Washington in Beaufort County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Trigger's Climb

— Legends & Lore —

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 16, 2023

1. Trigger's Climb Marker

Inscription. When Roy Rogers performed at the Turnage Theater, he rode his horse Trigger up the steep stairs into the auditorium.

Erected 2022 by North Carolina Folklife Institute; William G. Pomeroy Foundation. (Marker Number 140.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Entertainment. In addition, it is included in the William G. Pomeroy Foundation Legends & Lore Series series list.

Location. 35° 32.555′ N, 77° 3.357′ W. Marker is in Washington, North Carolina, in Beaufort County. Marker is on West Main Street just east of Union Drive, on the left when traveling east. Marker is located along the walkway directly in front of the Turnage Theater. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 150 West Main Street, Washington NC 27889, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. John Gray Blount (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); DeMille Family (about 400 feet away); Daniel G. Fowle (about 400 feet away); Carawan Ghost (about 400 feet away); Old Beaufort County Courthouse (about 500 feet away); Dr. Susan Dimock (about 500 feet away); Washington (about 500 feet away); USS Picket (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Washington.

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1. Trigger's Climb.

The historic Turnage Theater has called Washington’s Main Street home since 1913. In over a hundred years of show business, the hotspot entertained audiences as a vaudeville theater, a movie palace, and a performing arts venue, with notable names of the century gracing its stage. Indeed, locals still tell the legend of how Roy Rogers, the singing cowboy movie star, once rode his beloved golden palomino horse Trigger up the Turnage stairs and straight into the theater. While this horseplay might seem a tall tale, it was no unusual feat for Trigger, one of the most talented equestrian acts in Hollywood history. Trigger was a consummate performer, and his repertoire included sitting in chairs, taking bows, and signing his name with an “X”.

(Submitted on May 22, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Unveiling Washington’s newest marker to a stair-climbing horse.

(Washington Daily News, 10/3/2022) Trigger, the beautiful Palomino horse owned by the legendary Roy Rogers, the ‘King of the Cowboys’ is the subject of the marker. Roy Rogers and Trigger performed at the Vaudeville Theater housed in the Turnage Theater. The Turnage building was constructed in 1913 with a bakery, shoe store and Vaudeville Theater on the second floor. Touring
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 16, 2023

2. Trigger's Climb Marker (east side)
vaudeville performers and their companies would perform here, including famous acts like Roy Rogers.

(Submitted on May 22, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

3. Turnage Theater.

The historic Turnage Theater is actually two theaters. The original theater was an upstairs vaudeville theater built in 1913 and in its original condition. The Palace Theater was built to the rear of the original in 1930, and was fashioned after the Palace Theater in New York. Later renamed Turnage Theater after its owner C.A. Turnage, it showed movies until it closed in 1979. The Turnage Theater reopened for business in November 2007 as a performing arts center, and also screening movies. The property is amazing. It is still like new and still has the old vaudeville theater above it.

(Submitted on May 22, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

4. Washington, North Carolina: Arts and Culture.

The Turnage Theatre, a restored historic vaudeville and movie theater, reopened in the downtown area in 2014 and hosts plays and other types of live entertainment.

(Submitted on May 22, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Trigger's Climb Marker (<i>west side</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 16, 2023

3. Trigger's Climb Marker (west side)

Turnage Theater Building 1913 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 16, 2023

4. Turnage Theater Building 1913

(mounted of left side of theater entrance)
This property is under
the protective covenants
of the Historic Preservation
Foundation of North
Carolina, Incorporated.

Turnage Theater (<i>southwest elevation</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 16, 2023

5. Turnage Theater (southwest elevation)

(entrance to 2nd floor vaudeville theater is on left)

Turnage Theater (<i>southeast elevation</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 16, 2023

6. Turnage Theater (southeast elevation)

Credits. This page was last revised on May 22, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 22, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 110 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on May 22, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.