How to Acquire a Stuffed Dead Horse

Cathy Elkies, Christie’s Director of Iconic Collections, brought a grab bag of fun into the Fox studio this morning. Too bad the I-Man was in New Mexico.

Beginning next week, Christie’s will auction off items from the Roy Rogers and Dale Evans collection, which until recently were housed in a museum in Branson, Missouri.

“Roy started the museum out in California in the 50s or 60s,” said Elkies. “It was really just sort of his warehouse of stuff, and then I think he felt he could start sharing it with the public.”

Like many cities, Branson fell on hard times and the museum became difficult to support. “The great part of this story is that Roy, many, many years ago, told the family, ‘If this ever becomes a difficulty, a financial burden, sell it,’” said Elkies.

The response to Christie’s forthcoming sale has been huge, she reported, thanks largely to Rogers’s loyal fan base. And thanks to the fact that you can buy a stuffed dead horse.

“You can buy Trigger!” Elkies exclaimed, referring to Rogers’s famed horse. “This will probably be a world record in taxidermy.”

Not only is Trigger stuffed and ready to go, but Dale’s horse Buttermilk is on the docket, as is Trigger, Jr. and Bullet, the dog. Imus was dismayed to learn that Roy himself was not, in fact, stuffed.

Rogers was, however, multi-faceted, said Elkies. “He was one of the original crossovers,” she pointed out. Not only was Rogers a star of film, television, and music, he was also one of the earliest merchandisers in the entertainment industry.

“After Disney, he was the second largest merchandiser in that era,” Elkies said. As such, the sale also includes lunch boxes, action figures, and prototype toys. On a much larger scale, there’s a souped-up 1964 Bonneville that Elkies thinks would be a perfect fit for Imus.

“It’s this super tricked-out convertible that was done by Nudie,” she said, referring to the famously distinctive rodeo tailor. “Hand-tooled leather seats, the doors open with guns, there’s silver dollars embedded in the leather work. It’s the most incredible car I’ve ever seen.”

Some of Roy’s and Dale’s wardrobe is also on the docket, like suits and cowboy boots, and, like everything else for sale, have no minimum selling price. “We were conscious to make sure everyone had a chance to get something, because it’s a nostalgic kind of sale,” said Elkies.

Stop by Christie’s next Wednesday and Thursday! Even if you can’t buy the stuffed dead horse, you can ogle it and wonder what crazy bastard thought that was a good idea.

-Julie Kanfer