Irish crew films Rt. 66 travel series in Claremore
“I’ve been in twenty countries and the only one where American tourists are welcomed wholeheartedly by everyone is in Ireland. They don’t owe use, and they don’t hate us … “Will Rogers in 1926 during a foreign travelogue filming tour.
“The museum (Will Rogers Museum in Claremore} is one of the best if not the best on our trip. … Friendliness, atmosphere and informative. The staff … Steve and Andy … everyone was wonderful … “ Daithi Ose, Dearg Films, travel documentary presenter in June 2007 on a trip across U.S. 66, “The Will Rogers Highway.”
CLAREMORE (OK) — An Irish television travel series crew filming a Route 66 documentary received the same royal welcome in Claremore that Will Rogers received when he visited Ireland nine years before his death.
Will, as an “unofficial Ambassador” of the United States, accompanied by a producer and cameraman swept through Europe for Pathe Ind., Inc., an independent film group filming travels through parts of Paris, hiking through Holland, roaming the Emerald Isle, through Switzerland and Bavaria, London, Berlin, the River Rhine and in Dublin.
A cameraman, producer and Daithi Ose, the Will Rogers of that group, came from Ireland to film a travel series for Irish Television TG4 of Route 66. They started in Chicago on June 8, working their way to Santa Monica.
They spent the better part of an evening and the next day in Claremore, staying the night at Will Rogers Motor Inn visiting with Steve Gragert, Will Rogers Museum director, and Andy Hogan, the Museum’s storyteller, and a stop at the J.M. Davis Arms and Historical Museum.
“It wouldn’t be a trip down the Will Rogers Highway (Rt. 66 was dubbed the Will Rogers Highway at one time) without a stop in Claremore,” Ose said. “We left Chicago June 8 and are working out way to California.
“It (the Will Rogers Museum) was one of the best, if not the best, on our trip … friendliness, atmosphere and informative. The staff, Steve and Andy, everyone was wonderful.”
Andy Hogan, retired Claremore educator and the Museum storyteller and “tour guide” accompanied the crew through the Museum and grounds. Steve Gragert, Museum director, shared Will Rogers history.
If time allows, the travel series will end with a visit to Will Rogers State Park and the Will Rogers Ranch in Santa Monica, Calif., where will was living at the time of his death Aug. 15, 1935.
The Irish crew was excited to learn of Will’s visit to Dublin in 1926 and received a copy of the travel film converted to DVD.