Ridgway Old West Fest is planning to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of True Grit.

2019 marks the 50th anniversary of True Grit, the movie that earned John Wayne his only Academy Award. The famous director Henry Hathaway brought a cast and crew to Ridgway and Ouray County in the summer of 1968 to film much of the movie, which was released in 1969. The first annual Ridgway Old West Fest, organized by the Ridgway Western Heritage Society and scheduled for October 11-13, 2019, will celebrate Ridgway's brief transformation into Fort Smith, Arkansas, half a century ago.

Festivities will highlight Ridgway’s film, ranching and railroad heritage and celebrate Western arts and culture. “We are planning a variety of family friendly fun events,” said Eve Becker-Doyle, the Ridgway Western Heritage Society president. “Many events will be free and others will be well worth the price of admission.

Activities will include a Western art show, kids’ horse and pony rides, showings of both movies, a youth horse parade, a natural horsemanship demo, train rides, a Western concert and more.”

The Ridgway Chamber of Commerce runs an 11:00 Friday morning walking tour about the filming from May to October. The tour will be offered as one of many festival activities on both Saturday and Sunday.

In 2010 True Grit was remade in a second version starring Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon and Hailee Steinfeld, inspiring a new generation of fans and triggering interest in the original movie. True Grit Days, held in 2007 in Ridgway, was the precursor of next year's festival. 5,000 people attended the event, which commemorated the 100th anniversary of John Wayne’s birth as well as Ridgway and Ouray County’s movie-making heritage. Kim Darby, one of the original movie’s stars, was one of the VIP guests for the weekend. Registration information for the 2019 festival will be available early next year from ridgwayoldwestfest@gmail.com. For sponsorship packages contact pamela@ridgwaycolorado.com. # # #

Generally, as a rule, I don't post things for sale for others unless I can collect a commission for selling their items. However, this is one I just could not turn down, so I made an exception. This is definitely a one-of-a-kind John Wayne collectible – a John Wayne “The Duke” portable professional barbecue station! Just check out the photos! I love this! All the particulars are noted below, but if you have questions, please feel free to telephone the owner (Sandy Puckett) at (918) 949-7171, or you can email Sandy at smpuckett123@gmail.com
Information:

T-BBQ Trailer Custom CPT-1 Model BBQ Double-Axel Trailer Frame w/ 3500lbs Axel Capacity,

Includes One – 1 – 58” Lx 30” W, with Lockable Dry Storage Box underneath –

dims: 58” L x 20” D x 20” T, and 1 – 46” L x 30” W, with Locakable Dry Storage Biox underneath – dims: 46” L x 20” x 20” T. With Electric Brake System

MOUNTED WITH BBQ VAULT

*Extra long trailer frame 14' corner to corner
“Short” Sniper Model Smoker – 24”x48”
Stainless Firebox for Above Sniper
TV Media Cabinet includes 46” Flat Screen, w/ Bose Sound System, Mount, Installation, and Remote Lift System
Single High Pressure Multi-Jet Burner w/ Stainless Steel Housing and Grate
48” Grill-Meister Adjustable Charcoal Grill M-MFAB 3 Electrical Outlets w/ Enclosed Wiring (One in Box, One On Each Side of Trailer)
Wheel Rim/Upgrade
Custom Sink Cabinet – w. Sink/Fixtures/Electric Pump/40 Gal Water Tank/Plumbing/Hot Water Heater

Cruising around YouTube recently, I came across several videos of soundtrack suites from several of John Wayne's films. Eleven to be exact, and combined they constitute approximately two hours of great music from some of John Wayne's great films. Included are:
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance | Soundtrack Suite (Cyril J. Mockridge)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xc1iYRrMBWk


The Comancheros | Soundtrack Suite (Elmer Bernstein)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfBPQcMZjzA


True Grit | Soundtrack Suite (Elmer Bernstein)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zG6ygzZw2II


Circus World | Soundtrack Suite (Dimitri Tiomkin)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4H7jh0gmgR8


Rio Bravo | Soundtrack Suite (Dimitri Tiomkin)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9wU8AhP2LU


North To Alaska | Soundtrack Suite (Lionel Newman)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUP5vEP9Nsw


The War Wagon | Soundtrack Suite (Dimitri Tiomkin)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1o0cU8xqdg



The High And The Mighty | Soundtrack Suite (Dimitri Tiomkin)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-y4m89Z5n4


The Alamo | Soundtrack Suite (Dimitri Tiomkin)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5epfRO-jHPo


The Cowboys | Soundtrack Suite (John Williams)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bf4u4X_mRtw


Hatari | Soundtrack Suite (Henry Mancini)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2Kt2YardYA

Enjoy!

As my readers know, I have written two articles concerning Terry Hammock and his wild claim to be the grandson of John Wayne (see John Wayne's Mystery Relatives and Terry Hammock Stands By His Claim), articles that have generated numerous comments and emails, some by Terry Hammock himself. And now, there has been written, a news article concerning this issue as well.

Erik Wright, a journalist with a local news paper, has written a very interesting article concerning Terry Wayne Hammock, and he has given me permission to share that article here. I took the liberty of looking into Mr. Wright's qualifications and I have to say that I was very impressed!

Erik Wright is a native Texan who studied archaeology in Tucson, Arizona with an emphasis in geophysical applications in prehistoric sites in the Tucson Basin. Erik worked in this field for several years as both an archaeological crew chief on data recoveries and as an equipment and safety manager for a leading geotechnical firm in Arizona and Colorado. 

At age 16, Erik sold his first article to True West Magazine and has since published nearly 50 articles and papers on the history of the American West. Erik is widely recognized in his field as an authority on borderlands violence, 19th and early 20th century law and disorder and military operations in the American southwest. His work has appeared in numerous publications and has served as Copy Editor for the Journal of the Wild West History Association and is a Contributing Writer for the National Tombstone Epitaph. Other work has appeared in national newspapers, the Greene County Historical and Genealogical Society Quarterly, Wild West Magazine and more.

He is a Staff Writer with a local Arkansas newspaper and lives in northeast Arkansas with his wife, Laura, a mental health case manager.

Here is Mr. Wright's article.

Terry Wayne Hammock alias John T. Wayne:
The Duke’s Illegitimate Grandson?
By Erik Wright © 2015

Author’s Note: While I fully support the writing endeavors of western fiction author Terry Hammock alias John T. Wayne, I do not condone Hammock’s claims regarding his lineage to American actor John Wayne. This paper was not engineered to be an attack on Mr. Hammock himself or his work, rather to illustrate to the public what I believe to be the true story behind Hammock’s tale. For full disclosure, I have not met Hammock in person despite numerous unsuccessful attempts on my part to reach him by telephone nor have I read any of his fictional books, several of which are available through Amazon. As of July, 2015 Hammock has not been able to provide suitable evidence that he is related to John Wayne. To stay fair and balanced, I do not have any scientific evidence to fully refute his claims.


Paragould, Arkansas-based western fiction author Terry Wayne Hammock alias John T. Wayne (hereafter shall be known as “Hammock” for sake of clarity unless directly attributed to a quote or otherwise) has been falsely convincing local libraries libraries, museums, politicians and western history buffs in the mid-south for several years with what appears to be false claims about his family lineage. Hammock claims that he is the illegitimate grandson of American actor John Wayne.1 Hammock’s explanation states that:

I was born in St Louis, Missouri in 1958. The fact is I am John Wayne's grandson, although the John Wayne family would love to keep the facts surrounding my father's birth covered up. My father was Billy Gene Hammock. He was born in Feb [sic] of 1935. He was not given the name Wayne because he was born out of wedlock to my grandmother. The doctor who delivered my father was John C. Morrison M.D. For those of you who don't recognize this; John Wayne was born Marion Robeert [sic] Morrison. Why the doctor covered up my fathers [sic] birth was simple. The Duke was married to his first wife at the time and she was at home in California having a baby of her own. My father never knew who his earthly father was and he died not knowing. After his death in 2009 my brothers and I sat around the dinning [sic] room table and wondered, "What is the big stinking secret? Why can't we know who our grandfather is?" You see, granny was still alive at the time and she still wouldn't tell us. A pact? I don't know, but when she had her 95th birthday in Nov [sic] of 2012 I decided to do some digging. I found my answers in the newspaper from 1934. It was all there and I now have all of the pieces to the puzzle. I know I am John Wayne's grandson, and soon I will release a biography which details all of what my brothers and I now know. 

I did not know any of this when I began writing my western novels way back in 1985. How could I have? It is strange how life works. Your entire life is spent not knowing who your grandfather might be, then one day you decied [sic] to put on a cowboy hat and your life changes forever. Only God could come up with a plan like this! 

I may never be revered like my grandfather was, however I will tell you life can play tricks on the unsuspecting. I never dreamed where my life would go when I began writing my novels all those years ago. I am thankful I wrote my novels "The Gaslight Boys" with such passion for there are many which still remain unpublished, yet I will be releasing them in the near future just as I have released the first four, as John T. Wayne!

My name change was completed in August of 2012. I did this after learning what my grandmother had done all those years ago, after becoming certain that I was John Wayne's grandson. My name is now legally John Thomas Wayne. My great grandfather [sic] was John Thomas Clements. Had my father known who his real father was I can just about bet he would have claimed his heritage in the same mannor [sic].2

Hammock’s argument consistently hinges on the points he illustrated above. First, Hammock claims that he was not aware of his true lineage until later in his life. Second, he claims that he found a newspaper article that “proves” John Wayne was his grandfather and that this discovery was made with his brothers around a dining room table. Third, he claims that once he found proof of his lineage, he legally changed his name from Hammock to Wayne.

To date, Hammock has not been able to provide one piece of documentation supporting his claims.3

In The New Frontier John Wayne Internet Database by Bob Tuttle, Hammock set out to try to defend his claims against Tuttle’s investigations. During the online exchange, Hammock challenges Tuttle to “dig deeper” into his investigation because Tuttle, according to Hammock, was only strengthening Hammock’s argument. Still, Tuttle responded to Hammock’s claim that his father, Billy Gene Hammock was the son of John Wayne after being conceived at a party in Hickman, Kentucky and was born on February 21, 1935. Tuttle adds that the average length of human gestation is 280 days. “Counting backwards from February 21, 1935, the date of conception would be May 18, 1934,” Tuttle argues. “Of course it is possible that the actual conception date could be a couple of weeks on either side of this date, so the question here is was John Wayne in Hickman, Kentucky on May 18, 1934 or during any time within say 21 days (three weeks) on either side of that date. This gives us a target range of April 27, 1934 – June 8, 1934.”4

Tuttle continued his argument with research based on Wayne’s movements during that time. Tuttle’s research concluded that Wayne was bogged down with a heavy film schedule in the Alabama Hills near Lone Pine, California and the General Grant National Forest near Fresno from November, 1933 to December, 1934. Looking specifically at the time in question where Wayne may have been in Kentucky, Wayne filmed Randy Rides Alone from April 21, 1934 to May 1, 1934; Star Packer from May 8, 1934 to the end of May or beginning of June, 1934; The Trail Beyond which began filming at the beginning of June, 1934 and was still filming on June 21, 1934. Tuttle’s research also revealed that in May, 1934 Wayne signed an eight-picture deal with Monogram Studios immediately after he wrapped Star Packer and after signing the deal made his way to the General Grant National Forest to resume filming.5

In the exchange with Tuttle, Hammock argued that “It only took a little over a week to film one of those movies.” However, Tuttle responded with research that proved many of the film schedules overlapped and “He [Hammock] doesn’t take into account that not only did it clearly take longer than just a little over a week to film one [movie], they were often filmed back to back and with overlapping filming schedules. This allowed for more films to be made in the same space of time.”6

Hammock further argues that Wayne could have traveled the 2,000 miles from Lone Pine, California to Hickman, Kentucky to attend the party and travel back to his filming commitments in the span of one day. While this likely cannot be proven either way, it is highly improbable for today or 1934.7

Part of Hammock’s argument also rests on his belief that the Dr. John C. Morrison, the man who delivered his father, was directly related to Wayne by utilizing the Morrison family connection and claiming Morrison was the reason Wayne travel to Kentucky in the first place. However, Tuttle refutes this by stating emphatically that Morrison was in no way related to Wayne through his genealogical research.8

Wayne continued his argument on Tuttle’s blog by stating he had “dug deeper” and acquired DNA evidence in November, 2012 to support his claim and that both Wayne’s daughter Aissa Wayne and Wayne’s longtime friend and frequent co-star Maureen O’Hara had personally spoken to Wayne and had expressed their desire for Wayne to be included in the family.9

After reaching out to Aissa Wayne for a statement on Wayne, I received the following response via e-mail on June 18, 2015 which was also copied to Brian Downes of the John Wayne Birthplace Museum. “I can tell you he [Hammock] is not a family member. (He may be suffering The Bruce Jenner syndrome.)”10

While I was unsuccessful in reaching Maureen O’Hara, through Tuttle, I was told that through his personal correspondence that an O’Hara representative refutes Hammock’s claims.11

Still, as the John Wayne’s family denies his lineal claims so does Hammock’s own. Ann Hayden, Hammock’s aunt who currently resides in Tennessee said he had “Lost his mind.” In a telephone interview with Hayden and her brother, Robert Dale Hammock on July 2, 2015, the two explained that lies and deceit are the Modus operandi for Hammock. “Years and years ago before this whole John Wayne thing started he was apparently related to Mark Twain,” Hayden said. “But I can tell you 100 percent that he is not related to Mark Twain, John Wayne or anyone else.”

Robert Hammock was slightly more colorful in his explanation. “I am tired of him dragging my momma’s name through the mud. If you [Terry Hammock] don’t want to be a part of this family, then get the hell out.”

Both Hayden and Hammock echoed that Terry Hammock had attempted to sell his story to them and the rest of the family, but most were skeptical. “The way I understand it is way back when he was starting out in writing someone stopped him in the airport and told him he looked like John Wayne,” Robert Hammock said. “From that point on I think he had just sold himself.” Hayden added that the story about Hammock sitting around the dining room table with his brothers and finding out the secret information about his family is such was also a lie. “That never happened.

His brothers, John and William, are embarrassed by him and I can assure you his mother did not have any affair with John Wayne.”12

Also on July 2, the author received a statement from Amy Shepherd of Wayne Enterprises in Newport Beach, California. “Please note that there is no relation between Terry Hammock and the John Wayne Family.”13

While it seems that Hammock’s claims to be directly descended from John Wayne are entirely bogus, Hammock has also promoted himself as a legitimate historian. To date, Hammock has only published fiction books, however, in February, 2015 in anticipation of a Civil War lecture event at the Swift College Museum in Rogersville, Tennessee, Hammock was billed as, “Author, historian John T. Wayne” who “As the grandson of the legendary actor of the same name, John T. Wayne has carved a niche for himself as an author and Civil War Historian… A former U.S. Marine and a grandson of actor, John Wayne, Wayne’s foray into writing began with a series of books that sheds light on a subject that is buried in the annals of American History – children who became orphans as a result of the Civil War.”14

The event was later cancelled.

In June, 2015 the Shannon County Museum in Eminence, Missouri promoted Wayne as “[The] author of numerous books on the Civil War and Old West. The books focus on the orphans created by the Civil War, without which we could not have cowboys today. The Gaslight Boys series pays homage to the orphans who grew up on the streets under the gaslights in downtown St. Louis during and after the war. These children grew up to become the cowboys, children such as Judge Isaac Parker, Wyatt Earp, Wild Bill and Nat Love.”15

Even Hammock gets in to the fracas by erroneously stating on his now expired website that, “In the 150 years since the endo of the war, no one has written about the orphans which were created, those same orphans became the Cowboys. Prior to the war the term Cowboy did not exist in America. It was used in Ireland in 1070 A.D. for one summer.”16

Until Hammock comes forward and produces the evidence he claims to have, it can be assumed that he is in no way a living relative, legitimate or otherwise, of John Wayne. Hammock is not the first person to try to bank on a celebrity’s name nor will he be the last, but as Hammock continues to convince those around him that he is the grandson of John Wayne, his claims will persist. As we sort through the statements made by the Hammock and Wayne families, it appears that Hammock may truly believe his claims despite ironically stating, “I love the south, a man can still get away with telling the truth in the south.”17

Footnotes / Sources:

1. Wayne explains this in two YouTube videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gj8xWHRh2hY and: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NI832gPicEg as well as a brief explanation on his Amazon author page.

2. John T. Wayne Amazon author page, http://www.amazon.com/Ole-Slantface-Gaslight-Boys-Series/dp/1479760684/ref=pd_sim_14_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=1BSRKE21AW91VBQBWNH2. Accessed July 5, 2015.

3. Personal Correspondence with John Wayne researcher Bob Tuttle: June-July, 2015.

4. Terry Hammock Stands By His Claim. http://dukefanclub.weebly.com/blog.terry-hammock-stands-by-his-claim. Published December 23, 2014.

5. Ibid.

6. Ibid.

7. Ibid.

8. Ibid. (In an undated obituary ((printed sometime after 1958)), John C. Morrison is remembered as “[The] beloved Hickman physician” who died at Baptist Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. following a major surgery. No mention of a relation to Wayne or the Morrison family was mentioned. Author’s Collection.)

9. Ibid. No proof of these conversations exist, however, Wayne was photographed with Aissa Wayne and O’Hara in 2013 at the John Wayne Birthplace Museum in Winterset, Iowa and Wayne may base his arguments for communications with the two women from these pictures.

10. Personal correspondence with Aissa Wayne. June 18, 2015.

11. Personal correspondence with Bob Tuttle. June 17, 2015.

12. Telephone communication with Ann Hayden and Robert Dale Hammock. July 2, 2015. In a separate e-mail communication with Hayden dated June 22, 2015 she states: “He made all this up to sale [sic] his books, he has yet to provide any proof and he waited until my mother was not able to answer his so-called questions. I will say, however, before she died she still stood by [the fact] that his [Terry’s grandfather] was Victor Hammock.”

13. Personal communication with Amy Shepherd, Chief Operating Officer of John Wayne Enterprises. July 2, 2015.

14. Author, historian John T. Wayne to speak in Rogersville by Jeff Bobo. Times News, February 19, 2015.

15. Shannon County Museum Facebook page. Accessed July 5, 2015.

16. www.johntwayne.com/my-books. Accessed June 23, 2015. No clear definition exists as to what constitutes a “historian.” For full disclosure, I do not possess a history degree, but have taken great strides to publish widely on the American west with nearly 50 peer-reviewed papers and popular articles in national publications. While Hammock’s website cannot fully load due to the subscription expiring, it is apparent that Hammock is not a qualified historian.

17. Ibid.

As my readers are aware, Mr. Terry Hammock has been selling himself as the illegitimate grandson of Hollywood icon John Wayne, for some time now. One of Mr. Hammock's key selling points in the conspiratorial web he has been weaving is his claim that biological father, Billy Gene Hammock, was delivered by a local physician by the name of Dr. John C. Morrison. Hammock then connects Dr. Morrison to John Wayne by pointing out that Wayne was born Marion Robert Morrison. The implication being that since both the doctor and the actor had the same last name (Morrison), they must obviously have been related, and the good doctor must have obviously assisted in the cover-up of an illicit affair between John Wayne and Mr. Hammock's grandmother.

Although Mr. Hammock's claims have been refuted by official records, the John Wayne family, Maureen O'Hara, Rex Allen, Jr., and even Hammock's own family, he continues to promote his fictional family tree, duping dozens of unsuspecting people in the process.

In a recent email from Ms. Ann Hayden, who is Mr. Hammock's paternal aunt (a sister to Mr. Hammock's father, Billy Gene Hammock), Ms. Hayden reveals that Dr. Morrison did not, in fact, preside over the birth of Mr. Hammock's father, but rather a Dr. Baker was the attending physician. Ms. Hayden pointed out that this information came directly from her mother, Lela Clements Hammock, whom Ms. Hayden states recorded the birth dates and attending physicians name for each of her children; thus proving yet again that Mr. Hammock's claim to be the grandson of John Wayne is completely false.

Kritzerland is proud to present the world premiere of two great scores on one great CD – both starring John Wayne and both directed by John Ford!

THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE

and

DONOVAN’S REEF

Composed by Cyril Mockridge

“WHEN THE LEGEND BECOMES FACT, PRINT THE LEGEND”

In 1962, when he made The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, the legend known as John Ford was nearing the end of his long and amazing career. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance would be the first of only two films he made for Paramount Pictures. With a screenplay by James Warner Bellah and Willis Goldbeck, the film is Ford doing what Ford did best – telling a good yarn better than any other filmmaker could. He got two superstars, both of whom he’d worked with before, John Wayne and James Stewart (their first film together).

It’s no surprise that the film, which featured two of the biggest box-office stars in the world, was an immediate hit. Critic Roger Ebert wrote lovingly of the film: “The film takes place at that turning point in the West when the rule of force gave way to the rule of law, and when literacy began to gain a foothold. It asks the question: Does a man need to carry a gun in order to disagree or state an opinion? It takes place in the town of Shinbone, in an unnamed territory that is moving toward a vote on statehood. Farmers want statehood. Cattlemen do not. In a few characters and a gripping story, Ford dramatizes the debate about guns that still continues in many Western states. That he does this by mixing in history, humorous supporting characters and a poignant romance is typical; his films were complete and self-contained in a way that approaches perfection. Without ever seeming to hurry, he doesn't include a single gratuitous shot.”

Cyril J. Mockridge provided the score to The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance and a great score it is, filled with original themes as well as some source music that’s beautifully arranged into the fabric of the score. Ford asked for a nod to Alfred Newman’s “Ann Rutledge Theme” from Young Mr. Lincoln, because he felt it evoked lost love. It’s a short score, but one cannot imagine the film without it.

The following year, Ford was back with his new film, Donovan’s Reef, reuniting John Wayne with Lee Marvin. The movie is a colorful lark, but one with some serious undertones such as racial bigotry, conniving corporations and greed.

Once again, Ford used Cyril J. Mockridge for the film’s musical score. Mockridge mostly uses traditional Hawaiian music for his themes, but it all works perfectly in the film, giving it an authentic Hawaiian flavor and keeping the frolicsome nature of the film moving right along. There are also some very lovely themes as the score goes along, and it’s just a delightful pastiche for a delightful pastiche of a film.


This is the world premiere release for both The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance and Donovan’s Reef, all taken from various elements in the Paramount vaults. Some of The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance is in stereo, some in mono. All of Donovan’s Reef is in stereo. So, here are two wonderful world-premiere scores by Cyril J. Mockridge. As the Duke would say in Liberty Valance – listen up, Pilgrim.

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance/Donovan’s Reef is limited to 1000 copies only and is priced at $19.98, plus shipping. This great CD can be ordered online at: http://www.kritzerland.com/valance_donovan.htm

CDs will ship by the second week of September, but we’ve been averaging three to five weeks early in terms of shipping ahead of the official ship date.

There are a plethora of stories and articles floating around today (and have been for decades) that John Wayne was a phony. That he was rabidly anti-communist, notoriously racist, a draft dodger, homophobic and hated horses. Quite frankly, I’m tired of it. Yes, I am a huge fan of John Wayne, and admittedly biased about him in some respects. But unlike his detractors, I am not so biased as to overlook reality. Was he perfect? No, but who is? And, the claims so often spewed forth by his detractors (such as those mentioned above) are about as untrue as they can be. Now, let’s take a look at the facts.

John Wayne was rabidly anti-communist. The fact is, he wasn’t. He was anti-communism, but that is a far cry from being anti-communist. In other words, he didn’t like the communist ideology, but he didn’t automatically dislike someone simply because they were a communist. Back in the 1950’s, during what has since become known as the “McCarthy era” witch hunts, a promising young actor by the name of Larry Parks admitted under oath that he had been a member of the communist party. Parks also stated that he had renounced the communist party, but would not provide names of anyone he knew that were still members. In spite of his renouncement, calls to blacklist him rang forth throughout the conservative members of the Screen Actors Guild. Wayne, who at the time president of the Motion Picture Alliance for the Preservation of American Ideals, refused to join in. He took the stance that Larry Parks had renounced the communist party, and showed great courage in doing so. Wayne said that Parks’ refusal to name names took great courage, and he refused to call for Parks’ blacklisting. Wayne took a lot of flack for that, but he never backed down from his stand.

Marguerite Roberts who wrote the screenplay for True Grit was a blacklisted writer and a communist. When this was revealed to Wayne, there were fears that he would want her removed from the project. Those fears proved to be ungrounded. Wayne said she did a fine job, and he supported her work on True Grit. No, John Wayne was not a rabid anti-communist.

John Wayne was racist. This belief comes primarily from a statement he made during a 1971 interview with Playboy magazine when he said, “I believe in white supremacy until the blacks are educated to a point of responsibility. I don't believe in giving authority and positions of leadership and judgment to irresponsible people.” But people tend to take this statement out of context, as he also said, “we can't all of a sudden get down on our knees and turn everything over to the leadership of blacks.” Which is true, and it is not a racist statement. He believed in gradual integration, and I think an honest look at just about any black ghetto will support that view. He believed that blacks had an honest right to feel resentment toward and to dissent regarding their treatment. Hardly the view of a racist. He worked with many blacks, including Scatman Crothers and Roscoe Lee Brown, and got along quite well with them. One should also take into account that not only did he have black friends (like Sammy Davis Jr.), but he had no problem in casting blacks in his films (such as James Watkins, who played J.C. in the film McQ, and Sidney Poitier in one of his first films and cast by Wayne in a lead role), and was married to three Latin American women during his life. He did not dislike blacks for the sake of being black, and he tended to accept people based on their character rather than the color of their skin. So no, he wasn’t racist. He may have been racially insensitive from a politically correct standpoint, but he was far from racist.
It has also been surmised that John Wayne hated Native Americans. This misconception is generally based on a statement that he made during the same 1971 Playboy interview mentioned above. In that interview, Wayne said, “I don’t feel we did wrong in taking this great country away from them. Our so-called stealing of this country from them was just a matter of survival. There were great numbers of people who needed new land, and the Indians were selfishly trying to keep it for themselves.” A simple look at history will show that this very same sentiment was acted out by Native Americans themselves. Native American Indian tribes were fighting with one another long before the “white man” showed up, and it was not all that uncommon for one tribe to completely uproot another tribe. Take the Dakota Sioux, for instance. They were not always in South Dakota. Originally they came from North Central Minnesota. And what happened to the tribes they encountered in the path of their migration south? Well, they didn’t just pack up and move away, at least not completely. Many of them were slaughtered by the Sioux, and in some cases entire villages were wiped out. In other words, John Wayne was absolutely right in what he said. It was a matter of survival, just as it was practiced by North American Indian tribes for generations before “the White Man” began settling America. If he said anything wrong in that statement, it was that “the Indians were selfishly trying to keep [the land] for themselves,” because North American Indians had no concept of land ownership, and therefore really had no land to steal.

John Wayne was homophobic. This one actually surprises me a bit, as there are no quotes from either John Wayne or anyone else that support this. In fact, Rock Hudson, a known homosexual, co-starred with John Wayne in the film, The Undefeated. During the filming, Wayne knew of Hudson’s homosexuality, and not only did he still make the film, but he was friends with Hudson and did not feel that he should be ostracized for his homosexuality.

John Wayne was a draft dodger. To set the record straight, John Wayne did not “dodge the draft.” In fact, he was classified as “3-A” and he received a deferment due to his age and his dependents. Granted, he could have appealed the deferment, but he did not. And it is also important to note that he did not file for a deferment. It was Herbert Yates, the president of Republic Studios who filed (repeatedly) for a deferment, and he did not do so on behalf of Wayne. He did so in order to keep Wayne making pictures at Republic. I would also like to point out that it is incorrect to say, as some do, that Wayne “stayed behind and didn’t do his part.” The fact is, that Wayne received orders from the War Department to provide intelligence reports during his USO tours and visits to the troops near the front lines in the South Pacific, and he received two citations for his work during World War Two, one from the “War Agencies of the Government of the United States” for “Outstanding Service in World War II”; and the other from Major General William “Wild Bill” Donovan for “Honorably Serving the United States of America as a Member of The Office of Strategic Services” in 1945 (The Office of Strategic Services, or OSS, was the forerunner of the CIA). So, no, John Wayne was not a “draft dodger,” and yes, he did serve his country during World War Two.

John Wayne hated horses. After starring in more than 80 westerns, and owning a ranch, and riding a horse to school as a child, this is another hard to believe myth, and yet there are those who readily believe it. In fact, it has actually made it into print, albeit into a rather biased book titled “John Wayne’s America, the Politics of Celebrity” by Garry Wills, and reiterated by Wills during a PBS Newshour interview with him by David Gergen. Here’s a snippet:
DAVID GERGEN: And yet in the end the idea of John Wayne was really a myth. You say that he hated horses, a man--
GARRY WILLS: Hated horses. Never rode except on the set, and never rode when he didn’t have to.

Now, while it is true that Wayne once told an interviewer that he did not especially enjoy riding horses, and generally didn’t unless it was necessary, this does not mean he hated horses. Nor did it mean that he was a poor horseman as some have suggested. In fact, the reverse is true and there is ample evidence to support this. Not only can John Wayne be seen riding horses in his 80+ western films, but he can also be seen riding horses in home movies taken at his Arizona ranch. John Wayne’s son Patrick once said, ““He was a terrific horseman. In Big Jake (1971) there is a scene at the beginning when the characters are introduced. Chris Mitchum rides a motorcycle into the scene and Dad is on a horse and it rears up and throws him. Later in film there is a chase and as they are passing by a bar a guy gets thrown out into street. Dad is riding a horse and the horse gets spooked and goes sideways. Dad stayed with it and stayed in the saddle, even though it was going sideways for ten feet, just an amazing display of horsemanship. It was all caught on film, but it had to be cut because it was inconsistent with the opening scene. A guy who could ride like that could never be thrown like he was thrown in the opening scene.” (http://www.tonymedley.com/Articles/Patrick_Wayne_Reflects_on_John_Wayne_as_a_Father.htm)

In addition, although John Wayne was not a “real” cowboy (as has been pointed out by many), he was not a complete novice when it came to cowboy work. In an interview with Wayne, he once related, “I was hired on as an assistant for a George O’Brien western (I was actually hired as an actor but it was understood I would act as an Assistant – a scrounger, today they would call them a location manager). One of my jobs was to get 400 head of cattle into Blue Canyon which was 150 miles from any paved road. A preacher who had a little church on the Hopi reservation agreed to help me gather them. In gathering those cattle, we horsebacked into Monument Valley. … It was during the making of this picture, in which I was assistant as well as riding in the posse, that I personally rode through Monument Valley.” The film was 1930’s Lone Star Ranger. [Tim Lilley, The Big Trail, Vol VI, No 1, June 1989] 

What this proves is, that not only did John Wayne visit Monument Valley long before John Ford had (thus debunking the myths that Harry Goulding told Ford about the valley, or that Ford had “discovered” it), but that he was herding cattle by horseback, and if that isn’t cowboyin’ then I don’t know what is.

So he may not have been a “real” cowboy as far as his chosen career path, but he was a real cowboy in every sense of the word.

Restoration group hopes to have cottage placed on the Register of Protected Structures.

By Robert Tuttle

Over the past several years there have been many fans of the 1952 film, “The Quiet Man,” who have been hoping and praying that the iconic cottage featured in the film would someday be restored. Those who have visited the site of the actual cottage are often dismayed to find that the “wee humble cottage” known as White O'Morn is today not much more than a pile of stones overgrown with vegetation. There are those within the “cottage restoration movement” that have tried to force the owner of the property to sell the cottage (he won't), attempted to initiate compulsory purchase orders (denied by the Irish government), and preservation orders (again, denied by the Irish government). After finding themselves thwarted in their attempts to wrest control of the cottage away from the owner, they have resorted to spreading rumors that the owner promised to restore the cottage but has instead allowed it to crumble and deteriorate into a pile of rubble.

Unknown to most folks, however, is that when the current owner purchased the property, the cottage had already been reduced to ruins, and the property had long been used as a grazing area for cattle and sheep. The property had been placed up for sale, and it was only after reducing the sale price, and unable to find any other buyers, that the property was sold to Mr. Greg Ebbitt of California. That was in 1984. Mr. Ebbitt was thrilled to purchase the property as he was, and is, a long time fan of the film. He purchased the property with every intention of rebuilding the cottage, however, after several setbacks, including an inability to interest any local workmen in the project, Mr. Ebbitt was forced to shelve his plans for a restored cottage until a later date. It would appear that later date has finally come at last. Well, at least maybe.

At this time, there are two organized groups working toward the rebuilding, restoration and protection of the Quiet Man cottage. The older of the two groups, the Save The Quiet Man Cottage Facebook group was founded by Mr. Mike Ward in January 2010. This group has been working closely with the owner and the Irish government to draft a plan that will not only be agreeable to both the owner and the government, but one that will also be beneficial for both and allow fans from around the world to come and enjoy a restored cottage as well.

The second group is the White O'Morn Foundation Facebook group, which was founded a little over a year later in 2011 by Mr. Patrick McCormick. Although McCormick's group not engaged in any actual restoration efforts since their founding almost three years ago, they have recently embarked on what they believe will be a successful plan to restore the cottage. They have launched an online petition to have the cottage placed on the Register of Protected Structures by the Galway County Council. Their petition is scheduled to be presented to the council in early May. Neither McCormick nor his group have worked with the owner in their endeavor, nor have they worked with the Irish government to this end. McCormick has, however, intimated several times that his group's petition has the full support of actress Maureen O'Hara, who appeared in the iconic 1952 film.

McCormick's spokesperson and partner in this endeavor is Ms. June Parker Beck, who claims to be Maureen O'Hara's official archivist and operator of the official Maureen O'Hara website. Ms. Beck has stated that when Maureen O'Hara learned of the petition she immediately signed it. Beck quoted Miss O'Hara as saying, “If you think about Duke, John Ford and all the people who worked on the picture it is sad to see the cottage in a shambles. How can anyone say anything but wonderful things about it, and see to it that it is restored for them and in their memory – and for Ireland?” Beck went on to say regarding the petition started by McCormick and herself, “The beauty of this is that the owner does not relinquish his property, but as historical property it would then be eligible for developmental grants and funding.”

Unfortunately, however, there are other aspects of McCormick and Beck's petition that they avoid mentioning, and for good reason since they may very well result in the cottage never being restored.

Ms. Máirín Doddy, Architectural Conservation Officer for the Galway County Council, responded to a request for information regarding McCormick and Beck's petition. In her response, Ms. Doddy stated that if the Quiet Man cottage “was to be included in the Record of Protected Structures, it would be included as it currently exists.” This is important to note, because “as it currently exists” includes not only the cottage ruins, but also a decrepit 1950's-1960's era house that sits in shambles only a few meters away from the cottage on the same piece of property.

Of course, one might think that this abandoned shell of a house could simply be bulldozed and removed. But then, one would be very wrong to think so. According to a publication produced and distributed by the Galway County Council titled, “A Guide to Protected Structures in County Galway,” if a structure is restored or rebuilt, “The obligation to preserve a protected structure applies to all parts of the structure, including its interior, all land around it, and any other structures on that land. The obligation also applies to all fixtures and fittings forming part of the interior of a protected structure or of any structure on land around it.”

Did you catch the part that says “The obligation to preserve a protected structure applies to … any other structures on that land”? This means that not only will the cottage itself have to be protected and preserved, but also the monstrosity of a ruined house that is currently falling in on itself only a few meters away from the cottage.

Additionally, before the cottage and the ruined house can be rebuilt and restored (as rebuilding and restoration efforts will affect the entire property), any and all protected species such as bats and badgers, as well as habitats and micro-habitats for plants and vegetation such as lichens and moss must be protected as they may later be colonized by groups of animals, including protected species. Because the land is currently being used as a grazing area for cattle and sheep, the cottage ruins, and also the ruins of the house immediately adjacent to the cottage ruins, will have to be fenced off, and a ground maintenance regime introduced to the area. This is according to the council's publication, “Ruins - The Conservation and Repair of Masonry Ruins.”

It is also important to note that both the cottage and the abandoned house next to it, were homes. They were not film sets, they were not museums, they were not tourist attractions, they were homes. This is important because according to the Galway County Council, “Restoration of a ruin for reuse should not be undertaken lightly. … The new use should be similar or close to the original use.” The original use, of course, being a home, a private residence. Not a museum. Not an interpretive center, but a home. (See council publication, “Ruins - The Conservation and Repair of Masonry Ruins). And if the restored cottage and restored house are to made accessible to the public, before that can happen it is quite likely that Ministerial Consent will first have to be procured. Given the proclivity of the property to flood, as well as a lack of proper parking or other facilities on the property, Ministerial Consent may not be as forthcoming as some would like.

It is possible, of course, that neither McCormick nor Beck were or are aware of regulations concerning protected structures, and if such is the case then one would hope they would seek an alternative method of preserving and protecting the cottage. One that would allow the cottage to become a museum of sorts, and one that would allow fans access to it rather than simply closing it off and ensuring its sure and certain complete demise.

The Following official Galway County, Ireland publications were consulted, and will verify the above information:

Ruins - The Conservation and Repair of Masonary Ruins
Available from the Galway County Council Conservation Office
A Guide to Protected Buildings in County Galway
A Guide to Protected Structures in County Galway