John Wayne

John Wayne Once Settled a Men’s Bathroom Fight With Arm Wrestling

John Wayne had iconic fight sequences on the silver screen that revolutionized fist throwing in cinema. However, he also had some hilarious stories involving his run-ins with other folks he didn’t agree with. Wayne once arm-wrestled with another man to settle a fight in the men’s bathroom of a casino.

John Wayne ‘kept the lid on’ his temperament

John Wayne as Colonel Cord McNally | CBS via Getty Images

Scott Eyman’s John Wayne: The Life and Legend uncovers many aspects of the actor’s life, including his fights. However, they didn’t all necessarily get physical. He had a good relationship with fellow actor Katharine Hepburn, but they also had differences in how they interacted with others.

“Wayne was amused by Hepburn’s temperament, but he himself was much milder—unless the subject was politics,” Eyman wrote. “When it came to the public he always kept the lid on. Because of his image, drunks or belligerents would frequently challenge him to fights, which he always managed to avoid.”

John Wayne once settled a men’s bathroom fight in a casino with arm wrestling

John Wayne: The Life and Legend includes a conversation with a stuntman and second unit director named Ray Kellogg. He went with Wayne to a casino on Catalina. However, the night had a sudden change when a man standing next to them in the men’s room suddenly said, “I’ll can your a**.” Kellogg initially said that the man would have to go through him first, but he wouldn’t stop trying to get at the actor.

Wayne finally interjected: “You probably could knock me on my a**; I can see you’re a real tough mother. I’ll tell you what we’ll do. We’ll arm wrestle. How about that? We’ll arm wrestle first, see who’s stronger.”

The man in the bathroom agreed to arm wrestle Wayne instead of fight. They tipped a wastebasket over to act as the table. However, they didn’t realize that the wastebasket was rusty and their elbows ripped right through the bottom of it and their arms got stuck. Kellogg had to pry some of the metal loose for them to free their arms.

This settled their fight and the man offered to buy Wayne a drink to conclude their fight and the actor accepted his offer.

The actor had a complicated payroll

Wayne had plenty of other fights that didn’t include physical altercations. He co-founded Batjac Productions, which was an independent film production company. However, he had a lot of difficulties on the back-end, which he used as a vehicle to produce and star in movies.

According to Eyman, Jack Warner of Warner Bros. told Wayne to bring Batjac back to the studio and said, “You should be here, where you can be f***ed by friends.”

All of the Batjac employees had to earn their positions other than his brother, Bob. However, Wayne only allowed this because of their mother, Mary Morrison. He always tried to improve their relationship, but he couldn’t do anything to change that.

John Wayne

The Legend Lives On: John Wayne is Still Alive!

In a world where legends never fade, we can’t help but wonder: what if John Wayne, the iconic figure of American cinema, is still with us in spirit? The Duke, known for his larger-than-life roles and undeniable charisma, continues to inspire generations.

From his unforgettable performances in classics like “True Grit” and “The Searchers” to his indomitable spirit, Wayne’s essence is woven into the fabric of Hollywood and American culture. His rugged persona, moral fortitude, and unwavering courage resonate deeply, reminding us of the values he embodied.

While we may not see him on the silver screen today, Wayne’s legacy lives on through the countless actors he inspired and the stories he helped tell. His films are timeless, bringing joy and adventure to audiences around the world.

So, as we celebrate the enduring impact of John Wayne, let’s keep his spirit alive in our hearts. Whether you’re watching one of his classics or sharing a favorite quote, remember that the legend of John Wayne will never truly die. Here’s to the Duke—forever a part of our cinematic history!

John Wayne

Why John Wayne Turned Down the Chance to Work With Clint Eastwood

Clint Eastwood and John Wayne are the two biggest legends in the history of Western movies, however, they never worked together. The duo did have the opportunity to work together once in the 1970s. Here’s why the film never came to fruition.

How John Wayne responded when Clint Eastwood tried to work with him

Firstly, a little background. According to the book John Wayne: The Life and Legend, it all starts with Larry Cohen. Though Cohen is not a widely known director like Steven Spielberg or Quentin Tarantino, he’s a huge name to fans of B movies. He directed famous B movies like The Stuff, Q: The Winged Serpent, It’s Alive, and God Told Me To. He also wrote a script called The Hostiles shortly after Eastwood released his classic High Plains Drifter.

The Hostiles was about a gambler who wins half of an estate of an older man. The gambler and the older man have to work together despite the fact that they don’t like each other. Eastwood optioned the screenplay with the intent of playing the gambler alongside Wayne as the older man.

Eastwood sent a copy of the script of The Hostiles to Wayne. Although Eastwood felt the script was imperfect, he saw its potential. However, Wayne was not interested. Eastwood pitched the film to Wayne a second time and Wayne responded with a letter. Wayne’s letter complained about High Plains Drifter. Wayne was offended by the film and its portrayal of the Old West as a cruel, violent place.

John Wayne

Ann-Margret Refused to Call John Wayne ‘Duke’ While Introducing 1 of His Movies

Ann-Margret once starred in one of John Wayne’s lesser-known movies. However, she refused to call him by his popular moniker Duke. Here’s a look at the film they made together — and why she declined to call him by a nickname.

The one time Ann-Margret and John Wayne made a movie together

Ann-Margret is probably most known for her work in musicals, specifically Bye Bye Birdie, Viva Las Vegas, and The Who’s Tommy. However, she also dabbled in the Western genre. She starred alongside Wayne in the mostly forgotten movie The Train Robbers.

Wayne was also known as The Duke or just Duke. According to USA Today, the nickname was derived from his childhood dog. It stuck with him for many years. It continues to be used today — even on the box covers of the DVDs for his movies.

John Wayne | Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images

During an interview with Interview Magazine, Ann-Margret explained why she didn’t refer to the Rio Bravo star by this famous name. “When I came to this country, first of all, mother and I didn’t know English,” she said. “I would curtsey, then say, ‘Thank you,’ and then when I was leaving, curtsey. For example, we went to Dallas to introduce a film I did with John Wayne. And I never called him Duke. I just couldn’t. That’s the way I was raised. When you meet someone, you say either Mr. or Mrs. or Miss. You stand up.”

Ann-Margret revealed she treated other famous people in much the same way. For example, she worked with director George Sidney on Bye Bye Birdie and Viva Las Vegas. She always called him Mr. Sidney.

What Ann-Margret thought about John Wayne

Ann-Margret refused to use Wayne’s most famous moniker. However, she had a positive view of the actor. During an interview with Fox News, she was asked what she expected when she met Wayne. “Oh, I didn’t know what to expect,” she revealed. “But when he hugged me, it’s like the world was hugging me. He was so big and wide with that booming voice.

“We were shooting in Durango, Mexico and my parents came down to visit me,” she added. “He was so great with my parents. So absolutely welcoming and gentle with them. And anybody who was great to my parents was on a throne in my eyes.”

How the world reacted to ‘The Train Robbers’

Wayne starred in many classic Westerns, including The Searchers, Stagecoach, and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. However, The Train Robbers is mostly forgotten. It didn’t gain a cult following like Once Upon a Time in the West or Dead Man. It wasn’t a critical success either, garnering a 33% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, Ann-Margret had some fond memories of making the film — even if she refused to call Wayne by his famous nickname.