Celebrate New Year’s Eve at Will Rogers Memorial

Update December 17, 2021: New Year’s Eve Movie Canceled at Will Rogers Memorial

The New Year’s Eve movie scheduled Dec. 31 at Will Rogers Memorial Museum Theatre has been canceled. Out of concern for the increase in Covid cases, the planned movie and New Year celebration has been called off, Tad Jones, Museum Executive Director announced today.

Provided by Pat Reeder, Public Relations, Will Rogers Memorial Museum

“Life Begins at Forty” was released April 4, 1935, four months before Will Rogers’ death. Three New York newspaper critics gave him good marks. His hometown critics can have their say after a New Year’s Eve showing and party following on Dec. 31 in the Will Rogers Memorial Museum Theatre.

Theatre doors open at 6:30 p.m., the movie starts at 7. Admission is free and there will be popcorn and drinks, compliments of Bank of Commerce. Following the movie there will be time for visiting and refreshments, celebrating the close of 2021.

The Fox production finds Will as Kenesaw H. Clark, editor of a small-town newspaper and an advice column entitled “Life Begins at Forty”. All is well until Lee Austin returns to town after serving a three-year sentence for a bank theft he claims he never committed.

Clark offers him a job, but the town banker pressures him to dismiss the “jailbird” and forecloses on Clark’s paper. But Editor Clark opens a rival paper, operating an old hand press.

With the future bleak, Clark decides to be a “real” newsman and discovers the real thief is the banker’s son.

Will Rogers … “gives the impression somehow that his country is filled with such sages, wise with years, young in humor and love of life, shrewd yet gentle,” a New York Sun critic wrote. “Just about the funniest film you’ve ever seen, and the top for Will Rogers,” wrote another, while another wrote “The star himself is a thorough delight regardless of what he is doing.”

Will Rogers contract with Fox allowed him to work on “no less than three and no more than four” movies consecutively. That way he would finish them, then have the rest of the year for himself.

“Doubting Thomas” was released July 10, 1935

Will Rogers and Wiley Post died Aug.15, 1935 in an Alaska plane crash.

“Steamboat Round the Bend,” released in mid-September of 1935., was acclaimed as No. 20 of the Year’s Best Films by 451 national critics.

Audiences again rushed to see Will “In Old Kentucky” in late November, the last of his four 1935 films.

For more information:

Date: December 31, 2021

Hours: Doors open 6:30 p.m.

Location: Will Rogers Memorial Museum Theatre

Address: 1720 W. Will Rogers Blvd.

Phone: 918-341-0719

Website: willrogers.com