Western variety · Mutual / NBC
The Roy Rogers Show
November 21, 1944 – July 21, 1955 · 348 broadcasts
Roy Rogers rode into radio in November 1944, the singing "King of the Cowboys" playing himself out of the Double R Bar Ranch. In its early Mutual years the half-hour leaned on music and campfire banter, built around Roy, his wife Dale Evans -- the "Queen of the West" -- and the close harmonies of Bob Nolan's Sons of the Pioneers (later Foy Willing and the Riders of the Purple Sage). Gabby Hayes, and afterward Pat Brady, filled the comic seat. When the show jumped to NBC in October 1951 it hardened into a Western thriller, pitting Roy against rustlers, counterfeiters, claim-jumpers and smugglers across Paradise Valley -- and always closing, in duet with Dale, on her own song "Happy Trails." Because Rogers' film and personal-appearance schedule left no room for live broadcasts, the series was among the first recorded on transcription disc, and it aired on more than 500 stations until 1955. Roughly a quarter of the about 348 documented broadcasts survive as recordings; the rest are logged here for completeness.
Collection status:
94 of 348 held (27% complete)
◆ ◆ ◆
Episode Spine
Grouped by year. Jump to the full list below, or open a season on its own page.
- 1944 (6 episodes)
- 1945 (20 episodes)
- 1946 (13 episodes)
- 1947 (13 episodes)
- 1948 (19 episodes)
- 1949 (52 episodes)
- 1950 (48 episodes)
- 1951 (32 episodes)
- 1952 (33 episodes)
- 1953 (34 episodes)
- 1954 (49 episodes)
- 1955 (29 episodes)
1944
November 21, 1944
(untitled)
November 28, 1944
(untitled)
December 5, 1944
(untitled)
December 12, 1944
(untitled)
December 19, 1944
(untitled)
December 26, 1944
(untitled)
1945
January 2, 1945
(untitled)
January 9, 1945
(untitled)
January 16, 1945
(untitled)
An early variety broadcast: guest impressionist Sara Berner voices Fanny Brice, Gracie Allen and Judy Canova as Roy sings and salutes Wyoming.
A song-driven early show in which Roy recounts the exploits of a Texas Ranger named Tom Barnes.
February 6, 1945
(untitled)
February 13, 1945
(untitled)
February 20, 1945
(untitled)
February 27, 1945
(untitled)
March 6, 1945
(untitled)
March 13, 1945
(untitled)
March 20, 1945
(untitled)
March 27, 1945
(untitled)
April 10, 1945
(untitled)
April 17, 1945
(untitled)
April 24, 1945
(untitled)
May 1, 1945
(untitled)
Guest Porter Hall drops in as Roy spins the frontier legend of Pecos Bill, framed by Western songs.
May 15, 1945
The West of Old
1946
October 5, 1946
(untitled)
October 12, 1946
(untitled)
October 19, 1946
(untitled)
October 26, 1946
(untitled)
November 2, 1946
(untitled)
November 9, 1946
(untitled)
November 16, 1946
(untitled)
November 23, 1946
(untitled)
November 30, 1946
(untitled)
December 7, 1946
(untitled)
December 14, 1946
(untitled)
December 21, 1946
(untitled)
December 28, 1946
(untitled)
1947
January 4, 1947
(untitled)
January 11, 1947
(untitled)
January 18, 1947
(untitled)
January 25, 1947
(untitled)
February 1, 1947
(untitled)
February 8, 1947
(untitled)
February 15, 1947
(untitled)
February 22, 1947
(untitled)
March 1, 1947
(untitled)
March 8, 1947
(untitled)
March 15, 1947
(untitled)
March 22, 1947
(untitled)
March 29, 1947
(untitled)
1948
In this surviving Quaker Oats audition, cryptic wall-writing and a set of menacing, talkative puppets turn Paradise Valley upside down.
How Dale Evans came to hold the ranch bordering Roy's Double R.
Cash-strapped Charlie Davidson turns up just as someone springs Dale's palominos loose from the corral.
September 12, 1948
(untitled)
A yearling vanishes from Roy's ranch with money left behind to pay for it, and the general store is looted the same puzzling way.
October 3, 1948
(untitled)
October 10, 1948
(untitled)
October 17, 1948
(untitled)
October 24, 1948
(untitled)
October 31, 1948
(untitled)
November 7, 1948
(untitled)
November 14, 1948
(untitled)
November 21, 1948
(untitled)
November 28, 1948
(untitled)
December 5, 1948
(untitled)
December 12, 1948
(untitled)
December 19, 1948
(untitled)
December 26, 1948
(untitled)
1949
January 2, 1949
(untitled)
January 9, 1949
(untitled)
January 16, 1949
(untitled)
January 23, 1949
(untitled)
January 30, 1949
(untitled)
February 6, 1949
(untitled)
February 13, 1949
(untitled)
February 20, 1949
(untitled)
February 27, 1949
(untitled)
March 6, 1949
(untitled)
March 13, 1949
(untitled)
March 20, 1949
(untitled)
March 27, 1949
(untitled)
April 3, 1949
(untitled)
April 10, 1949
(untitled)
April 17, 1949
(untitled)
April 24, 1949
(untitled)
May 1, 1949
(untitled)
May 15, 1949
(untitled)
May 22, 1949
(untitled)
May 29, 1949
(untitled)
June 5, 1949
(untitled)
June 12, 1949
(untitled)
June 19, 1949
(untitled)
July 3, 1949
(untitled)
July 10, 1949
(untitled)
July 31, 1949
(untitled)
August 7, 1949
(untitled)
August 14, 1949
(untitled)
August 21, 1949
(untitled)
August 28, 1949
(untitled)
September 4, 1949
(untitled)
September 11, 1949
(untitled)
September 18, 1949
(untitled)
September 25, 1949
(untitled)
October 2, 1949
(untitled)
October 9, 1949
(untitled)
October 16, 1949
(untitled)
October 23, 1949
(untitled)
October 30, 1949
(untitled)
November 6, 1949
(untitled)
November 13, 1949
(untitled)
November 20, 1949
(untitled)
November 27, 1949
(untitled)
December 4, 1949
(untitled)
December 11, 1949
(untitled)
December 18, 1949
(untitled)
December 25, 1949
(untitled)
1950
January 1, 1950
(untitled)
January 8, 1950
(untitled)
January 15, 1950
(untitled)
January 22, 1950
(untitled)
January 29, 1950
(untitled)
February 5, 1950
(untitled)
February 12, 1950
(untitled)
February 19, 1950
(untitled)
February 26, 1950
(untitled)
March 5, 1950
(untitled)
March 12, 1950
(untitled)
March 19, 1950
(untitled)
March 26, 1950
(untitled)
April 2, 1950
(untitled)
April 9, 1950
(untitled)
April 16, 1950
(untitled)
April 23, 1950
(untitled)
April 30, 1950
(untitled)
May 7, 1950
(untitled)
May 14, 1950
(untitled)
May 21, 1950
(untitled)
May 28, 1950
(untitled)
June 4, 1950
(untitled)
June 11, 1950
(untitled)
June 18, 1950
(untitled)
June 25, 1950
(untitled)
August 6, 1950
(untitled)
August 13, 1950
(untitled)
August 20, 1950
(untitled)
August 27, 1950
(untitled)
September 3, 1950
(untitled)
September 10, 1950
(untitled)
September 17, 1950
(untitled)
September 24, 1950
(untitled)
October 1, 1950
(untitled)
October 8, 1950
(untitled)
October 15, 1950
(untitled)
October 22, 1950
(untitled)
October 29, 1950
(untitled)
November 5, 1950
(untitled)
November 12, 1950
(untitled)
November 19, 1950
(untitled)
November 26, 1950
(untitled)
December 3, 1950
(untitled)
December 10, 1950
(untitled)
December 17, 1950
(untitled)
December 24, 1950
(untitled)
December 31, 1950
(untitled)
1951
January 7, 1951
(untitled)
January 14, 1951
(untitled)
January 21, 1951
(untitled)
January 28, 1951
(untitled)
February 4, 1951
(untitled)
February 11, 1951
(untitled)
February 18, 1951
(untitled)
February 25, 1951
(untitled)
Roy sets out to see rancher Nort Spitzer and his cattle safely past the threats of the ruthless Cliff Bogard -- and takes a rare beating doing it.
March 11, 1951
(untitled)
March 18, 1951
(untitled)
March 25, 1951
(untitled)
April 1, 1951
(untitled)
April 8, 1951
(untitled)
April 15, 1951
(untitled)
April 22, 1951
(untitled)
April 29, 1951
(untitled)
May 6, 1951
(untitled)
May 13, 1951
Hawaiian Adventure
Dale is kidnapped by a holdup gang that bolts for Last Chance Springs.
When Jake Gullick menaces Doug Manson's herd, a gang of night riders begins striking.
An old prospector friend of Roy's turns up in need of a hand.
Sentenced and out for revenge, Doug Manson bolts from the courtroom and later forces a captured Roy to talk.
Roy tracks a counterfeiting ring slipping bad bills through the Mitchell Ice Company, with Andy Sales scheming behind it.
Outlaws seize a dead lawman's badge and warrant, then bankroll one of their own to stay free and keep running a business.
Herb Selby angles for a place in the notorious DiBona gang.
Jonah sees a man killed over the missing piece of a map to a stash of stolen cash.
Eight escaped convicts descend on Paradise Valley.
After Lynn Dean charges the sheriff with taking a payoff to free a prisoner, a hundred dollars is found hidden in the lawman's house.
A low-key Christmas outing: trailing the Don Wallace gang, Roy's party meets an odd singing cowpoke called Prodigal.
Doug Manson and Ed Norris beat Bill Palmer, then brazenly check into Dale's hotel.
1952
Wanted highwayman Andy Sales wires the Mineral City sheriff that he is coming back to give himself up.
A crooked cattle sale is quickly followed by the disappearance of both Bill Snyder and his father.
Pressed into robbing a bank for the crooked Indian Wells marshal, Herb Selby reconsiders the outlaw life.
Snubbed by telegrapher Dick Harris over a personal wire, a vengeful Ed Bailey severs the telegraph line.
Roy tries to keep a bitter feud between Shell Platt and Bob Noble from turning bloody.
Cattle sicken on John Kennedy's ranch while con man Artie Kerner sells the same spread over and over.
Don Wallace threatens Dick Wiley's life unless Wiley's partner hands over their Winding Creek gold claim.
In the little town of Hideaway, Jake Gullick uses the law to keep a physician off his property -- and away from a girl sick with polio.
The self-styled 'Professor' Manson and his wife tangle Roy's effort to smash a smuggling ring.
Jim Mitchell is found dead in a well, and escaped convict John Kennedy becomes the easy suspect.
The Lee Bulow gang makes off with Peter Nicholas's life savings as Roy and Dale hunt their hideout.
Glen Dibona clears his bakery's mortgage just as Herb Selby confesses a string of crimes -- and counterfeit cash ties it all together.
Two swindlers salt worthless ground with real gold to pass off 'Desert Mary's' claim as a genuine strike.
Sid Kenyon and his five-hundred-frog wagonload lend a hand to a band of cattle rustlers.
The Rene Eigen gang schemes to seize the evidence that could convict its leader.
As the Paradise Valley Sweepstakes nears, Roy steps in to save a friend's ranch and his racehorse.
Crooks scour the range for the one steer whose horns hide a stash of stolen diamonds.
A couple of city crooks lease Roy's trout stream for some decidedly peculiar fishing.
A widow's mares keep vanishing to a phantom red stallion -- cover for a scheme to force her off her valuable ranch.
Roy lends a hand at Madison Square Garden's championship rodeo and ends up aboard a drugged bull.
Roy and Pat crack an alien-smuggling racket, and Roy barely escapes a bomb.
Don Waterous ends up murdered as Fred Apt maneuvers to buy a ranch with insurance-settlement cash.
A renegade agent and his bow-wielding accomplice pin a deer-poaching charge on Roy's Indian friends.
Lynn Dean, an elderly stranger, barely settles in for a rest at Roy's ranch before a bullet finds him.
Dale buys a mine map from 'Nugget Norman' that leads to the so-called Wailing Gold Mine.
Ranchers and nesters edge toward an all-out range war.
Something is plainly off about Lefty Roberts, back in Paradise Valley and up to no good.
To trap two horse thieves, Roy deliberately leaves Trigger open to being taken.
Roy's newly hired ex-convict finds going straight hard when cattle-rustling suspicion falls on him.
A real holdup erupts during Paradise Valley's historical-pageant stagecoach re-enactment.
After looting Paradise Valley's squatters of their gold, a masked thief vanishes into a spouting geyser.
A distinctive white buckskin jacket becomes the evidence that pins rustling and robbery on Roy.
Two nights before Christmas, a general-store robbery is pinned on an innocent man named Jess Gorman.
1953
Prison escapees raid a New Year's Eve dance for its firearms -- and drive off in Nellybelle.
The evidence that could jail his old gang sits in a safe-deposit box -- and an ex-convict has lost the key.
Poisoned cattle and a looming foreclosure threaten to cost Dan Sutton his Gold Mine ranch.
Crooked rodeo pro Cob Collins sets out to outshow Roy and Pat in the arena.
A tight-fisted new dude-ranch owner seems out to cheat the whole valley, and then a millionaire guest disappears.
Roy saves Jane Farmer from a rattlesnake, not knowing she means to kill him -- until Pat's fireworks turn the tables.
Braving a blizzard to reach a wounded trapper, Roy and Pat stumble onto a uranium claim-jumping scheme.
A jewel-theft ring meets its match when a birthday cake baked for the sheriff puts Roy onto the stolen pearls.
Ted Barnes, a reformed teenage delinquent, finds that making a fresh start at the Double R Bar is hard going, even with Roy in his corner.
Cuchara and his Apache people stand to be swindled out of their land and herds by rancher Wheeler.
Young Jackie Warners hurts his arm winning a calf at the Calf Scramble, and Roy makes sure the boy isn't cheated out of keeping it.
Oil turns up on the widow Jensen's land, and someone crooked is getting rich off it.
McCready's insurance fraud -- infecting a herd by way of a deliberately rabid dog -- is undone by Roy.
April 2, 1953
(untitled)
April 9, 1953
(untitled)
April 16, 1953
(untitled)
April 23, 1953
(untitled)
April 30, 1953
(untitled)
May 7, 1953
(untitled)
May 14, 1953
(untitled)
May 21, 1953
(untitled)
May 28, 1953
(untitled)
June 4, 1953
(untitled)
June 11, 1953
(untitled)
June 18, 1953
(untitled)
June 25, 1953
(untitled)
July 2, 1953
(untitled)
July 9, 1953
(untitled)
July 16, 1953
(untitled)
July 23, 1953
(untitled)
July 30, 1953
(untitled)
August 6, 1953
(untitled)
August 13, 1953
(untitled)
August 20, 1953
(untitled)
1954
February 4, 1954
(untitled)
February 11, 1954
(untitled)
February 18, 1954
(untitled)
February 25, 1954
(untitled)
March 11, 1954
(untitled)
March 18, 1954
(untitled)
March 25, 1954
(untitled)
April 1, 1954
(untitled)
April 8, 1954
(untitled)
April 22, 1954
This Old House
April 29, 1954
The Streets of Larado
May 13, 1954
(untitled)
May 27, 1954
(untitled)
June 3, 1954
(untitled)
June 10, 1954
(untitled)
June 17, 1954
(untitled)
June 24, 1954
(untitled)
July 29, 1954
(untitled)
August 5, 1954
(untitled)
August 12, 1954
(untitled)
August 19, 1954
(untitled)
August 26, 1954
(untitled)
September 2, 1954
(untitled)
September 9, 1954
(untitled)
September 16, 1954
(untitled)
September 23, 1954
(untitled)
September 30, 1954
(untitled)
October 14, 1954
(untitled)
October 21, 1954
(untitled)
October 28, 1954
(untitled)
November 4, 1954
(untitled)
November 11, 1954
(untitled)
November 25, 1954
(untitled)
December 2, 1954
(untitled)
December 9, 1954
(untitled)
December 16, 1954
(untitled)
December 23, 1954
(untitled)
1955
January 6, 1955
(untitled)
January 13, 1955
(untitled)
February 3, 1955
(untitled)
February 10, 1955
(untitled)
February 17, 1955
(untitled)
February 24, 1955
(untitled)
March 3, 1955
(untitled)
March 10, 1955
(untitled)
March 17, 1955
(untitled)
March 24, 1955
(untitled)
March 31, 1955
(untitled)
April 7, 1955
(untitled)
April 14, 1955
(untitled)
April 21, 1955
(untitled)
April 28, 1955
(untitled)
May 5, 1955
(untitled)
May 12, 1955
(untitled)
June 2, 1955
(untitled)
June 9, 1955
(untitled)
June 16, 1955
(untitled)
The Story
Roy Rogers rode into radio in November 1944, the singing "King of the Cowboys" playing himself out of the Double R Bar Ranch. In its early Mutual years the half-hour leaned on music and campfire banter, built around Roy, his wife Dale Evans -- the "Queen of the West" -- and the close harmonies of Bob Nolan's Sons of the Pioneers (later Foy Willing and the Riders of the Purple Sage). Gabby Hayes, and afterward Pat Brady, filled the comic seat. When the show jumped to NBC in October 1951 it hardened into a Western thriller, pitting Roy against rustlers, counterfeiters, claim-jumpers and smugglers across Paradise Valley -- and always closing, in duet with Dale, on her own song "Happy Trails." Because Rogers' film and personal-appearance schedule left no room for live broadcasts, the series was among the first recorded on transcription disc, and it aired on more than 500 stations until 1955. Roughly a quarter of the about 348 documented broadcasts survive as recordings; the rest are logged here for completeness.
Full story — coming soon while it's being curated.
Gallery
Art pending