John Wayne’s Rio Bravo released 65 years ago this week and his much younger leading lady co-star Angie Dickinson shared how “adorable” Duke was on set. Back in 1959, John Wayne made a patriotic comeback to Westerns in Rio Bravo. After John Ford’s The Searchers, Duke had made an effort to move away from the […]
Read MoreWestern Icons with Ethan Wayne
Los Angeles – April 26, 2018 – In honor of what would have been John Wayne’s 111th birthday this May, The Duke’s son and President of John Wayne Enterprises Ethan Wayne opens his vault of never-before-seen photos and rare memorabilia for HDNET MOVIES’ WESTERN ICONS film collection starting Friday, May 18. Ethan Wayne will host 10-nights […]
Read MoreJohn Wayne’s Two Daughters Remember the Late Actor
In an exclusive interview with Closer Weekly, two of John Wayne’s daughters, Marisa and Aissa, share their favorite memories with their father and open up out the Duke’s softer side — he cried at sad movies, loved candy and “gave the best hugs!” “He’s always portrayed as this tough cowboy, but he also had a […]
Read MoreJOHN WAYNE’S LEGACY SHOWS NO SIGNS OF AGE
In May 2012, I interviewed writer-producer A.J. Fenady (1), known for The Rebel, Branded, Hondo and Chisum (1970) et alia, about his friend “Duke.” We met at his offices in Hollywood near Paramount Pictures. Fenady, while developing Chisum (1970), accompanied Duke during and between the filming of Hellfighters (1968),True Grit (1969) and The Undefeated (1969). He was with him the night he won his Oscar and the day he celebrated with […]
Read MoreThe Last Word: Ron Howard
The ‘Rush’ director on finding his confidence, the benefits of stress, and what he learned from John Wayne. What’s the best advice you’ve ever received I was talking about careers with Andy Griffith, and as uncontroversial as he was, he felt that to be true to yourself, you’ve got to be ready to anger people […]
Read MoreJohn Wayne: The Legend & The Man (Ethan Wayne Interview Video)
This morning, Ethan Wayne, the youngest son of legendary actor and icon John Wayne came in to share stories and photos of his father’s life through a new coffee table book out today, “John Wayne, The Legend and the Man“. The book offers never before seen photos, and remembrances by Maureen O’Hara, Ronald Reagan, and […]
Read MoreGrowing up as John Wayne’s son in O.C.
NEWPORT BEACH – Ethan Wayne, as his surname implies, is one of the seven children of John Wayne, one of Orange County’s most famous residents. Despite that, Ethan Wayne insists that his life growing up was “not typical Hollywood at all. “Our life was basically small-town beach life,” the 49-year-old Wayne said. “(Dad) drove a […]
Read MoreMARK RYDELL REMEMBERS KILLING JOHN WAYNE…AND BETTE MIDLER!
June 11th marks the 30th anniversary of the passing of screen legend John Wayne. Most of the directors who made his classic films are of course long gone as well, so I was very pleased to sit down with Mark Rydell, director of The Cowboys (1972), the epic cattle drive saga most Western fans regard […]
Read MoreHanging Out With Ol’ Dobe
An Interview with Western film star Harry Carey, Jr. The other day I met with Western film star Harry Carey, Jr. and his wife Marilyn, and it was like hanging out with old friends. They were gracious enough to grant an exclusive interview to Wonders of the West to highlight the Golden Age of Western […]
Read MoreHonoring the Duke
Michael Wayne Talks About His Famous Father And The Qualities That Made Him An American Icon True legends need no introduction, only a moniker. The mere mention of “the Babe” brings to mind the House Ruth Built much the same way “the Golden Bear” conjures up Augusta. When it comes to the American West and […]
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