Photoplay (Jan-Jun 1948)

Roy Rides Alone ( Continued, from page 33) shy, diffident and done up in cowboy trappings all the time. But when unhappiness came into his life, I wanted to see Roy again because his plight touched my heart — and I asked him to come to my home. He came straight from the set of his newest Republic movie late one evening so, of course, he was wearing his cowboy regalia, boots and sombrero plus, all but the saddle. I sensed as well as saw the change in him, although a half dozen years have not left much physical trace. He’s extraordinarily young looking for his thirty-five years and he has the same boyish appeal. But he is far more poised than when I first met him. Roy speaks softly but without a drawl (“I’m from Ohio, not Texas” he laughs. “Some of the best cowboys I’ve ever known come from the East — not the West.”) And for awhile we chatted, recalling that radio show we did and his recent tour with his rodeo. Then, with the first lull in the chit chat, I think he decided to get something off his chest. He said, “Louella, I was hurt when you said on the air that I was deeply interested in Dale Evans who plays in my pictures. My wife has been dead only a few months, and it came as a shock to me.” WELL, I’m not one of those girls who refuse to say, “I’m sorry.” I said it. “I know that you did not intend to hurt anyone,” Roy nodded. “It’s just that you didn’t understand. I like Dale. I like her fine. She’s the only girl I know well. She’s been in twenty pictures with me and when I take out the rodeo, she’s our singer. Naturally, I see her all the time. “I want to say that no girl could have been sweeter or more sympathetic to me and my babies when Arlene died — but I’m not getting married immediately. Not to anyone. My first obligation is to my children. They are my entire life right now — those three kids.” You’d have to have a heart made of sawdust not to have believed Roy and to have realized how sincere he was in what he was saying. I think he wanted me, and through me you, to understand exactly how he feels about this. “Oh, I’m not saying I’ll never marry again. I’m not cut out to be a bachelor and children need a mother — a woman’s affection and care. The most devoted father in the world can’t give that to them. There’s a big void in their lives right now. But this isn’t the time to try to fill it. They wouldn’t ’ understand and they would be hurt. For quite awhile longer it is going to be — just the children and me.” From the set of his firm jaw, I knew there was more to that , remark than floated to the surface. I had heard that Roy and his in-laws had had some discussions over the children following the death of his wife and because I wanted to keep all my cards face up with Roy in the future, I asked him if this was true. He said, “They want me to give up my little Linda, who is just four years old. In fact, they wanted all three of the children.” “And you refused?” I asked. No need to ask that question. His blue eyes blazed. “My children remain with me!” The f eldest , Rogers girl, Cheryl, was adopted. Roy and his wife drove to Texas to get her. Then when she was four, little Linda was born. It was during the birth of their only son, Roy Jr., that Mrs. Rogers died, j “I love Cheryl just as much as though j she had been born to us,” Roy went on in that deadly serious vein. “We told her [ from the beginning that she was adopted. I told her that out of all the children we "RCA > Victor Melodious classics arranged for dancing ... in the modern Martin manner! All feature sparkling piano passages. Album P-169, $3.15.* look! more new/ rca hits\u “SHAMROCK MELODIES” by Dennis Day: When Irish Eyes Are Smiling, Mother Machree, others. P-153, $2.55.* “EILEEN.” Eight hits from the show. Al Goodman, his Orchestra, and allstar cast. K-2, $4.00.* TEX BENEKE with the Miller Orchestra: Speaking of Angels; It Might Have Been a Different Story. 20-2123, 60d.* “NEW 52ND STREET JAZZ” by Dizzy Gillespie, Coleman Hawkins and their Say It Isn't So, O /' Man Rebop, Low Flame, others. HJ-9, $3.75.* PERRY COMO: I Want to Thank Your Folks; That's Where I Came In. 20-2117, 60t.^ ^Suggested list prices, exclusive of taxes Naturally ... on RCA Victor Records! Two “exclusives" — Victor’s billion-record skill . . . plus RCA's electronic wizardry . . . make music sound so natural on RCA Victor Records! Hear them on a Victrolat radio-phonograph. (tVictrola — T.M. Reg. U. S. Pat. Off.) Radio Corp. of Aj All-Star Orchestras: Night in Tunisia, America, RCA Victor Division. the stars f*0 THe hits are o/v rca Victor records Grieg Piano Concerto ¥ Symphonie Moderne Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. I • Warsaw Concerto Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 • Night and Day Cornish Rhapsody Theme • Intermezzo