On This Day

Hi

On this day 8th Junr

27 years ago the actor and stuntman Chuck Roberson died aged 69, wehen working on the set he brought his grandson to see him, after watching a scene the lad turned to John Wayne and asked him what he did. Generously Wayne replied that he stood in for his grandfather on close ups.

82 years ago the actor Myron Healey was born, he appeared in Wake of the Red Witch and Rio Bravo

87 years ago Robert Preston was born he was in How The West Was Won

93 years ago in German the actor Henry Brandon was born, he played Chief Scar in The Searchers.

26 years ago John Wayne was in hospital and drifting in and out of a comatose state. During the day he was visited by his former secretary Mary St John by now the Duke was resigned to his imminent death and the couple discussed it. Mary quoted the following vesrse from the Rubayat of Omar Khayyam

['Strange is not? that of the myriads who
Before us passed the door of Darkness through,
Not one returns to tell us of the road,
Which he discovers we must travel through.
From John Wayne American

The Duke seemed to take great comfort from the verse.

Regards

Arthur

Hi

On this day 9th June

115 years ago the actor Harry Gribbon was born he played a doorman in Baby Face.

61 years ago Brigid Bazlan born. She appeared in only five pictures including How The West Was Won

36 years ago Abdullah died, aged 80, you might say who? but he appeared in I Cover The War his only film.

26 years ago John Wayne spent the day flitting in and out of a coma. At some time during this day he reputedly converted to catholicism.

Regards

Arthur

Hi

On this day 10th June

72 years ago His private Secretary was released in the United States

38 years ago the actor Spencer Tracy died aged 66, although John Wayne wanted to appear with him but never did, and his face never appeared on screen in a John Wayne movie, never the less he s one of the many who featured in How The West Was Won, in the pivotal role of the narrator.

61 years ago the actor Lew Kelly died aged 64.

26 years ago

John Wayne spent his last full day in a coma, his time was drawing to its inevitable conclusion.

Regards

Arthur

Hi

On this day 11th June

39 years ago the actor Wallace Ford died aged 68

86 years ago the actor Richard Todd was born

35 years ago the actor Frank Silveria died

50 years ago the actor Walter Hampden died

73 years ago the actress Jean Arthur married Frank Ross.

26 years ago John Wayne, after spending the majority of the day in a coma woke briefly he said a few words to Pat Stacey, before going back into the sleep from which he never recovered. At 5.23 pm he died and was declared officially deceased at 5.30pm.

Regards

Arthur

Hi

On This Day 12th June

30 years ago the film Brannigan was released in the UK

[Brannigan approaches a motorcyclist who has just thrown a bag in the Thames]
Brannigan: Can you swim?
Motorcyclist: Yes.
Brannigan: Go get it!
[pushes motorcyclist into the river [I]

42 years ago The film Donovan's Reef was released in the United States

Gilhooley about to throw bottle during fight]
Michael Patrick 'Guns' Donovan: Not the brandy, you dope!
Thomas Aloysius 'Boats' Gilhooley: [puts bottle carefully down on bar] Sorry!

26 years ago
As the news of John's death reverberated throughout the world preparations were being put in hand for his funeral. The Olympic torch above the Los Angeles Coliseum was lit in his honour and would remain lit until Duke's funeral

Regards

Arthur

Hi Ethan

Thanks for the kind words I like to think that this is a free for all thread and I can learn the same as everyone else. perhaps someone will post with a fact that will make me say well I'll be blowed I didn't know that.

Kind Regards

Arthur

Hi

On this day 13th June

87 years ago Ben Johnson was Born

105 years ago the actor Ian Hunter was born he appeared in the Long Voyage Home.

111 years ago the director Tay Garnett was born

Regards

Arthur

Hi Hondo

Duke's funeral was tomorrow (the 15th) Like the family then, I'm now preparing a piece hopefully to add a bit of solemnity to the occasion.

However thats for the future.

On this day 14th June

43 years ago The |Man Who Shot Liberty Valance was released in Argentina

72 years ago The life of Jimmy Dolan was released in the US

89 years ago the actress Dorothy McGuire was born she was in the Greatest Story Ever Told playingt the Virgin Mary.

35 years ago the cinematographer William Daniels died aged 68 Known as Garbos favourite cinematographer he also film Bardelays the Magnificent.

8 years ago the actor Richard Jaeckel died aged 70. Among the many films he made was Sands of Iwo Jima.

Regards

Arthur

Hi

On this day 15th June

69 years ago Winds of the Wasteland was released in the US
63 years ago the film Reap the Wild Wind was released in the UK
43 years ago The Spoilers was re-released in Finland (It had originally been released on the 18th March 1945)
75 years ago Rough Romance was released in the US
140 years ago the actor Burr Caruth was born, he appeared in Overland Stage Raiders
67 years ago the actor Jorge Rivero was born he appeared in Rio Lobo
21 years ago the actor Ned Glass died aged 78 he was in Trouble Along The Way
56 years ago the actor Ben Carter died he was in Reap the Wild Wind

John Wayne's funeral took place.

At 5.45 a.m John Wayne’s coffin was carried out of Our Lady Queen of Angels parish church Newport Beach. Archbishop McGrath conducted the mass. Afterwards the funeral party made its way to the Pacific View Memorial Park in Newport Beach. Besides the family in attendance were Dukes closest friends Chuck Iverson, Arturo McGowan and and Alice and Louis Johnson the owners of the Arizona ranch.

‘ When I’ve quit this mortal shore,
And mosey around the place no more.
Please don’t weep don’t sigh don’t sob,
I may have struck a better job.
Don’t go and buy a large bouquet,
For which you find it hard to pay.
Don’t mope around and feel all blue,
I may be better off than you.
Don’t tell the folks I was a saint,
Or any old thing that I aint.
If you have jam like that to spread,
Please pass it out before I’m dead.
If you have roses bless your soul,
Just pin one in my button hole.
While I’m alive and well today
Don’t wait until I’ve passed away.’
George Frank Lawson

With thanks to William T Brooks.

Two graves had been dug and following the funeral both were filled in and the flowers covering Dukes grave were moved to the other grave to deter any interference.

There has been much debate about the decision to bury John Wayne rather than adhere to his wishes to be cremated. In 'Duke the Life and Times of John Wayne the authors quote that Duke expressed a desire to be cremated and have his ashes scattered over the Pacific. Pilar Wayne was shocked when he was buried.
The facts are that Duke left no instructions in his will regarding his death.
Other evidence to support Michael Wayne’s decision to opt for a burial rather than a cremation, can be found in Pat Stacey’s book when she quotes that on February 22nd 1977 she accompanied Duke to Andy Devine’s Memorial Service which was held at the Pacific View Memorial Park . On page 102 she quotes'

Quote

‘As we walked up the hill with its breathtaking view of the bay, Duke said, “When my time comes, this is where I plan to be”’.

Five years after John Wayne’s death when ‘Duke the Life and Times of John Wayne’ was written the book ends with the following

‘

Quote

His burial was puzzling too. Duke hated funerals and found burial rights ‘ medieval and primitive’ when he was in his mid sixties, he said, “I’d prefer to be cremated – anything rather than be buried in a box. He also talked of having his ashes strewn in the sea between Newport Beach and Catalina Island. He made no such provision in his will however, and today he lies buried in a box overlooking the sea’

….What happened to the body on that June morning is academic. John Wayne’s grave is now marked and can now be visited. Marion Michael Morrison lies in a grave overlooking his beloved Pacific Ocean but to many people the world over John Wayne is alive and is still a major part of their everyday lives

Do not stand at my grave and weep:
I am not there I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glint on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the mornings hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush,
Of quiet birds in circling flight,
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there, I did not die.

Regards

Arthur

Hi

Thanks to everyone who said they thought the piece was worthwhile.

On this day 16th June

25 years ago Bob Nolan died aged 72 he was one of the lead members of the Sons of the Pioneers

117 years ago the actor William B Davidson was born he as in They Were xpendable.

112 years ago te actor Philo McCullough was born. Thje original Tarzan he appeared as the outlaw chief in The lawless nineties

32 years ago the actress Vera Ralston married Charles de Alva.

Regards

Arthur