Don't miss Dale Evans riding into Capitan tonight!

Dale Evans, known as “Queen of the West” in the 1940s, ‘50s and ‘60s, will be portrayed in a Chautauqua presented by Kay Sebring-Roberts Kuhlmann at Capitan Public Library’s First Friday Program,  August 4,  at 7 p.m. 

This Chautauqua is brought to you courtesy of the New Mexico Humanities Council and the Friends of the Capitan Public Library.

The Chautauqua title, “The Way You Ride the Trail,” comes from Dale Evan’s most famous song, “Happy Trails to You,” composed as a theme song for her husband Roy Rogers, known as “King of the Cowboys.”  Dale appeared with Roy in 28 Western movies, as well as in the popular weekly television show, “The Roy Rogers Show,” during the 1950s and early ‘60s. 

Both Dale and Roy got their start in show business as radio performers before they ever met each other.  Together they recorded music albums, made live guest appearances around the country and raised seven children together.  The couple later hosted a musical variety television show. 

According to playwright/actress Kuhlmann, “at The Way You Ride the Trail Chautauqua, the audience will learn about Dale’s early life on her way to fame.  “She was a trailblazer for women in a number of ways.  

This performance will offer reminiscences of a special era in movies and early television, especially for audience members who are Baby Boomers and upward.  They will also find out some surprising insights into Dale’s life.”

A resident of Ruidoso, Kay Sebring-Roberts Kuhlmann is the author of over 50 history-based plays.  Of these, many are one-woman shows or Chautauquas.

Also a trailblazer in her own right, Kuhlmann is continually adding to her cast of woman portrayals.

Solo stage characters portrayed by Kuhlmann range from four first ladies: Bess Truman, Mamie Eisenhower, Jacki Kennedy and Hillary Clinton; to entertainers: Patsy Cline and Dale Evans; to pioneers: Santa Fe Trail Diarist Marian Sloan Russell; to traitors: Mildred Gillars aka Axis Sally; and first-in-their fields such as dentist Lucy Hobbs Taylor and U.S. Treasurer Georgia Neese Gray. 

After the Chautauqua, refreshments will be served.

See you there!

Kay meeting Roy Roger's son