What was John Waynes first fim in which he wore a toupee and is it true that he had a lazer operation done to hide his baldness Im not sure as I dont think it was around back then.

I can't remember what movie, I've seen a reference to it.
Your going to have to go back into the 40's. (The Chata years.)
Before Laser surgery.

Rick

In answer to my own question DUkes hairline looks pretty bad in Angel and the Badman so was this his last film before the toupe can anyone enlighten me.

Hello there I have just registered as a memebr of this messageboard and look foward to interesting converstions with you all.

Robbie the answer to your question is Stagecoach

Robbie,

I had the good fortune of asking someone who knows a lot about John Wayne your question, and he had an answer.

"Duke wore his first hair piece in Sands of Iwo Jima and has done so in every movie since. In Wings of Eagles, he took it off for the character of Spig Wead towards later in life in the movie.

He was seen without his hair piece on a USO tour in the South Pacific."

Sounds like the best answer yet . . . . :rolleyes:

Chester

Greetings!

In North to Alaska at the fight near the end of the movie, when JW gets punched, you can see his hairpeice fly off. I'm looking for the image to post for all of you.

This is a picture of Wayne when he was signing autographs to the troops. It was taken during the making of The Green Berets. Notice the toupee is gone.

http://www.angelfire.com/zine/timetraveler/johnwayne/WayneVietnam.jpg

Hi Chester

I dont think Sands of Iwo Jima is the answer because the year before he made Red River and he doesnt seem to have a hairline at all in it and I dont think he would have went bald in one year.

In the Wings of Eagles how bald is John Wayne without the hairpiece.

B)

A little over a month ago, I was trying to track down the answer to Robbie's question, and came upon the name of Josephine Turner, a wig maker to the stars for years. I was able to get a phone number, and called her home. I spoke to a gentleman there who said she was terribly hard of hearing, but tried asking my question for me (I could hear him shouting in the background). She didn't have an exact answer, as she couldn't remember, and he told me if he was able to find out more, he would let me know.

I am not here to report that I have found the definitive answer to the question. However, I was reading over at McCandles Texas forum at Yahoo, and saw the following, which I found of interest, and pertinent to this topic:

Noted wig maker Josephine Turner died Tuesday night after a brief llness. She was 94. Up until a few weeks ago, she was still working, making hair pieces at her home. Josephine was one of the top wigmakers in Hollywood for over 50 years. She made all sorts of wigs, mustaches and beards for actors and makeup artists. Josephine created all the wigs and facial hair pieces for the original "Planet of the Apes," as well as numerous toupees for such actors as John Wayne, Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly.

I worked with her at Universal when I first started. She was in charge of the wig room and I would go in and watch her ventilate various hair pieces. She was nothing short of amazing. She made all the hair pieces for us on "The Munsters Revenge."

Michael F. Blake

Cheers!

Chester B)

Did Wayne wear a toupe in Rio Grande (1950)? In several scenes where he doesn't have his hat on...there isn't much for hair on top...

GSP

General,

First, let me be (hopefully) the first to welcome you to the John Wayne Message board. I see you have jumped in with both feet, not only posting, but starting a topic as well. Good for you!!

In answer to your question, the information I have recently come across, at the McCandles Texas forum at Yahoo, indicates the following, and is the best I have heard so far, as far as detail:

"Wake of the Red Witch" (1948) was the last film that the Duke used his own hair.

In 1949 the Duke started using a hair piece but it was a slow change and he used his 3 films in 1949 to go from his own hair to a full wig. He did this so that it would be less likely for his fans to notice.

In "The Fighting Kentuckian" (1949) he used a small one, "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon" (1949) a bit more and then a full in "Sands of Iwo Jima" (1949).

As I learn more, I will share here.

Again, welcome to the board, and keep up the posting! :D

Chester

Thanks for the info Chester,

I think that explains the one scene in Rio Grande when Wayne jumps out of the wagon he was sleeping in during a mid-night Indian raid on his outpost...there is a real close-up shot of him without a hat...and he must have been in that transition faze you speak of, because there isn't much there.

GSP

...and yes, Chester, you were the first to welcome me aboard...thanks!

Always remember the fight scene in North to Alaska were the hair peice moves

Brian
Tulalip Wa