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John Wayne

John Wayne’s ‘Holy Grail’ High School Yearbook Sold for More Than Fans Expected on ‘Pawn Stars’

Movie star John Wayne represented America itself for his fans, making even his high school yearbook worth something. The item in question ended up on Pawn Stars in a negotiation that left fans thinking that it wouldn’t fetch a very high price. However, they were surprised to discover that Wayne’s high school yearbook actually earned way more money than they were expecting.

John Wayne went to Glendale Union High School

John Wayne, whose yearbook was on 'Pawn Stars.' He's smiling in a black-and-white portrait image, looking to the side.John Wayne | Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Wayne was born Marion Robert Morrison in Winterset, Iowa, to parents Clyde Leonard Morrison and Mary “Molly” Alberta Brown. However, the family picked up and moved to Palmdale, California, and then again to Glendale in 1916. There, his father worked as a pharmacist.

Wayne went to Glendale Union High School, where he was an incredibly active student. He participated in extracurricular activities in addition to his academic efforts. Wayne played on the football and debate teams, served as the president of the Latin Society, and wrote for the sports column in the high school’s newspaper.

Other notable alumni include actors Terry Moore, Madeleine Stowe, and Gloria Talbott. X-Men trilogy producer Ralph Winter also attended the school, as well as Bob’s Big Boy restaurant founder Bob Wian.

A John Wayne yearbook ended up on ‘Pawn Stars’

The official Pawn Stars YouTube channel uploaded a clip from season 7, where a seller named Ken brought a 1925 senior high school yearbook that featured Wayne himself. He mentioned that he was a Western fan, but the movie star himself never appealed to him, so he wanted to make some extra cash to go on a vacation.

Ken bought Wayne’s senior high school yearbook for only $1, but he was asking for $1,500 from the pawn shop to make a significant profit. He flipped to the page that featured the actor’s class photo, as well as photographs depicting him playing football.

Pawn Stars‘ Corey Harrison explained in a confessional that the yearbook’s value dropped significantly without having a signature. He offered Ken $750, noting that he had a Ronald Reagan yearbook before that was a hard sell.

Ken managed to talk Corey up to $800, which they agreed on.

Multiple YouTube comments called the Wayne senior yearbook “the holy grail of high school yearbooks. However, some of them were still surprised to see it go for $800, considering that it was only an old yearbook without a signature.

Where did John Wayne go to college?

After Wayne was plastered throughout his high school yearbook, he applied to the U.S. Naval Academy to pursue his dream career that he didn’t tell very many people about. Instead, he went to the University of Southern California (USC) to major in pre-law with a football scholarship.

Unfortunately, a broken collarbone injury from a bodysurfing accident resulted in the end of his football career. As a result, he lost his athletic scholarship and had to leave the university.

Wayne went to work in the props department at Fox, which is where he met a future frequent collaborator in John Ford. His movie career solidified him as one of Hollywood’s biggest stars of all time.

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!

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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.

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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.

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