Will Rogers Memorial state agency. Will Rogers was born near Oologah, Oklahoma, where his father had settled. He had originally purchased the land in 1911, a plot containing that overlooks the Tiawah Valley, as the site of his retirement home. The price was reportedly $500 per acre. After his death, it was passed on to members of the Rogers family. Will's widow, Betty Rogers, donated the property in 1937, during the Great Depression, to the state of Oklahoma. The Oklahoma legislature appropriated $200,000 for the construction of a museum honoring Rogers. The original limestone building was designed by John Duncan Forsyth. Groundbreaking occurred
Will Rogers' USA Will Rogers' USA Will Rogers' USA is a one-man play about humorist Will Rogers that James Whitmore appeared in for more than 30 years. It was first staged by Frankie Hewitt at the Loretto-Hilton Theater in Webster Groves, Missouri in January 1970 and then at Ford's Theatre in September 1970. It was broadcast on television in 1972 and had a limited run on Broadway in May 1974. The Broadway production was produced by George Spota. The play was produced and conceived by George Spota, adapted and directed by Paul Shyre, with research by associate producer Bryan Sterling. Whitmore changed his