Fans of ‘The Roy Rogers Show’ followed Bullet, the Wonder Dog, for six straight seasons and over 100 episodes. The impressive and loyal German Shepard was the faithful companion of the lawful cowboy, Roy Rogers. Bullet always helped our heroes, including alerting Roy when danger was approaching, rescuing the show’s stars and chasing evil-doers when they were trying to escape. Bullet was so fast that he was able to keep up with Roy as he was riding Trigger in pursuit of criminals.
Outside of the show, Bullet was also the family dog, and was truly obedient and intelligent. Bullet was born in 1949 and passed away in the ’60s. He was preserved and exhibited at the Roy Rogers-Dale Evans Museum in Victorville, California. Although the Wonder Dog was truly a remarkable friend, and his presence was often felt at the museum where he was memorialized, his preserved body was eventually auctioned for $35,000, due to the terrible fate of the museum.
A Family Breakdown
It’s very likely that Roy Rogers, who was a very traditional and god-loving person, experienced a lot of problems being a popular Hollywood star. This caused him to react very negatively when he found out that his son, Dusty, also had his heart set on becoming an actor. At his very first job, Dusty appeared to be quite unhappy, so the aspiring actor decided to leave his family and try his luck in Ohio. Dustin’s solitude helped him reach a big realization about the importance of family.
Dusty realized that family was more important than his goal of becoming an actor. The loyal son decided to return home to Apple Valley and make amends with his father. Roy was happy to reunite with his son. The various tragedies and issues his family faced seemed to finally quiet down, letting some love and peace replace them.
Trigger’s Legacy
Roy Rogers' loyal steed, Trigger, is arguably the most successful and popular horse of the 20th century. The American horse was born in San Diego, California, and made his first appearance in films as the mount of Maid Marian, from the 1938 film, 'The Adventures of Robin Hood'. Trigger later became so important to Rogers that he would sign New Year’s greetings with the words "from Roy Rogers and Trigger". The trusty steed appeared in many of Rogers' films and even got his own Dell comic book detailing his adventures.
Trigger passed away in 1965, on Rogers' ranch in Apple Valley. The actor made numerous wonderful gestures in the memory of his trusty mount, including professionally stitching his mount on a life-sized statue of the horse, which was displayed in the Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Museum, when it opened in Apple Valley in 1967. Different replicas of much larger sizes were erected in other spots, including a 1,300lb 24-ft statue that sits atop the Roy Rogers Museum in Victorville.
The Roy Rogers-Dale Evans Museum
The Roy Rogers-Dale Evans Museum was originally founded in 1967, after Roy Rogers retired. It included various items that the actor had collected throughout his career, and as written above, also included his two beloved pets, Trigger and Bullet. In 1976, the museum was moved from the small countryside Apple Valley to Victorville, California. The purpose of the move was to help attract more fans. The move was successful and many people came to pay homage to the legendary Western actor.
After Roy Rogers and Dale Evans passed away in the early 2000s, the museum was moved to Branson, Missouri. The economy was going through a rough patch and just recovering from the DotCom bust, which led to poor sales. If that wasn’t enough, the IRS levied a heavy tax on the family assets; these two factors proved to be the beginning of the end for the prestigious museum.
Unfortunate Circumstances
The move to Branson proved to be insufficient in attracting enough high-paying visitors, while debts from the costs of upkeep just kept piling up for the struggling family. Dusty and the Rogers did their best to keep their parents’ history and legacy afloat, but even the best of intentions can’t override economic realities. After years of difficulties and debts, the family decided it was time to close and put the museum up for sale.
Eventually, the large collection of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans was sold in 2010 to the modest sum of almost $3 million. Bullet's preserved body was sold for $35,000, and the statue of Trigger was sold for $250,000. Rogers' car, a 1964 Pontiac Bonneville, was sold for $254,500.