Spotlight on Will Rogers

Will Rogers pointing and looking at the camera

You may have heard of Will Rogers or seen his name on signs in Oklahoma. Will was a beloved entertainer and comedian. Many places in Oklahoma have been named after him. For example, the airport in Oklahoma City is the Will Rogers World Airport, and U.S. Route 66 is nicknamed the "Will Rogers Highway."

His reach went far beyond Oklahoma, too. Watch the video below to see how Will Rogers became a beloved performer around the world:

Video: History Brief: Will Rogers

Reading Through History. (2017, Dec 15). History Brief: Will Rogers. [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/Ml89Av5Bcp8?si=6rNHITdbUGCJjt59

Click on the button at the bottom of the video to access the closed captions.

Wow, Will performed in so many places and did so many things! He was able to keep his Oklahoma roots by doing lasso tricks and telling jokes in his country accent. He was successful in so many endeavors, including the biggest show in New York, movies, radio, and writing.

Famous Performance

Take a look at one of the most popular songs and dances from The Will Rogers Follies titled "Our Favorite Son."

Video: WRF- Favorite Son.mov

Bill Moore. (2012, Feb 1). WRF-Favorite Son.mov. [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/-QfrvYnk-O8?si=RyrzEJAgMjYtPO71

Click on the button at the bottom of the video to access the closed captions.

Those hand motions are harder than they look! The Will Rogers Follies is a musical based on the life and career of Will Rogers.

Will Rogers' Quotes

Through the years, Will Rogers became known as a comedian-philosopher, nicknamed the Cowboy Philosopher. He was known for his humor and smart, timely comments. Here are some of Will Rogers's quotes:

"You've got to go out on a limb sometimes because that's where the fruit is."
"Don't let yesterday use up too much of today."
"Do the best you can, and don't take life too serious."
"We can't all be heroes, because somebody has to sit on the curb and applaud when they go by."

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