Will Rogers

I was first introduced to Will Rogers in the late 1970s. James Whitmore performed a one-man called “Will Rogers USA.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_Rogers'_USA
I saw the performance at iconic Ford’s Theater in DC. It was fantastic. Whitmore came on stage and introduced himself as Whitmore and spoke a little about what we were going to see. There was a saw-horse with a saddle and rope, a hall tree, small table, rug and a chair. Whitmore was in a modern coat and tie.
After a time, Whitmore turned around , removed the coat and tie and added a red bandana and cowboy hat to his head and turned around to become Will Rogers.It was an excellent show. It was so good that about ten years later we went again to the same theater. This time I was able to bring my mother with us.

I recently dug out a book the missus had gotten for me in 1991. “Will Rogers/His Life and Times”/Ketchum/1973
I’m about three quarters through and it is eerie how much his writings, musings and observations parallel with things that are going on today. At first I thought he was prescient, but later I realized that we just haven’t advanced very far since the times he was living, 1879-1935.

When he went to get a passport for overseas travel, he was asked for his birth certificate. He replied that in the territory of Oklahoma, at the time he was born, they didn’t go in for those sorts of thing. He figured that him standing there was ‘certificate” enough.

A sample of some of his quotes, if you are a student of US history I recommend finding out more about him.

Have a few places named after him on the Fort Worth side of the Metroplex.

Don't forget to rub his nose for luck!

Bok Tuklo said:

Have a few places named after him on the Fort Worth side of the Metroplex.

Don't forget to rub his nose for luck!


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Looks well worn….

This is how he began his career:

Locally there are the Will Rogers State Historic Park, and Will Rogers State Beach.

The SHP is off Sunset Boulevard in Pacific Palisades, and included his ranch house, horse stables, corrals, polo field, and surrounding acreage, all of which burned in January during the Palisades Fire. All horses were evacuated to safety. The hiking trails — through burned chaparral — are all that remains.

The SB is on Pacific Coast Highway and Temescal Canyon Road, and has volleyball courts, and lots of parking. (Both sides of Temescal Canyon burned in the Palisades Fire.)

When my brother and I were little the family would go to Will Rogers Beach (no volleyball courts then).

venice_ca said:

Locally there are the Will Rogers State Historic Park, and Will Rogers State Beach.

The SHP is off Sunset Boulevard in Pacific Palisades, and included his ranch house, horse stables, corrals, polo field, and surrounding acreage, all of which burned in January during the Palisades Fire. All horses were evacuated to safety. The hiking trails — through burned chaparral — are all that remains.

Will Rogers State Historic Park

California State Parks

www.parks.ca.gov

Will Rogers Ranch Historic Photographs

California State Parks

www.parks.ca.gov

The SB is on Pacific Coast Highway and Temescal Canyon Road, and has volleyball courts, and lots of parking. (Both sides of Temescal Canyon burned in the Palisades Fire.)

https://beaches.lacounty.gov/will-rogers-beach/

When my brother and I were little the family would go to Will Rogers Beach (no volleyball courts then).

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He launched a career spinning a rope, we worked commentary in because he only knew so many rope tricks. He was performing twice a day in some instances in the same venue and he knew he needed to stay fresh.

He was also paid a handsome sum, although family life was hard, his wife had to catch a cross-country train to visit Will in NY, before they moved there.