Our family went to the California Rodeo in Salinas last night. It's an annual event around here, almost 100 years old. It was a fun time, and afterwards, we went wandering through the dozens of vendor booths that were there. They had everything from candy to cowboy hats, but the thing that saddened me about this was that I didn't see one image of John Wayne . . . (my wife noticed purses with Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, Audrey Hepburn, and Elvis Presley emblazoned on them), and I understand that, for some incomprehensible reason, the Wayne family has been reducing instead of increasing the licensing of the Duke's image. I'm not sure how that can benefit them, nor fans across the country (and around the world). If any of you have any ideas how we might change this situation, I'm all ears.

Chester

Hi Chester you said that the Wayne family Licening the Dukes Image I wonder How it would effect artists i have been painting the Duke for years i have one on Legends in Leather so i don't know how this would effect it.I was trying to find out about the copywrite of the Duke's Image.

Yo Chester

You are correct there is a real need to boost Dukes licensing image and I feel there is no better place to start than with DVD's. It would be good to try and ensure all of his movies are put onto DVD, to a high quality and without any editing. I also feel if there are any deleted scenes etc out there or rare/often seen footage about the Duke and his films then it should also be included on these DVD's where apropriate so that Duke fans can get a great deal.

Regarding the John Wayne family reducing the licening of his image to be used on products it is an understandable step as there was and are items with his image on them that are both tacky and demeaning to the Duke. However like you Chester I would like to see and increase in the licensing of Dukes image as long as it being used positvely and inoffensively.


B)

This seems very strange :unsure:
One would think that this would be the time to start marketing John Wayne :rolleyes: When other actors pass away there are always rumors on what happened. Not so with the Duke :P Far to many people have respect for him, and what he stood for. I'm disappointed that his family doesn't step up and let the fans enjoy their Hero :(

Monique ;)

So is there a way that us fans can contact the family and let them know our interest in JW is positive and we would just like more support from the family.

Brian
Tulalip Wa

In my understanding it's the photographer or the media house he worked for who holds the rights to the photos, unless they are old enough to be in public demain (check the footnotes next to the pictures in the JW books, for instance: that's the reason why the authors have to name AP Associated Press, World Photos, and so on). So it's not the Wayne family holding - or rather holding back - any photos. If a poster company might be interested in printing new posters they just pay for the rights and go ahead. But true enough, Wayne enterprises has the rights for the very NAME John Wayne - and you could not use his IMAGE to advertise anything without their saying (Michael was very strict about that).
Remember that Ford advertising about 5 or 6 years back, using old clips from Steve McQueen in "Bullitt", inserted by computer in new surroundings, meaning: driving the new car? If you went close enough to the printed advertising, you could read in small letters: "Steve McQueen (Copyright) belongs to Terry and Chad McQueen" (his kids).

By the way, if it's still photographs and publicity shots you're looking for,
www.moviemarket.com
has a nice selection (reprinted, of course)

Original stills (released in the original year of the film) are much harder to get now than some years back. There are shops in Paris and London I visited whenever I got the chance, and their JW files became thinner and thinner. The reason for that is, of course, the big sell-out! The number of fans has increased after JW's death, the prices for his memorabilia have gone through the roof! About 10 years back you could buy a lobby-card of Rio Bravo for 30 bucks. On ebay, they're asking for - and getting - more than 100$. So that might be a reason why some of us have problems to find pictures (am I being too much of a wise-ass here? if so - sorry. But I wanted to prevent an action to ask the JW family about something they do not control. And I think so far they served the image of their father quite well. The things they license (like the Franklin Mint statues and plates) are first rate. Michael probably had good reasons to hold back the Batjac films, so that finally the release could make a mighty splash (like Hondo did). Look at other icons like Marilyn or James Dean - their image appears on everything that might sell, and that's disgusting).

itdo,
Thank you for that address :rolleyes:

After reading your views on your post I have to agree with all the other trashie items linked with other movie star icons B)

Monique ;)

Come to think of it, another good place to find stills, books - and spittoons, if that's what you're after, is the OLD WEST SHOP.
www.oldwestshop.com
which has been in business for a loooong time and can be trusted.
By the way, you'll also find the "Campfire"-books by Tim Lilley there, editor of the John Wayne fan club, and I can highly recommend them. These books consist of interviews with JW's co-workers, and I mean the ones who seldom get quoted elsewhere; the stuntmen, the supporting players et cetera. These books are strictly limited in print. About Tim Lilley's great work for the last 25 years, I've already posted in "Everthing you always wanted to know about JW"

Hi all,
Great site:
http://www.moviemarket.co.uk/John_Wayne_P202139/

:cowboy: Thanks Kalmouk. Yesterday I spent about 3 hours looking around in that site and they had an impressive photo collection. I found many i'd like to add to my collection someday.

Best regards--TRK.