History of Will Rogers in Timeline
Will Rogers, born a Cherokee Nation citizen, was a celebrated American vaudeville performer, actor, and humorous social commentator, widely known as "Oklahoma's Favorite Son." He achieved immense popularity in the 1930s, becoming one of Hollywood's highest-paid stars through 71 films and over 4,000 syndicated newspaper columns, all while traveling the world. His keen political wit resonated deeply with the American public. Rogers' life was tragically cut short in 1935 when he and aviator Wiley Post died in a plane crash in Alaska.
May 1902: Arrival in Argentina
In May 1902, Will Rogers and a friend arrived in Argentina hoping to work as gauchos. They spent five months trying to establish themselves as ranch owners in the Pampas, but ultimately lost all their money.
1904: Return to the United States
In 1904, Will Rogers returned to the United States and appeared at the Saint Louis World's Fair. He then began trying out his roping skills on the vaudeville circuits.
April 27, 1905: Roping a steer at Madison Square Garden
On April 27, 1905, Will Rogers roped a wild steer at Madison Square Garden, gaining front page attention and an audience eager to see more. This led to him being signed by Willie Hammerstein to appear on the Victoria Roof.
1908: Marriage to Betty Blake
In 1908, Will Rogers married Betty Blake, and they had four children: Will Rogers Jr., Mary Amelia, James Blake, and Fred Stone.
1911: Clement's death
In 1911, Clement Rogers died. Clement had high expectations for his son and desired him to be more business-minded. Clement's death precluded a full reconciliation between him and Will.
1911: Ranch purchase near Claremore
In 1911, Will Rogers bought a 20-acre ranch near Claremore, Oklahoma, intended to use it as his retirement home.
1911: Purchase of Retirement Home Site
In 1911, Will Rogers purchased the site in Claremore, Oklahoma, for his retirement home, where the Will Rogers Memorial Museum was later constructed.
1911: Death of Clement V. Rogers
In 1911, Will Rogers' father, Clement V. Rogers, passed away. Clement had high expectations for Will and desired him to be more business-minded. His death precluded a full reconciliation between him and Will.
1915: Gained National Audience
From 1915, Will Rogers gained a national audience in acting and literary careers, increasingly expressing the views of the "common man" in America.
1915: Appearance in Florenz Ziegfeld's Midnight Frolic
In the fall of 1915, Will Rogers began appearing in Florenz Ziegfeld's Midnight Frolic, where he refined his act and developed his monologues on the news of the day. His opening line became, "All I know is what I read in the papers."
1916: Featured star in Ziegfeld's Follies
In 1916, Rogers was a featured star in Ziegfeld's Follies on Broadway, as he moved into satire by transforming the "Ropin' Fool" to the "Talkin' Fool".
1916: Engagement on the Ziegfeld Follies
In 1916, Rogers's growing popularity led to an engagement on the more famous Ziegfeld Follies. Rogers moved into satire, transforming the "Ropin' Fool" to the "Talkin' Fool", which proved his remarkable skill at off-the-cuff, witty commentary on current events.
1918: Hollywood discovered Rogers
In 1918, Samuel Goldwyn gave Will Rogers the title role in Laughing Bill Hyde, marking his entry into Hollywood.
1918: First silent movie
In 1918, Will Rogers made his first silent movie, Laughing Bill Hyde, which was filmed in Fort Lee, New Jersey.
1922: Tradition of Aristophanes
A 1922 editorial in The New York Times said that "Will Rogers in the Follies is carrying on the tradition of Aristophanes, and not unworthily."
1922: Began weekly column
At the end of 1922, Will Rogers began a weekly column titled "Slipping the Lariat Over".
1922: Syndication of newspaper column
From 1922 to 1935, The New York Times syndicated Will Rogers's weekly newspaper column.
1922: Worked at Ranch in Higgins, Texas
In 1922, Will Rogers worked near Higgins, Texas, and became a close friend of the son of his employer.
1923: One-year stint for Hal Roach
In 1923, Will Rogers began a one-year stint for Hal Roach and made 12 pictures.
1924: Films directed by Rob Wagner
In 1924, Will Rogers made three films for Hal Roach that were directed by Rob Wagner: Two Wagons Both Covered, Going to Congress, and Our Congressman.
1924: Supported Calvin Coolidge
In 1924, Will Rogers, a lifelong Democrat, supported Republican Calvin Coolidge for president over John W. Davis, showcasing his independent political views.
1925: Rogers appeared in most of the Follies
From 1916 to 1925, Rogers appeared in most of the Follies.
1925: Began a Lecture Tour
From about 1925 to 1928, Will Rogers traveled the length and breadth of the United States in a "lecture tour".
1926: European Trip Witnessed Aviation Advancements
During his 1926 European trip, Will Rogers witnessed European advances in commercial air service and compared them to the almost nonexistent facilities in the United States, leading him to become an advocate for the aviation industry.
1926: European Tour
In 1926, The Saturday Evening Post financed a European tour for Will Rogers, where he visited numerous capitals, met international figures and common people, and reflected a fear that Europeans would go to war again, leading him to recommend isolationism for the US.
1926: Daily newspaper column
In 1926, Will Rogers's short column "Will Rogers Says" reached 40 million newspaper readers daily.
1927: Feature silents and a travelogue series
In 1927, Will Rogers made two other feature silents and a travelogue series before taking a break from the screen.
1928: Welcomed Charles Curtis Nomination
During the Republican Convention of 1928, Will Rogers criticized the party platform but welcomed the nomination of Charles Curtis as vice president, though he felt Curtis was kept from the presidency deliberately.
1928: End of Lecture Tour
From about 1925 to 1928, Will Rogers traveled the length and breadth of the United States in a "lecture tour".
1928: Mock Campaign for Presidency
In 1928, Will Rogers mounted a mock campaign for president as the "bunkless candidate" of the Anti-Bunk Party, using the campaign to boost the circulation of Life magazine and promising to resign if elected.
1929: Radio broadcasts for Gulf Oil Company
From 1929 to 1935, Will Rogers made radio broadcasts for the Gulf Oil Company, ranking among the top radio programs in the country.
1929: Arrival of sound
In 1929, Will Rogers became a top star in the medium with the arrival of sound. His first sound film, They Had to See Paris, gave him the chance to exercise his verbal wit.
1929: Return to screen with 'talkies'
In 1929, Will Rogers returned to the screen and began working in 'talkies' after a period away from film.
1932: Supported Franklin D. Roosevelt
In 1932, Will Rogers supported Franklin D. Roosevelt for president and his New Deal, while also humorously commenting on government spending.
1933: Starred in State Fair and Dr. Bull
In 1933, Will Rogers played a homespun farmer in State Fair and an old-fashioned doctor in Dr. Bull.
1934: Films with Stepin Fetchit
In 1934, Will Rogers appeared in David Harum and Judge Priest with Stepin Fetchit (aka Lincoln T. Perry).
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: Starred 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.
August 15, 1935: Death of Will Rogers
On August 15, 1935, Will Rogers tragically died in a plane crash in northern Alaska, alongside aviator Wiley Post. This marked the end of the life of a very popular and highly paid political wit and Hollywood film star.
August 21, 1935: Burial in Glendale
Will Rogers was temporarily interred in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California on August 21, 1935, following his death in a plane crash with Wiley Post.
1935: "Will Rogers and his Famous Alarm Clock"
By 1935, Will Rogers's radio show was announced as "Will Rogers and his Famous Alarm Clock," after he started using an alarm clock to keep track of time during his broadcasts.
1935: Syndicated Column
From 1922 to 1935, Rogers's syndicated columns for the McNaught Syndicate, personal appearances, and radio broadcasts won the loving admiration of the American people.
1935: Syndication of newspaper column
From 1922 to 1935, The New York Times syndicated Will Rogers's weekly newspaper column.
1935: Starred 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.
1935: Films with Stepin Fetchit
In 1935, Will Rogers appeared in Steamboat Round the Bend and The County Chairman with Stepin Fetchit (aka Lincoln T. Perry).
1935: Declined role in movie version of Ah, Wilderness!
In 1935, Will Rogers declined the role in the movie version of "Ah, Wilderness!" due to concerns about fan reaction. He then made plans with Wiley Post to fly to Alaska that summer.
1935: Visited Wiley Post in Burbank
In 1935, Will Rogers visited Wiley Post in Burbank, California, while Post was modifying his aircraft for a mail-and-passenger air route from the West Coast to Russia, and asked Post to fly him through Alaska.
1935: Fatal Flight
In 1935, the Post-Rogers flight took off from the Renton airport.
1935: Expressed Views of the Common Man
Up to 1935, Will Rogers increasingly expressed the views of the "common man" in America through his acting and literary careers, downplaying academic credentials and extolling hard work.
1935: Newspaper Column Ended
Up to 1935, Will Rogers' newspaper column expressed his traditional morality and his belief that political problems were not as serious as they sounded.
1936: Portrayal in The Great Ziegfeld
In 1936, A.A. Trimble portrayed Will Rogers in a cameo in the film The Great Ziegfeld.
1936: Memorial Hospital Renamed
In 1936, the NVA Hospital in Saranac Lake, New York, was renamed the Will Rogers Memorial Hospital.
1936: Will Rogers Memorial Center Built
In 1936, the Will Rogers Memorial Center was built in Fort Worth, Texas.
1937: Portrayal in You're a Sweetheart
In 1937, A.A. Trimble portrayed Will Rogers in a cameo in the film You're a Sweetheart.
June 6, 1939: Dedication of Statue in the Capitol
On June 6, 1939, a statue of Will Rogers sculpted by Jo Davidson was dedicated in the Capitol before a crowd of more than 2,000 people.
May 19, 1944: Body Moved to Tomb
On May 19, 1944, Will Rogers's body was moved from a holding vault in Glendale, California, to the family tomb at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore, Oklahoma.
1944: State Historic Park
From 1944, Will Rogers's California home, stables, and polo fields were preserved for public enjoyment as Will Rogers State Historic Park.
1944: Re-interment in Claremore, Oklahoma
In 1944, Will Rogers was re-interred at the Will Rogers Memorial in Claremore, Oklahoma.
1944: Death of Betty Blake
In 1944, Will Rogers' wife, Betty Blake, passed away.
1947: College Bowl Game Named in Honor
In 1947, a college football bowl game was named in Will Rogers' honor, but the event folded after the first year.
November 4, 1948: Postage Stamp Commemoration
On November 4, 1948, the United States Post Office commemorated Will Rogers with a three-cent postage stamp.
1949: Portrayal in Look for the Silver Lining
In 1949, Will Rogers Jr. portrayed his father in a cameo in the film Look for the Silver Lining.
February 16, 1950: Dedication of Memorial at Texas Tech
On February 16, 1950, the memorial Riding into the Sunset was dedicated at Texas Tech University by Will Rogers' longtime friend, Amon G. Carter.
1952: Portrayal in The Story of Will Rogers
In 1952, Will Rogers Jr. starred as his father in the film The Story of Will Rogers.
1962: Will Rogers Day Began
In 1962, the town of Higgins, Texas, began an annual observance of Will Rogers Day, in honor of the cowboy philosopher.
1966: Launched USS Will Rogers
In 1966, the final ship of the Benjamin Franklin-class submarines, USS Will Rogers (SSBN-659), was launched.
1970: Performed Will Rogers' USA
In 1970, James Whitmore began performing in Will Rogers' USA.
1971: Johnson and Mohler's Article
In 1971, Bobby H. Johnson and R. Stanley Mohler argued that Wiley Post used incorrect floats on his plane, which contributed to the crash that killed both him and Will Rogers.
1972: Television Film
In 1972, James Whitmore performed Will Rogers' USA as a Television Film.
1974: Broadway Will Rogers' USA
In 1974, James Whitmore performed Will Rogers' USA on Broadway.
1976: Artwork Depiction
In 1976, Will Rogers was among the historical figures depicted in the artwork Our Nation's 200th Birthday, The Telephone's 100th Birthday by Stanley Meltzoff for Bell System.
1976: David Thomson Critique
In 1976, film critic David Thomson described Will Rogers' philosophy as reactionary, dispiriting, and provincial, despite his apparent bonhomie and tolerance.
1976: Peter Rollins Study of Will Rogers
In 1976, scholar Peter Rollins noted that Rogers appeared to be an anchor of stability, reminding people of a recent past through his conventional home life and traditional moral code.
1979: Brown's Analysis of Rogers
In 1979, Brown argued that Rogers held up a "magic mirror" that reflected iconic American values, representing the "American Democrat," "American Adam," and "American Prometheus."
1979: United States Postal Service Stamp
In 1979, the United States Postal Service issued a 15-cent stamp of Will Rogers as part of the "Performing Arts" series.
1991: The Will Rogers Follies on Broadway
In 1991, the Tony Award-winning musical The Will Rogers Follies, starring Keith Carradine, was produced on Broadway.
1994: Portrayal in Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle
In 1994, Keith Carradine also played Will Rogers in the film Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle.
2000: Finished Will Rogers' USA
In 2000, James Whitmore finished performing in Will Rogers' USA.
2001: Forgotten Eagle
In 2001, Bryan and Frances Sterling maintained that the floats were the correct type for the aircraft in their book Forgotten Eagle: Wiley Post: America's Heroic Aviation Pioneer, suggesting another cause for the crash.
November 4, 2019: Google Doodle
On November 4, 2019, Google celebrated Will Rogers' 140th birthday with a Google Doodle.
January 8, 2025: Palisades Fire
On January 8, 2025, the Will Rogers' California home and stables burnt down during the Palisades Fire.
