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CLOUDY Temp: 47 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Wednesday, February 26, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend February 18, 2003 Since You Asked Rogers did aid Craterian restoration As a relatively new Oregonian, I an interested in The Craterian Ginger Rogers Theater. Where did the name come from? Did Ms. Rogers have anything to do with its origin or funding? — Rick H., Medford Ginger Rogers (real name: Virginia Katherine McMath) did indeed lend her support to the campaign to fix up the older Craterian Theater, Rick. That was in 1993, 67 years after she first danced on the Craterian stage with her group, Ginger Rogers and the Redheads. Four years, one major renovation and $5 million later, the Craterian — renamed the Ginger Rogers Craterian — opened in its present incarnation. Many consider it the centerpiece in the ongoing effort to bring downtown Medford back. The legendary dancer and stage and screen actress died at her winter home in Rancho Mirage, Calif., in 1995 at age 83, too soon to see the dream of the refurbished theater become reality. She lived in the Rogue Valley for many years after buying a working ranch near Shady Cove with her mother, Lela Rogers, in 1940. "There’s fishing, scenery, beauty, and it’s green. Oregon, Mom," she remembered saying in her 1991 book "Ginger, My Story." She sold the ranch in 1990, donated a part to the county and bought a home on Pioneer Road south of Medford. An avid Christian Scientist, she sometimes attended the church’s Medford center. She asked friends to hold no funeral for her and instead make a gift to the Humane Society. Send questions to "Since You Asked," Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by e-mail to [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S