Hollywood museum pays tribute to Will Rogers

 

Will Rogers was born to the land on an Indian Territory ranch. But he was destined for uncommon greatness — Hollywood and the big screen, Broadway, radio and newspaper. When he was killed Aug. 15, 1935 in an Alaskan plane crash, he was one of the best-known celebrities of his time.

Hollywood Heritage Museum will pay tribute to Will on Wednesday night with an “Evening at the Barn,” presenting film clips and recollections.

Jennifer Rogers-Etcheverry, Will Rogers’ great-granddaughter, who was in Claremore for Will Rogers Days, will be on hand to discuss the legacy of her famous grandfather. She is the family spokesperson for the Will Rogers National Park and Ranch in Pacific Palisades. Todd Vradenburg, Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation executive director and board president of the Ranch Foundation, will join her.

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment is allowing the museum to host the first public screening of several documentaries that were produced expressly for their popular Will Rogers DVD Collection. The first is entitled “Back to the Ranch” and features personal interviews with Rogers’ family members at the re-dedication of the ranch where Will lived at the time of his death. “Jane Withers Remembers” includes heartfelt stories from the beloved child star that was befriended by Rogers when they were making films at Fox Studios. Hollywood Heritage board member and film historian Stan Taffel will offer rarely seen Rogers movie clips from his personal film collection.

The barn (birthplace of Paramount Pictures) is across the street from the Hollywood Bowl.