Moe Resner Donates Items to the Owens-Rogers Museum

Moe Resner with his friend,
Ginger Rogers in the 1960's

A long-time friend of Ginger Rogers, Moe Resner, recently donated several items to the Owens-Rogers Museum in Independence, Missouri. Moe was a stand-up comedian, die-hard Cubs fan (even though he was from the Bronx) and fell in love with Ginger Rogers at age 11.  He met Ginger later in life when he was asked to take a photo of her while she was performing Hello Dolly! on Broadway. The two became fast friends for the next 30 years.

Moe contacted me by phone after finding out about the museum. He told me he had several items he wanted to donate including programs, copies of a fan newsletter, a book he co-wrote called The Chicago Cubs and Moe, and correspondence between him and Ginger.  I've started reading the book, and it is quite entertaining.

Moe threw the first pitch at a Chicago Cubs game at Wrigley field on May 25, 2017. and again at Tennessee on April 11 and 12, 2018. At age 87, he could still hit and pitch! Moe was a semi-pro baseball player from 1950 - 1959. He was an assistant manager for the AA Dallas Eagles and a coach for the Kansas City A's. Heck, he may have been in KC at the games I attended as a kid.

Moe produced the film End of an Era, NY Giants Last Day at Polo Grounds 1957.

Moe is a member of the screen actors guild and is a speaker for business and baseball functions.
Here is a link to an article written in April of 2018 about Moe throwing out the first pitch at the Cubs game: https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/local/2018/04/11/chicago-cubs-tennessee-smokies-moe-resner/491031002/


Moe appeared on TCM's 25th Anniversary Presentation before and after Kitty Foyle was aired. He sent us some collectible cards from that event. The video he sent to TCM is a part of this article: https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/local/people/2019/04/06/moe-resner-edison-appear-april-19-turner-classic-movies/3346723002/

Thanks, Moe, for the wonderful story of your friendship with Ginger and the gifts to the museum for everyone to enjoy!

Items from Moe Resner

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Marge Padgitt is the director of the Owens-Rogers Museum and the Local History Preservation Society. Contact her at owensrogersmuseum@gmail.com

Owens-Rogers Museum to Open April 3

                                     

100 W Moore Street, Independence, Missouri 64050
816-833-1602 www.owensrogersmuseum.com

PRESS RELEASE

The Owens-Rogers Museum at 100 W Moore Street in Independence, Missouri will open for the season on April 3, 2019. The 1906 Craftsman Bungalow is the site where famed actress and dancer Ginger Rogers was born in 1911.

Independence, Missouri, March 25, 2019

The Owens-Rogers Museum is owned by Marge and Gene Padgitt of Three Trails Cottages, LLC. They worked to restore the home for over two years before opening it to the public in August of 2018. The home has been transformed into a museum dedicated to Lela Owens-Rogers and her daughter, Ginger Rogers.

Lela Owens-Rogers was a Vaudeville scriptwriter, newspaper reporter, and a Hollywood screenwriter. Her daughter, Ginger, became one of the most popular actresses in Hollywood. Ginger Rogers made 73 films and appeared in dozens of radio shows and theatrical productions.

Displays include memorabilia, posters, dolls, signed items, Ginger’s family tree, and authentic gowns and other items that Ginger Rogers owned and wore. Guests may listen to a radio broadcast with Ginger Rogers and Bob Hope.

The Museum is open Wednesday – Friday from 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm and Saturday from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm. From April through September. Private groups of 10 or more must make arrangements in advance.

Tickets are $8 for ages 13 and up and $5 for ages 5 – 12.  Free for children under age 5. 

The Owens-Rogers Museum offers a 60-minute in-depth pre-tour presentation for groups at their group meeting site in the greater Kansas City area.

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Contact museum director Marge Padgitt at 816-833-1602 or email owensrogersmuseum@gmail.com for more information. 

Owens-Rogers Museum Name Change

The Ginger House Museum name has been changed to the Owens-Rogers Museum to better reflect the subjects.

Lela Owens-Rogers was a Vaudeville scriptwriter, newspaper reporter, and later a Hollywood screenwriter and instructor at RKO studios, a producer, and manager for her daughter, Ginger Rogers. She gave birth to Ginger Rogers in this home.

Lela Rogers played Ginger Rogers' mother in movie The Major and the minor.

Ginger was a Vaudeville and Broadway sensation and Hollywood film star and the highest paid actress in Hollywood in the early 1940's.

Visitors will find information about both of these amazing women and their family history in the museum located at 100 W Moore Street, Independence, MO 64050.

Store Open at the Ginger House Museum

The Ginger House Museum (birthplace of Ginger Rogers) just opened an online store and is offering several items from the Roberta Olden Ginger Collection.

Milk bottle

Among the items available are posters from the 2018 Ginger Rogers Festival, milk bottles from the Rogers Rogue River Ranch, paperback and hardback copies of the book "Ginger My Story" by Ginger Rogers, and two prints of paintings done in oil and watercolor by Ginger Rogers in 1940 and 1968.  Ginger was truly a gifted artist in many aspects.

Ginger Rogers was born on July 16, 1911 in Independence, Missouri. She was a multi-talented singer, dancer, and actress who starred on Vaudeville and Broadway, in 73 motion pictures, multiple radio and TV shows, and her own acts. She traveled all over the U.S. England, and elsewhere. 

Still Life 1940
Copyright Ginger Rogers

Other items, including programs from shows Ginger Rogers starred in will be available soon.

These items will also be available in the museum, which opens August 22, 2018.



Proceeds go to the restoration of the birthplace of Ginger Rogers at 100 W Moore Street, Independence, Missouri.

Website: www.thegingerhouse.org
Contact: Marge Padgitt, Director, at mp@thegingerhouse.org

Seeking Donations for the Restoration of the Ginger House

100 W Moore Street, Independence, MO Birthplace of Ginger Rogers

Three Trails Cottages, LLC is seeking donations for the expenses to repair and restore the birthplace
of Ginger Rogers. The home, built in 1906, is located at 100 W Moore Street in Independence, Missouri. Ginger Rogers was born in the home on July 16, 2011. Her mother, Lela, rented the home and worked nearby after being estranged from her husband.

Rogers visited the home on several occasions while she was in Independence for other events such as a tour of the Truman Library by President Truman and while she appeared at Starlight Theater in a production of Mame in 1972. Her last visit was in July of 1994 when she appeared for Ginger Rogers Day, hosted by the City of Independence. A plaque designating this Historic Landmark was placed on the house by Mayor Ron Stewart.

Ginger visiting the house in 1942
Photo: LIFE Magazine

Marge Padgitt, the director of the Ginger House, said that antique period furniture and Ginger Roger's memorabilia is also needed to complete the project. Needed items are a dining table and chairs, a sideboard, side tables, and one dresser. Memorabilia will be placed around the home in locked cases and on the walls, to tell the amazing story of Ginger Rogers.

Once completed, the home will be open to the public for tours pending city approval for a special use permit. All contributors will receive a brick with their name on it placed on the property in new sidewalks. See www.thegingerhouse.org for more information about how to contribute and the different levels and rewards that are available.

Contact Marge Padgitt at 816-833-1602 or mp@threetrailscottages.com for more information.

Seeking Donations for the Restoration of the Ginger House

100 W Moore Street, Independence, MO Birthplace of Ginger Rogers

Three Trails Cottages, LLC is seeking donations for the expenses to repair and restore the birthplace
of Ginger Rogers. The home, built in 1906, is located at 100 W Moore Street in Independence, Missouri. Ginger Rogers was born in the home on July 16, 2011. Her mother, Lela, rented the home and worked nearby after being estranged from her husband.

Rogers visited the home on several occasions while she was in Independence for other events such as a tour of the Truman Library by President Truman and while she appeared at Starlight Theatre in a production of Mame in 1972. Her last visit was in July of 1994 when she appeared for Ginger Rogers Day, hosted by the City of Independence. A plaque designating this Historic Landmark was placed on the house by Mayor Ron Stewart.

Ginger visiting the house in 1942
Photo: LIFE Magazine

Once completed, the home will be open to the public for tours pending city approval for a special use permit. All contributors will receive a brick with their name on it placed on the property in new sidewalks. See www.thegingerhouse.org for more information about how to contribute and the different levels and rewards that are available.

Marge Padgitt, the director of the Ginger House, said that antique period furniture and Ginger Roger's memorabilia is also needed to complete the project. Marge is looking for a dining table and chairs, a sideboard, side tables, a queen sized bed frame, and two dressers. Memorabilia will be placed around the home in locked cases and on the walls, to tell the amazing story of Ginger Rogers.

Contact Marge Padgitt at 816-833-1602 or mp@threetrailscottages.com for more information.

Check out the Gingerology blog!

For all you fellow Ginger fans, check out the Gingerology blog by VKMfanHuey for all things Ginger!  Get all the facts about Ginger Rogers' film career and see lots of photos - http://jwhueyblog.blogspot.com/

Welcome to the Ginger House Blog

From a 1942 LIFE Magazine article

Welcome to our new blog about the Ginger House - the birthplace of  actress/dancer Ginger Rogers in Independence, Missouri. We purchased this home on February 29, 2016 and are restoring it so that hopefully we can open it to the public in the near future.

We have addressed several major structural issues including the stone foundation, floor joists, floors, woodwork and brick chimney, and are currently in the process of doing the interior renovations, restoring the interior features as close to original condition as possible. The costs so far have exceeded $66,000.

The room where Ginger was born.
From a 1942 LIFE Magazine article

This house was built in 1906 by a developer who built three houses on this block at the same time. They are all still standing.

The architectural style is called Craftsman Bungalow and according to the Independence Heritage Commission, this house has unique features such as the porch columns and extensive exterior and interior wood trim work not normally found on "working class" houses.

The location is  at 100 W. Moore Street, one block off of 24 highway at the corner of Main and Moore streets in Independence. Watch here for our progress photos and opening date. Please sign up for notices so you can keep up with our progress.

We can't make any further exterior changes without permission from the Independence Heritage Commission since this is an Historic Landmark Property. We have big plans for the exterior landscaping, fences, and parking in back, but this portion of the project won't be started until we raise adequate funds. The cost for the landscaping and parking is expected to be around $50,000.

We are real estate investors and normally buy, restore, then sell or rent historic houses. Our purpose in purchasing the home was solely to preserve it as a piece of history rather than have it go into further disrepair or have another family living in it as a private residence that the public did not have access to. Part of the reason for this decision is that I am a huge fan of Ginger Rogers, as was my mother. Ginger Rogers was an extremely talented woman and her mother was a very strong and independent woman. Both were good role models for young women.

Ginger visited this house several times while in Independence or Kansas City playing at Starlight Theatre or other venues, and in 1964 when she visited President Harry Truman at the Truman Library, just three blocks from this location. Ginger again returned in 1994 for the Ginger Rogers Day Festival hosted by the City of Independence and Mayor Ron Stewart. She was given the key to the City at that time.

Ginger Rogers at the house and Mayor Stewart holding the historic plaque
which he affixed to the house

The house today, the columns repaired and a new chimney constructed

We are planning a Ginger Rogers Festival and fund-raising event in the spring of 2017 and will post more information about that on this blog soon.

For more information about how you can help with this project visit www.thegingerhouse.org.