Screen Mirror (Jun 1930 - Mar 1931)

24 Screen Mirror For June "Listen, you bozos," says Will Rogers, and the world listens. During the last presidential election, Will was proposed as the comedy candidate tor president there still are those who think he wouldn't have looked so silly in the White House, after all. Now Will has gone in for bigger things than national politics, rope spinning, and chewing gum. He is trying to mend international relations with his prostrating new comedy, "So This Is London!" this fellow —Rogers amount. Dillingham claims he saved himself thousands of dollars . . for Will always “paid” himself less than was expected. Will was reared a Methodist. His mother wanted him to be a preacher. But he turned out to be a cowpuncher and an actor. He did occupy a pulpit once . . but as a visiting lecturer. He likes to write. He has written seven books. He writes every day for the papers. He was never late with his newspaper copy. He sends it in the night before publication . . without fail. He writes it anywhere . . in an areoplane, or in his automobile. Some of his best squibs were written in the air. He loves flying, and won’t take a train, boat, or auto for a long journey if a plane can be found. He chews gum incessantly, to keep down his desire to smoke. He hasn’t smoked in years. He buys gum by the carton . . but never has any with him, and borrows from anyone in sight. When asked if he read fiction, he said, “Yes — the newspapers!” He hates to dress up . . loves plain, good clothes. He would rather be shot than go to a function in evening attire. He doesn’t know how to play golf or tennis, and never hopes to. He still loves horses, and has polo ponies for pets at his ranch. He shied away from talkies. When he did consent to appear, he got “Mike fright.” His first sound picture was for the Fox Studios in “They Had to See Paris.” People howled. Now he has made, “So This Is Lon' don.” . . People are screaming. Inter' national difficulties have gone up the flue in a gale of laughter. • He chews GUM . . he spins ropes ... he was in the Follies. He writes squibs in the papers . . and talks over the radio. That’s all the average person knows about Will Rogers. Few know much more. Few know that Will Rogers can walk into a King’s parlor, slap the Sovereign on the back, call him, “ old Boy,” . . and get away with it! They say Will’s new picture, “So This Is London,” will do more to cement good feeling between the Amer' icans and the British, than the Arms Conference — which isn’t saying so much for Will Rogers. Already Europe likes the rope-twirling jokester. He’ll get a hearing. And the howling comedy, sparing neither American nor Britisher, done with good-humored sting — as only Will Rogers can do it — will make people laugh at the great big black International bubbles they have blown up. Make ’em laugh at their own nightmares . . and the ghosts will vanish. Who is this fellow who can chuck kings under their chins, snap his suspenders on the Sultan’s divan . . scold a couple of naughty little nations . . and make them like it? He was born in Oolagah, Indian Territory, November 4th, 1879. He was educated at the Willie Hassell School at Neosho Missouri, and at the Kemper Military Academy at Booneville. He married Betty Blake in 1908, and has three children, Will Junior, who is 17, Mary, and Jim. Will Rogers learned to rope and ride when he was a cowpuncher in Oklahoma. He started entertaining at local sociables. He toured the Southern country for years, barnstorming. Finally, in 1908, he decided to take a whirl at little old New York, appeared at Hammerstein’s Roof . . . and wow'ed ’em! In 1917 he was induced to join Ziegfeld’s Follies. His wisecracking, drollery, and pungent darts made him feared and loved at the same time. When his friend Fred Stone fell ill while playing “Three Cheers,” Will Rogers filled out the engagement. Dillingham, the producer, paid Rogers with checks having nothing but a signature. Rogers filled in his own