Will Rogers ranch home will be open for tours.
People will be able to watch polo on Sunday.
Photo: Rich Schmitt/CTN
Will Rogers Family Day will celebrate the 80th anniversary of widow Betty Blake Rogers gifting the family’s 186-acre ranch to California’s State Park on Sunday, August 11.
Festivities begin at noon with a polo match, and as Will Rogers said, “After seeing kids play polo against big guys, it only shows that horses are the greatest equalizer in the world. No matter what you weigh, the little fellow is your equal on a horse.”
Starting at noon there will be tours of Will Rogers’ Western Ranch House, which is on the National Register of Historic Places and contains priceless paintings and lots of western memorabilia. The tours will show off the newly repaired barrel piano. The 31-room ranch house was built in 1928. It underwent a $5 million restoration in 2003 and reopened to the public in 2006.
Children’s games and activities saluting the 1940’s will also start at noon. Youth will be able to make a “Will Rogers for President Pin.” There will also be a scavenger hunt, old-fashioned sack races and a photo opportunity with a pony.
From 1:15 to 3:15, the L.A. Jitterbugs swing dance troop will be doing a swing dance demonstration. They will also offer dance lessons.
Promptly at 2 p.m., actress Deborah Moore will portray Betty Rogers signing the park deed.
The party concludes at 4 p.m. with cake for everyone and the singing of Happy Birthday to the park. Come in your best 40’s attire and help celebrate.
No RSVP is necessary, everyone is welcomed to come out and have fun at the park located at 1501 Will Rogers State Park Road.
About Will Rogers . . ..
Will Rogers was a cowboy, vaudeville performer, comedic actor, newspaper social commentator, columnist and radio personality. Born to a prominent Cherokee Nation family in Indian Territory in 1879, Rogers’ vaudeville rope act led to success with the Ziegfeld Follies, 71 movies (silents and sound) and more than 4,000 nationally syndicated newspaper columns.
Will Rogers was the leading political wit of his time. He quipped
“There are men running governments who shouldn’t be allowed to play with matches.”
And . . ..
“A fool and his money are soon elected.”
And . . .
“Political elections are a good deal like marriages, there’s no accounting for anyone’s taste.”
He died at 55 on August 15, 1935, along with aviator Wiley Post in an airplane crash at Point Barrow in northern Alaska.