On This Day, 1907

[Devil Doc]

On this date in 1907 Western hero John Wayne is born in Winterset, Iowa, and christened Marion Michael Morrison. As a child, friends nicknamed the boy Duke, and he went on to play his earliest film roles under the name Duke Morrison. Wayne worked at Fox Film Corp. as a laborer in the late 1920s and began appearing in bit parts in 1928. Throughout the 1930s, he starred in mediocre westerns, sometimes filming as many as two a week. Wayne's breakthrough came in 1939, when his friend John Ford cast him in Stagecoach. Wayne went on to play larger-than-life heroes in countless movies, appearing in 250 films during four decades of acting. In 1969, he won an Oscar for his role in True Grit. He died from cancer in 1979.

Doc.

Fighting Seabees and In Harms Way of course.

 

[AVB]

Never liked him and always wondered why he didn't do anything for the war effort unlike most of the other Hollywood stars of the day.

 

[Devil Doc]

The straight dope: was Wayne a draft dodger?

Doc.

 

[anvil]

True Grit is my favorite

 

[NullSmurf]

In the summer of 1977, the submarines USS Robert E Lee and USS George Washington were berthed at the Eastern Missile test range at Coco (sp?) Beach Florida. Across the bay, a yacht, a converted WWII mine sweeper, pulled in and its stern crane hoisted a station wagon with a custom roof to the pier. A man got in, then drove over to the base. He somehow got in through security and drove over to the boats and asked to see the officer of the day from each. He invited the crews from both boats across the bay to his boat for a BBQ. He told us all how much he appreciated our sacrifice and service. It was the best beer and steak I've ever had, and I got to look John Wayne in eye and shake his hand.

Years later, I got to do a harbor cruise in San Diego aboard that yacht.

edit to add: he looked thin and, well, old. But, he was still the Duke! I've watched In Harm's Way about 2500 times!

 

[sonuvabum]

True Grit is my favorite

One of my most favorite movie lines of all times...

Cogburn promises a "fair trial and fine hanging" if the outlaw will surrender to him.

Great line!!

:laugh:

 

[Fatken]

One of my favorite actors. I liked a lot of the movies, but Big Jake is probably my favorite.