You're right Stan. We didn't care what he did. We went to see him anyway. We had a theater in the neighborhood where I grew up. Most of the time, we didn't know what was playing, we just showed up on Saturday. When a western or most importantly a John Wayne western was playing, we rounded up the entire gang and sat through 2 or 3 runs. We liked to see the good guy win. Isn't that what it was all about when we were young? Not so much now. I saw many of his war movies but they were sort of like watching reruns of conversations when there were family get togethers with my Uncles and others talking of their experiences in "The War". As I got older, and listened more, I did grow to understand they were special, but westerns were the escape we all could take from the movie and play after we got home. If Frankie Lane sang the song, or John Wayne was in the movie, most of us were happy. I still enjoy watching them even though they're 'reruns' into the 100th time. Hubby's got to watch his westerns and they are better than much of what is on the tube today. The best part, for me, is there's at least a little bit of truth in them that I've been able to get my kids and grands to pay attention to and at least picture what I'm talking about. They know the Alamo, and they know of the Chisum Trail. Somehow they've been removed from modern history books.

My Mom's cousin married a guy who was in the Navy here during WWII. They went to California and he was in the movie business. Actually his name is in the credits for the Gilligan's Island reruns. Anyway, the first thing our son asked him when he was here years ago was "Do you know John Wayne?". He did. That's all son needed to decide he was ok.

Another actor who married a local lady starred in High Chapperell (never could spell that thorny stuff). I was in Jr High with his son, Billy Erickson.

Pam