Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Will Rogers

How Will Rogers built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Will Rogers, born a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, was a celebrated American vaudeville performer, actor, and humorous social commentator, often called "Oklahoma's Favorite Son." He achieved immense popularity and became the highest-paid Hollywood film star by the mid-1930s. Rogers traveled the world extensively, starred in 71 films, and penned over 4,000 nationally syndicated newspaper columns, establishing himself as a leading political wit. His life tragically ended in 1935 in a plane crash in Alaska alongside aviator Wiley Post.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Legacy & Impact

1904: Return to the United States

In 1904, Will Rogers returned to the United States after working in Australia and appeared at the Saint Louis World's Fair. He then started showcasing his roping skills on the vaudeville circuits.

April 27, 1905: Roping a Steer at Madison Square Garden

On April 27, 1905, Will Rogers was at Madison Square Garden when a wild steer escaped into the stands. He successfully roped the steer, gaining front-page attention and a contract with Willie Hammerstein to perform on the Victoria Roof.

1915: Acting and Literary Career Begins

From 1915, Will Rogers gained a national audience through acting and literary endeavors, expressing the views of the "common man."

1915: Appearance in Ziegfeld's Midnight Frolic

In the fall of 1915, Will Rogers began performing in Florenz Ziegfeld's Midnight Frolic, where he refined his act and started delivering monologues based on current news, famously opening with the line "All I know is what I read in the papers."

1916: Featured Star in Ziegfeld's Follies

By 1916, Will Rogers became a featured star in Ziegfeld's Follies on Broadway. Rogers evolved from a "Ropin' Fool" to a "Talkin' Fool", incorporating political satire and witty commentary on current events into his performances, demonstrating his remarkable skill for improvisation.

1916: Appearances in the Ziegfeld Follies

In 1916, Will Rogers appeared in the Ziegfeld Follies and continued until 1925.

1918: First Silent Movie

In 1918, Rogers branched into silent films and made his first silent movie, "Laughing Bill Hyde", filmed in Fort Lee, New Jersey for Samuel Goldwyn's company Goldwyn Pictures.

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1918: Hollywood Discovery

In 1918, Samuel Goldwyn gave Will Rogers the title role in "Laughing Bill Hyde", marking his discovery by Hollywood.

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1922: Weekly Column 'Slipping the Lariat Over'

At the end of 1922, Will Rogers began writing a weekly column titled "Slipping the Lariat Over". He also published a book of wisecracks and continued publishing humor books.

1922: Syndication of Newspaper Column

From 1922 to 1935, The New York Times syndicated Will Rogers's weekly newspaper column.

1922: Newspaper Column Begins

In 1922, Will Rogers began writing his newspaper column, which ran until 1935, expressing traditional morality and downplaying the seriousness of political problems.

1923: One-Year Stint with Hal Roach

In 1923, Will Rogers began a one-year stint with Hal Roach and made 12 pictures.

1924: Films for Hal Roach

In 1924, Will Rogers made three films for Hal Roach directed by Rob Wagner: Two Wagons Both Covered, Going to Congress, and Our Congressman.

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1924: Support for Coolidge

In 1924, Will Rogers, a lifelong Democrat, supported Republican Calvin Coolidge over John W. Davis in the presidential election.

1925: Lecture Tour Begins

Around 1925, Will Rogers began a "lecture tour" across the United States, becoming the first civilian to fly from coast to coast with pilots flying the mail. The National Press Club dubbed him "Ambassador at Large of the United States".

1925: Appearances in the Ziegfeld Follies

In 1925, Will Rogers appeared in the Ziegfeld Follies and had been appearing since 1916.

1926: Witnessed European Aviation Advancements

During his 1926 European trip, Will Rogers witnessed the European advances in commercial air service and compared them to the almost nonexistent facilities in the United States.

1926: European Tour Financed by The Saturday Evening Post

In 1926, The Saturday Evening Post financed a European tour for Will Rogers in return for publication of his articles. Rogers visited numerous European capitals, met with international figures and common people, and reflected a fear that Europeans would go to war again, recommending isolationism for the United States.

1926: Daily Newspaper Column

In 1926, Will Rogers's short column "Will Rogers Says" became a daily feature, reaching 40 million newspaper readers.

1927: Silent Films and Travelogue Series

In 1927, Will Rogers made two feature silent films and a travelogue series, after which he did not return to the screen until 1929.

1928: Criticism and Support at the Republican Convention

During the 1928 Republican Convention, Will Rogers criticized the party platform, but welcomed the nomination of Charles Curtis as Vice President, though expressing that the leadership kept Curtis from the presidency.

1928: End of Lecture Tour

From about 1925 to 1928, Will Rogers toured the length and breadth of the United States in a "lecture tour".

1928: Mock Presidential Campaign

In 1928, Will Rogers mounted a mock campaign for the presidency to prove that all campaigning was "bunk." He ran as the "bunkless candidate" of the Anti-Bunk Party in Life magazine, promising to resign if elected and caricaturing campaign politics weekly from Memorial Day through Election Day.

1929: Radio Broadcasts for Gulf Oil Company

From 1929 to 1935, Will Rogers made radio broadcasts for the Gulf Oil Company. His weekly Sunday evening show, "The Gulf Headliners", became one of the top radio programs in the country.

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1929: Return to the Screen with 'Talkies'

In 1929, Will Rogers returned to the screen with the advent of 'talkies'.

1929: First Sound Film

In 1929, Will Rogers starred in his first sound film, "They Had to See Paris", which allowed him to showcase his verbal wit and solidified his status as a top star in the medium.

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1931: Travels to Asia

In 1931, Will Rogers traveled to Asia to perform.

1932: Support for Franklin D. Roosevelt

In 1932, Will Rogers supported Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt, who he considered his favorite president and politician. He also made jokes about Roosevelt's New Deal.

1933: Roles in 'State Fair' and 'Dr. Bull'

In 1933, Will Rogers played the role of a homespun farmer in 'State Fair' and an old-fashioned doctor in 'Dr. Bull'.

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1934: Films with Stepin Fetchit

In 1934, Will Rogers appeared in the films 'David Harum' and 'Judge Priest' alongside Stepin Fetchit.

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1934: Globe-Girdling Tour

In 1934, Will Rogers made a globe-girdling tour and returned to play the lead in Eugene O'Neill's stage play Ah, Wilderness!.

1934: Roles in 'David Harum' and 'Judge Priest'

In 1934, Will Rogers played a small-town banker in 'David Harum' and a rustic politician in 'Judge Priest'.

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1935: "Will Rogers and his Famous Alarm Clock"

By 1935, Will Rogers's radio show was being announced as "Will Rogers and his Famous Alarm Clock". He used an alarm clock to keep track of time during his broadcasts for the Gulf Oil Company.

1935: Column for the McNaught Syndicate

From 1922 to 1935, Will Rogers wrote columns for the McNaught Syndicate, winning the admiration of the American people through his witty commentary on current events and prominent figures.

1935: Roles in 'County Chairman', 'Steamboat Round the Bend', and 'In Old Kentucky'

In 1935, Will Rogers appeared in 'County Chairman', 'Steamboat Round the Bend', and 'In Old Kentucky'.

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1935: Films with Stepin Fetchit

In 1935, Will Rogers appeared in the films 'Steamboat Round the Bend' and 'The County Chairman' alongside Stepin Fetchit.

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1935: Declined Role in Movie Version of 'Ah, Wilderness!'

In 1935, Will Rogers tentatively agreed to star in the movie version of "Ah, Wilderness!", but declined due to concerns about a fan's reaction. He and Wiley Post then made plans to fly to Alaska that summer.

1935: Syndication of Newspaper Column

The New York Times syndicated Will Rogers' weekly newspaper column from 1922 to 1935.

1935: Expressing Views of the Common Man Continues

Until 1935, Will Rogers continued to express the views of the "common man" in his acting and literary career, emphasizing individualism and hard work.

1935: Newspaper Column Ends

Will Rogers' newspaper column, which began in 1922, ended in 1935. In his column, he expressed his traditional morality and his belief that political problems were not as serious as they sounded.