Dale Evans facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dale Evans
Evans in 1947
Born	Frances Octavia Smith (1912-10-31)October 31, 1912 Uvalde, Texas, U.S.
Died	February 7, 2001(2001-02-07) (aged 88) Apple Valley, California, U.S.
Resting place	Sunset Hills Memorial Park, Apple Valley
Occupation	Actress singer songwriter recording artist
Years active	1942–2001
Spouse(s)	Thomas Frederick Fox ​ ​ (m. 1927; div. 1929)​ August Wayne Johns ​ ​ (m. 1929; div. 1935)​ Robert Dale Butts ​ ​ (m. 1937; div. 1946)​ Roy Rogers ​ ​ (m. 1947; died 1998)​
Children	6

Dale Evans Rogers (born Frances Octavia Smith; October 31, 1912 – February 7, 2001) was a famous American actress, singer, and songwriter. She was best known as the "Queen of the West" and the wife of the legendary "singing cowboy" Roy Rogers. Together, they became one of the most beloved duos in Hollywood.

Early Life and Music Career

Evans' childhood home in Uvalde, TX

Dale Evans was born Frances Octavia Smith on October 31, 1912, in Uvalde, Texas. Her parents were Bettie Sue Wood and T. Hillman Smith. She spent some of her childhood living with her uncle in Osceola, Arkansas.

When she was young, she had a son named Thomas F. Fox Jr. She became a single parent and moved to Memphis, Tennessee. There, she started her music career, singing and playing piano at local radio stations.

In the early 1930s, while working at a radio station in Louisville, Kentucky, she chose the stage name Dale Evans. The station manager thought it was a short, pleasant name that would be easy to remember.

Becoming a Star

Evans' embroidered white leather gauntlets

Evans' pink rhinestone cowboy boots

Dale Evans began her career singing on the radio. She became a popular jazz, swing, and big band singer. This led to a screen test and a movie contract with 20th Century Fox studios.

She also gained fame on radio as a featured singer on the Edgar Bergen/Charlie McCarthy Show. During this time, she was careful to keep her personal life private. She wanted to focus on her growing career.

Teaming Up with Roy Rogers

Evans married Roy Rogers on New Year's Eve in 1947. They were married at the Flying L Ranch in Davis, Oklahoma, where they had filmed a movie together. Their marriage was very successful, and they worked as a team both on and off screen.

Roy already had an adopted daughter, Cheryl, and two biological children, Linda and Roy Jr. (Dusty). Dale and Roy had one child together, Robin Elizabeth. Sadly, Robin passed away before her second birthday due to complications from Down syndrome.

Robin's life deeply inspired Dale Evans. She wrote a famous book called Angel Unaware about her daughter. This book helped change how people viewed children with developmental disabilities. Dale and Roy later adopted four more children: Mimi, Dodie, Sandy, and Debbie.

The Roy Rogers Show and Beyond

From 1951 to 1957, Dale Evans and Roy Rogers starred in their popular television series, The Roy Rogers Show. They played their famous cowboy and cowgirl roles. Dale rode her loyal buckskin horse, Buttermilk.

Besides her successful TV show, Dale Evans appeared in over 30 films and recorded about 200 songs. She also wrote the famous song "Happy Trails". In later episodes of their show, she often shared her Christianity, encouraging people to find guidance and help through faith.

In 1962, the couple hosted a new show called The Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Show. It was a mix of comedy, western stories, and variety acts.

Dale Evans was also involved in public discussions about important topics. In 1964, she spoke at a "Project Prayer" rally in Los Angeles. This event supported the idea of having prayer in schools. She believed it was important for children to learn about faith.

Throughout the 1970s, Dale Evans released several albums of religious music. In the 1980s, she and Roy introduced their old films on television. In the 1990s, Dale even hosted her own religious TV program.

Later Years and Legacy

Evans (right) with Roy Rogers at the 1989 Academy Awards

Dale Evans passed away on February 7, 2001, at the age of 88, in Apple Valley, California. She is buried next to Roy Rogers.

Dale Evans left a lasting legacy. She has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame: one for her radio work and another for her television contributions.

In 1976, she was honored in the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. In 1995, she was inducted into the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame. She was also recognized on the Texas Trail of Fame in 1997. In 2002, she was ranked among the "40 Greatest Women in Country Music" by CMT.

Cheryl Rogers-Barnett, Roy Rogers' daughter and Dale's step-daughter, wrote a book about her life with them called Cowboy Princess: Life with My Parents, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans.

In 2001, a Golden Palm Star was dedicated to both Dale Evans and Roy Rogers on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars.

Selected Films

Images for kids

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  Roy Rogers and Evans at Knott's Berry Farm in the 1970s

See also

In Spanish: Dale Evans para niños