Posted on 03/17/2002 3:56:33 AM PST by Hillary's Lovely Legs
Vice President Dick Cheney addresses American troops stationed at the Al Udeid Air Base outside Doha, Qatar, Sunday, March 17, 2002. Cheney met with Qatar's Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani to discuss Middle East security issues and the military cooperation between the United States and the Persian Gulf emirate. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Vice President Dick Cheney greets American troops stationed at the Al Udeid Air Base outside Doha, Qatar, Sunday, March 17, 2002. Cheney mets with Qatar's Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani to discuss Middle East security issues and the military cooperation between the United States and the Persian Gulf emirate. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
All from a 'friend' they hardly know. I am so glad not to be invited..
Cheers, CC :)
Now don't go doing a "FRed" over this birthday milestone....
Cheers! CC :)
Give Me A Man Like Duke Wayne!
It was back in 1940 at a St. Patrick's Day party given by director John Ford that I first met John Wayne. And I've been a fan - and, I hope, a friend of his ever since.
I had just arrived in Hollywood from Ireland and knew few people. duke was especially kind to me - without trying to be. That's the way he is. He just acts himself and puts on pretense for no one. I thought he was very nice and relaxed, tall and easy. Looking back on it now I realize he was easy to get to know because he seemed so shy that I outdid myself trying to make him feel at ease. This was no trick either - this shyness of Duke's.
I saw duke often after that - usually at the John Ford's or at Catalina Island where Duke used to go each summer. When we made "Rio Grande," our first picture together, we were already quite good friends.
Working with Duke was a revelation. This man belies his exterior by being the hardest working actor I know. He worries himself sick with concern for everyone on the picture. He frets and stews and practically goes out of his mind wanting to tell an actor or an actress just what it is the director is trying to get in a scene. He is so conscientious about his work that he gets furious when an actor doesn't listen to direction. On more than one occasion I've heard him blow his top with, "Why don't you listen to the man?" As a result, performers with Duke are quite attentive.
He is a pleasure to work with and not in the least temperamental. With apologies to John Ford, I've heard this director give Duke a verbal licking and that was so strong it made me nervous. And yet Duke takes it and goes on trying. I must add that John Ford is one of Duke's best friends - and mine too.
His career is very important to him but not nearly as important as are his four children: Mike, who is about 20; Tony, around 18; Patrick 15; and Melinda, who is 11 or twelve. He talks about them all the time. When we're not in a scene working, Duke is usually curled up in a chair on the set, drinks mugs of coffee, and chats incessantly about the kids.
Pat has been doing some acting. In fact, he had a good part in "The Long Grey Line" I did at Columbia. All four of the young Waynes were in "The Quiet Man" with Duke and me. As a father, he is very strict, but is also indulgent. A couple of years ago, for instance, he called all of Toni's friends and asked that what she wanted for Christmas.
"Do yo think she would like a car?" he asked one of them. The friend assured Duke Toni would be elated. Later he asked someone if Tony's closest friend would like a car too - and, if so, would she want the same kind of color as the one he gave Toni?
Duke usually takes the kids on location with him. Mike went to Hawaii with his father recently and got himself quite a wardrobe for the event, including the latest in tuxedos. In fact, he was the best dressed man on the ship. duke took along one tux. When Mike came back he said his father embarrassed him and in the typical youthful shock he exclaimed, "Dad didn't even have a Tony Martin Midnight Blue with him."
Duke and his kids are members of a Duke Club - as are Duke's cronies: Grant Withers, Ward Bond, Paul Fix, Ben Harold, Archie Stout and John Ford. Duke has been a member of the club for 15 years. In the club house there is a big picture of Wayne under which is this sign: "Forever Absent - The Duke." He never goes to the club, but he won't quit and he won't stop paying his dues.
There was the time he went skeet shooting, aimed, fired and nothing went off. He tried again, - still nothing. A third time he tried and still no sound. Ben Harold, who was with him, finally smiled and said, "Didn't a book of instructions go with this?
Apparently Duke had forgotten about the safety lock!
Another time he went quail shooting one evening with some friends, among whom was Ward Bond, dressed in cowboy boots and having a difficult time walking. The gang went to a secluded spot where they wouldn't bother anybody. Suddenly, Duke thought he saw a cottontail, so he fired - and a big roar went up. Ward Bond turned out to be the cottontail and his posterior had been punctured! Duke at first thought he had mortally wounded him, at least from the way Ward was dancing around, so with great frenzy Ward was taken to a nearby town to a doctor. But ether wouldn't knock Ward out, so Duke and his pals got some whiskey, poured it down him and sat on him while the doctor removed the buckshot!
He's tops as a father. He attends every show at the school in which one of his family appears. At one such event Duke was mobbed in the hall by the students and the next day, over the public address system, the students were cautioned to resort to no more such displays.
Duke is not the typical Hollywood figure in that he seldom attends large parties. But by those who know him, he is sincerely loved. They regard him as a normal, healthy guy with a real Irish sense of humor - a little bawdy, but not biting. They also know he is quite a sentimentalist.
He's always buying little presents for people and he gets quite dewy-eyed about old friendships. More than anything else he loves to listen to people tell him about something his kids have done. He also gets a real pleasure out of sincerely telling others how good they were in a picture. The night we saw the first running of "The Quiet Man" he rushed over to me, picked me up, and said how great he thought I was. It's gotten so I would like to in all of his pictures. Unfortunately, he is not with me in my new one, "Lady Godiva of Coventry."
Speaking as an actress, I wish all actors would be more like Duke Wayne - and speaking as a person, it would be nice of all people could be honest and as genuine as he is. This is a real man.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HILLARY'S LOVELY LEGS!!!!!
(That's me up there, and I'm not laughing.....I'm singing......can you tell?! :o)
Right now I am cooking a corned beef ( I am irish, it's St Pat's, what do you expect). Last night, before by body circled the sun for the 40th time I had my very first taste of beer and scotch. Now I know why I am a gin drinker.
I just came back from the fruit market, and what wonderful surprise awaited me at my door. A beautiful bouquet, exactly like the one Endeavor posted. Wonderful red and yellow tulips. I have always loved tulips because they come out in Spring, my favorite time of year. Thank you Big Wave Betty, they are just gorgeous.
John Wayne
HLL: I heard you were out partying last night...scotch and beer, umm....
Cheers, and here's to a most excellent trip!
You'll be missed, so hurry home. The Guild
HLL, Beer (preferably Guinness) and great scotch are said to be cultivated tastes. Having grown up with bourbon, it wasn't a big switch for me to go to scotch. I never could get used to the taste of gin, though, even though I really tried 'cause all my "cool" friends drank gin. Alas, I never mastered it. Now all I drink is iced tea and coca cola except for a little Dewars once and a while. I guess you mellow with age (at least your liver hopes you do!).
Since you're still young (yes, my dear, you ARE) enjoy yourself, and don't hold back on sampling all those fine Tuscan wines that will come your way next week. And have a great day - you deserve it!
The very first beverage advice they gave us (since paying ten bucks for a mixed drink is against my religion) was to always ask for the House Wine. Apparently Euro restaurants take great pride in serving an excellent, yet modestly priced House Wine. We were never disappointed. JL
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