Ostrołęka County Powiat ostrołęcki
—  County  —
Location within the voivodeship
Division into gminas
Coordinates (Ostrołęka): 53°4′N 21°34′E / 53.067°N 21.567°E / 53.067; 21.567Coordinates: 53°4′N 21°34′E / 53.067°N 21.567°E / 53.067; 21.567
Country	Poland
Voivodeship	Masovian
Seat	Ostrołęka
Gminas	Total 11 Gmina Baranowo Gmina Czarnia Gmina Czerwin Gmina Goworowo Gmina Kadzidło Gmina Lelis Gmina Łyse Gmina Myszyniec Gmina Olszewo-Borki Gmina Rzekuń Gmina Troszyn
Area
• Total	2,099.32 km2 (810.55 sq mi)
Population (2006)
• Total	84,344
• Density	40/km2 (100/sq mi)
• Urban	3,014
• Rural	81,330
Car plates	WOS
Website	http://www.powiat.ostroleka.pl

Ostrołęka County (Polish: powiat ostrołęcki) is a unit of territorial administration and local government (powiat) in Masovian Voivodeship, east-central Poland. It came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998. Its administrative seat is the city of Ostrołęka, although the city is not part of the county (it constitutes a separate city county). The only town in Ostrołęka County is Myszyniec, which lies 38 km (24 mi) north of Ostrołęka.

The county covers an area of 2,099.32 square kilometres (810.6 sq mi). As of 2006 its total population is 84,344, out of which the population of Myszyniec is 3,014 and the rural population is 81,330.

Neighbouring counties[link]

Apart from the city of Ostrołęka, Ostrołęka County is also bordered by Pisz County and Kolno County to the north, Łomża County to the east, Ostrów Mazowiecka County to the south-east, Wyszków County to the south, Maków County to the south-west, Przasnysz County to the west, and Szczytno County to the north-west.

Administrative division[link]

The county is subdivided into 11 gminas (one urban-rural and 10 rural). These are listed in the following table, in descending order of population.

References[link]

• Polish official population figures 2006

v t e Counties of Masovian Voivodeship City counties Warsaw (capital) Ostrołęka Płock Radom Siedlce Land counties Białobrzegi Ciechanów Garwolin Gostynin Grodzisk Mazowiecki Grójec Kozienice Legionowo Lipsko Łosice Maków Mińsk Mława Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki Ostrołęka Ostrów Mazowiecka Otwock Piaseczno Płock Płońsk Pruszków Przasnysz Przysucha Pułtusk Radom Siedlce Sierpc Sochaczew Sokołów Szydłowiec Warsaw West Węgrów Wołomin Wyszków Żuromin Zwoleń Żyrardów

This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (September 2010)

Ostrołęka
Józef Bem Square (Polish: Plac Bema)
Flag Coat of arms
Ostrołęka
Coordinates: 53°4′N 21°34′E / 53.067°N 21.567°E / 53.067; 21.567
Country	Poland
Voivodeship	Masovian
County	city county
Established	11th century
Town rights	1373
Government
• Mayor	Janusz Kotowski
Area
• Total	29.00 km2 (11.20 sq mi)
Elevation	92 m (302 ft)
Population (2008)
• Total	53,982
• Density	1,900/km2 (4,800/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	07-400 to 07-417
Area code(s)	+48 029
Vehicle registration plates	WO, WOS, OKO
Website	http://www.ostroleka.pl

Town Hall

The Madalinski Bridge

Downtown

Ostrołęka [ɔstrɔˈwɛŋka] ( listen) is a town in northeastern Poland on the Narew river, about 120 km (75 mi) northeast of Warsaw, with a population of 53,982 (2008) and an area of 29 km² (11 sq. mls). Situated in the Masovian Voivodeship (since 1999), previously capital of Ostrołęka Voivodeship (1975–1998). Currently capital of both Ostrołęka County and Ostrołęka City County. Until late 1980s, it used to be a local railroad junction, with four lines stemming from Ostrołęka railway station - eastwards to Łapy and Białystok, southwestwards to Tłuszcz and Warsaw, northwards to Wielbark and Olsztyn, and southwards to Małkinia.

Education[link]

• Wyższa Szkoła Administracji Publicznej
• Wyższa Szkoła Ekonomiczno-Społeczna

History[link]

Beginnings[link]

Ostrołęka lies on a sand-mud plain on the left side of the Narew River. The name comes from a plain that was once flooded by the Narew during the spring. A small island is located about 1 kilometer (half a mile) from today's town centre. In the 11th or 12th century, there was a fort built on it, making it one of the few fortifications on or near the Narew. The fort was surrounded by a village now known as Ostrołęka. Ostrołęka was first mentioned in the Province Act of 1373, signed by Prince Ziemowit III. The actual date of the town's foundation is not precisely known, but it is known that by 1373, Ostrołęka was one of the biggest towns in the surrounding area.^{[citation needed]}

15th and 16th Centuries[link]

In the beginning of 15th century, Ostrołęka was a center of economic activity in the trade with the Teutonic Order. Traders from the town were selling wood, amber, honey, and other products. In the year of 1526, the rest of the Masovia Principality was introduced to the Polish Crown. This was the beginning of Ostrołęka's Golden Age, which lasted for over 40 years. During this time, Queen Bona Sforza founded a folwark in Pomian, an area situated within Ostrołęka's city borders today. In 1564, two major catastrophes devastated Ostrołęka. An epidemic struck the city, killing a sizeable population off and a fire which tore through the city burning and destroying everything to the ground. In 1571, another epidemic depopulated the town and counties nearby, ending the town's Golden Age. However, the town was quickly rebuilt and in the 1590s, the first school was built in Ostrołęka. At the end of the 16th century, the town was the centre of a big administration district (1,980.5 km²).

During the Wars with Sweden[link]

After the disaster the town quickly recovered. In the middle of the 17th century, the town passed through a period of impoverishment and stagnation. On July 25, 1656, the town resisted a Swedish attack and was laid waste by the Swedes. In 1665 Tomasz Gocłowski founded a monastery to settle the Bernardine monks in the town. The monastery was built in a late Baroque style. In 1676, with only 400 inhabitants left, it was the most populous town in the Łomża region. In the 18th Century, through a span of 35 years, Ostrołęka was destroyed numerous times by foreign armies such as the (Swedish, Russian, and Saxon).^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Prussian Rule (1796-1806)

On March 12, 1794 the first brigade, stationed at Ostrołęka started marching towards Kraków, with A. Madaliński, a member of the conspiracy, in command. This hastened the outbreak of hostilities. In consequence, Prussian forces advanced as far as the Narew, but did no overtake Ostrołęka. Following the Third Partition of Poland, Ostrołęka was situated within Prussia's borders. After 1802, the first German and Jewish families settled in and around Ostrołęka.

The Warsaw Duchy[link]

From the end of 1806 through June 1807, Ostrołęka was occupied by French troops. On February 15 and 16 February the battle took place on the banks of the Narew outside of Ostrołęka where the French, under the General Nicolas Charles Oudinot, prevailed. Due to this success of the French Army, Ostrołęka appears on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. In May 1807 the first map of Ostrołęka was made (now located in Bibliothéque du Génie in Paris).

Development during the period of the Polish Kingdom[link]

As part of a comprehensive plan of industrializing Poland, an extensive settlement for linen and cotton craftsmen was begun on the right bank of Narew in 1826. The number of craftsmen increased, and workers trained in new crafts. The town also built two bridges, one permanent. The new route connecting Warsaw and St. Petersburg ran through Ostrołęka. Although the town's citizens were eager and proud to take part in the November Uprising, they worried that their city, as in every previous war, would be destroyed. However they did not expect that the heaviest fighting would take place on near Ostrołęka.

According to the plans, the Polish Army was supposed to attack Russian Infantry Corps of the Tsar's Guard, which camped at the territory between Augustów and Ostrołęka. On May 18, Ostrołęka was conquered by General Henryk Dembiński. But General Jan Zygmunt Skrzynecki didn't make a use of his temporary superiority and he couldn't make up his mind if to attack the Russians situated near Łomża. As a result, Łomża was destroyed.

On May 26 a cannonade was heard. Jan Zygmunt Skrzynecki couldn't believe that Hans Karl von Diebitsch (a Russian general) had already reached the suburbs of the city. He ordered the Fourth Infantry Regiment to defend the city. The main defending forces fortified themselves in the Bernadine Monastery. Unfortunately the Russians had brought cannons with them, quickly overpowering the Polish and forcing their surrender.^{[citation needed]}

Von Diebitsch took over the city center, but the battle continued on the right side of the Narew. Skrzynecki and his troops valiantly defended the bridge wanting to hold back the Russian forces from crossing over to the other side of the river. Lieutenant-Colonel Józef Bem and his Fourth Battery were called in to help defend the bridge. Bem was able to hold back the Russians, but the battle is often referred to as a Polish defeat. The defeat began the end of the Uprising. As a result of the battle, 6000 Polish soldiers died including many Kurpie. Bem, for his bravery, was nominated as Commander-in-Chief of Artillery and was honoured with a Virtue Militari Cross. The battle was the greatest and the most bloodiest in the November Uprising.^{[citation needed]}

1831-1918[link]

After the Polish-Russian War, Ostrołęka became one of the most destroyed cities. Although it suffered great losses, Ostrołęka stayed a district city of Płock's Province. Ostrołęka's economy greatly declined. Nearly all the city's craftsmen became bankrupt. Only products of Ostrołęka's amber works were still supplied all over Europe. Ostrołęka got refunds from the Tsar's Treasury. However, it took a long time before it rose from its downfall. In 1847 a monument commemorating Russian Army's victory in the battle of Ostrołęka was raised on 26 May 1831. At the time of January's insurrection, no battles took place nearby Ostrołęka, as the Tsar placed a quite large Russian detachment in the city worrying of another Kurp Uprising. In 1864, after the Russian government's order, the Benedictines left Ostrołęka and the monastery buildings were placed under the parish-priest authority.^{[citation needed]}

Until the First World War, the city managed to develop, but it was still a relatively unremarkable small town. The First World War destroyed its peaceful and monotonous character. Confiscation and forced labor devastated the economy caused rising prices for essential products, and generally caused the city to decline. In 1915, military operations in the territory of Polish Kingdom intensified. By July, the city was situated on the front line, and in August 1915, Germans crossed the river Narew and entered the ruined city. At the time of the German occupation, life in Ostrołęka was as hard as in the time of Russian occupation. Between the years of 1916 and 1918, the Germans greatly exploited the forests for timber. To make transporting the wood easier, they built 40 km of road from Ostrołęka to Myszyniec and a narrow-gauge railway line.

During the Interbellum[link]

After the First World War, the city became a part of Białystok's province. 75% of the city and population was devastated. New schools and departments were opened as the city was rebuilt. During the Polish-Soviet War, Ostrołęka once again became a center for military operations. During the night of August 5, 1920, Soviet forces entered the city. However, the Soviet occupation was short lived as Polish forces thundered east towards the former Polish-Soviet border. After the Polish-Soviet War, Ostrołęka began to industrialize. A cinema was opened in 1923, and a power plant in 1928. During the summer of 1939, both sides of the Narew beachhead were fortified.

[edit] Ostrołęka at the time of the Second World War

On September 10, 1939, German forces reached Ostrołęka. Its name was changed to Scharfenwiese and the city was integrated into the Third Reich. Quickly, a resistance movement was established with a substantial presence of local Kurpes. Churches and schools were changed into workshops and factories controlled by the Underground. Underground Partisans started attacking and destroying German fortifications in and around Ostrołęka. A minority of citizens of Ostrołęka declared themselves as Volksdeutsche and signed the Volksliste. The majority of the Jewish population in Ostrołęka was murdered in Treblinka.^{[citation needed]} Those that survived the Holocaust emigrated to Israel.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] People's Republic of Poland

Ostrołęka recovered very slowly from the war. A plan created by communist authorities, which allowed for an improvement of the economic situation in Poland, gave Ostrołęka a chance for redevelopment. Ostrołęka became a central city of Warsaw's region. In 1959, a cellulose and paper factory was built. Next, a sewage refinery was built along the banks of the Narew, which was supposed to keep water in the Narew clean without destroying its biological life. In 1973 a cellular concrete factory was built in the district of Wojciechowice. New jobs brought people to the city and caused a development of alimentary industry. During the 1970s a new factory, "Future", producing wooden articles was opened. A new swimming pool, a stadium for 5000 people, and a holiday resort were built. A new hospital was built.

Ostrołęka since 1989[link]

In 1989 the city entered a new era of capitalism, which has lasted until the present. The same year Ostrołęka was granted provincial rights. The paper factory "Cellulose" downsized en masse after privatisation. The factory "Future" went bankrupt but small service establishments were opened for average people to invest their money. A new hospital was built in the new century. The economy also developed. Three new trade pavilions were built. "Cellulose" changed its name to "Intercell", and the cellular concrete factory was bought by the Ytong company. The centre of the city began to fulfill trade functions.^{[citation needed]}

In 1996, a second permanent bridge, "Most im. Antoniego Madalińskiego", was built. In 1999 the city became a district city. A new Aquapark is currently being built and is planned to be opened by September 2010. A modernisation of the city stadium or even a completely new stadium is planned to be built early in the next decade, while two new modern training grounds for football are currently being built. A new power plant is currently being built and planned to open by 2015, generating 1,000 MW of power.^[1][2] Also, the existing power plant is planned to undergo modernisation in the next decade.^{[citation needed]}

Sports[link]

[edit] Football

• Narew Ostrołęka - Soccer Team established in 1962. Currently playing in the 3rd Masovian-Łódż League
• Korona Ostrołęka - Soccer Team established in 1998. Currently playing in the 4th Masovian League

[edit] Volleyball

• Pekpol Ostrołęka - Male Volleyball team currently playing in the 1nd Polish League
• OTPS Nike Ostrołęka - Female Volleyball team currently playing in the 2nd Polish League

[edit] Team Handball

• Trójka Ostrołęka - Male Team Handball team currently playing in the 2nd League

[edit] Basketball

• OTK Ostrołęka - Male Basketball Team
• OKK Ostrołęka - Male Basketball Team
• MUKS Unia Basket Ostrołęka - Female Basketball Team

Politics[link]

Ostrołęka-Siedlce constituency[link]

Members of Parliament (Sejm) elected from Ostrołęka-Siedlce constituency

• Chrzanowski Zbigniew, PO
• Deptuła Zbigniew, PSL
• Dziewulski Zbigniew, Samoobrona
• Filipek Krzysztof, Samoobrona
• Janowski Gabriel, LPR
• Kalinowski Jarosław, PSL
• Krutczenko Zbigniew, SLD-UP
• Kurpiewski Stanisław, SLD-UP
• Oleksy Józef, SLD-UP
• Piłka Marian, PiS
• Prządka Stanisława, SLD-UP
• Sawicki Marek, PSL

See also[link]

• Kurpie

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Ostrołęka

• Your Virtual City
• interactive map
• Official Ostrołęka homepage
• Jewish Community in Ostrołęka on Virtual Shtetl

References[link]

v t e Counties of Masovian Voivodeship City counties Warsaw (capital) Ostrołęka Płock Radom Siedlce Land counties Białobrzegi Ciechanów Garwolin Gostynin Grodzisk Mazowiecki Grójec Kozienice Legionowo Lipsko Łosice Maków Mińsk Mława Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki Ostrołęka Ostrów Mazowiecka Otwock Piaseczno Płock Płońsk Pruszków Przasnysz Przysucha Pułtusk Radom Siedlce Sierpc Sochaczew Sokołów Szydłowiec Warsaw West Węgrów Wołomin Wyszków Żuromin Zwoleń Żyrardów

Coordinates: 53°05′N 21°35′E / 53.083°N 21.583°E / 53.083; 21.583

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Ray Manzarek
Ray Manzarek
Background information
Birth name	Raymond Daniel Manczarek, Jr.
Born	(1939-02-12) February 12, 1939 (age 73)
Origin	Chicago, Illinois, USA
Genres	Psychedelic rock, acid rock, blues rock, Jazz rock, hard rock, blues, jazz fusion, funk, Rock and Roll
Occupations	Musician, Songwriter, Keyboardist, Filmmaker
Instruments	Keyboards, Keyboard bass, Vocals, Marxophone, Guitar, Percussion
Years active	1961–present
Labels	Elektra
Associated acts	The Doors, The Butts Band, Nite City Manzarek-Krieger Rick & the Ravens
Website	TheDoors.com The Official Site of Ray Manzarek
Notable instruments
Vox Continental Gibson G-101 Rhodes Keyboard bass RMI Electra Piano

Raymond Daniel Manczarek, Jr., better known as Ray Manzarek (born February 12, 1939), is an American musician, singer, producer, film director, writer, co-founder and keyboardist of The Doors from 1965 to 1973, Nite City from 1977–1978 and Manzarek-Krieger since 2001.

Early life and career[link]

Manzarek is of Polish descent, born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, as were his parents. Growing up, he took private piano lessons from Bruno Michelotti and others. He originally wanted to play basketball, but he only wanted to play power forward or center. When he was sixteen his coach insisted either he play guard, or not at all, and he quit the team. Manzarek said later if it was not for that ultimatum, he might never have been in The Doors. He went to Everett Elementary School on S. Bell St. and attended St. Rita High School in Chicago.^[1]

In 1962–1965, he studied in the Department of Cinematography at UCLA, where he met film student Jim Morrison. At UCLA, Ray also met Dorothy Fujikawa who would later become his wife. Forty days after finishing film school, thinking they had gone their separate ways, they met by chance on Venice Beach in California. Morrison said he had written some songs, and Manzarek expressed an interest in hearing them, whereupon Morrison sang a rough version of "Moonlight Drive." Manzarek liked the songs and co-founded the Doors with Morrison at that moment.

Manzarek met drummer John Densmore and guitarist Robby Krieger at a Transcendental Meditation lecture. Densmore says, "There wouldn't be any Doors without Maharishi."^[2]

In January 1966, The Doors became the house band at The London Fog on the Sunset Strip. According to Manzarek, "Nobody ever came in the place...an occasional sailor or two on leave, a few drunks. All in all it was a very depressing experience, but it gave us time to really get the music together." The same day The Doors were fired from The London Fog, they were hired to be the house band of the Whisky a Go Go. Their first performance at the Whisky was with the group Them.^[3]

The Doors' first recording contract was with Columbia Records. After a few months of inactivity, they learned they were on Columbia's drop list. At that point, they asked to be released from their contract. After a few months of live gigs, Jac Holzman "rediscovered" the Doors and signed them to Elektra Records.

The Doors lacked a bassist, so Manzarek usually played the bass parts on a Fender Rhodes piano Bass. His signature sound is that of the Vox Continental combo organ, an instrument used by many other psychedelic rock bands of the era. He later used a Gibson G-101 Kalamazoo combo organ (which looks like a Farfisa) because the Continental's plastic keys frequently broke according to Manzarek.

Manzarek occasionally sang for The Doors, including the live recordings of "Close To You" and on the B-side of "Love Her Madly", "You Need Meat (Don't Go No Further)". He also sang on the last two Doors albums, recorded after Morrison's death, Other Voices and Full Circle.

Later career and influence[link]

Ray Manzarek (The Doors) at the Bospop festival, Weert 2010, The Netherlands

Manzarek in March 2006, performing in the Netherlands

Manzarek has been in several groups since the Doors, including Nite City.^[3] He recorded a rock adaptation of Carl Orff's Carmina Burana with Philip Glass, produced and backed Echo & the Bunnymen and Los Angeles band X, played with Iggy Pop, backed San Francisco poet Michael McClure's poetry readings and he has done improvisational composition with poet Michael C. Ford.^[4] Ray also worked extensively with "Hearts of Fire" screenwriter and former SRC front man Scott Richardson^[5] on a series of spoken word and blues recordings entitled "Tornado Souvenirs".

His memoir, Light My Fire: My Life with The Doors, was published in 1998. The Poet in Exile (2001) is a novel exploring the urban legend that Jim Morrison may have faked his death. Manzarek's second novel, Snake Moon, released in April 2006, is a Civil War ghost story.

In 2000, a collaboration poetry album titled: Freshly Dug was released with British singer, poet/actor and pioneer Punk rocker Darryl Read. Read had previously worked with Ray on the Beat Existentialist album in 1994, and their latest poetical/musical collaboration was in 2007 with the album "Bleeding Paradise."

On August 4, 2007, Manzarek hosted a program on BBC Radio 2 about the 40th anniversary of the recording of "Light My Fire" and the group's musical and spiritual influences.

In April 2009, Manzarek and Robby Krieger appeared as special guests for Daryl Hall's monthly concert webcast Live From Daryl's House. They performed several Doors tunes ("People Are Strange", "The Crystal Ship", "Roadhouse Blues" and "Break on Through (To the Other Side)") with Hall providing lead vocals.

After living many years in Hollywood, Manzarek now resides in Napa County, California in a house he remodeled extensively.^[6] He also plays with local bands in the Napa area.^[7]

In 2009, Manzarek collaborated with "Weird Al" Yankovic, playing keyboards on the single "Craigslist" which is a style parody of the Doors.

Manzarek was a co-producer on a few tracks for Universal Recording artist Michael Barber. A track recently appeared on the Intenet titled "Be Ok," on Michael's Universal Records Debut.^{[citation needed]}

In May 2010, Manzarek recorded with slide guitarist Roy Rogers in Studio D in Sausalito. The album Translucent Blues, released in mid-2011, was ranked #3 on the Top 100 Roots Rock Albums of 2011 by The Roots Music Report.^{[8][clarification needed]}

Discography[link]

The Doors[link]

Solo[link]

• The Golden Scarab (1973)
• The Whole Thing Started With Rock & Roll Now It's Out of Control (1974)
• Carmina Burana (1983)
• Love Her Madly (2006)
• Ballads Before The Rain (With Roy Rogers) (2008)
• Translucent Blues (With Roy Rogers) (2011)

Nite City[link]

• Nite City (1977)
• Golden Days Diamond Night (1978)

References[link]

Books[link]

• Light My Fire: My Life with The Doors (1998) ISBN 0-425-17045-4
• The Poet in Exile (2001) Thunder's Mouth Press, 2002 paperback: ISBN 1-56025-447-5
• Snake Moon (2006) ISBN 1-59780-041-4

External links[link]

• Official website
• The Doors official website
• Michael McClure & Ray Manzarek
• 1998 Fresh Air with Terry Gross interview
• Manzarek Interview from St. Petersburg Times (June 2005) about the legal battle with Densmore over the use of the Doors name
• Article about Ray Manzarek's recent work, March 1, 2006
• Article from the Napa Register (October 9, 2006) about Ray Manzarek
• December 2006 interview in Horror Garage magazine
• Undercover video interview, April 2007
• Ray Manzarek interviewed on the Pop Chronicles (1969).

Roy Rogers
Rogers performing at Knott's Berry Farm
Background information
Birth name	Leonard Franklin Slye
Born	(1911-11-05)November 5, 1911 Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Died	July 6, 1998(1998-07-06) (aged 86) Apple Valley, California, USA
Genres	Country
Occupations	Actor, singer
Instruments	Vocals, guitar
Years active	1932–1998
Website	royrogers.com

Roy Rogers, born Leonard Franklin Slye (November 5, 1911 – July 6, 1998), was an American singer and cowboy actor, one of the most heavily marketed and merchandised stars of his era, as well as being the namesake of the Roy Rogers Restaurants franchised chain. He and his wife Dale Evans, his golden palomino, Trigger, and his German Shepherd dog, Bullet, were featured in more than 100 movies and The Roy Rogers Show. The show ran on radio for nine years before moving to television from 1951 through 1957. His productions usually featured a sidekick, often either Pat Brady (who drove a Jeep called "Nellybelle"), Andy Devine, or the crotchety George "Gabby" Hayes. Rogers's nickname was "King of the Cowboys". Evans's nickname was "Queen of the West."

Biography[link]

Early life[link]

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (September 2010)

Leonard Franklin Slye was born to Andrew ("Andy") and Mattie (Womack) Slye in Cincinnati, Ohio, where his family lived in a tenement building on 2nd Street. (Riverfront Stadium was constructed at this location in 1970 and Leonard would later joke that he had been born at second base.) Dissatisfied with his job and city life, Andy Slye and his brother Will built a 12-by-50-foot houseboat from salvage lumber, and, in July 1912, the Slye family floated up the Ohio River towards Portsmouth, Ohio. Desiring a more stable existence in Portsmouth, the Slyes purchased land on which to build a home, but the flood of 1913 allowed them to move the houseboat to their property and continue living in it on dry land.

In 1919, the Slyes purchased a farm in Duck Run, located near Lucasville, Ohio about 12 miles north of Portsmouth. There they built a six-room home. Leonard's father soon realized that the farm alone would provide insufficient income for his family, so he took a job at a shoe factory in Portsmouth. He lived there during the week and returned home on the weekends, bearing gifts for the family following paydays. One notable gift was a horse on which Leonard learned the basics of horsemanship.

After completing the eighth grade, Leonard attended high school in McDermott, Ohio. When he was 17, his family returned to Cincinnati, where his father began work at another shoe factory. He soon decided on the necessity to help his family financially, so he quit high school, joined his father at the shoe factory, and began attending night school. After being ridiculed for falling asleep in class, however, he quit school and never returned.

Leonard and his father felt imprisoned by their factory jobs. In 1929, his older sister, Mary, moved to Lawndale, California with her husband. Father and son decided to quit their shoe factory jobs. The family packed their 1923 Dodge for a visit with Mary and stayed four months before returning to Ohio. Almost immediately afterward, Leonard had the opportunity to travel to California with Mary's father-in-law, and the rest of the family followed in the spring of 1930.

The Slyes rented a small house near Mary. Leonard and his father immediately found employment as truck drivers for a highway construction project. They reported to work one morning, however, to learn their employer had gone bankrupt. The economic hardship of the Great Depression had followed them west, and the Slyes soon found themselves among the economic refugees traveling from job to job picking fruit and living in worker campsites. (He would later read John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath and marvel at its accuracy.) One day, Andy Slye was told of a shoe factory hiring in Los Angeles and asked Leonard to join him in applying there for work. Leonard, having seen the joy that his guitar and singing had brought to the destitute around the campfires, hesitantly told his father that he was going to pursue a living in music. With his father's blessing, he and cousin Stanley Slye went to Los Angeles and sought musical engagements as The Slye Brothers.

In 1932, Leonard, now known as "Len," met Lucille Ascolese while on tour. That same year, a palomino colt was foaled in Santa Cietro, CA, named "Golden Cloud", and later renamed "Trigger" in 1938 after he was acquired by Roy. In May 1933, Len, 21, proposed to Lucille, 19, via a radio broadcast. Len then went on tour with the "O-Bar-O Cowboys" and in June 1933 met Grace Arline Wilkins at a Roswell, New Mexico radio station. She traded Len a lemon pie for his singing "Swiss Yodel" over the air. By August 1934, Len and Lucille had separated as she was reportedly jealous and tired of being a musician's wife. Len and Lucille's divorce was granted on May 28, 1935, and became final on June 8, 1936. Having corresponded since their first meeting, Len and Grace Arline Wilkins were married in Roswell, New Mexico, on June 11, 1936.^[1]

In 1941, the couple adopted a girl, Cheryl Darlene. Two years later, Arline bore a daughter, Linda Lou.

Rogers and Arline had a son, Roy Jr. ("Dusty") in 1946, but Arline died of complications from the birth a few days afterward on November 3. Rogers had met Dale Evans in 1944 when she was cast in a movie with Rogers. Following Arline's death, Rogers and Evans soon fell in love, and Rogers proposed to her during a rodeo at Chicago Stadium. They married on New Year's Eve in 1947 at the Flying L Ranch in Davis, Oklahoma, where a few months earlier they had filmed Home in Oklahoma. Rogers and Evans remained married until Rogers's death in 1998.^[1]

Career[link]

Leonard Slye moved to California to become a singer. After four years of little success, he formed the Sons of the Pioneers with Bob Nolan and Tim Spencer, a Western cowboy music group, in 1934. The group hit it big with songs like "Cool Water" and "Tumbling Tumbleweeds". From his first film appearance in 1935, he worked steadily in western films, including a large supporting role as a singing cowboy while still billed as "Leonard Slye" in a Gene Autry movie. In 1938, when Autry temporarily walked out on his movie contract, Slye was immediately rechristened "Roy Rogers." Slye's stage name was suggested by Republic Picture's staff after Will Rogers and the shortening of Leroy. and assigned the lead in Under Western Stars. Rogers became a matinee idol and American legend. A competitor for Gene Autry as the nation's favorite singing cowboy was suddenly born. In addition to his own movies, Rogers played a supporting role in the John Wayne classic Dark Command (1940). Rogers became a major box office attraction.

Roy Rogers in The Carson City Kid

In the Motion Picture Herald Top Ten Money-Making Western Stars poll, Rogers was listed for 15 consecutive years from 1939 to 1954, holding first place from 1943 to 1954.^[2] He appeared in the similar Box Office poll from 1938 to 1955, holding first place from 1943 to 1952. (In the final three years of that poll he was second only to Randolph Scott.) ^[3] Although these two polls are really an indication only of the popularity of series stars, Rogers also appeared in the Top Ten Money Makers Poll of all films in 1945 and 1946.^[4]

Rogers was an idol for many children through his films and television shows. Most of his postwar films were in Trucolor during an era when almost all other B-movies were black-and-white. Some of his movies would segue into animal adventures, in which Rogers's horse Trigger would go off on his own for a while, with the camera following him.

With money from not only Rogers' films but his own public appearances going to Republic Pictures, Rogers brought a clause into a 1940 contract with the studio where he would have the right to his likeness, voice and name for merchandising.^[5] There were Roy Rogers action figures, cowboy adventure novels, and playsets, as well as a comic strip, a long-lived Dell Comics comic book series (Roy Rogers Comics) written by Gaylord Du Bois, and a variety of marketing successes. Roy Rogers was second only to Walt Disney in the amount of items featuring his name.^[6] The Sons of the Pioneers continued their popularity, and they have never stopped performing from the time Rogers started the group, replacing members as they retired or passed away (all original members are deceased). Although Rogers was no longer an active member, they often appeared as Rogers' backup group in films, radio, and television, and Rogers would occasionally appear with them in performances up until his death. In August 1950, Evans and Rogers had a daughter, Robin Elizabeth, who had Down Syndrome and died of complications with mumps shortly before her second birthday. Evans wrote about losing their daughter in her book Angel Unaware.

Rogers and the Sons of the Pioneers in the film, Rainbow Over Texas

Rogers and Evans were also well known as advocates for adoption and as founders and operators of children's charities. They adopted several children. Both were outspoken Christians. In Apple Valley, California, where they made their home, numerous streets and highways as well as civic buildings have been named after them in recognition of their efforts on behalf of homeless and handicapped children. Rogers was an active Freemason and a Shriner, and was noted for his support of their charities.

Rogers and Evans's famous theme song, "Happy Trails", was written by Evans; they sang it as a duet to sign off their television show. In the fall of 1962, the couple co-hosted a comedy-western-variety program, The Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Show, aired on ABC. It was cancelled after three months, losing in the ratings to The Jackie Gleason Show on CBS. He also made numerous cameo or guest appearances on other popular television shows, starring as himself or other cowboy-type characters, such as in an episode of Wonder Woman called "The Bushwackers".^[7] Rogers also owned a Hollywood production company which handled his own series. It also filmed other undertakings, including the 1955-1956 CBS western series Brave Eagle starring Keith Larsen as a young peaceful Cheyenne chief, Kim Winona as Morning Star, his romantic interest, and the Hopi Indian Anthony Numkena as Keena, Brave Eagle's foster son.

Rogers and Dale Evans at the 61st Academy Awards in 1989

In 1968 Rogers licensed his name to the Marriot corporation, which converted its Hot Shoppes locations to Roy Rogers Restaurants, with which Rogers otherwise had no involvement.

Rogers owned a Thoroughbred racehorse named Triggairo, who won 13 career races including the 1975 El Encino Stakes at Santa Anita Park.^[8]

Death[link]

When Rogers died of congestive heart failure on July 6, 1998, he was residing in Apple Valley, California. He was interred at Sunset Hills Cemetery ^[9] in Apple Valley, as was his wife, Dale Evans, three years later.^[10]

Homages and influence[link]

Rogers and Dale Evans at Knott's Berry Farm in the 1970s

For his contribution to the motion picture industry, Rogers has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1752 Vine Street, a second star at 1733 Vine Street for his contribution to radio, and a third star at 1620 Vine Street for his contribution to the television industry. Rogers and Evans were inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, in 1976 and Rogers was inducted again as a member of the Sons of the Pioneers in 1995. Rogers was also twice elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame, first as a member of The Sons of the Pioneers in 1980 and as a soloist in 1988.

Rogers was mentioned in the Lyle Lovett single "If I Had A Boat", Elton John's 1973 album "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" contained the escapist ballad "Roy Rogers", and Toby Keith's "Should've Been A Cowboy".

In the 1988 film Die Hard, the Bruce Willis character John McClane used the nom de guerre of "Roy", saying "I was always kinda partial to Roy Rogers actually".

American Dad character Roger uses "Roy Rogers" as a pseudonym in the episode "Roy Rogers McFreely".

Cheryl Rogers Barnett, a daughter of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, has written with Frank Thompson; Cowboy Princess: Life with My Parents, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans'.^[11]

Filmography[link]

Discography[link]

Charted albums[link]

Charted singles[link]

• ^A"Hoppy, Gene and Me" also peaked at number 65 on the Billboard Hot 100^[12] and number 38 on the RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks chart in Canada.

Music videos[link]

Popular songs recorded by Rogers[link]

• "Don't Fence Me In"
• "Hold That Critter Down"
• "Little White Cross On The Hill"
• "One More Ride"
• "Ride Ranger Ride"
• "That Pioneer Mother Of Mine"
• "Tumbling Tumbleweeds"
• "Way Out There" (singing and yodeling)
• "Why, Oh Why, Did I Ever Leave Wyoming?"
• "Hold On Partner" (duet with Clint Black)

See also[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Roy Rogers

• Roy Rogers Restaurants
• Roy Rogers cocktail
• Earl W. Bascom, cowboy artist who worked with Roy Rogers

Notes[link]

References[link]

• Rogers, Roy; Evans, Dale; Stowers, Carlton (1979). Happy Trails: The Story of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. Waco, Texas: Word Books. ISBN 0-8499-0086-7. 
• Enss, Chris; Kazanjian, Howard (2005). The Cowboy and the Senorita: A Biography of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans (1st ed.). Guilford, CT: TwoDot. ISBN 978-0-7627-3830-4. 
• Phillips, Robert W. (1995). Roy Rogers : A Biography. Jefferson, NC [u.a.]: McFarland. ISBN 0-89950-937-1. 
• Zwisohn, Laurence. (1998). "Roy Rogers". In The Encyclopedia of Country Music. Paul Kingsbury, Editor. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 456–457.

External links[link]

• Roy Rogers at the Internet Movie Database
• Official family website
• Database and Cover gallery of Roy Rogers comic book appearances
• Roy Rogers Ranch
• Interview with Delores Chapman who had a bit part with Roy Rogers in North of the Great Divide
• Profile at Turner Classic Movies
• Roy Rogers at the Internet Broadway Database
• Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
• Dusty Rhoads: Cowboy Bassist and vocalist who toured with Roy Rogers; original member of the Whippoorwills
• I Love Comix Archive: Roy Rogers
• The Ackerman Collection of Historical Photographs
• RFD-TV Trigger and Bullet Happy Trails Tour
• Public domain Roy Rogers media at Internet Archive
• "Roy & Dale 100th Anniversary"