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John Wayne Stories
The Overwhelmed Fan
For the last twenty years of his life, John Wayne often had a profound
effect on people that crossed his path. Meeting him in person for some
was like meeting Abraham Lincoln or George Washington. Yet the Duke
usually stayed humble and almost always kept his sense of humor.
One time he was out with a group of friends who all were all eating
and drinking heavily. The Duke excused himself to go to the men's room
and when he came back his pants leg was wet. "Hey Duke what
happened?" one of them asked.
"Nothing. Happens all the time. I'm used to it." "What
happens?"
The Duke looked annoyed. "All right, if you must know I'm
standing in the men's room and there's some yahoo standing next to me
and he says' Oh my ... you're John Wayne and he turned. . .'
Generous Duke
John Wayne found himself in hock after 150 movies. Three wives, seven
children, investing his own money in the box office troubled The Alamo
(1960) combined with an exceedingly generous nature left the Duke
completely wiped out. He would often walk into bars and shout," Drinks
for everybody on me!" He would get fan letters full of wild pleas
for money, from people who had tax problems to mothers who asked for
help to pay for their daughter's braces. Wayne would agonize over them
but send financial aid if he thought the requester was really needy.
One time his second wife Chata, with whom he was about to divorce
hired a private detective to get the goods on him. Down in Mexico near
where Wayne was filming the western Hondo (1953) the investigator
forgot his identification one day and got locked up in a Chihuahua
jail. Not knowing anyone in a foreign land the desperate P.I. called
Wayne himself. The Cowboy Star arrived with his buddy and frequent
co-star, a disbelieving Ward Bond. "Duke, this guy is trying to
ruin you! Let him rot!" Wayne reached into his pocket and pulled
out the necessary coin to pay the bail. "Ah come on Ward, the
poor man was only doing his job."
About the Author
Stephen Schochet is the author and narrator of
the audiobooks "Fascinating Walt Disney" and "Tales Of
Hollywood". The Saint Louis Post Dispatch says," these two
elaborate productions are exceptionally entertaining." Hear
realaudio samples of these great, unique gifts at www.hollywoodstories.com.
Do you have any John Wayne stories, post
them on board.
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