Claremore, Okla. – A northeastern Oklahoma organization last week hosted the premiere of a 30-minute retrospective about Will Rogers, the state's “beloved son” who lost his life in a tragic plane crash.
The Oklahoma State Educational Television Authority produced this short documentary as part of its “Back in Time” series. The film was premiered by Claremore Rotary Club and aired on OETA on January 11th.
The event was standing room only at the Will Rogers Museum, and OETA Film Club host Robert Birch took to the stage to lead a panel discussion followed by a Q&A session with the audience.
After the screening of the short feature, Birch introduced a panel of Will Rogers enthusiasts, including Joe Carter, former Will Rogers Museum director and author of a book about Will Rogers. Rogers' great-granddaughter, Jennifer Rogers Etchevery. Bert Taylor, author and Will Rogers interpreter.
Taylor is Will Rogers' player representative at Memorial and the author of two children's books about the Rogers County icon, a world-renowned actor, author, humorist and humanitarian.
The “Will Rogers: Oklahoma's Favorite Son” documentary begins with Rogers' birth in 1879. His life in Indian Territory before it became Oklahoma. His years in Hollywood, New York and California. and until and after his death in Point Barrow, Alaska in 1935.
The presentation and video were put together by Ryan Lorn and Burch.
Footage shot by Ryan Loan at Will Rogers' birthplace and numerous photos and videos provided by Will Rogers Memorial Curator Jennifer Holt complemented the story of Rogers' life and accomplishments. .
“Ryan Rohn and Robert Birch for putting this movie together for us, and of course Jennifer Holt, Tad Jones, [Museum director]Jennifer Rogers Etchevery [great-granddaughter of Will Rogers and member of the Museum Board of Directors]Joe Carter [former Will Rogers Museum director] We appreciate their efforts in helping us make this film,” said Susan Cadotte, OETA Vice President of Production.
OETA Film Club host Robert Birch joins others in a public panel discussion about Will Rogers at Claremore Museum. From left: Birch, Bert Taylor, Jennifer Rogers Etcheverry, Joe Carter.
Rogers Etcheverry, who accepted the task of preserving and promoting his great-grandfather's story and legacy, answered several questions about the monument and its future. She said plans are being made to build a high-rise event center on the museum grounds and update the exhibits to bring them into the 21st century.
“The memorial will be set up to handle questions and answers about today's setting. This museum is an excellent exhibition center, but with the benefit of today's technology, we will be able to explore more parts of Will Rogers' life. It will become clear. [to the public],” she said.
“I ended up learning about my great-grandfather and his work in the 1990s. I decided to look into it and went to my grandfather, Will’s youngest son. I learned a lot about Will Rogers and spent a lot of effort watching this. [Museum and his legacy] Continuing as a place of learning [him],” she said.
“There is no one else like Will Rogers. He does everything he can to be on stage, to speak on stage, to make silent films, to make speaking films, to help disseminate government information for the poor. I learned that and saw most people's lives turn out well,” Carter said. He is currently 91 years old. “There's no one else like Will Rogers.”
Bart Taylor introduced two children's books about Will Rogers and his interactions with politicians of the day. Based on historical facts, Taylor distributed copies to students across Oklahoma.
“It was important to me to continue to promote the life and times of Will Rogers and make him a part of our lives,” he said.
Rogers-Etcheverry said he hopes the museum renovations and exhibit updates will be completed around 2025, the 100th anniversary of Route 66.
“[Route 66] It was once called Will Rogers Highway. We are working hard to restore this as a highway that runs from Chicago, Illinois to Santa Monica, California. “AAA, along with other companies across the country, are investing millions of dollars to participate in this celebration,” she said.
