https://www.latimes.com/local/...-19790612-story.html

I meant to post this yesterday, but things got hectic around here. I can't take credit for finding this as my brother sent this link to me. We are both huge John Wayne fans.
June of 1979 was a very depressing month for me. Shortly after my high school graduation my girlfriend broke up with me, then a few days later The Duke succumbs to cancer. I eventually got over my old girlfriend. However, I still get tears in my eyes when watching many of John Wayne's films. I miss his unabashed love for this country that he lived in his characters on film as well in his off screen life. Boy do we need John Wayne in the movies today!
The best Vacation I've ever had was a "John Wayne Vacation" that my brother and I took in April of 2016. We spent a week in the Monument Valley area of Arizona and Utah and in the Ouray/Rigeway area of Colorado. Retracing the steps that the Duke took in movies like The Searchers, She Wore A Yellow Ribbon, Fort Apache, Stagecoach, and True Grit gave us quite a thrill.
The article is quite long, but well worth the read if you're a fan of The Duke. If this should be in The Lair section instead, a moderator can move it.

it's a shame old John Wayne didn't live to run for president.

ETA: (although I'm fine with the guy who's president now)

First response = politics.

Great job

John Wayne died of stomach cancer when he was 72.
My father died of stomach cancer when he was 71.

Two great men taken about the same age by the same malady.

RIP Mr Wayne, you were one of the greats.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
First response = politics.

Great job

oops. my bad. It was my poor attempt at being clever. Those words appear in a Charlie Daniels song where the singer reminisces about "old John Wayne."

Trying to be clever, but it indeed fell flat on its face.

from the article:

quote:

As recently as the mid-1970s, U.S. Marine Corps recruiters in Cleveland, for example, reported that enlistments still jumped noticeably each time the Wayne film, "Sands of Iwo Jima," appeared on television.

yup, doesn't surprise me one bit.

Marion Robert Morrison. Funny I thought his real name world of been a good screen name too.

I liked The Duke!

Watched Sands of Iwo Jima (1949) last week. Wayne sure played the part. A lot has been written about that movie, for the trivia-minded.

I named my son after his character in the "Searchers". It is one of my favorites.

quote:

Originally posted by alreadydead:
I named my son after his character in the "Searchers". It is one of my favorites.

One Sunday a month the local Movie Theater shows a Classic movie. This month was The Godfather, in August its The Searchers. We've already got our tickets.

The Duke is one of my favorites

The Duke was born in Winterset IA, about three hours west of me. Uh...no, I still have not visited the site.

http://www.johnwaynebirthplace.museum/

Hopefully you didn't visit where they filmed the Ghengis Khan movie.

A shame that he died too young.

John Wayne succumbed to cancer the way that many who were on the set of “The Conqueror” did.

Location shoot was near Yucca Flats, radiation from nuclear testing was apparently an issue... when the moved to a back lot in Hollywood, they trucked a large haule of sand from the area so that it would match the location color... unfortunately, it was also contaminated.

When many of the animals on the set fell ill, it was a harbinger of the illnesses that ensued.

https://www.theguardian.com/fi...hollywood-john-wayne

I was in Eagar, Arizona when the news reached me.

quote:

Originally posted by alreadydead:
I named my son after his character in the "Searchers". It is one of my favorites.

You share that trait with the Duke himself. He thought so highly of that movie and the roll of Ethan Edwards that he portrayed in it, that he named his youngest son Ethan as well.

As my pastor often says, "We need more John Waynes in an Elton John world!"

quote:

Originally posted by Yellow Jacket:
As my pastor often says, "We need more John Waynes in an Elton John world!"

I don’t know what one has to do with the other.

I can’t think of a movie I didn’t enjoy seeing. The Searchers was one of favorites. I remember the “the big C” interview. In all these years after his death you never see any bad about him. It seemed like he lived his life as you saw him, an honest straight shooter. RIP Duke

quote:

Originally posted by Yellow Jacket:
As my pastor often says, "We need more John Waynes in an Elton John world!"


I don’t know what one has to do with the other.

quote:

Originally posted by BillyBonesNY:
John Wayne succumbed to cancer the way that many who were on the set of “The Conqueror” did.

Location shoot was near Yucca Flats, radiation from nuclear testing was apparently an issue... when the moved to a back lot in Hollywood, they trucked a large haule of sand from the area so that it would match the location color... unfortunately, it was also contaminated.

When many of the animals on the set fell ill, it was a harbinger of the illnesses that ensued.

https://www.theguardian.com/fi...hollywood-john-wayne

I read a book entitled "The Day They Bombed Utah" that described the atomic tests that were done in the area and the massive amounts of radiation that was released. I believe all 4 stars of "The Conqueror" died of cancer as a likely effect of exposure. During these tests, abnormally high radiation was detected into NE Canada according to the book.

During the time of these atomic tests, my in-laws lived in this area. My Mother in Law died a horrible death from cancer at 48. She wasn't a smoker or drinker......just a breather.

Coincidence?

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:

quote:

Originally posted by Yellow Jacket:
As my pastor often says, "We need more John Waynes in an Elton John world!"


I don’t know what one has to do with the other.

One made iconic war movies and westerns the other is an iconic singer/musician. Apples and oranges. I wouldn’t expect the Duke to entertain me with a song and I wouldn’t expect Elton John to make a western.