The Gold Star Rangers
Photo from the Calin Coburn Collection ©2004
The Sons of the Pioneers were also known as Farley's Gold Star Rangers. Leonard Slye (Roy Rogers), Tim Spencer, Bob Nolan and Hugh Farr, during their first year at radio station KFWB, were sponsored by the Farley Clothing Company which continued to sponsor them for several years. Some of the group's earliest photographs were taken as advertisements for the company.
The photo above would have been taken in late 1936 when Tim Spencer left the group for over a year and before Leonard Slye left to join Republic Pictures. This is a rare photo from Calin Coburn's personal collection, signed by all the Sons of the Pioneers plus Jimmy Masters who may have been an MC or disc jockey. Notice that now Farley's was sponsoring the group on radio station KMTR.
The following photos are also of the Sons of the Pioneers as Farley's Gold Star Rangers.
With MC, Gus Mack
1934
Again with Gus Mack
1935
(Karl E. Farr Collection)
1935
(Karl E. Farr Collection)