kids, and owned a big ranch with horses. I wanted to ride a horse across the plains, and after a day out on the range, come home to my loving family, especially to my wonderful dad—Roy Rogers! He embodied all that was good, free and magical to me.”

Dale Evans and Roy Rogers with Trigger.

Dale Evans and Roy Rogers' horses take a bow.

Above photos of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans were taken at Chicago Stadium Rodeo in the '50s.

“It was 1952. I was playing in the school yard, showing off on a swing, when I went flying out onto the asphalt on my ankle, and broke it. It was determined I needed a cast. This was not an easy prospect for a 7 year old, but necessary. I hobbled around on my crutches for several weeks—which seemed like years. However, this bothersome cast was to become the basis for the most enchanted moment of my childhood.”

“The Hollywood Christmas Parade (always held the day before Thanksgiving) was always a banner event for me. I looked forward to it for weeks. All we had to do was walk one block, and there we were. It was difficult getting a good view sometimes, but this year was different. I, with my cast, looked rather touching to people, so they parted to let me, my grandmother, and teenage sister get through to the front row (by the curb).”

“Hollywood Blvd. was all dressed up for Christmas. The policemen were on horseback (what a thrill!). The music in the distance was sending the rhythms in the air. Spectators were chattering, rubbernecking and hanging from rooftops and windows. The atmosphere was full of expectation, excitement and curiosity, with the promise of magic and glamour. As the music got louder, my heart was beating fast.”

“I leaned out, and squinting my eyes, could see a distant rider coming closer. It was him, alright; Roy Rogers on Trigger! The leader of the parade, the leader of my heart! As he got closer, almost in front of us, he put up his hand and stopped the parade. We all looked at each other wondering what was going on. Then, he dismounted from Trigger, and led him over to me. Me! Roy Rogers and Trigger were coming over to say hello to me! Roy took my hand and asked my name (I was dumbfounded, and could barely speak.). Then he had Trigger kneel and whinny, which made my grandmother jump in surprise. It was all like a fantastic dream, but it was real! Roy then remounted, raised his arm and motioned for the waiting paraders to continue on down Hollywood Blvd.”

“I’m 53 now. I’ve met a few celebrities in my life (my sister is Carol Burnett, and my first husband is Will Hutchins), but no encounter with anyone famous can compare with the night Roy Rogers held up the Hollywood Christmas Parade to say hello to a little girl with a cast on her leg. My hero, Roy Rogers, King of the Cowboys, star of my dreams, was truly a kind and gentle man.”

Thanks for the reminisce, Chris.

—Adios!