Will Rogers (Davidson) said of Rogers' effect on the United States during the Depression, “His humor was the safety valve for American Life.” Will Rogers (Davidson) Will Rogers is a statue created by Jo Davidson, two versions of which were unveiled in 1938. Shortly after entertainer and social commentator Will Rogers was killed in an airplane crash on August 15, 1935, the state of Oklahoma passed a bill to authorize that its second statue for the National Statuary Hall Collection in the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C. be one of Will Rogers. On the recommendation of Betty Rogers, Will Rogers' wife, the
Will Rogers Theatre and Commercial Block its entrance which supports the top of its neon marquee. The interior decorations, which also have an Art Deco influence, include recessed lighting and flowered and geometric patterns painted on the ceiling by hand. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 12, 1984. Will Rogers Theatre and Commercial Block The Will Rogers Theatre and Commercial Block is a historic theatre and commercial building located at 705-715 Monroe Avenue in Charleston, Illinois. The theatre, named for entertainer Will Rogers, was built in 1935 and opened in 1938. The Art Deco building was the first Art