Thursday, July 15, 2010

King of the Cowboys Roy Rogers was an icon to rival Marilyn Monroe because each was honored in song by Elton John on “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” with “Roy Rogers” and “Candle in the Wind,” later reprised for Princess Diana.

Christie’s in Manhattan July 9 offered for bidders to preview little pieces of the Rogers legend for prices as big as the stuffed remains of his horse, Trigger, to his red embroidered performance shirts.

Fans could also own Roy’s dog, Bullet, but he won’t come cheap, either.

This Wednesday and Thursday the auction house is selling these pieces from the closed Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Museum in Branson, Mo.

For more horsepower than one rearing on its hind legs, there is Rogers’ 1964 Bonneville convertible trimmed in silver dollars, with silver-plated pistols for gear shift and door handles.

Either Trigger or the car could set you back $100,000 to $200,000.

Also on the auction block is Nellybelle, Pat Brady’s Jeep from the TV show we all grew up watching.

Though there was lots of gunplay as Roy ran down bandits, there was no gory violence like fills our screens today.

Our hero was a crack shot who just winged the pistol out of the bad guy’s hand and that was that.

Of course, a piece of Rogers nostalgia could be had for much less than $100,000.

Boots, guitars and music for the “Happy Trails” theme song will go for prices estimated in the hundreds, but $400 doesn’t seem enough for a Roy Rogers watch Roy Rogers wore.

Part of Rogers’ good-guy appeal was his charitable image away from riding the range.

He and Dale Evans adopted several children and started a foundation for children in need.

“They were the Brad and Angelina of the time,” a sale overseer told the Associated Press.

As if. The best Brangelina can aspire to is to be the Roy and Dale of their generation.

As Elton John well knows, there was only one Roy Rogers.