Dale Robertson typified Hollywood's image of the cowboy hero, in movies and especially in his television series, Tales of Wells Fargo. Dale passed away in 2013 at the age of eighty-nine, but his memory is preserved on film . . . and by those who knew and loved him.
One of those people is his wife, Susan Robertson. With their marriage lasting over thirty years, there is no one better than Susan to establish Dale's legacy for years to come—and she has done just that in her new book, Bucking Hollywood (Page Publishing, Inc. New York, NY).
Here's the description from the back cover:
A unique and gifted actor once bucked the system in Hollywood. This is the life story of movie and TV actor Dale Robertson, told by the person who knew him best: his wife, Susan.
Susan says she is not a professional writer but wanted to write this book totally herself with her own thoughts, ideas, time frame, and no ghost writer. She laughs when someone says, "Well, you are a writer now."
As she states in the book, Dale would joke when someone would approach him to do his autobiography. He'd say, "Not now." It was because he did not know how it ended. Also he would remind them of all the thousands of interviews he had done over the years and to "let the younger actors do these interviews now." Because the autobiography had not been done, Susan wanted to do it to help in some way to preserve his legacy.
Susan now resides in San Diego, California, to be closer to family and hopes folks will enjoy the book. She knows her husband better and that he did not compromise himself in the film industry and in life.
The book is comprised of stories of Dale's childhood, WWII career, friends, faith, and politics, and information about his many TV and movie roles. Interspersed with Susan's narrative are newspaper articles and stories from others who knew Dale.
Although the book is not professionally written or edited, it is a sentimental and honest look at who Dale was: a horseman, a gambler, an entertainer, a businessman—a true and unpretentious gentleman who let you know right where he stood.
Despite Dale "bucking the system" with his uncompromising ways, he was there during some of the highlights of Hollywood's Golden Age. You'll find names such as Marilyn Monroe, Jimmy Durante, Louella Parsons, and Colonel Tom Parker, among many others.
And the large book is filled with dozens and dozens of never-before-published photos too!
It is a must-read for fans of Dale Robertson, and those interested in the times and places he lived in. It is available from Amazon.com and Ebay.
Other articles about Dale:
The Personality
Dale Robertson, Author
Dale Robertson Birthday Tribute
Dale Robertson Links