Hello, just doing some searching on the web for some possible answers to my question.

I do not collect John Wayne items, although I've been a fan since I was a kid. In the mid-70's I found a 1973 Rose Bowl football program in a used bookstore (I collect football memorabilia), in a large pile of other collecge football programs. All the programs had a handstamp on them for a Dr. Robin Davis in Beverly Hills, CA. I assume he was the owner of these programs. Just about every one I looked through had autographs of former players and coaches, going back to the 40's or so, all personalized to this Dr.
The 1973 Rose Bowl program grabbed my attention more than most. In 1973 JW was the Grand Marshall in the Rose Parade. There is a nice article about him and his college football days at USC. There are also some pictures of him from his playing days as well.
Over one of the pictures is a signature "Marion Michael Morrison" and a "1973" underneath it. It is not a printed signature, but is quite obviously done with a black pen (not a sharpie).
I've asked several people over the years about it and have gotten nowhere. One person I met who was into autographs told me that John Wayne never signed anything with that name, since he changed it to John Wayne.

Is this true?
Can anyone recommend a good place to investigate this further?
Like I said, it is an actual signed item, but I'd like to find out if it's in John Wayne's hand or someone else. I can't think of why anyone else would write it that way (like a signature, diagonally across a photo), and with all the actual autographs in the other programs, it doesn't make sense that this Dr Robin Davis would have done it himself.

Help?

Hi Complete Novis,
I would try and contact Batjac productions. This is now run by John Waynes daugher Melinda I believe. They may be able to help you out. Some of our other members may have some ideas for ya.
Hope ya find out something,
LittleDuke

Little Duke - Thanks for the response. I'll check back here tomorrow, for any other responses.

Hello there novice.
The info you where given was generally true but not writen in stone..
I grew up in Palmsprings .California lot's of movie star's there... And in 1991
I was given by Kirk Douglas His Hat and Vest that he wore in the movie The War Wagon with John Wayne!. I donated these to the Follies museum in P.S. I Was also give TWO Autograph photos one that was signed Marion Michael Morrison..
Photo is of JW,Kirk douglas,Chuck Roberston... Mister douglas told me he asked JW to sign it that way as a joke for his friend Producer Riff Markowitz..
So there are some out there not many but he did sign his real name.
Last i heard an autograph like this could be worth $500.
Good luck with your search, also check the palm springs preforming arts center.
Many retired stars there, some might have some better info and many have worked with JW..
CY-A Chucki chezze

It's true, Wayne sometimes also signed "Duke" in personal letters, and, as a joke, his Morrison name. I think I saw some of these on Ebay, too. I think the best way to clear if it's the real thing is to have it check at a renowed autograph company - the name of it just slipped my mind, it's a three letter word something. If you check at Ebay for autographs you will find many who have that certificate. That means the professionals check the signature with every other available signature, and they will look at every detail. They'll also have a commission, but every autograph seeker will tell you it's the best way to be sure. I guess not even his former office could tell a very good fake from the real mccoy - because the forgers really work well.

Interesting to hear about the War Wagon jacket, what a great gesture, chuckie! After some soul-searching (I must say, it didn't take too long) I have to admit: I would have kept it and rather have my arm chopped off then given it away so freely.

There's a photograph of Wayne signing his marriage license with his legal name in 1933, in the book "Duke: The Life and Times of John Wayne". It's a clear photo of his signature "Marion Mitchell Morrison", you might want to compare it to the one you got (sorry, don't have a scanner).

Originally posted by itdo@Oct 26 2003, 02:24 AM
It's true, Wayne sometimes also signed "Duke" in personal letters, and, as a joke, his Morrison name. I think I saw some of these on Ebay, too. I think the best way to clear if it's the real thing is to have it check at a renowed autograph company - the name of it just slipped my mind, it's a three letter word something. If you check at Ebay for autographs you will find many who have that certificate. That means the professionals check the signature with every other available signature, and they will look at every detail. They'll also have a commission, but every autograph seeker will tell you it's the best way to be sure. I guess not even his former office could tell a very good fake from the real mccoy - because the forgers really work well.

Interesting to hear about the War Wagon jacket, what a great gesture, chuckie! After some soul-searching (I must say, it didn't take too long) I have to admit: I would have kept it and rather have my arm chopped off then given it away so freely.
Actually itdo,
Guess i should of mention that the hat an vest from the war wagon was donated to the museum!! With the reservations that when i wanted them back i could have them... Sorry forgot to mention that... So dont loose that arm there on display for all to see.. Many item that i have are very personal and i wouldnt loose them for the world.. Even got picture's of JW, and me.... Dont think those are wanted much only by me....
Glad to hear about that book collection though it's outstanding....
keep that collecting and good luck to all fans out there!!!
chuckie chezze!!!!!!

Hey Chuckie,
I know of somebody who actually WOULD love to see the pics of you with JW - all of us on that board! Proud to have somebody here who had that chance and is so humble about it!

hi chuckie,

i have to go with itdo if you have a scanner then by all means share your photos with us so we can grovel at your feet ;) and welcome aboard

cheers smokey

chuckie chezze,

Just jumpin' in and want to see all you have also. If you have a scanner, please copy and let's see. :search: This is really great!

Keep the autograph, and don't let it go, you may have something very valuable, and most of all a keep sake that is all the envy from all us Duke fans, that never actually got to see or recieve anything from him in person. :o

Glad to have you on board here at the message board. :cowboy:

Cheers, Hondo B)

:headbonk: Thanks all for your kind word's..
But sorry to say I dont have a scanner as yet, but as soon as i get one i'll post those photo's.... Going to the U.S.A end of the week to visit some friend,s and hopeing to get a line on a JW painting... Supposely done by (Henry Hathaway)..
Well see, know he did some painting,, but as a hobby i've been told...
So hope there's good news for me when I Arrive.... thanks all
chuckie chezze..........

Hi there John Wayne fans I came across this site when looking for an autographed picture of the duke for my husband for christmas. As I am not the JW fan you will have to excuse my ignorence when I say I didn't realize that his memorabilea was so rare and so expensive. Doesn't look like he'll be getting this for christmas after all. I read the other entries that were there and they were very interesting to say the least. If any one has any suggestions or ideas please let me know.

Many thanks Moonwind Pearl

I thought I'd bring this thread back to life from the past.

I followed this ebay link http://search.ebay.com/john-wayne_Autograp...ocolumnlayoutZ3 (http://search.ebay.com/john-wayne_Autographs_W0QQcatrefZC3QQfromZR2QQlotrZ1QQs acategoryZ57QQsocolumnlayoutZ3) and found a lot of JW autograph's.

My question is would you buy any of these autograph's found on ebay? If so, how would you authenticate such an item? I would love to have an autographed item but I'm not sure if I would true be able to say with confident that it's legit.

[ATTACH]15]

Hi Kevin

Thanks for posting the e bay link Ive just purchased the photograph of the Laurel and Hardy/John Wayne scene from the Fighting Kentuckian for £3.00.

w.r.t. The autographs I suppose the only way to complete know if an autograph is genuine or not is to get it personally or one that you know is ioo% authentic and compare the rest.

I was alway told that if you signed your signiture three times one after the other, when you compared all three signatures not one would be the same. So what chance would you have with a star signing one after the other.

I bought my John Wayne picture off e bay and have to rely that the antique shop that sold it are genuine, as they had to rely on the authenticity themselves. I hope its genuine but if it isn't I don't really want to know.

.

Regards

Arthur

If you want to be absolutely sure, one 100 percent water-proof-sure, only a legal document, like a signed contract, will do.

It also helps if you know how a certain star feels about autographs. For instance, Kirk Douglas even wrote in his bio that he answers every (that was before his stroke though) wish for an autograph personally because he feels the need of the fans. The same was true for Heston before his illness. He bent backwards to sign his own autographs and he also wrote about that in his book.

On the contrary, Eastwood said he stopped giving autographs because he dislikes the business ("yeah, like on of me for 5 McQueens", he once said). So then you do your math: If he doesn't sign, where do all the Eastwood autographs come from?

The answer is: secretarial autographs. Or just plain printed autographs.

Hi Roland,

I agree with you about Charlton Heston. The day after hearing him admitting his illness on British TV I wrote to him expressing my good wishes for the future.

Within a matter of days I got a signed photograph. The signiture also matched an earlier one that I had bought at a film fair.


Regards

Arthur

He's even always using the same pen, isn't he. And what a wonderful autograph.

I am sitting here in my office looking at a large autographed picture on the wall of Duke and he signed it while I was watching him do it, and it said "Duke" in the lower right hand corner of picture that is 16" by 20". The picture was out of one of the old Rio films, but I do not know which one, but he is coming out of the sheriff Office with his rifle and a badge on. I have had it for about 30 years! Chilibill :cowboy:

Chilibill,

I don't really know without seeing the psoter, but the one I've seen with him walking out of the sherrif's office with a rifle and badge was Rio Bravo. But without seeing the poster for sure, I have to say I'm not sure.

This is what I've seen;

http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/CLASS/130-196.jpg

Hope this helps.

Cheers, Hondo B)

Hi Hondo

That is the picture that the Franklin Mint Figurine and plate was based on.


Regards


Arthur

Hondo ; Thats the picture! With DUKE in big letters just to the right of his Boot! "Rio Bravo" thanks Hondo. Chilibill :cowboy:

Arthur ; Now that got me stirred up about this kind of thing, I dug up a old 8" Franklin mint plate with Duke on it in a fringed Brown Buck Skin shirt, blue neckerchief and his hands on his hips. I think my Wife gave it to me on my Birthday about 20 years ago. On the back it has "The Duke" by Robert- some one I can not make out the last name. Then it has the Plate Number in 24 Karat Gold 67621. Do you have any more Info. on this kind of Plate? Chilibill :cowboy:

Arthur: I just found the Certificate sighed by Michael Wayne but I can not find any Date! And it said it was the work of Robert Tannenbaum.