In honor of Will Rogers and his legacy, a modern-day Jubilee will be held this Saturday, July 30 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Will Rogers State Historic Park. Admission is free. Hosted by California State Parks,, the festival will feature a variety of performances, horse rentals, wagon rides, pony rides for the children, live music by the Drew Davis Band (1:45 and 3 p.m.), a blacksmith demo, quick-draw booths and a family barbecue with beverages. The spirit of Will Rogers will come alive with performances by the Valley View Vaulters (11:15 a.m.), Patty Mayer Dressage (11:45), trick rider and roper Ramon Becerra (12:30), a horse reining show (1 p.m.), trick roper Felix Lopez (1:30), the Cattle Cutting All-Stars (2 p.m.), trick ropers Pat Puckett (2:30) and Dave Thornbury (3:15). Opening ceremonies at 11 a.m. will feature ‘Howdy’ by Robert Basgall, a Will Rogers impersonator; welcoming remarks by actress June Lockhart, a State Parks ambassador; and an appearance by the Santa Monica Mounted Police. The wit of Will Rogers is still relevant today, whether about politics (‘I don’t make jokes, I just watch the government and report the facts’) or health care (‘Personally, I have always felt the best doctor in the world is the veterinarian. He can’t ask his patients what’s the matter. He’s just got to know.’). As a young man in Oklahoma, Rogers became famous for his roping tricks, like twirling three lassos at once’one rope caught the running horse’s neck, the other would hoop around the rider and the third swooped up under the horse to loop all four legs. He starred in numerous films, and in 1922 began writing a syndicated daily column, ‘Will Rogers Says.’ In 1926, he was hired by The New York Times to write weekly columns. His common- sense take on government and current events has stood the test of time. ‘Never blame a legislative body for not doing something. When they do nothing, that don’t hurt anybody. When they do something is when they become dangerous.’ Rogers moved his family to his ranch in Pacific Palisades in 1927. Three years later he began weekly radio addresses. His simple approach to goodness and life won millions of listeners. ‘They may call me a rube and a hick, but I’d rather be the man who bought the Brooklyn Bridge than the man who sold it.’ In 1934, Rogers was voted the most popular male actor in Hollywood, and he was one of the most beloved Americans when he died in a plane crash in Alaska in 1935. The public is invited to come celebrate this Saturday while remembering Will’s words: ‘When I die, my epitaph, or whatever you call those signs on gravestones, is going to read: ‘I joked about every prominent man of my time, but I never met a man I didn’t like.” A complimentary parking shuttle service will run between the Paul Revere Middle School parking lot on Sunset (at Mandeville Canyon) and Will Rogers State Historic Park. There is very limited on-site event parking for $7 at the park. The Web site is www.parks.ca.gov/willrogers Event sponsors include the Will Rogers Cooperative Association, Country 93.9 KZLA, and the Palisadian-Post.
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