Known as “The Duke”, John Wayne made his first appearance in this world on May 26, 1907. His parents, Clyde Leonard and Mary Alberta Brown Morrison, named their first-born child Marion Robert. When his younger brother was born in 1911, his parents decided to name him Robert. Thus, they changed Marion’s middle name to Michael.
The Morrison family moved to the Mojave Desert in southern California in 1911, after Clyde was diagnosed with a lung condition. Although the pharmacist-by-trade fancied himself a rancher, he was a poor manager and the family ranch failed. They moved to Glendale, California shortly thereafter. Still, the family was never well-to-do by any stretch of one’s imagination. Marion and Robert grew up poor, but proud.
Marion delivered medicines for his father and newspapers, to supplement the family’s income. He was frequently accompanied by his dog, Duke. Because they were basically inseparable, his neighbors in Glendale began referring to them as “Little Duke” and “Big Duke”. Marion liked the name Duke so much better than his given name that he adopted it as his nickname. It stayed with him for the rest of his life. He joked throughout his life that he was named after a dog.
Marion quickly developed a reputation as a hard worker and he excelled academically, as well as being a star player on his Glendale High School football team. When he graduated from high school, he applied to the U.S. Naval Academy. While he was almost accepted there, his bid ultimately failed. However the University of Southern California at Los Angeles recruited him on a football scholarship. His budding career as a professional athlete was cut short following a swimming accident at a local beach. He lost his scholarship and had to leave USC because he lacked the funds to continue his education there.
During his time at college, he had been working around the local film studios in L.A. Tom Mix, a famous Western film star at that time, got him a summer job at a props department in exchange for USC Trojan football tickets. Marion quickly made friends with the legendary director John Ford and started doing bit parts in films for him in 1928. In a film called “Maker of Men”, he was one of the featured football players and was billed as Marion Morrison. He went on to do bit parts in about 70 films, none of which were particularly notable. During those films he was billed by different screen names including Marion Duke, Duke Morrison and a couple of others.
He continued to work as a prop man until his first starring role in a 1930s film called “The Big Trail”. The director of that film gave him his stage name, Anthony Wayne, named for the famous general, “Mad” Anthony Wayne. However, the studio did not particularly like the connotations connected with that name and changed his first name to John. The newly named John Wayne went from making $35 weekly to an astounding $75 weekly! Quite an accomplishment for that day and age. And a huge amount of money to someone who grew up poor.
The first movie in which he had a starring role was a flop. But, he began establishing his credentials and reputation as an actor from that point forward. His appearance in the epic Western “Stagecoach” in 1939 brought him to the forefront as a true “star”. He never forgot his roots in the industry, though. From 1928 - when John Ford gave him his first bit part - until 1963, he appeared in over 20 of Mr. Ford’s films, usually for much less that the going rate at the time. These included such classics as “Stagecoach”, “She Wore a Yellow Ribbon” (1949) and “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance” (1962). The last film listed there also starred another well - known and established actor, James “Jimmy” Stewart.
The Duke’s career spanned almost 250 films and five decades. He also did a radio serial program, from 1942 to 1943, called “The Three Sheets to the Wind”. He became involved in film industry politics in 1944 when he helped to organize and charter the Motion Picture Alliance for the Preservation of American Ideals (MPAPAI). This was a right - wing political organization and Mr. Wayne eventually became its President for two terms. He quickly became known as an ultra - conservative. This was strongly affirmed in 1960 when he produced, directed and starred in the epic film “The Alamo”. And his patriotism was even more profoundly evident with another epic in which he co - directed and starred, “The Green Berets” (1968), the only film during that time which positively portrayed the Vietnamese Conflict.
Quite possibly one of his best known characters, for which he won the “Best Actor” Oscar (Academy Award) in 1969, was “Rooster Cogburn” - a crusty, grouchy, one-eyed, aging lawman - in “True Grit”. There are those who say that the award was given in recognition of his forty years as an actor, rather than his actual performance in the film. Nontheless, this role was the embodiment of the real person behind the role and not to be denied as a fine blending of Mr. Wayne and the character.
John Wayne remained a lifelong friend to John Ford and they made numerous voyages together in Ford’s yacht along with actor Ward Bond. Apparently, Mr. Wayne and Mr. Bond were drinking buddies and loved to play practical jokes on one another. One log entry made by Mr. Ford noted, in polite terms, that the “First Mate” (Wayne) had used Mr. Bond’s whiskey flask to relieve his bladder. While it was not revealed as to whether or not Mr. Bond was enlightened to this fact, Mr. Ford obviously appreciated the gesture enough to make a note to himself to give John Wayne a raise.
Mr. Wayne’s sense of humor was brought to public attention more blatantly when he agreed to appear on “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In”, on national television, dressed in a pink bunny suit. He could laugh at himself yet come across confident and secure in his acting roles and as a champion of worthwhile causes and endeavors. He embodied true patriotism and belief in America and the sense of values which he felt her citizens should be proud to embrace and accept as normal. He scoffed that there were those who called him a “superpatriot” for what he considered to be the way that all Americans should live and present themselves to the rest of the world. Just imagine what his thoughts would have been when 9/11 occurred!
…to be continued. Look for Part 2 - John Wayne - “The Duke”.
Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Entertainment
