On Monday afternoon, Hollywood legend John Wayne’s estate once again promoted their upcoming 50th anniversary celebration of his 1971 classic western Big Jake.

Five decades ago, The Duke’s long and storied acting career was beginning to wind down as he starred in the 1971 film directed by George Sherman. Only five years later, Wayne would hang up his spurs in his final starring role in 1976’s The Shootist. It closed the book on his iconic 50-year acting career, which included features in 169 movies.

Likewise, Big Jake‘s director ended his long career behind the camera with the 1971 western. Sherman had already worked with John Wayne on multiple classic western films, but they paired up one last time. Even though critics reported mixed reviews, Big Jake raked in $7.5 million in the US alone. That may not be much by today’s standards. But for 1971, $7.5 million made it one of the most successful films of the year.

With 2021 being Big Jake‘s 50th anniversary, John Wayne’s estate has a special tribute in store. They’re reuniting some of the original cast, which includes two of The Duke’s sons – Patrick and Ethan Wayne. Patrick played James MCCandles and Ethan starred as Little Jake alongside their famous father.

In addition, another Hollywood legend Robert Mitchum’s son, Christopher Mitchum, plays the role of Michael McCandles. All three men are coming back together on Wednesday to celebrate all things Big Jake.

“Join us November 3rd for a LIVE panel celebrating the 50th anniversary of the release of Big Jake with 3 of the film’s stars; Patrick Wayne, Ethan Wayne, and Chris Mitchum! Tickets benefit the John Wayne Cancer Foundation,” John Wayne’s official account wrote.

John Wayne’s Estate Teases ‘Big Jake’ Reunion With Classic Clip of the MovieJust last week, John Wayne’s Instagram page shared another reminder of their upcoming 50th anniversary event. The account posted a classic clip from the 1971 movie as a teaser for the event.

The movie follows the McCandles family who band together to return Big Jake’s kidnapped grandson. John Wayne’s title role character is accompanied by his sons who set out to deliver the kidnappers’ ransom. Yet little do they know that the McCandles clan has no intention of actually paying the ransom without a fight.

The special event will occur in Fort Worth, Texas on Nov. 3 with a pre-reception cocktail hour. The event will also hold a live panel interview with Patrick Wayne, Ethan Wayne, and Christopher Mitchum. You can get more information and buy tickets to the 50th anniversary event here.

“‘Not hardly.’ Never underestimate Jacob McCandles… or the whole McCandles family. Join us November 3rd for the McCandles Family Reunion! A live panel featuring Patrick Wayne, Ethan Wayne, and Chris Mitchum,” John Wayne’s official Instagram account wrote.

Try as we might, it’s just not possible to perfectly encapsulate the “True Grit” of Marion Robert Morrison. Better known as John Wayne or “The Duke,” the star captivated audiences worldwide during the Golden Age in Hollywood with his Western and war portrayals. Even after his passing in ’79, his fandom continued to grow. It still spans far and wide across all generations both domestically and internationally. That becomes very apparent on one day, in particular, every year: Halloween.

The John Wayne Estate planned ahead for that this year, taking to Instagram to ask fans a favor. They encouraged anyone trying to encapsulate his likeness to share their costume to the Estate page. The reward? A chance to be featured on their Instagram page to over 200k followers. And, boy, those fans delivered this Halloween.

Young and old, furry or otherwise, here’s the result:

The Instagram page for the John Wayne Estate also shared several other contenders’ costumes to their Story. One of these includes a horse named Rooster Cogburn fit with a solid eyepatch paying homage to the ’75 flick of the same namesake.

How Much Did the Entire ‘True Grit’ Outfit Go For At an Auction a Decade Ago?

If you want to dress up in authentic John Wayne garb, it might cost you a pretty penny. Apparently, Rooster Cogburn’s full get-up went for over $160k back in 2011. Sources authenticated it as the same costume worn by John Wayne in the original ’69 film and its subsequent sequel in ’75. The films came as an adaptation of Charles Portis’ novel of the same name.

Not only was the film revered by critics, but it also led to both an Oscar and Golden Globe award as well. The John Wayne Estate put up this Golden Globe as part of their mass auction including several pieces from his iconic wardrobe.

Another Epic Tribute

While some fans like to show their support for John Wayne’s legacy through their costumes, other fans opt to show off their dedication in a more permanent way. Ben Fisher is a tattoo artist that captured a timelapse of a John Wayne piece he did for one die-hard fan a couple of years ago.

Though the fan chose to stick to black ink, the detail of the piece is immaculate. It shows off John Wayne’s gritty stare as he rocks a cowboy hat and neckerchief. It also includes the year 1926 which IMDb credits as the start of John Wayne’s career in filmography.

The video shows all aspects of the tattooing process starting with the initial sketch and placement on the client’s right forearm. Does your dedication go that far?

Check it out here:

If you decide to dress up like John Wayne for Halloween, there’s a chance you can get featured on the Instagram page for his estate.

The great John Wayne made appearances in many Western films during his time on top of Hollywood. As a matter of fact, Wayne is widely considered to be one of the most popular actors of all time. Often referred to as one of his many nicknames like “The Duke,” Wayne has played a role in more than 80 movies. However, is his best known for all of his Western and war movies.

It makes sense that people want to dress up like him for Halloween, right? It’s safe to say that hundreds of people every year get dressed up has The Duke before heading out for their Halloween festivities. That could be in the form of a kid trick-or-treating, or an adult at a Halloween party. But Wayne has fans both young and old, from every generation.

If there was ever a year to dress up like John Wayne it would be 2021. Not only can you enjoy the evening as a cowboy, but the experience could be all the more special if you get featured on the John Wayne Official Instagram page. Take a look at the post down below for instructions.

“If you’re dressing up as John Wayne this weekend, make sure to tag @johnwayneofficial and we’ll share your costume on our Stories!”

Some fans of John Wayne will no doubt dress up like him and send photos to the Instagram page. But not everyone will partake out of respect.

“I am not worthy. Nor are any others,” one fan said.

“I have too much respect,” another person commented.

It’s Easy to Put Together a John Wayne Halloween Costume

That’s right, folks — it’s probably easier than you may think to put together a rock-solid John Wayne costume for the holiday.

But what makes it able to be so easily put together? One of those reasons is the fact that he has played so many different characters throughout his illustrious career. That means that you probably even have some items available to use in your home right now.

You can come up with your own cowboy character with some of your very own clothes and props. Some of those may include things like chaps, hats, vests, cowboy boots, a duster, and a sheriff’s badge. And don’t forget to add a pair of spurs and a bandana to complete the look.

Step two? Swagger and drawl. You won’t be completely finished once you have the basics of your costume complete. After that is done, the way you make it come alive is with some of that trademark John Wayne swagger and drawl.