Growing up in Louisa – A Role Model!
Weekly feature . . . by Mike Coburn
Back in the forties movie stars were a big part of people’s lives across the country. We were a nation that was shaken with a number of events that would shape the lives of every family. This included a recent economic depression and the stories of the jobless that many vividly remembered. There were complicated left-over issues from the prohibition era and the corresponding ‘underground’ of crime. The Second World War was underway in the early forties. There was also a weather phenomenon called the ‘dust bowl,’ storms that were made up of huge clouds of topsoil that were blown from America’s ‘breadbasket’ plains eastward across the continent and destroyed many homesteads and farms. These were crippling times for everyone, including even the formerly wealthy families, these were crippling to families of nearly every stratus. It was a time when men were suddenly without work, and saw their life savings disappear. Many saw themselves beyond hope. The suffering people of America were hurt, but because of their inner strength and determination to ‘make it,’ they rose above the hardships. To do that, many turned to amusements to take their minds off their troubles.
Entertainment, in those early days consisted of listening to the radio, if one was available and had decent reception, or for those in the ‘Big Apple’ the source of entertainment was made up of stage shows called, ‘Vaudeville.’ For those outside of Manhattan, if they could afford the ticket price, (usually a nickel) the movies served to take folks into fantasyland and away from their suffering. During that era black and white films glamorized gangsters, rum runners, and any who dared hold up banks. Many innocent folks were collateral damage when the bullets flew, or were victims of crime. The ‘G-men’ tried to enforce the law and finally overcame many of the big-name criminals. As these famous rebels were imprisoned, or killed off Hollywood introduced musicals, filmed stage productions of plays, and created romantic comedies. It was also when the cowboy was introduced. During the forties and fifties, the cowboy would reign supreme, especially for the younger crowd.
Talkies had just come out and the newer movie stars became heart-throbs, not only for the teens of the day, but for their parents, too. The movie fee increased up to a quarter, which was still a bit of money to many families still trying to recover from the depression. Regardless, folks crowded in to see the latest movie that stared a favorite actor or actress, leading to the concept of ‘box-office draw.’ Some leading actors were worshiped by great hordes of youth who would swoon at the mere mention of their name. These ladies and gentlemen seemed to become the characters they played and reality was often lost on the smitten.
In those days it was common for a teen or young adult to send off for a photo of a favorite movie star. Some actually built a collection of studio pictures of their idols. I know my mother had a collection of signed autographs (long gone, of course). This week it came across my mind that one ‘regular guy stood out as truly a ‘common man after our own hearts.’ In his day he was as big a star as any of them. He was from just before ‘my time,’ but his persona still had an effect on my thinking. I saw how a simple man could find success and break out as a leader and role model worth emulating, even if he had come from the poorest of backgrounds.
Now that I’ve painted a picture of the ‘doom and gloom,’ that cast shadows on the psyche of the times, I can tell you that this article is pretty much about just one of those stars. It’s a very special ‘real’ cowboy, turned humorist. Young Will Rogers, left his father’s Oklahoma ranch to ride in rodeos and to seek his fortune. He traveled extensively in this country and performed in many other counties around the world. He gained fame with his trick riding and his roping skills, but came into his own when he was talked into opening a roping act on Vaudeville. This included his standing on stage and working his magic rope, often performing seemingly impossible tricks. But, what really got to the crowds were the remarks he made between his tricks. This naturally quiet man discovered that if he made a comment or two about politics, or nearly anything he’d seen that day in the newspaper, the crowd would love it. He pointed out, regardless of who may be sitting right in front of him, the idiocy in the handling of certain political situations, or the spending of crazy amounts of money he felt was wasted by politicians, and the apparent ruses the government seemed to be playing on the tax-paying public to enrich themselves or their states. It was a news commentary with a rope. He explained once that a rope was just the thing some politicians needed. Those kinds of remarks were not lost on his audiences. The witty comments brought him fame and admiration, even from those who were the subjects of his abuse.
Unfortunately for many in my age group, we had minimal opportunity to know this great man. He was killed in a plane crash, in frontier Alaska, back in 1935, which was well before I was born, but our parents knew him and were enchanted. All America mourned his passing. Reading the headlines of his passing along with his friend, Wally Post, the country recoiled as if as if a family member had died. My mother told me how sad it was and how much he would be missed. The reason I wrote this is to show a man that died in the 30’s had a profound effect on the 40’s, of which I’m a product.
Yes, even years later, in my day it was clear and certain that Will, Sr., was loved and highly respected by all Americans. I saw films of him grinning and crossing political lines to delightfully point out the shortcomings of both parties. He once said that “I’m not a member of any organized political party. I am a Democrat.” He also said, “I don’t need to make up jokes. All I have to do is watch Congress.” This was from country boy who said he’d never met a man that he didn’t like. Nobody could stay mad at him. With the recent election process that we just experienced, he would have been a pleasant distraction.
So, what I know of the man, I had to learn by word-of-mouth, or by reading his biography, and seeing several of his movies. I was also delighted when his look-alike son, Will Rogers, Jr. portrayed his famous father on early TV shows. Both men epitomized what is meant by being a humorist, as opposed to a comedian. That is to say that the humor was dry, often surprising, but always made a point of truth. Rather than using ‘slapstick’ that the comedians typically used, he merely stated his common sense opinions. He threw in the rope tricks, (no pun intended) and showed his fans that he could mount, ride, and dismount a horse in ways that seem impossible. Still, it was his mental wit that made him appear as an outstanding character in a world that was alleged to be full of greed and corruption. Government was mistrusted in those days, but the world trusted Will. He was a product of the depression and the ‘dust bowl,’ and understood America’s plight. Money that flowed in the roaring twenties was now so hard to come by. Will stood up for the average man with his brand of entertainment in a time when many folks were losing their homes and facing starvation. A joke at the expense of the perceived ‘evil’ rich was welcomed in those days.
I wish I could ask my DVR to play some of those old shows that I had seen when growing up where Will Jr., gave his dialogue in much the same manner as his famous dad. He used his father’s quotes and was widely accepted by the public because in a way he brought Will back to us. With modern technology we can sometimes find one of Will’s movies, but even if we did in this sophisticated day of computers, the new generations need to know where America was to identify with the truths behind some of the jokes. His movies, if shown today, might be perceived as amateurish and silly, but they were orchestrated to make a point. They don’t make the mainstream productions except when shown in the form of a documentary. The ‘down-home’ country boy is a stereotype and not politically correct, I guess. Regardless, I think we could still use someone to stand in the breach and speak for the common man.
Will, Jr., wasn’t a rodeo or roping enthusiast like his father, but he got the humor part. Besides, folks that remembered the senior, wanted junior to succeed. They wanted any of ‘ole Will’ they could get. Junior had the same cowboy look and wise smile. He, too, made you think he knew more than he was saying, thus keeping you ready for the next line. Performing in his dad’s shadow was more of a memorial than a task. That ‘father-son’ love was apparent.
Will, Sr. was a master at coming up with paraprosdokians, defined as a figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence, or phrase, is surprising or unexpected. In a way this form of speech causes the reader, or listener, to reinterpret the first part. The style is frequently used for humorous or dramatic effect even today. Here are a few of Will Roger’s famous quotes as an example: “You can’t say civilization don’t advance however, for in every war they kill you in a new way,” or, “The more you read and observe about the politics thing, you got to admit that each party is worse than the other.”
With those kinds of jokes you’d think Congress would have gotten mad over the criticism, but instead they honored Will Rogers with a statue placed right inside the capitol building so he could always keep an eye on them. Of all the statues in those hallowed halls, he is the only ‘non-elected’ person thus honored.
I love his quotes that seemed to come out of a simple man who was endowed with great wit and serious intelligence. “With Congress, every time they make a joke it’s a law, and every time they make a law, it’s a joke.” How about this one, “Good judgement comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgement.”
He may hold the record for insulting politicians and even presidents. He was a friend and guest at the White House many times. He also broke into the movie business and became a well-respected resident of Hollywood. His California ranch was of good size and was perfect for those horseback rides into the hills that he so loved. He rarely visited his ancestral home in ‘Indian Territory’ (Oklahoma), but when he did there were celebrations and friends to visit.
I do remember that in my formative years I couldn’t get enough of this ‘honest’ man from Oklahoma. He was proudly part Cherokee, and all cowboy. This soft-spoken guy with chaps and a rope delighted people all over the world. He played for Royalty, for Presidents, and did well in Hollywood. Back in the day when I heard that Will, Jr. would be on TV, or that an old film of Will, Sr., would be playing, I would rush to find my place as to not let any of his jewels of wisdom slip by. I knew there would be laughs, but a lot of frank, common-sense advice, too. Will is quoted saying, “We can’t all be heroes because somebody has to sit on the curb and clap as they go by.” I promise you, America clapped when he went by.
Of course, it was my parents that sat on that imaginary curb, but I figuratively lined up to take my turn years later. I think we could use another Will Rogers in these critical days and the ‘special interests’ and political fights ahead in the Capitol. Meanwhile, we have the memories of how a simple cowboy can make the world a better place for a time. mcoburncppo@aol.com
