The most startling aspect of the event was that my husband now wants to watch The Quiet Man! He mentioned to two friends I was at the John Wayne birthday celebration, and one told him The Quiet Man was his late mother's favorite film (his mom had passed away just last week)
and the other one started going on and on about what a great film The Quiet Man was. So now my husband, who up to now has shown no interest in John Wayne or John Ford (he knows Maureen O'Hara from Miracle on 34th Street) wants to see The Quiet Man. In fact, he even watched Rio Grande with me last night as it was John Wayne's and Maureen O'Hara's first film together and Ford had to make it in order for Republic to finance The Quiet Man.
He liked it -- can't wait to see how he reacts to The Quiet Man. ;).
Congrats, Paula--looks like you've swung another person over to the Wayne side. Did he come with you to the Birthday Celebration? If not, he may join you next time!