Journal Notes

I’m thrilled to share two exciting honors from the American Writing Awards!

Winner – Western Category
Tilghman: The Legendary Lawman and the Woman Who Inspired Him has officially won the American Writing Award for Western writing. I’m deeply grateful for this recognition and for the readers who continue to keep the stories of the American West alive.

Finalist – True Crime Category
Meet the Kellys: The True Story of Machine Gun Kelly and His Moll Kathryn Thorne has been named a finalist in the True Crime category. This story has been years in the making, and I’m honored to see it acknowledged among such compelling works.

My heartfelt thanks to the judges, readers, and everyone who supports historical storytelling. Your encouragement makes all the research, writing, and long hours worthwhile.

More updates coming soon—and thank you for celebrating these stories with me!

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The Cowboy and the Senorita: The Biography of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans

From the silver screen to beloved television classics, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans were rarely alone on their adventures. Their sidekicks – both human and four-legged – played a huge role in shaping the humor, heart, and heroics fans loved for generations. Here are 10 little-known facts about the unforgettable crew that rode alongside America’s King of the Cowboys and the Queen of the West:

1. Gabby Hayes Wasn’t Really a Cowboy

George “Gabby” Hayes, Roy’s most iconic film sidekick, grew up in New York and had zero ranching experience—but his gruff charm made him a Western legend.

2. Pat Brady Started as a Singer

Before becoming the comedic driver of Nellybelle on The Roy Rogers Show, Pat Brady was a talented vocalist with the Sons of the Pioneers.

3. Nellybelle Had Her Own Fan Mail

The quirky, cantankerous Jeep that Pat Brady drove became one of the most popular characters on television, receiving letters from children across the country.

4. Dale Evans’ Horse, Buttermilk, Was a Sidekick in Her Own Right

Often overshadowed by Trigger, Buttermilk appeared in numerous films and episodes, showcasing remarkable agility and personality.

5. Andy Devine’s Distinctive Voice Was a Happy Accident

The beloved character actor – frequently cast as Roy’s film sidekick – developed his raspy voice after a childhood accident.

6. Bullet the Wonder Dog Was a Scene-Stealer

Bullet wasn’t just a set prop—he performed his own stunts and appeared in nearly every episode of The Roy Rogers Show.

7. Sons of the Pioneers Provided More Than Music

Members of the group not only sang in several Rogers films but also appeared onscreen as supporting characters, blending harmony with heroics.

8. Smiley Burnette Brought Comedy and Heart

Known for his musical talent and slapstick charm, Smiley brightened the early Rogers films with his warm, lovable presence.

9. Sidekicks Helped Shape the Rogers–Evans Brand

The humor and humanity added by sidekick characters made the films uniquely family-friendly, helping Roy and Dale become crossover stars.

10. Their Sidekicks Were As Beloved As the Stars

For many fans, Roy Rogers films felt incomplete without the signature banter, loyalty, and warmth provided by the supporting players who helped define an era of American Western entertainment.

If you love learning the stories behind Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, and the larger-than-life figures who traveled the trail with them, you’ll enjoy The Cowboy and the Senorita: The Biography of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans — a richly detailed look at their lives, careers, and enduring legacy.

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The Cowboy and the Senorita: The Biography of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans

The adventures of Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, Trigger, and Bullet lit up American television screens throughout the 1950s – but the real magic often happened off-camera. Here are ten behind-the-scenes facts most fans never hear:

1. Trigger had his own dressing room – and a fan club.
   The world’s smartest horse was treated like the star he was. He had his own grooming area on set, and fan mail poured in addressed directly to him.
2. Dale often rewrote her own lines.
   Producers trusted Dale’s instincts, especially when it came to adding warmth or humor. She regularly polished dialogue to better suit her character’s strength and intelligence.
3. Roy insisted on doing most of his own stunts.
   Even as the show gained popularity, Roy preferred riding, roping, and action scenes without stunt doubles whenever possible.
4. Bullet was originally trained as a police dog.
   His tracking, guarding, and chase skills came from his early training—something that made him a natural scene-stealer in action sequences.
5. Real townspeople sometimes appeared as extras.
   Filming took place in locations like Iverson Ranch and Pioneertown, and locals were occasionally recruited for saloon scenes and street crowds.
6. Dale’s costumes were handmade – and she designed many herself.
   Her signature western skirts and blouses weren’t off-the-rack. Dale collaborated closely with wardrobe designers to create her iconic look.
7. Roy refused to depict excessive violence.
   He believed the show should offer family-friendly adventure, so he often pushed back against scripts that were too dark or aggressive.
8. Trigger learned new cues specifically for the show.
   The crew invented new hand signals and voice commands so the horse’s tricks could be performed on tight TV shooting schedules.
9. The cast and crew were like family.
   Birthdays, cookouts, and trail rides were common during filming breaks. Roy and Dale made sure everyone—from camera operators to extras—felt appreciated.
10. “Happy Trails” was never planned as the theme song.
    The tune Dale wrote for Roy became so beloved by audiences and crew that it gradually shifted into the show’s unofficial – and later official – musical signature.

To learn more about Roy Rogers and Dale Evans read

The Cowboy and the Senorita: The Biography of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans.

Enter now to win a copy of

The Cowboy and the Senorita: The Biography of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans

Long before celebrity memoirs filled bookstore shelves, Dale Evans was writing honest, heartfelt stories that inspired millions. Known around the world as the Queen of the West, Dale wasn’t just Roy Rogers’ cherished partner on screen and in life – she was also a gifted author whose books became national bestsellers and touched readers for generations.

From her moving, faith-filled classic Angel Unaware, written after the loss of her daughter Robin, to uplifting titles like The Woman at the Well, and In the Hands of the Potter, Dale wrote with compassion, courage, and a remarkable understanding of the human heart. Her storytelling helped define her legacy as more than a Western icon – she became a voice of hope for families across America.

To explore Dale’s extraordinary life, her partnership with Roy, and the real stories behind their most beloved films, dive into The Cowboy and the Senorita: The Biography of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans – a rich, intimate portrait of two legends who shaped the golden age of the American West.

Celebrate the life, words, and enduring spirit of Dale Evans – one of the West’s brightest stars, on screen and on the page.

Enter now to win a copy of

The Cowboy and the Senorita: The Biography of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans

Enter now to win a copy of

The Cowboy and the Senorita: The Biography of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans

Roy Rogers and Dale Evans weren’t just the King of the Cowboys and the Queen of the West – they were the heart and soul of American Western music. Their timeless songs celebrated courage, faith, and the wide-open spirit of the West. Here are ten of their most beloved tunes that continue to inspire fans old and new:

1. “Happy Trails” – Their signature duet and one of the most recognizable Western songs ever written.
2. “Don’t Fence Me In” – A carefree anthem to freedom and adventure on the range.
3. “My Heart Went That-a-Way” – A sweet, lighthearted tune that showcased their playful chemistry.
4. “The Bible Tells Me So” – A heartfelt gospel number reflecting their deep faith.
5. “Dusty” – A tender tribute to Roy’s faithful horse, capturing the cowboy’s bond with his loyal companion.
6. “A Four-Legged Friend” – Another Rogers classic celebrating man’s best friend, both on and off the trail.
7. “Yellow Rose of Texas” – A lively Western favorite they performed with warmth and charm.
8. “Blue Shadows on the Trail” – A hauntingly beautiful ballad that evokes the quiet peace of a desert evening.
9. “Along the Navajo Trail” – A smooth, romantic tune filled with Western imagery.
10. “Tumbling Tumbleweeds” – One of Roy’s early hits that became a cowboy classic, embodying the restless spirit of the West.

To learn more about the music, movies, and remarkable love story of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, explore The Cowboy and the Señorita: The Biography of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans by New York Times bestselling author Chris Enss.

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The Cowboy and the Senorita: The Biography of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans

Get to know the remarkable woman behind America’s favorite cowboy couple! Dale Evans wasn’t just Roy Rogers’ on-screen partner – she was a trailblazer in film, music, and faith. Discover her incredible story in The Cowboy and the Senorita: The Biography of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans.

1. Dale Evans wasn’t her real name – she was born Frances Octavia Smith in Uvalde, Texas.
2. She started her career as a radio singer before Hollywood came calling.
3. Her big break came when she starred opposite Roy Rogers in The Cowboy and the Senorita (1944) – and the nickname stuck!
4. Dale and Roy were married for 51 years, one of Hollywood’s longest partnerships.
5. She wrote the beloved song “Happy Trails,” which became the couple’s signature tune.
6. She was known as “Queen of the West,” while Roy was “King of the Cowboys.”
7. Dale wrote more than 20 books, including the inspirational bestseller Angel Unaware.
8. She and Roy were deeply involved in charity work, especially for children with disabilities.
9. Dale was inducted into the Cowgirl Hall of Fame in 1995.
10. Her legacy continues to inspire generations who believe in faith, family, and the Western spirit.

Learn more about Dale’s extraordinary journey in The Cowboy and the Senorita: The Biography of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans — a story of love, courage, and cowboy charm.

#RoyRogers #DaleEvans #HappyTrails #WesternLegends #TheCowboyAndTheSenorita

Daughters of Daring: Hollywood Cowgirl Stunt Women is a powerful survey of the women who made names for themselves in Hollywood as career stunt women, performing dangerous acts. Most readers have heard of stand-in stunt-men, but few will have prior knowledge of these women, who were chosen both for their ability and because:

That scene and nearly every other thrill the audience witnessed in early motion pictures where a lovely girl was in danger was made by one of Hollywood’s forgotten, fearless stuntwomen doubling for movie stars. She didn’t double for the star because the star lacked courage. She did it because, if she were maimed or killed, it would make little difference to the cost of the picture. If the star tried to wreck a buckboard and suffered even a split lip, the cost of delayed production would have amounted to thousands of dollars. Using a cowgirl stuntwoman in Westerns was insurance for the studios. While beautiful movie stars were expensive, courageous lady equestrians were more common and well within the studio’s budget.

With this introductory surprise, readers are off on a wild ride through the biographical sketches of selected Hollywood stuntwomen whose lives and achievements have, until now, gone largely undocumented.

These portraits embrace how each women got into the stunt-riding act, creating connections between such seemingly disparate circumstances as Lucille Mulhall’s encounter with Will Rogers at the Mulhall’s Congress of Rough Riders and Ropers, which resulted in the teenager’s training and developing extraordinary abilities in roping and riding; or Oregon girl Lorena Trickey, whose early skills with horses and riding led her to work with early film pioneers Mix and Pickford.

Hollywood history, women’s lives, and extraordinary talents of the times meld in a series of stories that are vivid and engrossing, adding depth and dimension to each woman’s experiences.

Enss’s focus not only on what they did but how they became stunt women and often embraced even more achievements outside of Hollywood makes for a vivid collection of biographical sketches supplemented by equally eye-opening vintage photos of the women.

Libraries and readers seeking thoroughly engrossing Western and women’s history accounts will relish how both come to life in this intriguing, unusual survey.

The juxtaposition of U.S. history, western culture, and Hollywood interests assures that, as it deserves, Daughters of Daring will receive broad interest from a wide audience of history buffs, women’s history readers, and general-interest readers alike.

Midwest Book Review

Daughters of Daring: Hollywood Cowgirl Stuntwomen is scheduled for release in February 2026! 

Enter now to win a copy of

The Cowboy and the Senorita: The Biography of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans

1. The Cowboy and the Senorita (1944)

• Significance: First film featuring Roy Rogers and Dale Evans together. It marked the start of their legendary on-screen partnership.
• Studio: Republic Pictures
• Release Date: May 13, 1944
• Plot: Roy helps a runaway heiress (Dale) recover stolen gold.
• Box Office: Estimated $1.5 million (U.S.), a major hit for Republic in wartime America.

2. Don’t Fence Me In (1945)

• Release Date: November 12, 1945
• Plot: A magazine writer (Dale) investigates a legendary outlaw who turns out to be Roy’s friend.
• Box Office: Estimated $2 million, making it one of Republic’s highest-grossing Rogers films.
• Song Highlight: “Don’t Fence Me In” became one of Dale’s signature tunes.

3. My Pal Trigger (1946)

• Release Date: July 10, 1946
• Plot: Roy is accused of a horse killing and seeks to clear his name, leading to the birth of Trigger, his famous palomino.
• Box Office: Estimated $1.8 million

4. Home in Oklahoma (1946)

• Release Date: December 6, 1946
• Plot: Roy plays a singing cowboy turned newspaper editor investigating a murder, with Dale as the romantic lead.
• Box Office: Estimated $1.6 million

5. Apache Rose (1947)

• Release Date: February 9, 1947
• Plot: Roy protects an oil-rich ranch owned by Dale’s character from gamblers and bandits.
• Box Office: Estimated $1.5 million

To learn more about Roy Rogers and Dale Evans read:

The Cowboy and the Senorita: The Biography of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans

A bit of good news out of Oklahoma yesterday.

The Sharpshooter and the Showman are #8 on Oklahoma’s Bestseller List in nonfiction books.

ooray for May Lillie and Pawnee Bill!