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John Wayne

Luster Bayless, Man Behind Some of John Wayne’s Most Iconic Movie Looks, Dies at 84

Luster Bayless was a pioneer in costuming, especially Western costuming. He dressed John Wayne for a handful of films, including “McLintock!,” “True Grit,” and “The Shootist.” He worked with John Ford, Robert Stevenson, Francis Ford Coppola, and Hal Needham. Bayless died in his home in Canyon Country, California on Friday of natural causes that were brought on by dementia. He was 84.

He was a Mississippi native, born in Sunflower County on October 26, 1937, and hitchhiked to Hollywood when he was a young man. In 1977, he launched his own costuming company, called American Costume Co. It now goes by the name United*American Costume. His company was the first non-studio, independent company to supply wardrobe and crew for a studio film. Notably, Luster Bayless picked out the iconic Stetson that Robert Duvall wore in “Lonesome Dove.”

Bayless’ company began with “The Sacketts,” which starred Sam Elliott, Tom Selleck, and Jeff Osterhage. This 1979 miniseries but Bayless on the map of Western costuming, and opened doors for American Costume Co. The company provided wardrobe for films and series from 1980 with its first feature “Tom Horn,” to the present with the 2020 “Perry Mason” series on HBO. It supplied wardrobe for “Back to the Future,” “Titanic,” and “Django Unchained,” to name a few.

In 1959, Luster Bayless was hired by Western Costume, and worked on several Disney films. When he worked with John Wayne for the first time on “McLintock!,” Bayless recalled in 2013 that Wayne told him, “‘Look, I want you to do all my movies.’ I said, ‘OK, let’s go for it.’ He said, ‘I’ve got six of them lined up right now.’”

Luster Bayless: Western Wardrobe Wizard

Bayless worked with John Wayne on “True Grit,” “The Undefeated,” “Chisum,” “Rio Lobo,” “Big Jake,” “The Cowboys,” “Cahill U.S. Marshal,” “The Train Robbers,” “McQ,” “Rooster Cogburn,” “Brannigan,” and “The Shootist,” from 1963 until Wayne made his final film in 1976.

Luster Bayless knew that the most important part of a wardrobe was the hat. He told WLBT in 2015 that the hat was the most important “‘Cause this is what you’re shooting at right here, you know,” he said. John Wayne clued him into this fact when he said, according to Bayless, “You give me the hat and I’ll figure out what’s underneath it.” Bayless said he “threw a bunch of [hats] down on the floor, and [John Wayne] picked up the one that he liked.” He didn’t really dress John Wayne; “He dressed himself,” Bayless said.

Luster Bayless received a lifetime achievement award from the Motion Picture Costumers group in 2013. In 2018, he received the Costume Designers Guild’s Legacy Award. He also operated the Hollywood Movie Costume Museum in his hometown of Ruleville, Mississippi.

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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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