IPS Special Report – 11/9/10
Forrest Wallace Cato Explains How Tax Problems Changed The Image Of Roy Rogers
You, and many other fans or graduates of The Insurance Pro Shop® could have helped Roy Rogers. Roy Rogers reigned as “King of the (B-movie) cowboys!” from the early forties through the mid-fifties. His films were not for adults, like those of Randolph Scott and John Wayne . The image of Roy Rogers was that of a single “good guy always triumphing over many bad guys.” As such Roy Rogers was a role model for America’s youth. Years later, when I worked for “Mister Sly, (his “stage” name was “Roy Rogers,” his real name was Leonard Sly ) and Gene Autry (“America’s singing cowboy!”) I was actually associating with my childhood idols.
Never did I forget the thrill of when either of them walked into the room, sat at the table, got into a car with me, or asked for my thoughts or ideas. In my childhood days, I thought I was Roy or Gene. Producer Ross Bagwell was also highly involved with Roy and Gene during their “come-back” years in television. In addition to Roy and Gene, I worked for and with Ron Ormond who was responsible for the careers of Lash Larue and Sunset Carson (two more B-western stars of the forties and early fifties). I was involved during their attempted “come-back” years.
Often I discussed with Ross Bagwell and Sunset Carson, the brutalities of a show business career and how Lash Larue’s career was destroyed. Lash Larue’s last film was a cheap porn flick titled Hard On The Trail . This super-stupid career move obliterated his ability to work and earn in show biz -- as this was totally counter to his well-established image. Roy Rogers had the biggest image and that meant Rogers had the biggest box-office draw. Image works the same way for you and for other agents, planners, and consultants. Back then, Roy was symbolic of everything good that America stood for. Gene Autry ranked as number two among the B-movie cowboys (in movie ticket sales), but he was always number one in record sales. Every Christmas his recording of Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer continues to be revived and sold again.
From America’s Cowboy Hero To American’s Tax Victim
But that was then. Denise McManus, RFC , one of America’s leading financial consultants says, “Today Roy Rogers is synonymous with what can happen if you do hot have a good financial plan protecting you .” Roy Rogers is also now synonymous with how horrible America’s federal tax system remains. In real life, Roy Rogers – our ultimate good guy – was ambushed at the pass by the highly feared IRS – possibly our ultimate national bad guys. Denise McManus, RFC , of YGG Wealth Builders in Wayne, PA, continues, “In reality, America’s matinee hero had financial and legal problems. They often go together. This resulted from Roy not adequately protecting himself and not adequately protecting his family. Instead, he unfortunately trusted in “right and justice to prevail as this always worked in his movies.”
The following is my recent interview with Roy Rogers, Jr ., for readers of this IPS Newsletter.
Cato: What did taxes finally do to your father, who was our beloved Roy Rogers? I say “our” because Roy belonged to Denise McManus, to me, and to millions of others when we were children. Or, at least, in our hearts we thought he did. When a child, Lew Nason, now director of the famous Insurance Pro Shop® was once a huge fan of Roy Rogers. We all still respect Roy Rogers and hold him dear. Rogers Jr: It was taxes that slowly zapped his spirit. It was the Death Tax that was his final and ultimate insult! Let’s call it what it really is! You don’t have to pay it until you’re dead. Then you don’t have to deal with it -- your children do. While you are still on this good earth, your struggle with whatever life deals you. You might be born into unfortunate circumstances like my father was. My dad, in his early life, only had part-time work and took any odd jobs to help support his family. His mom was crippled with polio. They couldn’t afford a leg-brace to help her walk better.
That family (the mom, dad, two sisters, and young Leonard) shared a blind uncle’s cramped houseboat on a river that was constantly flooding. They occasionally went to sleep in one town and woke-up in another. Each time the houseboat found high ground they started their lives over again. What little money the father did make was taxed to help pay for World War I — but he didn’t mind, it's "for the good of the country." And little Leonard Sly was taught to be thankful to live in America rather than Germany and Scotland where his ancestors had come from.
Months Needed To Save $90.00!
Cato: Then what? Rogers Jr: Things seemed to be going along okay, but the river flooded again and the elder Mister Sly was off to places unknown again. The elder Mister Sly finally scraped enough money together to make a down payment on a small farm in a little community away from the river. The only problem, it’s too far from the town where he’s finally gotten a job (in a factory). Too far for him to come home more often than every other weekend! “Little Leonard” was suddenly the "man" of the family at age seven. As Leonard gets a little older, he too starts a real job in town and both of their paychecks reflected the taxes they paid "for the good of the country." Finally, the war debt was paid-off, but then the depression set in. The shoe factory jobs disappear but Leonard (who later became Roy Rogers ) had managed to save $90 between the two “working men,” so the family joined a sister in California where you heard there was “still some work to be had.” The Ohio farm was lost.
Cato: What happened when they reached their promised land? Rogers, Jr: When they finally reached their promised land, they found that everyone else had the same idea and were there looking for work. They all end-up in an itinerant camp, picking peaches for five cents a lug. Sitting around the campfires at night, they polished their musical skills (mandolin and fiddle) plus they taught themselves how to play a guitar, harmonica and Jews harp.
That was hard work -- picking crops in the heat of Southern California, -- but the farmers fed the work crews, so they were happy because they all had enough food to eat, but Leonard worried about his mom and “the other women.”
Leonard finally got a job driving a sand and gravel truck, -- a truck that he loaded with a scoop shovel then drove from the beach to the then-new Los Angeles Airport. This was hard and back-breaking work, but he was thankful just to have a job that paid actual money. He and his Dad once drove back to Ohio to rescue some things. Leonard was now in his early-twenties. At this point in his life he was not been able to save anything for his future. Surviving meant he was too busy to save anything. However, he did manage to put a little aside for a pocketknife he wanted to give his dad for his birthday plus a new apron for his mother. His guitar playing was constantly improving, his singing voice was pretty good and, boy, could he yodel! His fellow fruit pickers in the camps and the guys at the sand and gravel company were encouraging. Plus his elder sister was downright pushy. She wanted Leonard to try-out for a talent show on a local radio station -- there was a small cash prize for each week’s winner. She would repeat, “You try it, you win and you get your prize money!”
Cato: Did this lead to the first paying gig for Roy Rogers? Rogers Jr: Yes. Someone heard him sing on that live broadcast and wanted Leonard to join their singing group. There were six guys and while the pay was not much, it was a start, and a chance to better his life a little bit. Their first gig was playing at a high school dance. They split $13.00 in cash and that money was "for the good of the families involved.”
Leonard’s new "career" progressed very slowly. He did not become famous over-night. He was eventually working on four different radio shows, each with a different group of guys, every time splitting the $13.00 between five or six guys. He finally decided to form his own group. There were just two people to start with, that way there was more money between them. They added another singer to form The Pioneer Trio. Next the group included a fiddle player because they wanted to be more professional and have a bigger sound. Bigger and better sound meant bigger and better gigs (jobs). Finally Getting Paid For Performing
Cato: Did this group become the now-famous Sons of the Pioneers? Rogers Jr: Yes. Their name was quickly changed to Sons of the Pioneers and they were soon playing "paying" gigs on the various regional radio stations from midnight to 6 a.m. Weird hours but decent money! The struggling group got a call from a major motion picture studio to do back-up harmony for some singing cowboys. Leonard signed a contract for “More money per-picture than you can possibly imagine! The huge sum was two-hundred dollars a picture!” They did this for three pictures a year and split the movie work money between the six band members. They were still working on radio, plus going on tour, “even out of the country.” They thought they were rich.
Cato: At this stage is your father getting close to becoming Roy Rogers? Rogers Jr: Yes. Leonard was married in 1936 and he wanted to start a family, but money was tight, and touring with the group took him away from home. Suddenly, he learned that Republic, another film studio, headed by Herbert Yates , was looking for a new cowboy good-guy hero. Through a stroke of luck, my father walked onto the Republic lot, was audition, and later chosen. With his first use of a fountain pen, he signed a contract, got the new theatrical name of Roy Rogers , and from then on received a massive $75 a week! More money than anyone could ever believe back then. Wow! Seventy-five dollars a week! In 1938 that was big money!
His first picture was selected as the best Western of 1938 and was also the number one Western in box-office receipts for that year. He was a contract player so no matter how much money he made for Republic Studio; he still only got $75.00 per week. But the money was paid every week, so he could finally support a family. He could hardly believe his good luck.
Cato: Didn’t success in B-western movies bring new problems? Rogers Jr: Yes again. Being successful brought lots of new problems. Roy Roger’s popularity with the fans was so great that he was receiving 600,000 pieces of mail a month but he was not making enough money to pay the postage required to answer all of his fan mail. Roy Rogers could not afford to provide the highly requested autographed photos. Or hire secretarial help, and so-on. He asked the studio for help. They just laughed at him and said, "What can all those kids matter?" Roy became upset and dumped a month’s worth of fan letters on the lawn in front of the office of the head of Republic Studio -- but still, no help.
When the United States found itself embroiled in World War II, Roy wanted to do his duty, so he enlisted. They were not taking anyone over thirty with kids. He was thirty-two and then had two daughters. He asked himself how he could help his country in that time of great peril. The federal government made a request, "Because you are so popular with your fans across America, and they trust you, why don’t you go on the road and sell War and Savings Bonds to help raise the money it will take to defeat our enemy? Tell people how great our wonderful country is, how much you love Uncle Sam, and that they should do everything they can to support our boys who are fighting to keep our country free.
As a child Denise McManus , the award-winning financial consultant, was among the last generation of Roy Rogers fans. She “discovered” Roy through television re-runs. Denise McManus , explains, “We all remember the hero’s of our youth. Thus, most readers of this IPS newsletter know about the late Roy Rogers and Dale Evans . On the movie screen Roy Rogers played the ultimate good guy. Roy Rogers was the singing cowboy who alone rounded-up the many bad outlaws. Roy protected the innocent. But in his real life he was not protected. In reality the villains of real life ambushed him. He expected to always be treated fairly. Unfortunately, his experience is a prime example for all of us. This is an example you can use with your prospects – an example of the importance of finding the strength to act now to protect their future and the future of their loved ones.”
Roy Rogers Sold Many-Many Millions In Bonds For The Feds
Rogers Jr: So Roy Rogers did what his country asked. He went on to sell many-many millions of dollars in bonds over the next couple of years. He also appeared at countless Army, Navy, and Marine bases around the country, and overseas, plus at countless USO shows – all to help keep morale high for our troops. Roy Rogers did not get paid anything for these vital activities; all of this was his contribution to the war effort – this, and the new high taxes that had been levied to pay for the cost of this war. Roy Rogers even paid for the cost involved in these endless productions and performances (work) for his country. He was happy to do what he could "for the good of our country." What did he eventually receive for all of his costly and valuable efforts, work, and expense, and earnings loss, -- all for our country? Roy Rogers received a small piece of worthless paper with the picture of a minuteman-type patriot on the front. The piece of paper contained two printed words that read, "Thank you.”
All the while, he was making personal appearances at rodeos, state fairs, and anywhere else that offered to pay him so that he could augment his $75 per week earnings.
This work enabled him to pay for his countless free performances “to help our country.” Because he was making a little more money, he was paying more taxes. He did not complain however, because this too was all "for the good of our country." Roy was sure that the high taxes would cease when the war was over and the national debt once again retired. But, unlike in his movies, not all of Roy’s luck was good. As the war ended, his wife died following the birth of his third child. By the end of the war, Roy finally got a pay increase written into his contract —his pay for movie work doubled! But now there was no partner to share his luck with.
A year later he married his favorite leading lady, Dale Evans , herself a single mother with a son in college. As the years passed, his work schedule kept increasing. Name merchandising begins to appear and the first Roy Rogers jeans went on sale nation-wide. Now he had employees of his own and their families were relying on him for support. He took-on a weekly network radio show and made records to add to his income, all the time continuing his personal appearances and movies. He figured he couldn’t afford to stay at the studio any longer – he had been the number-one western movie cowboy box-office earner for eleven years, but Republic, considered one of the “poverty-row studios,” could not afford to pay him what lesser stars at the major studios made. Roy Rogers considered Allan “Rocky” Lane to be the best actor and horseman in B-westerns, but the public (child movie goers) insisted that Roy was tops, while “Rocky” ranked third in the ratings.
Cato: Wasn’t it time for TV to come along? Rogers Jr: Television was just starting to get popular, so Roy Rogers formed his own TV production company and placed still more people to work. He also now had eight children: some his own, some adopted, and one foster daughter from Scotland. The government was now involved in another foreign enterprise, the Korean War. And there was still massive federal debt from World War II to be paid. The government decided that they needed to raise more money by forcing more taxes on the people, and Roy ended-up in the 90% tax bracket. That means Roy Rogers got to keep only ten pennies out of every dollar he worked for and earned. But, he was earning more… and this was all "for the good of this country!"
The Korean War ended but the cold war started. We are in the space race, and then the conflict in Vietnam flares-up and becomes a war. The national debt has still not been retired, the communists must be defeated, and Roy Rogers was still paying most of what he earned in taxes -- but he still did not complain because this massive taxation was "for the good of the country." And, he was blessed to live in a “free country,” and to be able to work and earn money, a small amount of which he was allowed to keep. Roy went on to have a popular program on TV and for a while he ranked among the top ten TV shows along with Milton Berle and Lucille Ball . The TV program was often segments from his old movies.
Money Problems Changed Roy Rogers
Cato: What did Roy Rogers do with his money that he was allowed to keep, and did he have a financial planner? Rogers Jr: No, he did not have a financial planner. Over the next several years Roy tried to save what money he could. Not one to take chances, he did not invest in the stock market. Roy Rogers put his cash into savings bonds, CDs, and real estate. The money he had in his accounts earned Interest, dollars for him, which were, of course, taxed again! If he was fortunate and turned-over a piece of property, he was taxed for the capitol gains. He placed what was left into his savings account and again, he was taxed on the interest earned, but the money he paid in taxes was "for the good of the country." Then his “elected representatives” decreased his tax bracket and Roy was allowed to keep about half. Imagine that, actually getting to keep half of what was his!
He and Dale shared a long-time dream—to furnish a museum that would house their personal collections of things they acquired during the active years of their careers. As their television series finished, they moved to where they could afford to buy some property and establish their museum. Everything was fine because Roy could now earn almost as much from making guest appearances as he once did from having his own TV series. He no longer had to pay everything out in salaries to his cast and crew.
Cato: Please tell our RFC readers about Roy’s senior years? Rogers Jr: As his earning years waned and his senior years approached, he tried to decide how much he would need to survive as an elderly citizen in the USA —hoping all along that he remained healthy and didn’t become a burden to his children and need long-term care. Roy was lucky because the profession he was in still provided him with health insurance, even though he was are no longer active in show business.
Denise McManus , explains, “One of the saddest and most ironic examples of not having proper protection from possible financial difficulties, and the often related legal or life challenges, is the real life case history of Roy Rogers, America’s beloved ‘King of the Cowboys.’ On the movie screen and in reality Rogers was a life-long do-gooder setting an outstanding example for all of America’s children. Without the safeguards of proper financial planning he was done in. This great man even raised many millions for the federal government and was still done in.”
Rogers Jr: Thank you Denise. Roy decided that he needed to keep their museum going far into his senior years, as his employees were counting on their jobs and some had been with his museum for over 25-years, all loyal service. Also, their fans, though now aged, continued to make their way from all across the nation, to share their memories at the museum.
All these years Roy’s family has sacrificed too. We were virtually raised by others, as our parents were busy earning money and helping to take care of us, plus other children, and even some adults in less fortunate circumstances. He told us how fortunate we were to have food, clothing, and shelter, plus loving parents. Roy taught us love for God and for our country, and to thank God every day for being born in a “free country” and we all bought into “the American dream.”
Roy’s family then stepped up to the plate and began working full time to help keep his business going. We know what the museum meant to him, to our mother, and to their loyal fans that visited by the thousands each year in the beginning, to see the legacy Roy and Dale left for them. Because of this legacy, the world is a much better place to live in. The family believes that it is important to remind everyone of simpler times when love of God, country, and freedom were actually practiced. This was "for the good of the country."
Senior Health Problems Strike Roy and Dale
Cato: Did senior health problems finally arrive for Roy and Dale? Rogers Jr: Yes on both counts. The senior health problems came big time! Roy and his life’s partner suffered physically, with agony, for many years, and emotionally, -- but he always struggled to carry on. They saw the future looming on the horizon and knew it would not include them.
They accepted this knowing that individual lives do not go on forever, but families often do! Their fathers, and the father’s before them, were all only concerned and often worried about where the family’s next meal would come from. They knew that they could only count on themselves and some of their own family members. Roy, on the other hand, thought that he had been fortunate to live in a country that rewarded hard work and perseverance. He believed that he was able to leave something for his family -- not a lot of jewels, cash, or houses, but some other elements of wealth and value.
Roy Rogers was from the old school. The one that said, "Dig your hands into God’s good earth—that is where your riches are. Land is forever—just like family.” He did all he could, including setting up a trust, to protect our inheritance. But was this enough? Often before he left this earth he prayed to Almighty God that he be enabled to do all he could to help his family survive. He trusted that when he passed on, all his assets would be moved over to his wife Dale for her use and charge.
All is well and good—until the other life’s partner also leaves this earth. It is then, just when they both thought all would be well, that the federal government that has taken so much from them in taxes throughout their productive lifetimes, -- that has taken its share (and then some) of every dollar they ever earned, -- steps in yet again and confiscates still another 55% of their accumulated wealth. That means seizing 55% of everything Roy had worked for during his entire 86-years. Everything the government has already abundantly shared in.
Cato: Why have you often said that Gene Autry
was a better businessman than Roy Rogers? Rogers, Jr: Roy paid $2,500 for Trigger in 1938 (an incredible amount then and it took him years to pay this debt off). When Trigger died, Roy paid $30,000 to have him mounted like they do in natural museums. Roy could not bear to place his horse and partner of nearly 30-years into the ground. Now an appraiser says that, since there is only one Trigger, the horse is worth $400,000. That means that Roy’s estate had to pay the government $220,000 to keep Trigger. Cowboy singer and B-movie star Gene Autry (a close friend of Roy’s) had a hole dug and buried his beloved horse Champion when he learned how absurdly costly it would be to have Champion preserved. Roy was a sentimentalist, but Gene was a good businessman. Roy was an idealist and Gene was a pragmatist. Roy thought right would win-out like it did in all of his TV shows. Gene was more of a realist.
Cato: What is your summary view today? Rogers Jr: The government does not want 55% ownership of Trigger , nor of the business it took Roy Rogers and Dale Evans their entire lifetimes to build. The feds do not want to stay-up with our family during nights when we wondered where to raise the money to pay these endless taxes. The feds do not want to explain to our former long-time employees that the Roy and Dale museum had to close due to these problems. The feds do not want to explain to America’s children that right and fairness do not win out under current tax law. The fed does not want to do anything but demand cash in nine months of our last parent’s passing.
Unlike His Movies There Was No Happy Ending
Rogers Jr: Today you hear a lot about the "super rich" from the politicians and the need for greater taxes. Our father and mother were not among the super rich—they always took care of too many other people to amass great fortunes for themselves. And their actual big-earnings period was a small number of their many work years. What Roy and Dale actually left was some barren land that might take many years to sell and an almost intangible inheritance—the memories of better times, some show clothes, movie posters, and photographs. The contents of a museum where people could visit from across our nation, and try to recapture some happy times from their youth, or to show their grandchildren who their role models were and who set them on the path of the good guy who knew the difference between right and wrong.
The reality in America today is that no family-owned businesses, farms, or ranches, have the kind of cash, or liquid assets, that are required to pay a 55% tax burden! Only large corporations could possibly be able to do this, which is why when you look around most large farms and ranches are now owned by large corporations.
So what can America’s families do? The many hopes and dreams that our family shared and worked for had to be sold to cover the 55% "Death Tax." Yeah, yeah, the Senate finally passed a bill that did away with this unfair tax in 2010. This doesn’t bring any relief to families that were devastated. Just as the people who have already lost their houses across America (due to the current mortgage scandals and this horrid recession) will not be helped whenever some legislation passes – supposedly for the benefit of those who are still hanging on! The help went to bankers and to Wall Street. The help went to so many of those who own Washington. Today the bad guys are going totally unpunished and not being held accountable or even responsible.
The unique business and the few original assets that took our parent’s lifetimes of hard work, problem solving, debt, and good luck to establish, had to be sold to cover the tax debts. Everyone involved knows that, once again, property was offered at an IRS fire sale because our family was forced to sell for pennies on the dollar. Not only has the family suffered a staggering loss, so have all of our employees who have relied on our family for their employment for decades. Now, there will be no more business to tax, no income to tax—a loss of revenue for everyone in our community. But the government really does not care. I now ask Insurance Pro Shop ® readers, is this really for the good of the country that once was ours? ______
More about Roy Rogers Jr: He is better known as “Dusty” and he is the eldest son of famed western stars Roy Rogers and Dale Evans . Dusty Rogers grew up in the San Fernando Valley of California with his five sisters and one brother. Dusty admits that he wanted to get into show business since he was sixteen years old.
Dusty’s first professional show-biz experience was a small part in his father’s TV series, The Roy Rogers Show on NBC-TV , while he was very small. In those early years Dusty appeared in movies like To Forgive A Thief and Arizona Bushwackers , released by Paramount Pictures. He even starred in his own television variety show entitled, what else but The Roy Rogers Jr. Show .
As Dusty’s career began to grow, other hidden talents began to develop. Following the footsteps of his famous parents, Dusty began his recording career. This opened new opportunities to appear in many major rodeos, state fairs, conventions, concert halls, and dinner houses throughout the United States and Canada. He has even entertained at financial association conventions. His autobiography ‘Growing Up With Roy And Dale’ enlightens readers about what it was like being the son of such a world renown father and mother. For many years Roy and Dale were among the best known movie stars in the world.
Dusty also served as President and Executive Director of The Roy Rogers – Dale Evans Museum formerly open in Branson, MO. Since the passing of his father and mother, Dusty acts as the main spokesperson for the entire extended Rogers family. Whether appearing by himself or with his band The High Riders , you will experience a wide variety of emotions as you listen to Dusty sing. You will also appreciate his sharing of some of his family’s moments. Dusty continues the legacy of Roy and Dale by providing quality family entertainment.
For more information go to the www.royrogers.com (web site). ______
Cato Says… “You Can Cut A Greater Figure!”
Forrest Wallace Cato, RFMA, RFC, is a frequent speaker at The Insurance Pro Shop® . He received a Hollywood Walk-of-Fame Star for his talents promoting financial consultants into celebrities and for his platform presentations (speaking skills). As a leading media advocate working for financial professionals he arranges for clients to serve on the boards of corporations, associations, foundations, and other organizations. Cato is an award-winning author, op-ed writer, critic, essayist, lobbyist, speaker, biographer, scholar, speech writer, and financial sales researcher. Cato wrote the Introductions to eleven books, including the classic work titled ‘How To Sell Your Way Through Life,’ by Napoleon Hill . Cato has ghostwritten for such luminaries as W. Clement Stone, Norman Vincent Peale, Napoleon Hill, Robert H. Schuller and Charles “Tremendous Jones.
Cato’s most recent book is Mehdi Fakharzadeh’s Sales & Success System , available from The Insurance Pro Shop® . “Mister Mehdi,” an MDRT hero, is the world’s most successful living and active insurance sales agent.
Public Relations Quarterly called Cato, “The ultimate media insider for financial consultants. He works for advisors and agents, helping them create, establish, and maintain their desired images (positions as market leaders). Cato is credentialed as a member of the media authorized to cover the U.S. Congress and the White House. He has interviewed five presidents of the United States.
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