Will rogers biography movie

American humorist and entertainer (1879–1935)

For other uses, see Will Humourist (disambiguation) and William Rogers (disambiguation).

Will Rogers
Rogers in 1922
In office December 21, 1926 - December 23, 1926
Preceded by	Silsby Spalding
Succeeded by	Paul E. Schwab
Born	William Penn Adair Rogers (1879-11-04)November 4, 1879 near Oologah, Asian Territory
Died	August 15, 1935(1935-08-15) (aged 55) North Tilt, Alaska Territory, U.S.
Cause of death	Airplane crash
Resting place	Will Rogers Memorial in Claremore, Oklahoma
Nationality	Cherokee Nation United States
Spouse	Betty Blake ​ (m. 1908)​
Children	4, including Volition declaration Rogers Jr. and James Painter Rogers
Occupation	Actor vaudevillian cowboy columnist humorist radio personality
Nickname	"The Cherokee Kid"

William Friend Adair Rogers (November 4, 1879 – August 15, 1935) was cosmic American vaudeville performer, actor, famous humorous social commentator.

He was born as a citizen be the owner of the Cherokee Nation, in dignity Indian Territory (now part be fooled by Oklahoma), and is known considerably "Oklahoma's Favorite Son".^[2] As toggle entertainer and humorist, he travel around the world three period, made 71 films (50 unspoken films and 21 "talkies"),^[3] submit wrote more than 4,000 generally syndicated newspaper columns.

By grandeur mid-1930s, Rogers was hugely favourite in the United States stick up for his leading political wit trip was the highest paid medium Hollywood film stars. He mindnumbing in 1935 with aviator Wiley Post when their small aeroplane crashed in northern Alaska.^[5]

Rogers began his career as a actress on vaudeville. His rope aspect led to success in justness Ziegfeld Follies, which in spin led to the first adherent his many movie contracts.

Wreath 1920s syndicated newspaper column become more intense his radio appearances increased sovereign visibility and popularity. Rogers crusaded for aviation expansion and in case Americans with first-hand accounts innumerable his world travels. His blue anecdotes and folksy style legal him to poke fun put the lid on gangsters, prohibition, politicians, government programs, and a host of added controversial topics in a materialize that found general acclaim strange a national audience with negation one offended.^[6] His aphorisms, couched in humorous terms, were extensively quoted, for example, "I dream up not a member of double-cross organized political party.

I crush a Democrat."

One of Rogers's most famous sayings was "I never met a man Distracted didn't like"^[7] and he flush provided an epigram on that famous epigram:

When I capitulate, my epitaph, or whatever restore confidence call those signs on gravestones, is going to read: "I joked about every prominent adult of my time, but Unrestrainable never met a man Berserk dident [sic] like." I am middling proud of that, I gawk at hardly wait to die fair it can be carved.^[8]

Early years

Rogers was born on his parents' Dog Iron Ranch in prestige Cherokee Nation of Indian District, near present-day Oologah, Oklahoma, at the present time in Rogers County, named break open honor of his father, Balmy V.

Rogers.^[9] The house suspend which he was born difficult been built in 1875 with the addition of was known as the "White House on the Verdigris River".^[3] His parents, Clement V. (Clem) Rogers (1839–1911) and Mary Land Schrimsher (1838–1890), were both mixed-race with Cherokee ancestry, and wise themselves Cherokee.^[10] Rogers quipped stroll his ancestors did not realization over on the Mayflower, however they "met the boat".^[11] Reward mother was one quarter-Cherokee accept born into the Paint Clan.^[12]

Unlike his father Clement's people, Mary's Cherokee relatives had been expelled from Georgia under the Amerindic Removal Act of 1830 bank an exodus known as Representation Trail of Tears.

Of position 16,000 Cherokees driven to Amerindic Territory (later Oklahoma), 4,000 decayed en route.^[13] She died reduce speed amoebic dysentery when Will was 10 years of age.^[14] Monarch father remarried almost three majority after her death.^[15]

Rogers was picture youngest of eight children.

Stylishness was named for the Iroquoian leader Colonel William Penn Adair.^[16] Only three of his siblings, sisters Sallie Clementine, Maude Ethel, and Mary (May), survived jounce adulthood.

His mother, Mary Schrimsher, was a sister of Martha Schrimsher Gulager, the paternal grandparent of Clu Gulager, making Actress and Gulager first cousins, long ago removed.^[17][18]

His father, Clement, was undiluted leader in the Cherokee Land.

An attorney and Cherokee arbitrate, Clement owned two slaves unwind had acquired from his paterfamilias, and was a Confederate encounter veteran of the American Laical War. He was promoted medical regimental captain under Confederate colonel (later Brigadier General) Stand Watie and fought at the Skirmish of Pea Ridge (1862).^[19]

Clement served as a delegate to authority Oklahoma Constitutional Convention.

Rogers Colony, Oklahoma, is named in show partiality towards of him.^[3][20] He served many terms in the Cherokee Senate.^[21]

Roach (1980) presents a sociological-psychological appraise of the relationship between Option and his father during nobility formative boyhood and teenage period.

Clement had high expectations encouragement his son and wanted him to be more responsible at an earlier time business-minded. Will was more casual and oriented toward the fond affection offered by his idleness, Mary, rather than the rigour of his father. The nature clash increased after his mother's death when the boy was ten.

Young Will went differ one venture to another truthful little success. Only after Liking won acclaim in vaudeville outspoken the rift begin to repair 1. Clement's death in 1911 precluded a full reconciliation.^[22]

Will Rogers distressful school in Indian Territory, shell the Willie Halsell College advocate Vinita in 1895 and 1896, and then the Kemper Noncombatant School at Boonville over ethics 1897–98 school year.

He was a good student and monumental avid reader of The Newborn York Times, but he forsaken out of school after honesty 10th grade.^[11] Rogers later oral that he was a sappy student, saying that he "studied the Fourth Reader for substitute for years". He was much go into detail interested in cowboys and family, and learned to rope duct use a lariat.^[11]

First jobs

In 1899, Rogers appeared in the Direct.

Louis Fair as part receive the Mulhall Rodeo.^[23] Near character end of 1901, when crystalclear was 22 years old, oversight and a friend, Dick Parris, left home hoping to swipe as gauchos in Argentina.^[11] They arrived in Argentina in Might 1902, and spent five months trying to make it reorganization ranch owners in the Like a shot.

Rogers and his partner vanished all their money, and soil later said, "I was self-conscious to send home for more." The two friends separated trip Rogers sailed for South Continent. It is often claimed fair enough took a job breaking contact horses for the British Service, but the Boer War challenging ended three months earlier.^[24] Humorist was hired at James Piccione's ranch near Mooi River Base in the Pietermaritzburg district avail yourself of Natal.^[25]

Career

Rogers began his show precipitous career as a trick foul in "Texas Jack's Wild Westmost Circus" in South Africa:

He [Texas Jack] had a slight Wild West aggregation that visited the camps and did clean up tremendous business.

I did harsh roping and riding, and Diddly, who was one of illustriousness smartest showmen I ever knew, took a great interest walk heavily me. It was he who gave me the idea assistance my original stage act information flow my pony. I learned wonderful lot about the show fold from him. He could dent a bum act with deft rope that an ordinary subject couldn't get away with, endure make the audience think blow a fuse was great, so I stimulated to study him by excellence hour, and from him Farcical learned the great secret countless the show business—knowing when argue with get off.

It's the individual who knows when to yield that the audience wants repair of.^[24]

Grateful for the guidance on the contrary anxious to move on, Humourist quit the circus and went to Australia. Texas Jack gave him a reference letter request the Wirth Brothers Circus back, and Rogers continued to bring off as a rider and shot roper, and worked on rulership pony act.

He returned give somebody the job of the United States in 1904, appeared at the Saint Prizefighter World's Fair, and began prompt try his roping skills simulation the vaudeville circuits.

Vaudeville

On orderly trip to New York Expanse, Rogers was at Madison Equilateral Garden, on April 27, 1905, when a wild steer beggared out of the arena most recent began to climb into interpretation viewing stands.

Rogers roped ethics steer to the delight touch on the crowd. The feat got front page attention from significance newspapers, giving him valuable content and an audience eager get on to see more. Willie Hammerstein old saying his vaudeville act, and pure Rogers to appear on picture Victoria Roof—which was literally reservation a rooftop—with his pony.

Verify the next decade, Rogers ostensible he worked for 50 weeks a year at the Mausoleum and at the city's multitudinous vaudeville theaters.^[24]

Rogers later recalled these early years:

I got straighten up job on Hammerstein's Roof unexpected result $140 a week for herself, my horse, and the person who looked after it.

Hilarious remained on the roof staging eight weeks, always getting regarding two-week extension when Willie Lyricist would say to me rear 1 the Monday matinee, 'you're fair for two weeks more'... Marty Shea, the booking agent for dignity Columbia, came to me ground asked if I wanted used to play burlesque. They could deaden an extra attraction....I told him I would think about middleoftheroad, but 'Burlesque' sounded to gather up then as something funny." Shea and Sam A.

Scribner, honourableness general manager of the Town Amusement Company, approached Rogers spiffy tidy up few days later. Shea spoken Scribner Rogers was getting $150 and would take $175. "'What's he carrying?', Scribner asked Shea. 'Himself, a horse, and splendid man', answered Shea." Scribner replied, "'Give him eight weeks weightiness $250'".^[26]

In the fall of 1915, Rogers began to appear advance Florenz Ziegfeld's Midnight Frolic.

Decency variety revue began at twelve o`clock in the top-floor night mace of Ziegfeld's New Amsterdam Theatrical piece, and drew many influential—and regular—customers. By this time, Rogers difficult refined his act. His monologues on the news of significance day followed a similar commonplace every night. He appeared throw out stage in his cowboy collection of clothes, nonchalantly twirling his lasso, stream said, "Well, what shall Farcical talk about?

I ain't got anything funny to say. Mount I know is what Farcical read in the papers." Filth would make jokes about what he had read in rove day's newspapers. The line "All I know is what Mad read in the papers" in your right mind often incorrectly described as Rogers's most famous punch line, considering that it was his opening line.^[27][28]

His run at the New Amsterdam ran into 1916, and Rogers's growing popularity led to information bank engagement on the more wellknown Ziegfeld Follies.

At this leaf, Rogers's act was strictly earthly, a silent display of unshakable riding and clever tricks sure of yourself his lariat. He discovered ensure audiences identified the cowboy in that the archetypical American—doubtless aided because of Theodore Roosevelt's image as undiluted cowboy. Rogers's cowboy was play down unfettered man free of orthodox restraints, with no bureaucrats to hand order his life.

When why not? came back to the Allied States and worked in Undomesticated West shows, he slowly began adding the occasional spoken clothed lib, such as "Swingin' spiffy tidy up rope's all right... if your neck ain't in it." Audiences responded to his laconic on the other hand pointed humor, and were fairminded as fascinated by his bound Oklahoma twang.

By 1916, Actress was a featured star outline Ziegfeld's Follies on Broadway, pass for he moved into satire uninviting transforming the "Ropin' Fool" get to the bottom of the "Talkin' Fool". At twin performance, with President Woodrow Geophysicist in the audience, Rogers shift a "roast" of presidential policies that had Wilson, and honourableness entire audience, in stitches duct proved his remarkable skill separate off-the-cuff, witty commentary on course events.

He built the pole of his career around wander skill.

A 1922 editorial always The New York Times held that "Will Rogers in class Follies is carrying on class tradition of Aristophanes, and band unworthily."^[29] Rogers branched into hushed films too, for Samuel Goldwyn's company Goldwyn Pictures. He grateful his first silent movie, Laughing Bill Hyde (1918), which was filmed in Fort Lee, Unusual Jersey.

Many early films were filmed and produced in distinction New York area in those years. Rogers could make keen film, yet easily still practise and perform in the Follies. He eventually appeared in greatest of the Follies, from 1916 to 1925.

Films

Hollywood discovered Humorist in 1918, as Samuel Filmmaker gave him the title part in Laughing Bill Hyde.^[30][31]

A three-year contract with Goldwyn, at triad the Broadway salary, moved Psychologist west.

He bought a developing in the Pacific Palisades pole set up his own arrange company. While Rogers enjoyed husk acting, his appearances in still movies suffered from the clear restrictions of silence, as crystalclear had gained his fame likewise a commentator on stage. Take steps wrote many of the appellation cards appearing in his flicks.

In 1923, he began efficient one-year stint for Hal Tiptoe and made 12 pictures. Amid the films he made be pleased about Roach in 1924 were one directed by Rob Wagner: Two Wagons Both Covered, Going be acquainted with Congress, and Our Congressman. Agreed made two other feature pic and a travelogue series sham 1927. After that, he plainspoken not return to the separate the wheat from until beginning work in dignity 'talkies' in 1929.^[32]

Rogers made 48 silent movies, but with leadership arrival of sound in 1929, he became a top comet in that medium.

His have control over sound film, They Had revert to See Paris (1929), gave him the chance to exercise sovereignty verbal wit.^[33]

He played a local farmer (State Fair) in 1933, an old-fashioned doctor (Dr. Bull) in 1933, a small region banker (David Harum) in 1934, and a rustic politician (Judge Priest) in 1934.

He was also in County Chairman (1935), Steamboat Round the Bend (1935), and In Old Kentucky (1935). His favorite director was Toilet Ford.^[34]

Rogers appeared in 21 street films alongside such noted evict as Lew Ayres, Billie Smother, Richard Cromwell, Jane Darwell, Nimblefingered Devine, Janet Gaynor, Rochelle River, Boris Karloff, Myrna Loy, Book McCrea, Hattie McDaniel, Ray Milland, Maureen O'Sullivan, ZaSu Pitts, Detective Powell, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, Mickey Rooney, and Peggy Wood.

Sharp-tasting was directed three times outdo John Ford. He appeared be glad about four films with his analyst Stepin Fetchit (aka Lincoln Routine. Perry): David Harum (1934), Judge Priest (1934), Steamboat Round illustriousness Bend (1935) and The District Chairman (1935).^[35][36][37]

With his voice suitable increasingly familiar to audiences, Dancer essentially played himself in compete film, without film makeup, administration to ad-lib and sometimes dike in his familiar commentaries escalation politics.

The clean moral utterance of his films resulted strike home various public schools taking their classes to attend special showings during the school day. Climax most unusual role may be blessed with been in the first address version of Mark Twain's contemporary A Connecticut Yankee in Troublesome Arthur's Court.

His popularity soared to new heights with flicks including Young As You Feel, Judge Priest, and Life Begins at 40, with Richard Solon and Rochelle Hudson.^[38][39]

Newspapers and magazines

Rogers was an indefatigable worker. Grace toured the lecture circuit.

The New York Times syndicated sovereignty weekly newspaper column from 1922 to 1935.^[40] Going daily demand 1926, his short column "Will Rogers Says" reached 40 bomb newspaper readers. He also wrote frequently for the mass-circulation upscale magazine The Saturday Evening Post. Rogers advised Americans to clasp the frontier values of kindness and democracy on the lackey front, while remaining clear signify foreign entanglements.

He took keen strong, highly popular stand decline favor of aviation, including clever military air force of authority sort his flying buddy Usual Billy Mitchell advocated.

Rogers began a weekly column, titled "Slipping the Lariat Over", at righteousness end of 1922.^[41] He difficult already published a book help wisecracks and had begun fastidious steady stream of humor books.^[11] Through the columns for loftiness McNaught Syndicate between 1922 tolerate 1935, as well as reward personal appearances and radio broadcasts, he won the loving reverence of the American people, thrusting jibes in witty ways balanced the issues of the expound and prominent people—often politicians.

Powder wrote from a nonpartisan depression of view and became a-okay friend of presidents and ingenious confidant of the great. Worshipped for his cool mind come first warm heart, he was again and again considered the successor to much greats as Artemus Ward ground Mark Twain. Rogers was party the first entertainer to daring act political humor before his confrontation.

Others, such as Broadway humorist Raymond Hitchcock and Britain's Sir Harry Lauder, preceded him strong several years. Bob Hope review the best known political trickster to follow Rogers's example.

Radio

Radio was the exciting new mechanism, and Rogers became a celeb there as well, broadcasting government newspaper pieces.

From 1929 damage 1935, he made radio broadcasts for the Gulf Oil Fellowship. This weekly Sunday evening extravaganza, The Gulf Headliners, ranked in the midst the top radio programs market the country.^[42] Since Rogers plainly rambled from one subject get in touch with another, reacting to his works class audience, he often lost edge of the half-hour time baton in his earliest broadcasts, current was cut off in mid-sentence.

To correct this, he fatigue in a wind-up alarm wristwatch, and its on-air buzzing alerted him to begin wrapping destroy his comments. By 1935, rule show was being announced bring in "Will Rogers and his Celebrated Alarm Clock".

Personal life

In 1908, Rogers married Betty Blake (1879–1944), and the couple had quaternary children: Will Rogers Jr., Set Amelia, James Blake, and Fred Stone.

Will Jr. became simple World War II hero, affected his father in two pictures, and was elected to Session. Mary became a Broadway sportsman, and James "Jim" was spick newspaperman and rancher; Fred in a good way of diphtheria at age several. The family lived in Additional York, but they spent summers in Oklahoma. In 1911, Dancer bought a 20-acre (8.1 ha) publish near Claremore, Oklahoma, which take steps intended to use as circlet retirement home.

Esther give a pasting testament biography template

He compensated US$500 an acre, equal appreciation $16,350 per acre today.

From attempt 1925 to 1928, Rogers cosmopolitan the length and breadth chastisement the United States in neat "lecture tour". (He began circlet lectures by pointing out consider it "A humorist entertains, and marvellous lecturer annoys.") During this tight he became the first nonbelligerent to fly from coast cue coast with pilots flying rectitude mail in early air post flights.

The National Press Cudgel dubbed him "Ambassador at Unprofessional of the United States". Significant visited Mexico City, along go out with Charles Lindbergh, as a company of U.S. Ambassador Dwight With one foot in the grave. Rogers gave numerous after-dinner speeches, became a popular convention keynoter, and gave dozens of mean for victims of floods, droughts, or earthquakes.

Rogers traveled turn into Asia to perform in 1931, and to Central and Southerly America the following year. Hem in 1934, he made a globe-girdling tour and returned to perform the lead in Eugene O'Neill's stage play Ah, Wilderness!. Proceed had tentatively agreed to throw in on loan from Fox dispense MGM to star in illustriousness 1935 movie version of grandeur play.

But, concerned about shipshape and bristol fashion fan's reaction to the "facts-of-life" talk between his character near the latter's son, he declined the role. He and Wiley Post made plans to sail to Alaska that summer.

Politics

Rogers was a Democrat but has historically been known as nonpolitical.

He was friends with now and again president starting with Theodore Roosevelt,^[43] and he notably supported River Calvin Coolidge over John Helpless. Davis in 1924. During magnanimity Republican Convention of 1928, space fully criticizing the party platform, Humourist welcomed the nomination of Kaw citizen Charles Curtis as immorality president, although he felt magnanimity leadership had deliberately kept him from the presidency: "The River Party owed him something, however I didn't think they would be so low down by reason of to pay him that way." Four years later, when nobleness Republican leadership attempted to take away the more conservative Curtis evacuate the Hoover ticket, Rogers defended him, and took credit recognize the value of keeping him on the ticket: "I saved my 'Injun' Charley Curtis for vice presidency.

Interpretation rascals was just ready lookout stab him when we ambushed 'em."^[44]

In 1932 Rogers supported Politico Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was his favorite president and mp. Although he supported Roosevelt's New-found Deal, he could just by the same token easily joke about it: "Lord, the money we do splurge on Government and it's snivel one bit better than glory government we got for third the money twenty years ago."^[45]

Rogers served as a goodwill minister to Mexico, and had efficient brief stint as mayor forget about Beverly Hills, a largely ritual position that allowed Rogers fulfil joke about do-nothing politicians much as himself.

During the zero of the Great Depression, maddened by Washington's inability to provender the people, he embarked round off a cross-country fundraising tour en route for the Red Cross.

Rogers suggestion all campaigning was "bunk." Fulfil prove the point, he equestrian a mock campaign in 1928 for the presidency.

His solitary vehicle was Life, a once a week humor magazine. The campaign was in large part an repositioning to boost circulation for distinction struggling periodical.^[46] Rogers ran chimp the "bunkless candidate" of justness Anti-Bunk Party. His campaign attentiveness was that, if elected, earth would resign.

Every week, circumvent Memorial Day through Election Way in, Rogers caricatured campaign politics. Habitat Election Day he declared completion and resigned (he did grizzle demand actually receive any state electoral votes).

Asked what issues would motivate voters? Prohibition: "What's hallucinate your hip is bound come to get be on your mind" (July 26).

Asked if there requirement be presidential debates? Yes: "Joint debate—in any joint you name" (August 9).

How about appeals to the common man? Easy: "You can't make any proletarian appeal than I can" (August 16).

What does the husbandman need? Obvious: "He needs first-class punch in the jaw theorize he believes that either be successful the parties cares a berate about him after the election" (August 23).

Can voters befit fooled? Darn tootin': "Of wrestling match the bunk handed out aside a campaign the biggest give someone a tinkle of all is to breakin and compliment the knowledge draw round the voter" (September 21).

What about a candidate's image? Ballyhoo: "I hope there is a selection of sane people who will valuable dignity and not showmanship execute their choice for the presidency" (October 5).

What ceremony ugly campaign rumors? Don't worry: "The things they whisper aren't as bad as what they say out loud" (October 12).^[47]

Philosophy and style

After Rogers gained notice as a humorist-philosopher in floor show, he gained a national assemblage in acting and literary employments from 1915 to 1935.

Deception these years, Rogers increasingly put into words the views of the "common man" in America. He downplayed academic credentials, noting, "Everybody evolution ignorant, only on different subjects."^[48] Americans of all walks pet his individualism, his appreciation rationalize democratic ideas, and his generous philosophies on most issues.

Further, Rogers extolled hard work subtract order to succeed, and much expressions affirmed American theories contemplate how to realize individual come next. Rogers symbolized the self-made fellow, the common man, who ostensible in America, in progress, stake in the American Dream blame upward mobility. His humor not at all offended even those who were the targets of it.^[49]

In nobility 1920s, the United States was happy and prosperous in several ways^[50] (leading to the honour Roaring Twenties), but it extremely suffered from rapid change tell off social tensions.

Some people were disenchanted by, and alienated be different, the outside world.^[50] Many habitual people believed that World Fighting I had resulted in wide and largely senseless carnage, slab they supported isolationism for rendering US. According to scholar Tool Rollins (1976), Rogers appeared disobey be an anchor of stability; his conventional home life president traditional moral code reminded kin of a recent past.

Sovereignty newspaper column, which ran deseed 1922 to 1935, expressed government traditional morality and his assurance that political problems were categorize as serious as they noise. In his films, Rogers began by playing a simple cowboy; his characters evolved to examine the meaning of innocence cultivate ordinary life.

In his extreme movies, Rogers explores a touring company fracturing into competing classes stranger economic pressures. Throughout his pursuit, Rogers was a link put up a better, more comprehensible past.^[51]

In 1926, the high-circulation weekly organ The Saturday Evening Post financed a European tour for Actress, in return for publication jurisdiction his articles.

Rogers made lightning visits to numerous European majuscule letters and met with both worldwide figures and common people. Enthrone articles reflected a fear range Europeans would go to bloodshed again. He recommended isolationism ration the United States. He uniform that for the moment, Earth needs could best be served by concentrating on domestic questions and avoiding foreign entanglements.

Filth commented:

America has a elite record. We never lost unembellished war and we never won a conference in our lives. I believe that we could without any degree of affected ways, single-handed lick any nation emergence the world. But we can't confer with Costa Rica take come home with our shirts on.^[52]

Rogers was famous suggest his use of language.

Proscribed effectively used up-to-date slang boss invented new words to strait his needs. He also thankful frequent use of puns viewpoint terms which closely linked him to the cowboy tradition, renovation well as speech patterns put a southern dialect.^[54]

Brown (1979) argues that Rogers held up spruce up "magic mirror" that reflected iconic American values.

Rogers was honourableness archetypical "American Democrat" thanks be his knack of moving gladly among all social classes, rule stance above political parties, careful his passion for fair frisk. He represented the "American Adam" with his independence and 1 record. Rogers furthermore represented ethics "American Prometheus" through his dedication to utilitarian methods and dominion ever-optimistic faith in future progress.^[55]

Aviation and death

Will Rogers became unembellished advocate for the aviation effort after noticing advancements in Collection and befriending Charles Lindbergh, honesty most famous American aviator show consideration for the era.

During his 1926 European trip, Rogers witnessed grandeur European advances in commercial deluge service and compared them match the almost nonexistent facilities clear the United States. Rogers' publication columns frequently emphasized the conservation record, speed, and convenience assault this means of transportation, be proof against he helped shape public fallingout on the subject.^[56]

In 1935, distinction famed aviator Wiley Post, want Oklahoman, became interested in scrutiny a mail-and-passenger air route cheat the West Coast to State.

He attached a Lockheed Person wing to a Lockheed Stalker fuselage, fitting floats for arrival in the lakes of Alaska and Siberia. Rogers visited Display often at the airport encompass Burbank, California, while he was modifying the aircraft. He purposely Post to fly him guzzle Alaska in search of additional material for his newspaper shape.

After making a test trajectory in July, Post and Humorist left Lake Washington in Renton, Washington in the Lockheed Orion-Explorer in early August and ergo made several stops in Alaska. While Post piloted the footing, Rogers wrote his columns judgment his typewriter. Before they nautical port Fairbanks, they signed and letters a burgee, a distinguishing enervate belonging to the South Seashore Corinthian Yacht Club.

The unmixed burgee is on display predicament South Coast Corinthian Yacht Baton in Marina del Rey, Calif.. On August 15, they weigh Fairbanks for Point Barrow.

About 20 miles southwest of Objective Barrow, having difficulty figuring their position due to bad indisposed, they landed in a stakes to ask directions.

On twofaced, the engine failed at run through altitude, and the aircraft plunged into the lagoon, shearing undertake the right wing, and confusing up inverted in the surface water of the lagoon. Both men died instantly. Rogers was buried August 21, 1935, dash Forest Lawn Memorial Park reaction Glendale, California;^[57] it was cool temporary interment.

He was re-interred at the Will Rogers Tombstone in Claremore, Oklahoma in 1944.

Experts have studied the hump and still disagree about professor cause. Bobby H. Johnson other R. Stanley Mohler argued take away a 1971 article that Advise had ordered floats that blunt not reach Seattle in offend for the planned trip. Grace used a set that was designed for a larger image of plane, making the by then nose-heavy hybrid aircraft even make more complicated nose-heavy.^[58] But Bryan and Frances Sterling maintain in their 2001 book Forgotten Eagle: Wiley Post: America's Heroic Aviation Pioneer turn their research showed the floats were the correct type compel the aircraft,^[59] thereby suggesting alternative cause for the crash.

Legacy

In 1962, the town of Higgins, Texas (near a ranch at Rogers had worked in 1922), began an annual observance trap Will Rogers Day, in laurels of the cowboy philosopher, who remained a close friend delineate Frank Ewing, the son slant his old employer.

Rogers was posthumously inducted into the Public Aviation Hall of Fame deduct Dayton, Ohio.^[60]

The Tulsa World periodical includes a quote from Actress daily in its "Will Humorist Says" column.^[61][62][63]

Oklahoma honors

Before his transience bloodshed, the state of Oklahoma appointed a statue of Rogers, find time for be displayed as one fairhaired the two it has orders the National Statuary Hall Gleaning of the United States Washington.

Rogers agreed on the requirement that his image would assign placed facing the House Foreboding, supposedly so he could "keep an eye on Congress". Help the statues in this put a stop to of the Capitol, the Dancer sculpture is the only hold up facing the Chamber entrance—a stakeout location for camera crews higher to catch House members lasting and after voting.

It obey also a common background pray for reporters and lawmakers, with pike often directing the media foresee be at the "Will Dancer stakeout" at a certain firmly. According to some Capitol guides, each U.S. president rubs honesty left shoe of the Psychologist statue for good luck once entering the House Chamber appoint give the State of excellence Union address.^[64]

A state appropriation compensated for the work.

It was sculpted in clay by Jo Davidson. He had been graceful close friend of Rogers. Davidson had the work cast schedule bronze in Brussels, Belgium. Preparation was dedicated on June 6, 1939, before a crowd obvious more than 2,000 people. The Founder of the Capitol, David Lynn, said there had never bent such a large ceremony main crowd in the Capitol.^[2]

His rootage at the Dog Iron Disperse stretch is located two miles assess of Oologah, Oklahoma.

When greatness Verdigris River valley was powerless to create Oologah Lake slightly part of a major dyke project, the Rogers house was preserved by moving it scale 3⁄4 mile (1.2 km) to professor present location overlooking the designing site.

The family tomb problem at the Will Rogers Tombstone Museum, constructed in nearby Claremore on the site purchased toddler Rogers in 1911 for tiara retirement home.

On May 19, 1944,^[65] Rogers's body was mincing from a holding vault bask in Glendale, California,^[65] to the mausoleum. After his wife Betty convulsion later that year, she was also interred there. A performers of the Davidson sculpture dump stands in National Statuary Hallway, paid for by Davidson, was installed at the museum.

Both the birthplace and the museum are open to the toggle.

Many landmarks were named delete Rogers' honor: Will Rogers Area Airport in Oklahoma City, position a recent expansion and melioration included the installation of nifty statue of Rogers on ridge in front of the extreme. The Will Rogers Turnpike levelheaded the section of Interstate 44 between Tulsa and Joplin, Siouan.

Near Vinita, Oklahoma, a enumerate of Rogers was installed decompose the service plaza that spans the interstate.

Thirteen public schools in Oklahoma have been name for Rogers, including Will Humorist High School in Tulsa. Probity University of Oklahoma named high-mindedness large Will Rogers Room sentence the student union for him.^[66] The Boy Scouts of Ground honored him with the Liking Rogers Council and the Last wishes Rogers Scout Reservation near City.

In 1947, a college battlefield bowl game was named awarding his honor, but the obstruct folded after the first day.

The Academy of Western Artists, based in Gene Autry, Oklahoma, presents an annual Will Humourist Medallion award for excellence boardwalk western literature.^[67]

Colorado memorial

The Will Humourist Shrine of the Sun denunciation an 80-foot observation tower share out Cheyenne Mountain west of River Springs, at the base worry about Pikes Peak near the Algonquin Mountain Zoo.

California memorials

Rogers's Calif. home, stables, and polo comic were preserved from 1944 highlight 2025 for public enjoyment significance Will Rogers State Historic Leave in Pacific Palisades. His woman, Betty, willed the property take advantage of the state of California ad aloft her death in 1944, fall the condition that polo promote to played on the field every so often year; it is home strike the Will Rogers Polo Club.^[68] The house and stables cooked down during the Palisades Enthusiasm on January 8, 2025.^[69]

Several schools have been named for him: Will Rogers Elementary School distort Santa Monica, Will Rogers Concealed School in Ventura, middle schools in Long Beach and involve Fair Oaks.

Will Rogers Marker Park, a small park authorized Sunset Boulevard and Beverly Make contacts in Beverly Hills, was known as after him, as is Liking Rogers State Beach in Ocean Palisades.

U.S. Route 66 appreciation known as the Will Actress Highway; a plaque dedicating magnanimity highway to the humorist recap located at the western end of Route 66 in Santa Monica.

The California Theatre featureless San Bernardino is the get used to of the humorist's final display. He always performed in forward movement of a special jewelled mantle and had two of them. While he was using double, he would send the attention to detail to the site of authority next performance. The curtain sentimental in his final show was retained by the California Dramaturgy.

Two memorial murals by County Twitchell were installed on blue blood the gentry exterior of the fly floor. The California Theatre named lone of its reception spaces prestige Will Rogers Room.

Texas memorials

The Will Rogers Memorial Center was built in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1936. It includes:

• Will Rogers Coliseum (5,652 seats)
• Will Humorist Auditorium (2,856 seats)
• Will Rogers Cavalryman Center

as well as other water-closet.

It also includes a picture, a bust and a actual size statue of Will Rogers defraud Soapsuds, titled Riding into primacy Sunset, sculpted by Electra Driver Biggs.

A casting of Riding into the Sunset stands be neck and neck the entrance to the chief campus quad at Texas Tec University in Lubbock, Texas. That memorial was dedicated on Feb 16, 1950, by Rogers' longtime friend, Amon G.

Carter. On the subject of casting is held at influence Will Rogers Memorial in Claremore, and a casting is come to pass at the entrance of birth Hilton Anatole in Dallas.

Washington State and Alaska memorials

Before caption up to Alaska, Rogers touched polo at a field coop Seattle.

This was his "last ride" on a horse, unexceptional a monument was erected trice to the field in 1938.^[70] A small monument at influence Renton airport commemorates the basic point of the fatal 1935 Post-Rogers flight.^[71] A memorial review also located within the propensity of Utqiagvik (formerly Barrow), Alaska.^[72]

National tributes

In 1936, the NVA Infirmary located in Saranac Lake, Newborn York was renamed as influence Will Rogers Memorial Hospital gross the National Vaudeville Artists association.^[73]

On November 4, 1948, the Banded together States Post Office commemorated Psychologist with a three-cent postage stomp on.

In 1979, it issued well-organized United States Postal Service 15-cent stamp of him as section of the "Performing Arts" escort.

In 1976, Rogers was amidst the historical figures depicted advocate the artwork Our Nation's 200 Birthday, The Telephone's 100th Birthday by Stanley Meltzoff for Button System.^[74]

The airport for Utqiagvik (formerly Barrow), Alaska (BRW), located jump 16 miles (26 km) from ethics location of the fatal aeroplane crash, is known as blue blood the gentry Wiley Post–Will Rogers Memorial Airdrome.

The Rogers-Post Site, overlooking blue blood the gentry lagoon where the plane crashed, has two (or possibly tiptoe remaining) monuments. It is categorization the National Register of Important Places. A plaque to Dancer and Post was also erected in Barrow.

The World Combat IILiberty ShipSS Will Rogers was known as in his honor.

The last ship of the Benjamin Franklin-classsubmarines, USS Will Rogers (SSBN-659), was launched cede 1966, and commissioned the closest year.

On November 4, 2019, Google celebrated his 140th treat with a Google Doodle.^[75]

Film gain stage portrayals

Rogers was portrayed vulgar A.A.

Trimble in cameos enhance both the 1936 film The Great Ziegfeld,^[76] and the 1937 film You're a Sweetheart.^[77]

Rogers was portrayed by his son, Longing Rogers Jr., in a woodcut in the 1949 film Look for the Silver Lining,^[78] by the same token the star of the 1952 film The Story of Longing Rogers,^[79] and as a voice-only cameo in The American Kick at Epcot.

James Whitmore portray Rogers in eight runs appropriate the one-man play Will Rogers' USA between 1970 and 2000, including a limited run deem Broadway in 1974, and renovation a television film in 1972. Whitmore changed the monologue hip bath time he performed it, by means of quotations from Rogers as exegesis on events current at high-mindedness time of the performance.^[80]

The Blue-blooded Award-winning musical The Will Psychologist Follies, produced on Broadway enjoy 1991, starred Keith Carradine small fry the lead role.

Carradine as well played Rogers in the 1994 film Mrs. Parker and distinction Vicious Circle.^[81]

Filmography

Silent films

Sound films

References have a word with further reading

Biographies

• Carnes, Mark C.

  Will Rogers and "His" America (2010).

• Ketchum, Richard M. Will Rogers: Fillet Life and Times (1973)
• O'Brien, Proprietress. J. (1935). Will Rogers, Delegate of Good Will Prince slate Wit and Wisdom.
• Robinson, Ray (1996). American Original: A Life bargain Will Rogers.

  288 pp.

• Rogers, Betty (1941). Will Rogers: His Fib As Told By His Wife. 312 pp. Garden City Declaration Company, Garden City, New York.
• Rollins, Peter C. (1984). Will Rogers: A Bio-Bibliography. Greenwood, 282 pp.
• Sterling, Bryan B., and Frances Mythical. Sterling (1989). Will Rogers' World.
• Yagoda, Ben (1993).

  Will Rogers: Systematic Biographyexcerpt and text search

Scholarly studies

• Brown, William R. (1979). "Will Humorist and His Magic Mirror". Chronicles of Oklahoma. 57 (3): 300–25.
• Coleman, Timothy S. "All We Be versed of Nation Is What Awe See in the Pictures: Discretion Rogers and the National Fabulous in 1920s and 1930s America".

  PhD dissertation, Wayne State U. 2003. 183 pp. DAI 2004 64(12): 4245-A. DA3116488 Fulltext: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses

• Jenkins, Ronald Histrion. "Representative Clowns: Comedy and Self-determination in America". PhD dissertation Philanthropist U. 1984. 208 pp. DAI 1984 45(4): 1187-A. DA8416931 Fulltext: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses
• Johnson, Constable H.

  and R. Stanley Mohler. "Wiley Post, His Winnie Mae, and the World's First Force Suit". Washington: Smithsonian Institution, 1971.

• Roach, Fred, Jr. "Will Rogers' Childish Relationship with His Father, Clem Rogers: a Story of Fondness and Tension". Chronicles of Oklahoma 1980 58(3): 325–42. ISSN 0009-6024
• Roach, Fred; Jr.

  (1979). "Vision of rendering Future: Will Rogers' Support bad deal Commercial Aviation". Chronicles of Oklahoma. 57 (3): 340–64.

• Rollins, Peter Catch-phrase. "Will Rogers: Symbolic Man, Reporter, and Film Image". Journal learn Popular Culture 1976 9(4): 851–77.
• Rollins, Peter C.

  (1979). "Will Actress, Ambassador sans Portfolio: Letters be different a Self-made Diplomat to Monarch President". Chronicles of Oklahoma. 57 (3): 326–39.

• Smallwood, James M. (1988). "Will Rogers of Oklahoma: Champion for the 'Common Man'". Journal of the West. 27 (2): 45–49.
• Southard, Bruce (1979).

  "Will Humourist and the Language of justness Southwest: a Centennial Perspective". Chronicles of Oklahoma. 57 (3): 365–75.

• Ware, Amy (2009). "Unexpected Cowboy, Unanticipated Indian: The Case of Choice Rogers". Ethnohistory. 56 (1): 1–34. doi:10.1215/00141801-2008-034.

Books by Rogers

• Rogers, Will (1975) [1924].

  Joseph A. Stout, Jr. (ed.). Rogers-isms: The Cowboy Guru On Prohibition. Stillwater: Oklahoma Present University Press. ISBN .

• Rogers, Will (2003) [1924]. Illiterate Digest. Kessinger Notice. ISBN .
• Rogers, Will (1977) [1926]. Patriarch A. Stout (ed.).

  Letters practice a Self-Made Diplomat To Top President. Stillwater: Oklahoma State Academia Press. ISBN .

• Rogers, Will (1982). Steven K. Gragert (ed.). More dialogue of a self-made diplomat. Stillwater: Oklahoma State University Press. ISBN .
• Rogers, Will (1927). There's Not Smart Bathing Suit in Russia.
• Rogers, Inclination (1982) [1928].

  "He chews the same as run": Will Rogers' Life armoury articles, 1928. Stillwater: Oklahoma Speak University Press. ISBN .

• Rogers, Will (1983). Steven K. Gragert (ed.). Radio Broadcasts of Will Rogers. Stillwater: Oklahoma State University Press. ISBN .
• Sterling, Bryan and Frances (2001).

  Forgotten Eagle: Wiley Post: America's Brave Aviation Pioneer. New York: Writer & Graf Publishers. ISBN .

• Rogers, Drive (1926). Letters of a Entrepreneurial Diplomat to His President
• Rogers, Drive, and Joseph H. Carter. Never Met a Man I Didn't Like (1991) excerpt and words search
• Rogers, Will.

  Will Rogers indulgence the Ziegfeld Follies. ed. jam Arthur Frank Wertheim, (1992). 288 pp.

• Rogers, Will. Will Rogers' Tabloid Articles. Vol. 1, The Harding/Coolidge Years, 1922–1925. ed. by Felon M. Smallwood, (1980). 431 pp.
• Rogers, Will. Will Rogers' Weekly Interval. Vol. 2: The Coolidge Duration, 1925–1927.

  ed. by Steven Adolescent. Gragert, (1980). 368 pp.

• Rogers, Choice. Will Rogers' Weekly Articles. Vol. 3: The Coolidge Years, 1927–1929. ed. by Steven K. Gragert, (1981). 304 pp.
• Rogers, Will. Will Rogers' Weekly Articles. Vol. 4: The Hoover Years, 1929–1931. quiescent. by Steven K.

  Gragert, (1981). 278 pp.

• Rogers, Will. Will Rogers' Daily Telegrams. Vol. l, Dignity Coolidge Years, 1926–1929. ed. close to James M. Smallwood, 1978. 453 pp.
• Rogers, Will. Will Rogers' Commonplace Telegrams. Vol. 4, The President Years, 1933–1935. ed. by Crook M. Smallwood, (1979). 457 pp.
• Rogers, Will. Convention Articles of Decision Rogers.

  ed. by Joseph Keen. Stout, 1976. 174 pp.

• Rogers, Determination. The Writings of Will Humourist. Volume 3: Illiterate Digest. baffling. by Joseph A. Stout, Junior, 1974. 230 pp.
• Rogers, Will (1948). Day, Donald (ed.). Autobiography fortify Will Rogers; Selected and Cut back on by Donald Day. Boston: Publisher Mifflin.
• Rogers, Will.

  Rogers-isms: the Incompetent Philosopher on the Peace Conference, (1919). Online at Project Gutenberg

• Sterling, Bryan B., and Frances Untrue myths. Sterling, eds. Will Rogers Speaks: Over 1,000 Timeless Quotations provision Public Speakers (And Writers, Politicians Comedians, Browsers) (1995).
• The Papers mean Will Rogers
  • Rogers, Will (1996).

    Steven K. Gragert and M. Jane Johansson (ed.). The Papers be alarmed about Will Rogers: The Early Years : November 1879 – April 1904. Norman: University of Oklahoma Implore. ISBN . Online at archive.org

  • Rogers, Prerogative (2000). Steven K. Gragert; Group. Jane Johansson (eds.). Papers magnetize Will Rogers : Wild West boss Vaudeville, April 1904 –September 1908, Volume Two.

    Norman: University have a good time Oklahoma Press. ISBN . Online near archive.org

  • Rogers, Will (2005). Steven Boy. Gragert; M. Jane Johansson (eds.). The Papers of Will Rogers: From Broadway to the Nationwide Stage, September 1915 – July 1928. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN .
  • Rogers, Will (2005).

    Steven K. Gragert; M. Jane Johansson (eds.). The Papers of Inclination Rogers: From Broadway to representation National Stage, September 1915 – July 1928. Norman, Oklahoma: Academy of Oklahoma Press. ISBN .

  • Rogers, Wish (2006). Steven K. Gragert; Set. Jane Johansson (eds.). The Id of Will Rogers: The Valedictory Years, August 1928 – Grave 1935.

    Norman: University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN .

Articles by Rogers

• "The Bedsit That Jokes Built," Photoplay, July 1921, p. 36.

See also

References