Posted on 06/29/2021 2:59:14 PM PDT by ammodotcom
John Wayne is an American Hollywood icon every bit the equal of James Dean or Marilyn Monroe. He is also a man from another era, a man whose conservatism came as naturally as walking down the street. Affectionately known as “The Duke,” he spent three decades as a top box office draw with 179 film and television credits to his name
His story is as American as his values. Born Marion Robert Morrison in Iowa at a whopping 13 pounds, his family relocated to Southern California. His family first arrived in America from Ireland in 1799 and his grandfather was a Civil War veteran. His nickname was bestowed upon him in childhood (“Little Duke” at the time) by a milkman amused by the omnipresence of Wayne’s Airdale Terrier, Duke.
Wayne attended the University of Southern California where he studied pre-law and played football for the Trojans before a broken collarbone from a bodysurfing accident ended his college athletic career. Losing his athletic scholarship forced Wayne to drop out of school.
He was first hired by the legendary Western director, John Ford, and silent Western star, Tom Mix. It was Mix who then introduced him to Wyatt Earp, who Wayne credited with his on-screen mannerisms.
(Excerpt) Read more at ammo.com ...
Didn’t they try to Cancel John Wayne and remove his Statue from the Airport in Orange County CA because of what he said about Blacks in a Playboy Interview back in the 70’s?
I recall reading about that last year.
Morrison found work at the movie studies through his coach, Howard Jones, before he dropped out of school. Cowboy star Tom Mix found jobs for players in exchange for season tickets. Morrison was working as a grip when he was spotted on the lot and cast for the lead in The Big Trail in 1931.
“every bit the equal of James Dean or Marilyn Monroe”
That’s an insult to JW.
Earp died in January 1929, some time before Wayne made his first picture.
They should have added “The Quiet Man” to the list of Wayne’s best.
Yes they did. You had to read the whole interview to get the full context of the line.
IIRC, He wasn’t denigrating blacks, merely acknowledging their situation given the sociological climate of the times.
He appeared in uncredited roles as early as 1926. USA football players were pretty big celebrities in Los Angeles in those days and it’s not inconceivable at all that he would’ve met Wyatt Earp through his relationship with Tom Mix.
I do need to add a correction to my earlier post which is that The Big Trail was 1930, not 1931.
The Democrat Plantation.
While John Wayne didn’t get his first leading role til 1930, he was doing bit part work for Fox before that starting in 1926.
They wanted to rename John Wayne Airport because they were claiming he was racist despite him marrying Mexican wives.
Wonderful man.
The funny thing about John Wayne Airport is that John Wayne hated it because of the noise the Planes made taking off over his Home on Newport Bay.
Didn’t a Nevada nuclear test drift over a movie set at one point?
13 pounds at birth.
His mother probably had a thing or two to say about that.
Stalin tried to assassinate him which means he was an outstanding American.
Yes, they did.
They were more successful in "cancelling" Wayne at his alma mater, the University of Southern California, when the film school did away with a display in his honor because he was a "racist" (i, e. an articulate conservative). USC was once proud to claim the greatest movie actor of all time as one of its own, but the university's new woke administration won't have it.
Read more about it here.
I live in Maricopa, AZ. John Wayne had a cattle ranch in Stanfield which is just southwest of us so his influence is prevalent in this town. Our main drag is called John Wayne Blvd. and we have a popular bar/restaurant here that just reopened after a bar makeover by a TV show. Their name was True Grit and now it’s The Roost, presumably an homage to Rooster Cogburn. And our main golf course is called The Duke. Nobody here is arguing about cancelling John Wayne, lol.
Certainly Red River should have been included in his top 3 films.
It’s a great film.
He was also in Star Wars. Sort of.
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