Fred Sopher Collection

Last accessed: Tuesday, August 31, 2010

The Fred Sopher Collection

I first saw and heard the Sons of the Pioneers in the Charles Starrett and Roy Rogers movies that were shown on TV in the mid 50's. I was instantly a fan and could not get enough. Around 1958 the only records that I could find were the RCA 25 Favorite Cowboy Songs and RCA Camden Wagons West. I played these records over and over. I had always liked the Timber Trail version best that was on the 25 Favorite Cowboy Songs album. From then on I had to wait about a year until RCA put out each new album. I managed to get Bob Nolan's address in Studio City around that time and wrote him a fan letter, but never got a response.
I first met Lloyd Perryman around 1972 at the Lewisburg, West Virginia, State Fair. I have several photos of us together. He was very nice to me and when I asked about finding some of the songs recorded by the original group he wrote down the address of Ken Griffis and the John Edwards Memorial Foundation and told me to contact Ken, which I did.

Later that day, as I was speaking with Lloyd again, a woman walked over to us and asked about where Roy Rogers was staying. Lloyd told her a little white lie and said "I really don't know". After she left us Lloyd said to me, "Roy would kill me for giving out that info," and we both had a nice laugh.

During the show I was backstage talking with Lloyd and Roy Rogers walked over to us and asked Lloyd a question about travel plans. They spoke for a minute and then after Roy walked away Lloyd continued our conversation. Again he was very nice. I showed him several 8x10 glossy stills from the movies showing the Sons. Lloyd looked at them and enjoyed seeing the stills but said to me "I am not really nostalgic." (Fred Sopher)

This collection is being added to continually as Fred has time. Check back occasionally to find new additions.

Bob Nolan

Photo by Francis Bates, 1941

The Sons of the Pioneers and unidentified group at Reed's Ferry, NH.

Back: Tim Spencer, Hugh Farr, Lloyd Perryman and Karl Farr

Front: Pat Brady and Bob Nolan

Colorado Trail 1938

Back: Charles Starrett, Hugh Farr, Karl Farr and Bob Nolan

Front: Pat Brady and Lloyd Perryman

Red River Valley 1942
Bob, Hugh, Pat, Roy, Karl, Tim and Lloyd

Red River Valley 1942

Hugh Farr, Karl Farr, George "Gabby" Hayes, Bob Nolan, Roy Rogers, Pat Brady, Tim Spencer & Lloyd Perryman

Singing "Chant of the Wanderer".

Man from Cheyenne 1942

Bob Nolan, Lloyd Perryman and Roy Rogers

South of Santa Fe 1942

George "Gabby" Hayes, Roy Rogers and Linda Hayes

Romance on the Range 1942

Linda Hayes and Roy Rogers

Roy Rogers and Gene Autry c 1942

Call of the Canyon 1942

Standing: Ruth Terry, Hugh Farr, Gene Autry, Tim Spencer

Seated: Bob Nolan

Call of the Canyon 1942

Smiley Burnette, Tim Spencer, Bob Nolan, Karl Farr, Gene Autry, Joe Strauch Jr. and Hugh Farr

Sunset Serenade 1942

Back: Tim Spencer, Karl Farr and Pat Brady

Front: Bob Nolan, Lloyd Perryman and Hugh Farr

Roy Rogers being interviewed by Adrienne Ames, glamorous 1930s actress-turned radio commentator

on WHN, a New York City radio station.

c. 1942

Pat Brady, Hugh Farr, Tim Spencer, Roy Rogers, Lloyd Perryman and Karl Farr

c.1942

Ridin' Down the Canyon 1942

Hugh Farr, Tim Spencer, Bob Nolan, Roy Rogers, Lloyd Perryman, Karl Farr and Pat Brady

Singing "Blue Prairie".

Roy and Trigger

King of the Cowboys 1943

Hugh Farr, Bob Nolan, Roy Rogers, Karl Farr, Tim Spencer, Lloyd Perryman and Pat Brady

Song of Texas 1943

Bob Nolan, Karl Farr, Lloyd Perryman, Tim Spencer, Hugh Farr, Pat Brady, Harry Shannon, Sheila Ryan, Arline Judge and Roy Rogers

Silver Spurs 1943

Hugh Farr, Tim Spencer, Roy Rogers, Lloyd Perryman, Bob Nolan and Pat Brady

1943

Back: Karl Farr, Bob Nolan, Hugh Farr and Pat Brady

Front: Ken Carson, Roy Rogers and Tim Spencer

Man from Music Mountain 1943

Pat Brady, Hugh Farr, Tim Spencer, Ken Carson, Roy Rogers, Bob Nolan and Karl Farr

Singing "Smiles are Made Out of the Sunshine".

1943

Back: Bob Nolan, Hugh Farr, Karl Farr and Deuce Spriggins

Front: Tim Spencer, Roy Rogers and Ken Carson

The Yellow Rose of Texas 1944

Roy Rogers and Dale Evans with chorus

The Yellow Rose of Texas 1944

Ken Carson, Tim Spencer, Bob Nolan, Roy Rogers, Karl Farr, Hugh Farr and Shug Fisher

Utah 1945

On car roof: Shug Fisher, Ken Carson, Hugh & Karl Farr

Front: ? ? Bob Nolan, Beverly Lloyd, Tim Spencer, ? and Dale Evans

Singing "Five Little Miles".

Utah 1945

The finale

Utah 1945

Unidentified starlet and Roy Rogers

Man from Oklahoma 1945

Tim Spencer, Bob Nolan, Roy Rogers, Ken Carson, Hugh Farr, Karl Farr, Shug Fisher, Arthur Loft and Elaine Lange.

Singing "We're Gonna Have a Cowboy Weddin'".

Man from Oklahoma 1945

Far back: Karl Farr

Front: Ken Carson, Bob Nolan, Hugh Farr, Roy Rogers, Tim Spencer, Gabby Hayes, Shug Fisher

They are singing "The Martins and the Coys", cut from the full-length version of the movie.

Man from Oklahoma 1945

Hugh and Karl Farr, Roy Rogers, Ken Carson and Shug Fisher

Roy is calling a square dance.

Don't Fence Me In 1945

Ken Carson, Tim Spencer, Roy Rogers, Shug Fisher (back), Bob Nolan, Hugh and Karl Farr.

Singing "Along the Navajo Trail".

Don't Fence Me In 1945

Singing "Along the Navajo Trail".

Bob Nolan, Tim Spencer, Ken Carson, Hugh Farr, Roy Rogers and Karl Farr

Home on the Range 1946

Bob Nolan

Rainbow Over Texas1946

Hugh Farr, Dale Evans, Roy Rogers, Ken Carson and Karl Farr

I think this was the song called "Bust my Buttons" that was cut from the movie, or a publicity still. I have the movie that is supposed to be uncut and this is not in the movie at all. But in several movie books that I have, the song "Bust my Buttons" is supposed to be in the movie.

Rainbow Over Texas 1946

Shug Fisher, Ken Carson, Karl and Hugh Farr, Tim Spencer, Bob Nolan and Roy Rogers

Singing "Texas USA".

Under Nevada Skies 1946

Singing "Ne Ha Neé".

Roll On Texas Moon 1946

Bob Nolan, Pat Brady, Lloyd Perryman, Dale Evans, Roy Rogers, Hugh and Karl Farr, Shug Fisher.

Singing the finale, "Jumpin' Bean" leading into "Roll On, Texas Moon".

Roll On Texas Moon 1946

Dale Evans and Roy Rogers

Singing the finale, "Jumpin' Bean" leading into "Roll On, Texas Moon".

Radio 1946

Dale Evans, Pat Buttram and Roy Rogers

Bells of San Angelo 1947

Pat Brady, Bob Nolan, Hugh Farr, Tim Spencer, Lloyd Perryman and Karl Farr

Singing "Lazy Days".

Springtime in the Sierras 1947

Roy is talking with Pat Brady while Jane Frazee, Stephanie Bachelor and two unidentified actors look on.

Springtime in the Sierras 1947

Shug Fisher, Andy Devine, Bob Nolan, Pat Brady, Roy Rogers, Karl and Hugh Farr

Tim Spencer, Bob Nolan, Roy Rogers, Lloyd Perryman and Hugh Farr

On the Old Spanish Trail 1947

Entire cast singing the finale.

Pat Brady, Hugh Farr, Tim Spencer, Roy Rogers, Karl Farr, Bob Nolan and Lloyd Perryman

c 1947-8.

Melody Time1948

Roy Rogers is telling Luana Patten and Bobby Driscoll why the coyotes howl at night.

Bob Nolan throws clay pigeons for Roy Rogers' shooting exhibition.

Radio

Hollywood Walk of Fame April 21,1949

Roy Rogers and Pat Brady

Penny Edwards and Roy Rogers

Fred's Personal Snapshots

Roy Rogers

This shot I took of Roy is from 1971. He was appearing at the York PA State Fair and I managed to get into the area where his dressing room was. He was sitting there just resting all alone. I came in and sat next to him and started talking. He was very nice to me and let me take a picture. When I went to take the picture, the flash bulb did not go off. He smiled and said, "Try again" and posed for me. I was very nervous and he said, "Calm down" and laughed. We spoke for about 10 minutes and then Roy said, "Well, it was nice talking with you and I hope you enjoy the show." Then he got up to get ready for his entrance. What a great day meeting Roy Rogers and spending time with him.

backstage

Roy Rogers with fans

Roy Rogers with fan

Lloyd Perryman

Roy Rogers and Fred Sopher, 1972

Roy with Fred Sopher, Roy Lanham in booth.

Roy with Roy Rogers Jr's family

Dale Evans and Roy Rogers

Lloyd Perryman

Dale Warren and Lloyd Perryman

Dusty (Roy Rogers Jr) and Fred Sopher

Dusty Rogers and Fred Sopher

Dale Warren & Tommy Doss

The ones with Roy wearing a brown coat were taken in a room at a Roy Rogers Roast Been Restaurant in Towson, Maryland in 1983. I was with Roy as he was getting ready to meet the public. He was very nice to me and asked me to hold his hat as he put on his coat and adjusted his shirt. The one photo shows Roy checking out his makeup under his eyes. What a day that was. Great memories.

The ones where Roy is wearing the blue shirt were taken at a RR Restaurant in Maryland 1986.

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