The Russian Kid

Like the television program of the same name, the show centered on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Rogers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Roy Rogers</a>, one of the most popular singing-cowboy movie stars. Initially, the radio show differed in format from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Roy_Rogers_Show" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Roy Rogers Show</a> on TV, with the radio version being more oriented toward music. Toward its end, however, it moved more toward the adventure featured in the TV show. Radio historian <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Dunning_(radio_historian)" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">John Dunning</a> wrote:"[T]he early shows followed the pattern set by [Gene] <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_Autry%27s_Melody_Ranch" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Autry's Melody Ranch</a> ... Rogers' show featured Roy and the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sons_of_the_Pioneers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sons of the Pioneers</a> in such fine Western favorites as "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tumbling_Tumbleweeds" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tumbling Tumbleweeds</a>," "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cool_Water_(song)" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cool Water</a>," and "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don%27t_Fence_Me_In_(song)" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Don't Fence Me In</a>." Much of the show was campfire banter and song, with Roy and songstress <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Friday" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pat Friday</a> doing vocal solos, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perry_Botkin_Sr." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Perry Botkin</a> leading the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goodyear_Tire_and_Rubber_Company" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Goodyear</a> orchestra and Verne Smith announcing. Dramatic skits were offered, but leaned to lighter material than what the show used in late years. Ultimately, it became primarily a Western thriller show. The show's music, like that featured in Rogers' movies, had a lasting effect on the music business. A 1986 article in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_(magazine)" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Billboard</a> magazine endorsed membership for Rogers in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Country_Music_Hall_of_Fame_and_Museum" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Country Music Hall of Fame</a>. It said, in part, "Two generations of Americans grew up with Rogers on the silver screen, TV, and radio -- and the impact he had on the present success of country music would be hard to estimate and easy to underestimate." Although Rogers was already in the Hall of Fame as a member of the Sons of the Pioneers when that article was written, he was inducted as an individual in 1988.

TV & Film

History

Film History

Like the television program of the same name, the show centered on Roy Rogers, one of the most popular singing-cowboy movie stars. Initially, the radio show differed in format from The Roy Rogers Show on TV, with the radio version being more oriented toward music. Toward its end, however, it moved more toward the adventure featured in the TV show. Radio historian John Dunning wrote:"[T]he early shows followed the pattern set by [Gene] Autry's Melody Ranch ... Rogers' show featured Roy and the Sons of the Pioneers in such fine Western favorites as "Tumbling Tumbleweeds," "Cool Water," and "Don't Fence Me In." Much of the show was campfire banter and song, with Roy and songstress Pat Friday doing vocal solos, Perry Botkin leading the Goodyear orchestra and Verne Smith announcing. Dramatic skits were offered, but leaned to lighter material than what the show used in late years. Ultimately, it became primarily a Western thriller show.The show's music, like that featured in Rogers' movies, had a lasting effect on the music business. A 1986 article in Billboard magazine endorsed membership for Rogers in the Country Music Hall of Fame. It said, in part, "Two generations of Americans grew up with Rogers on the silver screen, TV, and radio -- and the impact he had on the present success of country music would be hard to estimate and easy to underestimate." Although Rogers was already in the Hall of Fame as a member of the Sons of the Pioneers when that article was written, he was inducted as an individual in 1988.

Like the television program of the same name, the show centered on&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Rogers" rel="noopener noreferrer">Roy Rogers</a>, one of the most popular singing-cowboy movie stars. Initially, the radio show differed in format from&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Roy_Rogers_Show" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Roy Rogers Show</a>&nbsp;on TV, with the radio version being more oriented toward music. Toward its end, however, it moved more toward the adventure featured in the TV show. Radio historian&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Dunning_(radio_historian)" rel="noopener noreferrer">John Dunning</a>&nbsp;wrote:"[T]he early shows followed the pattern set by&nbsp;[Gene]&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_Autry%27s_Melody_Ranch" rel="noopener noreferrer">Autry's Melody Ranch</a>&nbsp;... Rogers' show featured Roy and the&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sons_of_the_Pioneers" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sons of the Pioneers</a>&nbsp;in such fine Western favorites as "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tumbling_Tumbleweeds" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tumbling Tumbleweeds</a>," "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cool_Water_(song)" rel="noopener noreferrer">Cool Water</a>," and "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don%27t_Fence_Me_In_(song)" rel="noopener noreferrer">Don't Fence Me In</a>." Much of the show was campfire banter and song, with Roy and songstress&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Friday" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pat Friday</a>&nbsp;doing vocal solos,&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perry_Botkin_Sr." rel="noopener noreferrer">Perry Botkin</a>&nbsp;leading the&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goodyear_Tire_and_Rubber_Company" rel="noopener noreferrer">Goodyear</a> orchestra and Verne Smith announcing. Dramatic skits were offered, but leaned to lighter material than what the show used in late years. Ultimately, it became primarily a Western thriller show. The show's music, like that featured in Rogers' movies, had a lasting effect on the music business. A 1986 article in&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_(magazine)" rel="noopener noreferrer">Billboard</a>&nbsp;magazine endorsed membership for Rogers in the&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Country_Music_Hall_of_Fame_and_Museum" rel="noopener noreferrer">Country Music Hall of Fame</a>. It said, in part, "Two generations of Americans grew up with Rogers on the silver screen, TV, and radio -- and the impact he had on the present success of country music would be hard to estimate and easy to underestimate." Although Rogers was already in the Hall of Fame as a member of the Sons of the Pioneers when that article was written, he was inducted as an individual in 1988.

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The Russian Kid

The Russian Kid