Thursday, June 23, 2016

MY BRUSHES WITH THE DUKE

A YOUNG JOHN WAYNE


I first wrote about this on my old blog Lone Star Concerto. It's not particularly interesting, but I'm rehashing it anyway.

One night, while surfing the web for no plausible reason, I stumbled upon some old photos of Hollywood celebrities. I was stunned to see one particular photo of John Wayne because it was taken the night that I first encountered him - and it was taken while I was standing there, about five feet away. Unfortunately I'm not in the photo - - the photographer was interested in the Duke, not some unknown 18-year-old kid.

I've met a lot of famous people during my adventurous Hollywood years. I also had  brief, casual encounters with others. I saw John Wayne twice. Both times were brief, casual encounters. 

My two brushes with the Duke didn't happen in Hollywood. They occurred in Orange County, where he lived (Wayne lived in Newport Beach).

Just for the record, I've never been a John Wayne fan. Never cared for any of his movies and couldn't remotely relate to his personality - - on screen or off. Seeing him in person didn't generate much excitement on my part. And I doubt if it generated any excitement in the Duke.

My first encounter with Wayne happened when I was eighteen, before I ever went to Hollywood. I was living in Orange County. Sometimes, on warm summer evenings, I'd walk to Knott's Berry Farm (in Buena Park) which was about two miles from where I lived. Hanging out at the "Farm" was a pleasant way to kill a few hours. I'd smoke a few cigarettes, get something to eat, and amuse myself by watching the tourists. Often I'd sit by the antique carousel and listen to the music.

One night it was getting late, near closing time, and I was almost ready to leave. I happened to strike up a conversation with a girl who worked in the Candy Shop. She told me that John Wayne was going to arrive for a private party in the Banquet Hall. "Do you want to go see him?" she asked.

"Sure, why not?"  We walked to the Banquet Hall and waited by the entrance. No one else was there. Only me, the girl, and a couple of photographers from local newspapers.

A long, white limo pulled up and out came John Wayne, his wife Pilar Pallete, their daughter Aissa, and actress Maureen O'Hara. I think Wayne's son Patrick was there, too (well, one of his sons was there).

Wayne was so close to me that I could have easily picked his pocket. He was tall. I'm six-foot-one and he towered over me. Maureen O'Hara was beautiful, all decked out in a green silk gown. She and Wayne were close friends for nearly forty years and they made five films together.

Daughter Aissa kept smiling at me and I would have been flattered - - if it wasn't for the fact that she looked exactly like her father. Picture John Wayne with a long blond wig.

The photographer snapped the photo that I discovered on the Internet. I think it was used in the Orange County Register (I was a proofreader there briefly).



John Wayne and his wife Pilar Pallete.
This is the photo that was taken while I was standing right by them.

My second encounter with Wayne happened about four years later at a party in Newport Beach. I went there with an actor friend and the Duke happened to be one of the guests. My impression of Wayne could be summed up in three words: aloof, gruff, and soused. He was always soused. It seemed to be his trademark. Maureen O'Hara was also there and she was very lovely and gracious. O'Hara  seemed to be the Duke's constant sidekick. It's rumored that they had an affair long ago and I strongly tend to believe it.

Ironically, around the same time, my mother happened to meet John Wayne at an Orange County cocktail party. My Mom was an executive secretary for a top honcho O.C. businessman. He invited her to the cocktail party. My mother generally disliked parties and mindless social gatherings, but she went anyway and she did meet John Wayne. Much like myself, she wasn't particularly impressed.



What do I know about John Wayne? Only the basics. He could be nasty at times, and I've heard a few firsthand stories about his unpleasantness from people who knew him. He was a hardcore drinker. Smoked five packs of unfiltered cigarettes a day. Battled numerous serious illnesses, including lung cancer and a stroke. Suffered fractured ribs and broken limbs while making movies. Wore a hairpiece. Had plastic surgery for eye bags and sagging jowls. Was a staunch Republican and member of the John Birch Society. Believed in conservative values. Real name was Marion Morrison. Nickname came from a dog named Duke that he had as a child.

Wayne holds the record for the actor with the most leading parts in films - - a total of 142.

What have I observed from my personal encounters with Wayne?
One thing for certain, his personality wasn't fake. What you see in his movies is exactly what he was in real life. He wasn't acting. He was merely being himself. I don't think he was ever comfortable with all the Hollywood fluff.

Anyway, that's my take on the Duke.



If you hate this blog, you'll really hate my other one.
Here's the link: 
Cabinet of Curious Treasures 

30 comments:

  1. Fascinating! A few months ago I read an excellent biography of John Wayne. The biography affirms your take on John Wayne, what you saw on the screen was what you saw off the screen. John Wayne played himself which, to many, epitomized the American character. Like you I was never a big fan of John Wayne. I didn't dislike him but just wasn't a rabid fan. I meant to send that biography to you. Did I?
    Ron

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, I accidentally deleted my initial reply to you. I'll take a deep breath and try again.

      My opinion about Wayne is very similar to yours. I never actually hated him but I can't warm up to his image, either. He seems too boring and one-dimensional. I'm not into the stereotypical cardboard macho man image.
      I've never read any biographies of John Wayne, but I love reading bios of ANY movie stars.

      Delete
    2. Great! I'll send some your way. Something else we have in common Jon, we both love reading biographies of ANY movie stars.
      Ron

      Delete
  2. Very interesting! I liked his movies. My favorite is Blood Alley. The Searchers is up there, too. Oh, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, too, but what were they thinking trying to pass off 60 some year old Jimmy Stewart as a recent law school graduate in some of the scenes?
    You didn't mention the other side of the coin, that if you love this blog, you'll really love your other one. I enjoy both blogs equally.
    Did you ever meet or see Mae West before or even after she died?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've never seen "Blood Alley". There were so many aging actors who were cast in young parts (such as Cary Grant, James Stewart, Gary Cooper, Fred Astaire, Bing Crosby). It was ridiculous to see 65 yr.-old men as a love interest for a 22 year-old leading lady.

      I wrote a blog post about my quest for Mae West last February, entitled "The Two That Got Away". I THINK this is the link:
      http://lonewolfconcerto.blogspot.com/2016/02/the-two-that-got-away.html

      Delete
  3. Jon,

    My one encounter with John Wayne. My father was a real Wayne fan, so I saw a lot of his movies growing up. When videos and then DVDs came out, John Wayne movies made a staple for gifts to my dad on Christmas, his birthday, etc. I cannot recall the exact year now, but it was a while back when I was still working in Philadelphia, which means it had to be before 1975 anyway. I was walking down West Market Street, which use to be a Movie Theater Mecca and I noticed a crowd had gathered and they had roped off a corridor from street into one of the film houses. Next thing a big limousine pulled up by the curb next to me and out of it stepped the Duke. I admit, I was impressed. I mean you talk about a mountain of a man. He was tall and broad across the shoulders. As with you, he towered over me (I'm six foot.) His skin was boozed and he had that familiar squint on his face. It just seemed like he dominated that whole block and somehow you looked at this guy and felt he was someone you didn't want to cross. He looked ever bit the character you always saw on the screen.

    Larry

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's an interesting story - and your description of Wayne is EXACTLY accurate. He wasn't the kind of guy you would want to ask for an autograph. He'd probably punch you. I felt rather intimidated by him.

      Delete
  4. I was never a fan and always thought he was a one-note actor. I would not have been impressed no matter how much space he took up. ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He was definitely a one-note actor...and I never really understood his cinematic endurance or rampant fame.

      Delete
  5. True Grit was the only film I saw him in. People back then said I looked a little like Kim Darby his sidekick in it. However, I will tell you my best friend Sidney was totally smitten with John Wayne. Why, I never understood.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was a fan of Kim Darby long ago - I thought she was hot. She was quite popular for awhile and then suddenly faded away. I wonder what ever happened to her...

      Delete
  6. PS) Kinda cool you and your mom met him.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Interesting, objective post. I've never been fond of John Wayne ... that machismo bravado's a real turn-off. Still, hat's interesting how he got his nickname. I also chuckled at your description of his daughter. (Yep, I've got to Google it!)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I never really understood Wayne's immense popularity. I think Aissa was probably about 16 or 17 when I first saw her. She was indeed the spitting image of Wayne. As she matured she got a little better looking (possibly plastic surgery??).

      Delete
  8. My impression of him is that he played the same person over and over again in all of his movies.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Your observation is right on target. His on-screen image never changed. Unfortunately, neither did his off-screen image....

      Delete
  9. Five packs of unfiltered cigarettes per day ? I'm amazed he even lived as long as he did. I'm not a fan either, nor have I seen many of his movies except one or two dusters ages ago. I do like some of his quotes though.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I had to chuckle when I read that Wayne holds the record for the most leading parts in films. ALL of those leading parts were exactly the same....

      Delete
  10. I love John Wayne and all his movies. Many actors and actresses have the same part over and over although that is not a turn off the me. How about Humphrey Bogart.

    ReplyDelete
  11. You're right that many film stars seemed to do variations of the same part over and over. This is especially true with the actors - such as Cary Grant. I don't think Wayne had the acting capacity to project any image other than his own. He obviously did it successfully.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I liked John Wayne, even have a framed picture of him in my office room. No particular reason, just 'cause I like it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, he was one of the good guys....and he loved our country (which is rare nowadays)

      Delete
  13. I NEVER cared for the actor, but he is an easy face to recognize and I love doing portraits of all his crags, wrinkles and broken nose. Most actors of his time were of the same category, and talent was not a requirement. Tab Hunter, Bogart, Rock Hudson, whether portraying a military hero or a cabana boy, never changed character.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wayne's face was certainly a road map of his turbulent life. There are MANY actors who were in the Hollywoodized rut of simply playing themselves onscreen, over and over. Some - such as Tab Hunter - had far less than minimal talent.

      Delete
  14. My father was a huge John Wayne fan, so it's possible I've seen darned near every one of those 142 movies. Some of them, I really liked, and that was usually when Maureen O'Hara was also in the movie. Whether or not they ever had an affair in real life, their on-screen chemistry was appealing. Gotta admit, though, he wasn't a "great" actor. Kinda stiff and one-noted, as you said.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Being a hardcore move fan, I have admittedly seen a lot of John Wayne movies, too - but they share so much sameness that all of them tend to blur together with no distinctions.

      Delete
  15. Interesting encounter, Jon. All we ever got up here was Ronald Reagan and once I actually bumped into Larry Storch at a shopping center. Some family friends were related to Jennifer Jones but us kids weren't allowed over when she'd stay with them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Larry Storch is not a very recognizable name, but he did appear in an enormous amount of films and especially TV shows. And his voice-over work is impressive.

      I've always loved Jennifer Jones (alas, she was plagued with emotional problems). "Dual in the Sun" is one of my favorites.

      Delete
  16. My grandfather, god rest his soul, was a HUGE fan of The Duke :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think a lot of the "older" generation were Duke fans. Somehow he represented a large slice of Americana.

      Delete

I love comments. Go ahead and leave one - I won't bite. But make sure you have a rabies shot just in case.