Wonderful Will Rogers
Will Rogers was the greatest humorist in the 20th century.
Mark Twain is more famous, but there was a dark cynicism in Twain that was absent in Rogers.
He was beloved. Few people are ever beloved by everyone, but he was one of them.
In the first half of the 1930's, he was the highest paid actor in Hollywood.
He also wrote a daily newspaper column. I have several book-length collections of his observations and one-liners. They still hold up.
For a half-hour biography of him, produced in the 1960's, narrated by Mike Wallace, watch this.
The 1952 Hollywood bio pic is online. It starred his son, who was believable in the role.
The movie is not sappy, but it's kind of bland. But the 1950's were bland. They really were happy days.
I can recall seeing this in a theater, almost 70 years ago. I liked it.
In today's divided America, Rogers' kind of bipartisan humor is no longer possible. There is no one like Rogers today.
If you want to see roping as an art form, watch extracts from a silent film produced by Rogers: The Ropin' Fool. The stunt at the two-minute mark is incredible.
For two dozen marvelous quips on politics, click here: https://www.garynorth.com/snip/1453.htm