Howdy, all!
I've been splitting my time between here and a new place I've found, the McCandles Texas forum on Yahoo. I read the following and thought you might find it interesting - I know I learned a few things I hadn't known before. "Sheriff" Art is answering a question about the Duke's chess playing.
Yes the Duke played chess and to quote one friend, "Chess was his one true passion outside of his love for his country". The Duke always had a travel chess set that he carried with him at all times. He also owned several very elaborate sets which he kept at his offices, homes and on board his yacht. In fact Otto Preminger commented on how surprised he and the other members to the cast and crew of "In Harms Way" were to find out that the Duke was a very intelligent man who was an excellent chess player. On the set between takes, Wayne would seek out someone to challenge him to a game. The truth is that this was his pattern during his
entire career. He would relax during breaks by playing chess. If he found out that a member of the cast or crew was good he would try to ensure that they would be a part of his next film so he would have a least one
person to play with. The Duke himself was considered an expert player. Some people find it hard to fit the Duke's chess playing into his image of the great American tough guy. But you have to remember that Wayne
graduated from high schools with honors and was an "A" student during his college career even though he was there on a football scholarship. John Wayne was a very well educated man. To quote the Duke, "When I
first started making westerns they had to teach me to say 'Ain't'."
Cheers!
Chester
