Journal Notes

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.

Enter now to win a copy of

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!

Enter now to win a copy of

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

1. Roy’s Real Name Was Leonard Franklin Slye

Before Hollywood, Roy was a shoe factory worker from Ohio. He even drove a bread truck before heading west to try his luck in music.

2. Dale Evans Wrote “Happy Trails” in a Single Afternoon

The iconic song that closed The Roy Rogers Show was written by Dale on the back of an envelope in about twenty minutes—just before they were set to record the episode.

3. They First Met on a Movie Set—But Didn’t Hit It Off Immediately

Roy and Dale met while filming Cowboy and the Senorita (1944). Though their chemistry was clear on screen, Dale was initially cautious of Roy’s fame and fan attention.

4. Roy Was a Founding Member of the Sons of the Pioneers

Before his solo stardom, Roy helped form this legendary Western singing group. Their harmonies on songs like Tumbling Tumbleweeds and Cool Water set the standard for cowboy music.

5. Dale Was a Radio Star Before Hollywood

She hosted her own radio program in the 1930s, The Dale Evans Show, which helped her transition to film at Republic Pictures—where she eventually met Roy.

6. Their Daughter Robin Inspired a Groundbreaking Book

Robin, born with Down syndrome, lived only two years, but inspired Dale’s deeply moving book Angel Unaware (1953). It changed public perception about children with disabilities and sold over a million copies.

7. Roy Was a Licensed Pilot

He earned his pilot’s license in the 1940s and often flew himself and Dale between personal appearances, rodeos, and film locations.

8. Trigger Had His Own Hollywood Contract

Roy’s famous golden palomino, Trigger, had a contract that included his own stand-in horse for stunts and even a dressing room on set.

9. They Adopted Five Children Together

Beyond their biological children, Roy and Dale adopted five more, including children from different countries—long before international adoption was common in America.

10. They Were Early Television Pioneers

The Roy Rogers Show was among the first Western series broadcast in color. Roy insisted on shooting in color even when most homes still had black-and-white TVs—he wanted the Western landscapes to shine.

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

On this day, we celebrate the birth of one of America’s most beloved western stars – Roy Rogers, the King of the Cowboys. Born on November 5, 1911, Roy captured the hearts of millions with his charm, integrity, and unwavering devotion to family and faith. From his early days as a radio performer to his rise as a Hollywood icon, Roy embodied the very spirit of the American West – honest, humble, and heroic.

Together with his wife and partner, Dale Evans, Roy created an enduring legacy of love, music, and hope. Whether they were riding across the silver screen on their trusty horses, Trigger and Buttermilk, or sharing heartfelt messages through their songs and television show, Roy and Dale inspired generations to live with courage, kindness, and compassion. Their story wasn’t just one of fame and adventure – it was a real-life love story rooted in faith and resilience.

To learn more about the remarkable life of Roy Rogers and the woman who shared his trail, read The Cowboy and the Senorita: The Biography of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans – a book that offers a behind-the-scenes look at their journey through triumph, tragedy, and timeless devotion.

Enter now for a chance to win a copy of the book and celebrate the legacy of two of the West’s most iconic figures.

So today, tip your hat and hum a few bars of “Happy Trails” in honor of Roy Rogers –

the cowboy who reminded us all that heroes never truly ride away.

What an incredible weekend! I’m filled with gratitude and excitement to share that this past weekend in Oklahoma, two stories about women of the American West published in Saddlebag Dispatches magazine were honored with awards from the Will Rogers Medallion Award (WRMA) – what an honor.