ON screen he was the gritty embodiment of rugged independence and American patriotism. Off camera he presented the same tough-talking persona to the world. But behind closed doors John Wayne was a very different person, as his long-lost letters, hand-written notes and private papers reveal in an insightful new book. “The guy you see on […]
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With the race to the Oscars in the final stretch, two new exhibits celebrate the Academy Awards, the glamour of the red carpet and the legacy of Hollywood. The Hollywood Museum in the historic Max Factor Building in Hollywood recently opened its annual “Celebration of Entertainment Awards,” while the Sunset Marquis’ Morrison Hotel Gallery is […]
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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 […]
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Given all the heroes and soldiers he played over his half century in film, this year, it’s only fitting that John Wayne’s birthday should fall on Memorial Day. Around the world he still enjoys steady popularity like no other long-deceased movie star. In 2003, over two decades after his death from cancer in 1979, he was listed […]
Read MoreSteven Travers is an historian, guest lecturer at the USC Annenberg School of Journalism and author of 20 books and screenplays. He’s a conservative author whose own publicity posits grimly that the “old way” of American patriotism and macho values have been destroyed and replaced with the “world now dominated by Barack Obama.” One of […]
Read MoreIn honor of one of the most famous icons who has ever lived in the city, Glendale High School will change the name of its auditorium to the John Wayne Performing Arts Center, after the legendary actor who is not otherwise recognized in the city where he came of age. Before he took on his […]
Read MoreEarlier this year (2011), the Harris Poll released its annual list of America’s 10 favorite movie stars. There, among today’s big names — Depp and Jolie and Clooney — was a lone name from the past: John Wayne. He finished third — 32 years after his death. Such enduring popularity served as a reminder that […]
Read MorePhotographer Barton Mac Leod the actor known as ‘The Duke;’ who was larger than life. He met him several times and also worked with him on the 1968 film, “The Green Berets.” “The Duke,” a.k.a. John Wayne, died 33 years ago, on June 11, 1979. Wayne died at the age of 72 of lung and […]
Read MoreThe general public hasn’t seen “Hondo” ride across a wide screen since its initial 1953 release. Even then, most small-town theaters hadn’t yet converted to CinemaScope-size projection. Consequently, most John Wayne fans have only seen the film in the old square format on screens both large and small. But the Duke’s daughter-in-law has finally done […]
Read MoreThat America craves strength in the face of metastasizing challenges and threats, within and without, makes John Wayne, who died thirty three years ago today, more relevant than ever. Recently I spoke with A.J. Fenady about “the Duke” to mark the 105th anniversary of his birth on May 26. I interviewed A.J. at his offices […]
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