How Do You Became A John Wayne Fan?

[Levitt E. Valance]

How did I become a John Wayne fan? Reckon I was just born at the right time. I don't claim to be the world's greatest John Wayne fan. Truth is I never really regarded myself as a fan. It's just that John Wayne was always there, one of the great constants in my life, like a mother or a father. I grew up knowing him as a big indestructible man. I liked him. I trusted him. He believed in hitting a lick for what's right and he was big enough to do it. People like John Wayne ain't supposed to die. If anyone's passing emphasized the sorry truth that everyone's gotta go sooner or later, his did. But he made his mark and he touched many people's lives, including mine. It’s something I'm grateful for.

[lindaj48]

you have that right

[Levitt E. Valance]

Thanks Linda. I get something right once on a while.

[Kain424]

Not sure what the average age of most Wayne fans seems to be, but I'll bet it's older than myself. That being said, until a couple years ago I'd never seen a John Wayne film. Sure, my father had watched Sands Of Iwo Jima in the same room as me and maybe a couple others, but I'd never sat down and watched them myself.

But I run a website, and one of the main features on said website is a running tally of every major Action stars onscreen kills. I thought Wayne was quite the icon, and it was a bit odd that I'd neither seen his movies nor tallied his kills. So, starting with his first starring role in The Big Trail, on through as many of his movies as I could find, I watched Duke's films in chronological order until The Shootist.

It was a fun trip, one which I will have to fully regale folks such as you one day. Suffice it to say, it's very hard not love the big lug. And The Shootist was one of the most emotionally satisfying and yet bittersweet final films I've ever watched.

[ethanedwards]

Not sure what the average age of most Wayne fans seems to be, but I'll bet it's older than myself. That being said, until a couple years ago I'd never seen a John Wayne film. Sure, my father had watched Sands Of Iwo Jima in the same room as me and maybe a couple others, but I'd never sat down and watched them myself.

But I run a website, and one of the main features on said website is a running tally of every major Action stars onscreen kills. I thought Wayne was quite the icon, and it was a bit odd that I'd neither seen his movies nor tallied his kills. So, starting with his first starring role in The Big Trail, on through as many of his movies as I could find, I watched Duke's films in chronological order until The Shootist.

It was a fun trip, one which I will have to fully regale folks such as you one day. Suffice it to say, it's very hard not love the big lug. And The Shootist was one of the most emotionally satisfying and yet bittersweet final films I've ever watched.

Kain,
great post, and observations.
I am sure no one has counted how many 'kills' Duke made,
but it was a few to say the least.

Incidently we have many young members starting in their 20's,
and this thread will interest you, and maybe you can join in.
When were you Born?

[Kain424]

Thanks for the welcomes and I'll certainly be roving about these threads.

As for counting the Duke's "kills", I've tallied 258 so far in well over a hundred movies watched. I don't think he ever got to 300 as there are only a few I have not yet seen.

[chester7777]

Welcome to our John Wayne message board, Kain, sounds like your counting must have taken a bit of time. Thank you for your input, as to my knowledge, no one has made this particular effort before. Check out all our Forums and you will enjoy finding out many more facts about the Duke !

Chester and the Mrs.

[Hawkswill]

Well, I always liked John Wayne movies, but I suppose I didn't really become a FAN until I started researching my book. Ward Bond has always been my favorite, (after a brief "love affair" with Bob Horton, Flint McClullough in WT). Dad always called him Flip McCorkin, the drugstore cowboy just to pull my chain. We would all pile up into Mom and Dad's room, me in Mom's bed and Dad and bro, Buz, together...they had built beds that the head raised up....great for watching TV. After a few years, I fell head over heels with Ward.....he was just so EVERYTHING! So, naturally, when I began researching him and his cohorts.....there was Duke, his best friend. Then I fell down the well into Pappy Ford and all the Ford Troupe. Sure did broaden my task! But, once you know a bit about Duke.......how in the WORLD can you NOT be a fan? A most incredibly, wonderful, talented, caring man gave us all more than I am sure he ever even knew. And it is on film for us and future generations to see forever! I think it is our responsiblity to help not let the flame go out! KPKEITH

[lindaj48]

same here i grew up watching john wayne and was going to grow up
and marry him lol of as a little girl i was not thinking about how old he was
his son patrick would of been more my age.

hi,
How do you became a John Wayne fan?

How did I became a John Wayne fan?

I looked since I was 5 westerns and that became because my father and grandfather always looked westerns and I was going to look those westerns too, all kind of westerns and I dont knew the actors then but I only watched the actionscenes with saloon fights and indian-army fights.

But a year later I saw Chisum and that was for me the great different between a John Wayne western and other kinds of westerns, ofcourse before Chisum I already saw the cavalry trylogy and Red River but I saw by Chisum the John Wayne style, and since then I was all time looking John Wayne movies, and I still do.

How do you became a John Wayne fan?

jwfan

[Hawkswill]

Hi Kain, Where did you go? I was really interested to seeing your posts. Hope you are back soon. Maybe I have just missed some of them. Anyway, I would love to see your website of the "kills" and anything else you have on there. Enjoyed what little I have seen.....hope you and your family are well.
Ride hard, but don't put him up wet, KPKEITH

Thanks for the welcomes and I'll certainly be roving about these threads.

As for counting the Duke's "kills", I've tallied 258 so far in well over a hundred movies watched. I don't think he ever got to 300 as there are only a few I have not yet seen.

[Rocklin]

Well I bought a John Wayne limited edition belt buckle a long time ago and I was not into John Wayne at the time, when I said a long time you can go with the price which was Ten Shillings Sterling. I got into J.W oh about 30 years ago I taped Eldorado off the tv to video and just kept watching it, well I started collecting his movies on video my wife started buying birthday and Christmas presents for me either videos or anything John Wayne built up a good collection of videos then out comes dvd. Started collecting dvd's now I have a collection of over 100 dvd's some which are silents as well, and I have built up one website to The Duke and have started a second site to the great man John Wayne.

Tomorrow hopes
We have learned something
From yesterday

John Wayne

[lindaj48]

Well I bought a John Wayne limited edition belt buckle a long time ago and I was not into John Wayne at the time, when I said a long time you can go with the price which was Ten Shillings Sterling. I got into J.W oh about 30 years ago I taped Eldorado off the tv to video and just kept watching it, well I started collecting his movies on video my wife started buying birthday and Christmas presents for me either videos or anything John Wayne built up a good collection of videos then out comes dvd. Started collecting dvd's now I have a collection of over 100 dvd's some which are silents as well, and I have built up one website to The Duke and have started a second site to the great man John Wayne.

Tomorrow hopes
We have learned something
From yesterday

John Wayne

that is so cool i have always been a big fan of John Wayne I was always going to grow up and marry him. i have a whole sheet of John Wayne Stamps, two clocks, loads of movies on vsh and have been getting them replaced as i can with dvds. and also lots of books on him that have all the movies he made i also have a life time member ship to John Wayne foundation that came out the yr he passed. and some pictures of him.

[Hawkswill]

Mornin' Rocklin,
Don't remember if I welcomed you or not...but if not....welcome on board to the best site about Duke there is. Oh, send us your sites will you?

Funny about El Dorado. My very good friend, Tony, was the specialist doctor who worked on both Duke and Bob Mitchum's legs after they were shot. Also, he is the one who told him about his paralysis and the surgery he needed. I knew Tony for a good many years before he even told me he was in a movie with Duke, LOL. He was a friend of James Caan. He also played Sir Dunedin in Richard Harris' Camelot.

Anyway, sounds as if you have quite a nice collection going. Don't forget to send us your site.

Love the whole quote that you put the end of down. "
“Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we've learned something from yesterday.” One of my very favorites! I suppose you know that it is on Duke's grave marker! Keith, (the other one)!

Well I bought a John Wayne limited edition belt buckle a long time ago and I was not into John Wayne at the time, when I said a long time you can go with the price which was Ten Shillings Sterling. I got into J.W oh about 30 years ago I taped Eldorado off the tv to video and just kept watching it, well I started collecting his movies on video my wife started buying birthday and Christmas presents for me either videos or anything John Wayne built up a good collection of videos then out comes dvd. Started collecting dvd's now I have a collection of over 100 dvd's some which are silents as well, and I have built up one website to The Duke and have started a second site to the great man John Wayne.

Tomorrow hopes
We have learned something
From yesterday

John Wayne

[Hawkswill]

FORGOT, you still have time to post on THE GROUP WATCH. You can find it in Quick Links for today. This month's movie is Tall in the Saddle....the one you got your "name" from. Would love to have you post your thoughts. I did a whole STILL shots of the fight that Rocklin and Judge Garvey had as Duke and Ward were the best of friends and used to practice their stunt fights on their own time! It really shows how the stunts were done and shows what good actors Duke and Ward were....look at their faces.....they actually SEEM to be fighting, LOL. Keith

Mornin' Rocklin,
Don't remember if I welcomed you or not...but if not....welcome on board to the best site about Duke there is. Oh, send us your sites will you?

Funny about El Dorado. My very good friend, Tony, was the specialist doctor who worked on both Duke and Bob Mitchum's legs after they were shot. Also, he is the one who told him about his paralysis and the surgery he needed. I knew Tony for a good many years before he even told me he was in a movie with Duke, LOL. He was a friend of James Caan. He also played Sir Dunedin in Richard Harris' Camelot.

Anyway, sounds as if you have quite a nice collection going. Don't forget to send us your site.

Love the whole quote that you put the end of down. "
“Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we've learned something from yesterday.” One of my very favorites! I suppose you know that it is on Duke's grave marker! Keith, (the other one)!

[JamesMace]

First JW movie I ever saw at the theater was in 1950. I think. But I first really started noticing him in "Sons of Katie Elder." Met Wayne in 1975 at Universal Pictures when he was making "Rooster Cogburn," and got his autograph in his 1925 Glendale High yearbook. (My aunt knew him in high school.)