A standoff is underway between several members of John Wayne’s family — with his son and daughter battling each other over millions. It’s all over The Duke’s estate — worth somewhere between $10 and $15 million … depending on which kid you ask. In legal papers, filed Thursday in L.A. County Superior Court, John’s daughter […]
Read MoreIowa Town Dedicates John Wayne Statue
Winterset, Iowa has honored its favorite son by dedicating a life-size statue of John Wayne. Wayne was born Marion Morrison in Winterset on May 26, 1907. He died June 11, 1979. The town’s celebration marking the centennial of the actor’s birth in 2007 has blossomed into an annual two-day event in May. At Friday’s kickoff, […]
Read More‘Coots’ Matthews, famed oil well firefighter, dies
The Associated Press Posted: 04/01/2010 05:05:32 PM MDT HOUSTON—Edward “Coots” Matthews, a famed oil well firefighter and part of a trio who inspired the 1968 movie “Hellfighters” starring John Wayne, has died. He was 86. Matthews and Asger “Boots” Hansen co-founded Houston-based Boots & Coots International Well Control Inc. in 1978, after a 20-year career […]
Read MoreJohn Wayne, World War II and the Draft
John Wayne has been on people’s minds lately. Dick Cavett recently wrote a nostalgic New York Times piece about his lone meeting with Hollywood’s “Duke.” He also told of the meeting on the Dennis Miller Show. Meanwhile, liberal author Gary Wills, presumably an expert because of his 1992 book John Wayne’s America; the Politics of […]
Read MoreRoger Moore Returns to Big Screen With ‘The Quiet Man’ Remake
Roger Moore is returning to the big screen in a movie about the making of John Wayne’s classic “The Quiet Man”. The Bond legend hasn’t appeared in a film since 2002’s “Boat Trip”, choosing instead to lend his famous voice to animated movies in recent years. But Moore will take on double duties in the […]
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 MoreLong Live the Duke
John Wayne: Gone for 30 years, and still with us. An NRO Symposium Thirty years ago today, John Wayne died. Yet Americans continue to identify him as one of their favorite actors. To commemorate his life, we’ve asked a panel to discuss the man, his movies, and his legacies. ANDREW KLAVAN Any movie with John […]
Read MoreSpecial showing of ‘The Searchers’ at the renovated Genessee Theater in Waukegan Illinois’
There is a special showing of The Searchers at the renovated Genessee Theater in Waukegan Illinois (about 40 mins North of Chicago) on Friday 1/8/10 at 7pm and Saturday 1/9/10 at 3pm. The theater is GREAT, and nothing compares with watching this classic on the BIG screen. Tickets ar $6. More info at http://www.geneseetheatre.com/ – […]
Read More2010 John Wayne Birthday Celebration on May 28-29, 2010 in Winterset, Iowa
This year’s Celebration is centered around the 50th anniversary of “The Alamo” and festivities will be held on the historic Courthouse Square in downtown Winterset (just spittin’ distance from the Birthplace home). The VIP Fund Raising Event on Saturday, May 29th will feature a sumptuous dinner in true Western style, followed by music from chart […]
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 […]
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