Ouray, Colorado ~ Julie Lence

John Wayne's Hat, courtesy Julie Lence

 On Colorado’s western slope lies the small town of Ouray. Most John Wayne buffs know Ouray and it’s surrounding areas is where True Git was filmed. On Ouray’s main street is The Outlaw, a small steakhouse the Duke frequented while filming the movie. He gifted The Outlaw the hat he wore in the movie and the owners proudly keep it on display above the bar.

courtesy Julie Lence

  A handful of miles north of Ouray is Ridgeway. This small town is home to a few more scenes from the movie and The True Grit Café, another eatery the Duke frequented. Inside The True Grit, some of the walls are lined with John Wayne and True Grit movie memorabilia. 

West of Ridgeway, the highway snakes west as it climbs in elevation, leading to the Last Dollar Ranch; a sprawling working ranch with spectacular views. Not too far past The Last Dollar Ranch is the home featured in the opening and closing scenes of True Grit (and is for sale), and past that, one can turn off the main road onto a narrow trail through and around Aspen trees that lead to the famed ski resort of Telluride, Colorado. (Hubby and I did this drive in the fall and it’s beautiful! The scenery is breathtaking, and there’s something so peaceful and humbling about stopping beneath a grove, rolling down a window and just listening to the soft rustle of leaves.)   

courtesy City of Ouray

  Though this area is perfect for John Wayne buffs (myself included), Ouray boasts other claims to fame. Sitting at 7,800 ft. in a mountain valley, the jagged rock formations on either side reaching upward between 12,000 and 13,000 feet, Ouray is nicknamed Switzerland of America. At the north end of town are the hot springs. The Million Dollar Highway is at the southern end; a paved road leading to Silverton and Durango that takes travelers over 14,000+ foot mountains. Due to its sharp switchbacks, The Million Dollar Highway is considered one of the most dangerous roads in America and one the most scenic. Ouray is also home to many creeks in and around town. 

courtesy of Julie Lence

Gold was discovered in the area in the 1870’s, hence the formation of Ouray, Silverton, Telluride and nearby Lake City as mining communities. Once not too popular in tourism, today, these four towns are crowded with people who enjoy hiking, camping, 4-wheeling and sight-seeing, and with several mountain ranges, trails and ghost towns, there is a lot to see in and around Ouray.   

If you like to get out and explore old western towns, or nature, I highly recommend Ouray. It's a quaint little town with plenty of restaurants, shops, and small hotels. The people are friendly and the scenery is breathtaking. Getting to Colorado's western slope is easy by car. If you prefer to fly, Ouray and Telluride both have very small airports. Most aircraft in and out of these towns are private planes. Up the road from Ouray is Montrose with a somewhat bigger airport, but I would check to see if commercial airlines fly in and out of there. Grand Junction is about 1 hour north of Montrose and has a bigger airport with commercial flights. The two days hubby and I spent in Ouray was perfect for driving the backgrounds and dining at the above mentioned restaurants. We skipped the Million Dollar Highway as I have been over it and didn't care to do it again, but to see or do everything, as the Black Canyon of Gunnison (think mini Grand Canyon) isn't too far away and well worth seeing, you may want stay 3-4 days in Ouray. It's an area I highly recommend, especially in the fall when the Aspens are changing color, as in the photo below. 

courtesy Julie Lence

      

      

    

Great Lines from the Westerns

By Alison Bruce

This is just a sampling of great movie western lines. I would be up all night digging them all up and I can't do that two nights in a row. Now, if you'd like to share some of your favorite quotes in the comments, I reckon I'd be right grateful.

"They're making me run. I've never run from anybody before."
Will Kane, High Noon (1952)

In some ways, High Noon is the Hamlet of westerns. It has been quoted, excerpted and paid homage to so many times, you don't have to watch the movie to recognize it.

Jake Cutter: It would break my heart if I had to put a bullet in your back.
Paul Regret: It would make me sad also.
Comancheros (1961)

Comancheros is one of my all time favorite John Wayne movies largely because of the banter between the two main characters.

“You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig.”
The Man with No Name, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. (1966)

"Is that a ten-gallon hat, or are you just enjoying the show?"
Lili Von Shtupp, Blazing Saddles (1974)

What can I say? I love Madeline Kahn and Blazing Saddles. (I've been known to sing "I'm Tired" in the shower.)

"I've made over 250 pictures and have never shot a guy in the back. Change it."
John Wayne when filming his last movie The Shootist (1976)

Not a movie line but so characteristic of The Duke that I couldn't resist including it.

"We'll give you a fair trial... Followed by a first class hangin'."
Sheriff Cobb, Silverado (1985)

It came a big shock to me when I discovered that Silverado was a bona fide western and not a spoof. The trailers made it seem more like a comedy, perhaps because most movie-goers hadn't seen a real western in years.

“It's a hell of a thing, killing a man. Take away all he's got and all he's ever gonna have.”
Will Munny, Unforgiven (1992)

“You must pay for everything in this world, one way and another. There is nothing free except the grace of God.”
Mattie Ross, True Grit (2010)

Anna: You're a good sheep farmer!
Albert: Oh my god, please! I suck at sheep. Louise was right, I can't keep track of them. There was a sheep in the whorehouse the last week.
Anna: Really?
Albert: Yeah. Wandered in there, and then when I went to pick it up, somehow it had made 20 dollars.
A Million Ways to Die in the West (2014)

What are your favorite lines? 

Western Birthday Buddies

Today I’m sharing my birthday with two famous people – Davy Crockett and Maureen O’Hara.

Both were not born in the American West, like me, but ended up living in the west – Davy in Texas, Maureen in California (unlike me, but I might end up out there at some point!) Both were pretty famous, unlike me. My claim to fame is meeting famous people like the actor Wes Studi and novelists Nora Roberts (romance), David Morrell (Rambo action/adventures) and Loren Estleman (mystery/westerns).

Oldest first -- David Crockett. was born on August 17, 1786 (only 200+ years before me) in Greene County, Tennessee (only three states away from Michigan), the fifth of nine kids (I’m the 4^th of six kids). Parents John and Rebecca Hawkins Crockett no doubt had a log cabin and lived off the land. I’ve always been fascinated by log cabins, but enjoyed my parents’ suburban house.

David (not Davy -- Crockett was always known by his full Christian name) learned to shoot at eight years old and only attended school for four days. He was a born woodsman. He married at 20 years old, and Mary Finley gave him two sons and a daughter. After Mary’s death, David wed Elizabeth Patton, who gave him two more children. He then became a scout during the War of 1812, and participated in a massacre on the Cree Indians in retaliation for an attack on Fort Mims, Alabama. Whoa! We really *do* have a connection, even though it might be a branch of my husband's family.

Once he returned home to Tennessee, David served as a member of the State House of Representatives from 1821 until 1823. He also won a seat in the U.S. Congress in 1826. His reputation and folk legend status may have ballooned during elections due to his “backwoods oratory” style -- and comic illustrations portrayed him in that coonskin cap. After his defeat in 1833, David grew tired of politics and decided to join the fight for Texas independence. Crockett was killed on March 6, 1836, at the Alamo in San Antonio. I remember watching native Texan Fess Parker on the Disney channel and enjoyed the episodes, even if they were based on the legends. He sort of *looks* like legendary "Davy" Crockett. Sort of. 

Now let’s get to another birthday buddy of mine. Maureen FitzSimons was born on August 17, 1920 (eight years before my own mom) in Ranelagh, Ireland (I wish! I'd love to visit the Emerald Isle), the second of six children. Her father worked as a businessman and her mother was an actress and opera singer. Good genes clearly passed from mother to daughter (just like my mom’s artistic gene passed to me). After her debut as Esmeralda in The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Maureen’s early career focused on swashbuckling films like Jamaica Inn, The Spanish Main, The Black Swan and Sinbad the Sailor, plus How Green Was My Valley and the holiday classic Miracle on 34th Street.

Maureen starred with John Wayne in The Quiet Man, set in Ireland (my favorite wanna-vacation-there-spot). She also appeared in the westerns Buffalo Bill, The Redhead From Wyoming, Rio Grande, McClintock! and Big Jake. Maureen was well-known for portraying a strong-willed heroine. Sound familiar? Yep, my heroine, Lily Granville of DoubleCrossing, is strong-willed but also independent. Lily may not have fiery red hair, green eyes, and a peaches and cream complexion, but Maureen O’Hara certainly had some influence on her characterization.

<------ To the left is the silent film actress Mary Miles Minter, whose ethereal look is perfect for Lily.  To the right is Duke (John Wayne) and Maureen O'Hara in the western film and comedy McClintock!  --------->

Ace Diamond might not take Lily over his knee, but she will definitely give him a run for his money in Double Crossing's sequel! Keep an eye out for Double or Nothing later this year.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Maureen, and many more to you, too! I'll raise a cupcake in your honor.
--Check out a few of the 5-star reviews on Meg Mims' website!

Spurring Me On ... To Keep Writing

I learned over a month ago that my “blended genre” novel, a historical western suspense published in August of 2011, Double Crossing, *WON* the 2012 Spur Award for Best First Novel from the Western Writers of America.  SAY WHAT?

Once I verified it wasn’t a joke, I felt very honored and blessed. Like someone said, “You’ll always have the Spur.” Thanks to Jacquie Rogers, I know more about real spurs and how they were used in the Old West. Back when I started promoting my book, I posted this quote on my website from Louis L’Amour. It seemed appropriate in my case. 

“If you write a book about a bygone period that lies east of the Mississippi River, then it’s a historical novel. If it’s west of the Mississippi, it’s a western, a different category. There’s no sense to it.”

Did I set out to write a “western” in the typical sense? No. In fact, I didn’t even think about it being a western. Historical, yes. Suspense, yes. Even a hint of romance and inspirational, yes. Oh, and since the “setting” moves across America via the transcontinental railroad from Evanston (north of Chicago) to Sacramento, California, I still didn’t consider it “western” except in the setting and details.

Sure I entered the Spur contest, but I figured my chances equaled a snowball’s chance in H-E-double hockey sticks. Life is full of surprises! Not only has the award fired me up for the sequel, Double or Nothing, I'm thinking I need to write a few more western-style yarns. But I have plenty on my tin plate right now. So in Albuquerque, I’ll mingle and “jingle” Spurs with other finalists and winners at the WWA Convention. And lo and behold, this year Loren Estleman is being honored with the Owen Wister Award for “lifelong contributions to the history and legends of the American West.” Say what?? Another Michigander?

My first thought was, “He wrote westerns?” (Please forgive my being a total igno-ra-moose.) Long ago I read his novel, Billy Gashade, set in Detroit – fabulous in its historical detail. Estleman is prolific in writing about Detroit, with his Amos Walker detective mystery series (among other books.)

But westerns?

You learn something every day. And you bet I've trawled his whole back list. I bought several to get his autograph, too, for myself, family and friends. I also found out one of the “bennies” of winning a Spur was automatically jumping to active status in the Western Writers of America – after joining, of course, which I did. Once I got the “booklet” they sent, I looked through it (being a total greenhorn) and realized as a Spur winner, I’m joining esteemed company. Me?

First, a bit of history. WWA came about in 1953. They started handing out awards right away. The first woman to win the “Medicine Pipe Bearer Award” for best first novel was Charlotte Hinger for Come Spring in 1986. The following year Elaine Long won for Jenny’s Mountain, and Ann Gabriel in 1989 for South Texas. Then came a dry spell (mostly men winning or no winner chosen) until 1996 when Allana Martin won for Death of a Healing Woman. In 1998, LaVerne Harrell Clark won for Keepers of the Earth and in 2003, Debra Magpie Earling won for Perma Red. Except for Clark, all had Big Six publishing houses.

The Medicine Pipe Bearer Award was changed to a Spur for Best First Novel in 2004. Carol Buchanan won for God’s Thunderbolt: The Vigilantes of Montana in 2009. Now I’ve joined the ranks of other Best First Novel Spur Ladies. Not to knock the men who’ve deservedly won a Spur for their first novel, but I'm grateful. Seriously.

Now for the mixed Spur Award company—any type of Spur. Imagine my shock when I read names like Louis L’Amour (Down the Long Hills), Larry McMurtry (Lonesome Dove, Comanche Moon), Loren Estleman (Aces and Eights, Journey of the Dead, The Alchemist, The Bandit and The Undertaker’s Wife), Tony Hillerman (Skinwalker, The Shape Shifter), Joan Lowery Nixon (The Orphan Train, In the Face of Danger),Stephen Ambrose (Undaunted Courage, a non-fiction historical), Ronald L. Davis (Duke: The Life and Image of John Wayne), Michael Landon (a Little House on the Prairie TV script), TV scripts for How the West Was Won, plus a Lancer episode and several for Gunsmoke, and movie scripts such as The Shootist, Dances with Wolves, Sommersby, Wyatt Earp, Comes a Horseman, The Grey Fox, Broken Trail, Unforgiven, Purgatory, Hidalgo and… last but not least, True Grit by the Coen brothers! 

Wow.

No wonder I’m still a bit “cowed” by it all. (Sorry for the pun!) I have seen almost all of these movies and a huge amount of television westerns. As an armchair westerner, I feel very lax for not reading many books in the western genre – and admit that I had the mistaken belief, like many have about romance being for women, that westerns are primarily written for MEN. (Er, hide that horsewhip!) I’m making up for it now. I promise.

And, as my dad would tell me, “Get off your high horse!” No resting on the laurels for the weary, and I’m sure people are heartily sick of hearing about my award. But I must admit that winning has “spurred” me on to write the sequel, Double or Nothing, with a little more hope. Better sales, if nothing else, and I’d like to explore real-life characters in the Old West for future western novels, short stories and blog posts.

Next month, I’ll bring some interesting tidbit of research to match the excellent past posts here (trains, the Nez Perce, western romance books, guns, cowboys, brands and house cleaning) on the blog.

There’s stories in them there hills, so I’ll mosey along and start digging.

You never know when or how the next inspiration will hit.

The Day John Wayne Walked Into the Living Room

Sandra and Harry were the perfect couple people always said.

They did everything together, but in the 39th year of marriage, they began drifting apart. On the outside they seemed the same. A bit more gray brushed Harry’s hair and Sandra was a little plumper. Maybe Sandra’s eyes, blue as the water off the shore of the island of Aruba where they’d spent their honeymoon, didn’t have the spark or shine they once had. Occasionally restlessness roamed Harry’s face, and his eyes pleaded like a reluctant racehorse being led into the gate by his trainer. Only good friends could catch these subtle changes.

Little things started keeping them apart. On TV Harry loved hockey and the Western channel. Sandra lived for romance and teen-age sitcoms. Harry’s obsession with westerns crept into their life until the sights and sounds of westerns on TV filled their home – 24/7. Sandra tried to watch them with Harry in an effort to capture the magic they had once had, but the relentless black and white monotony and the tedious music accompanying them caused her eyes to droop and she’d be asleep in a minute. Harry would turn to share the latest exploit of his favorite character and find her snoring softly.

One evening Sandra sat on their blue and white striped sofa and prepared to share Harry’s enthusiasm for westerns. His eyes glittered like the first time he had seen Sandra when he talked about his favorite subject. Sandra wanted to see those glittering eyes again, so she tried to keep her eyes open. They shut anyway. She heard the sound of the TV. Harry began describing the events on the screen, but Sandra couldn’t hear him. She had drifted off on the music of the opening titles.

In a few minutes, though, Sandra awoke still sitting on her blue and white striped sofa. Startled, she looked toward the door. It swayed open as if by force and behind the door standing in the deepening twilight against the varied pastels of the setting sun was John Wayne decked out in his boots and spurs all 6’4” of him lurching toward her with his cowboy hat set rakishly at an angle above his familiar rugged face. Too startled to move, Sandra stared at him as he entered her living room. She turned to tell Harry, thinking this was the oddest and yet, most amazing thing that had ever happened to her, but he had disappeared. She was alone. Strangely, the TV was off.

“Hello Pilgrim, I mean hello little lady,” John Wayne said as he entered tipping his hat when he realized it was a woman to whom he was speaking. Sandra stared at him without recognition. Then gradually her eyes widened and her mouth formed an O.

“Oh my God, it’s you. Oh, my God, Harry, Harry, come quick. It’s,it’s, oh my God, it’s John Wayne. Harry where are you?”

Where could Harry have gone? Sandra called his name, but he didn’t answer.

“Harry, where are you? You’ll never believe who just came into our house. Come on get out here. You’re going to be so sorry you missed him.” Sandra was starting to sound desperate, because she didn’t know where Harry could be. He always answered when she called him. “Harry, this isn’t funny. One minute you’re on the sofa watching your western and the next minute I wake up and you’re gone leaving no note, no message. Harry answer me. HARRY, ANSWER ME!!!” Sandra’s voice became a high-pitched shriek. Harry hadn’t answered her at all. John Wayne was in her living room and Harry couldn’t share this moment.  But she had very little time to think about this. She had to find Harry.

Sandra started walking around her house. She shouted upstairs, no Harry. Walking upstairs, she found her bedroom empty. She walked outside, maybe he was talking to the neighbors, no Harry. She went back into her own living room and John Wayne was still there, now sitting on her blue and white striped sofa twiddling his hat between his hands like she’d seen him do so many times on film. She took a deep breath and walked over to the sofa. She must be dreaming. This couldn’t be real. She held out her hands moving them until they barely touched John Wayne. She poked his arm with her index finger.

Immediately Sandra’s hand was slapped away as if it were an insect on his arm.

“What are you doing? I’ve drawn on men for less than that.” John Wayne looked like he was going to draw one of the guns in his holster.

Shaking and with a red face Sandra said, “ I’m so sorry, Mr. Wayne. I was checking to see if you are real. I thought this might be a dream. But I’m forgetting my manners. Welcome to my house, Mr. Wayne.”

“It’s a pleasure to be here ma’am. “ He took her hand and smiled. “No harm done.”

Sandra flushed with pleasure.

“You live here all alone? A good-looking woman like you? I’m surprised.” John Wayne continued smiling and lurched off the sofa.

“Not exactly. I am married to Harry, but he’s not here now. I’m sure he’ll be back soon. Did you know you’re his favorite actor? He loves watching westerns and he’s always reciting things you did in your movies. “ Sandra couldn’t sit and she started pacing up and down in front of him. “Harry’s going to be so mad that he missed you. That is if he doesn’t get back here in time.”

“Well young lady I’m not even sure why I’m here.” John Wayne looked around with a puzzled expression on his weathered face.

Sandra thought back to what she knew about John Wayne and realized he had died years ago. Was she dead too? Maybe that’s why Harry wasn’t there. She was dead. She was in heaven. But this was her house. Why would she still be in her house? Also, she was suddenly very hungry. Did dead people eat? This was getting too odd.

“Mr. Wayne, I hate to bring this up, but aren’t you dead? “ John Wayne didn’t blink an eyelash.

“You’re right about that, little lady. I’ve known for quite some time.”

“So am I dead too?” Sandra waited holding her breath for the answer.

“Naw, you’re not dead. Actually this isn’t even happening. That’s why Harry isn’t here.”

Sandra’s eyes widened. “But what are you doing here? I mean I’ve always liked you. Never can forget that scene in that movie you did. What was the name? Can’t remember it, when you took the reins of your horse in your teeth and rode with a rifle and your six gun blasting the bad guys.”

“’True Grit’, one of my favorites.” John Wayne sat back against the cushions with his arms out and a faraway expression in his eyes.

The room started spinning like she was being whirled in a mixer and suddenly Sandra was standing at the doorway in a flannel nightgown watching herself speaking to John Wayne.

I’m dreaming. She said to herself. That’s why I’m in two places at once. I’ll wake up and bam, this whole scene will be gone. The Sandra at the door watched the first Sandra and the discussion.

“Like I told you before, my husband is a big fan of yours.” The first Sandra was getting into the whole discussion. Her face was flushed and her words were coming quickly. “You know when my little girl was an infant, Harry put her between his shoulder and the crook of his elbow. She was so small she fit perfectly. He told her she needed to be tough like you. He looked into her eyes and said, ‘Be like John Wayne and you won’t go wrong in life.’”

Sandra had tears in her eyes when she remembered how long ago that was. Harry had all his hair then. Her daughter was married now and had her own little girl. Unfortunately, she had never liked westerns either.

“Well, little lady,” John Wayne began.

 Sandra interrupted, “Call me Sandra. I feel like I know you.”

“Well, Sandy, “ John Wayne looked at her with a question in his eyes. “ Can I call you that?”

Sandra nodded her head. She hated the nickname, but this was John Wayne. Who could say no to him?

Sandra felt a force emanating from John Wayne as powerful as an electric current. Somehow that current surged into her and she realized it made her feel alive like when she was a young girl and saw her crush in the hallway at school - a quick zap of electricity that changed her day and left her smiling.

A sudden epiphany clutched her. She knew why John Wayne had come here. His purpose unfolded itself like her fans that hung all over the house, spreading wide and revealing its true nature.

Sandra leaped off the blue and white striped sofa and came back with two glasses of iced tea for both of them.  The second Sandra at the door watched as John Wayne gulped his down in one swallow.

“Mr. Wayne,” John Wayne interrupted, “Call me John.”

“Mr. Wa…John, could you answer a question for me?”

John Wayne put his glass down and leaned toward Sandra, “Sure if I can.”

“What’s so great about westerns?” Sandra took a sip from her glass and leaned back to hear the answer.

John Wayne leaped off the sofa and started pacing the room lurching back and forth muttering to himself. “What’s so great about Westerns?” over and over.

The second Sandra standing at the door listened closely. 

The first Sandra nervous that she’d upset something major looked alarmed. “You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.”

“No.” John Wayne came up to her and sat on the coffee table facing her. “It’ll be my pleasure to answer you. Hard, though to put into words.” John Wayne continued, “A western is a fight between good and bad. Bad guys hurt good, weaker ones, so you start to care about the poor victims. But the good guys fight back and sometimes get others to help them. No matter how strong the bad guys are the good guys always win.” John Wayne stopped and beamed at Sandra.

A light came on in the first Sandra’s eyes, and she started bumping up and down on the sofa. “I get it. The good guy always wins no matter the odds. It’s the winning that he likes.”

The Sandra at the door jumped up and down too. She’d found out why Harry liked westerns and couldn’t wait to tell him herself.

Meanwhile, the first Sandra hugged John Wayne, but as soon as she did she realized her arms were empty. He’d vanished. So did the first Sandra and her living room, and she found herself in bed in her flannel nightgown.  Not daring to open her eyes she moved her hand over to Harry’s place. She felt the familiar bumps of his sleeping face and breathed a sigh of relief. It was only a dream!

Harry had fallen asleep with the TV on and a ‘30s black and white western was on the tube. A guy in a white hat was being chased by three guys with guns, and he was turning around in his saddle and shooting back at them.

Sandra smiled and closed her eyes. She’d tell Harry the story in the morning. But right now she couldn’t sleep. Who was the guy? Why were they chasing him? She opened her eyes.


If I Could Be Like Jennifer Taylor - available from MuseItUp Publishing, Amazon, Kindle, Nook.

Barbara's Meanderings
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Red River Writers Live Tales from the Pages
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I'd Be Duchess to "The Duke" Any Day!

Do you have a favorite cowboy?  For those who don't enjoy the western genre, I imagine men who rode the range, chased the bad buys and worked on ranches conjure up images that don't convey any type of romantic notion. Not so for me.  I have an all-time favorite, and even though he's been dead for years, he still lives on in the magic of movies, and in my mind, as I put his face on most of my heroes.


  Honestly though, when you watch my favorite guy, John Wayne, do you ever notice anything besides his sexy swagger and confidence?  To me, he remains the ultimate image of the old west...feared by men and loved by women.  I still remember him storming through the muddy streets in North to Alaska (1960), chasing Capucine, and even though the script dictated she run, I think I wouldn't have.  :)

And how masterful and sexy was he was in McClintock (1963)?   John Wayne starred as a hunky cattleman who found his life suddenly complicated by the arrival of estranged wife Maureen O'Hara.  He always starred with some of Hollywood's finest females, and Maureen O'Hara had parts in many of his films.  In my opinion, they made a stunning duo, and I think she added a lot to Rio Grande made in 1950.

Another favorite of mine, Chisum (1970) was set in 1878 with JW again starring as a cattle king.  I don't think the man made a bad movie, and not all of them were westerns.  He was equally as stunning in war movies, but this blog is called Cowboy Kisses.  *lol*

 Whether you're watching his movies made in the 40s or enjoying Rio Lobo, made in 1975,  John Wayne had swagger.  You can't deny that. Even in one of his last films, True Grit, where he played craggy old Rooster Cogburn, the man still made my heart go pitter patter.

Through the magic of movies and books, we never have to picture a sweaty, ugly fella in a hat, rather we can let our imaginations run wild and put John Wayne's face and attitude on any hero we want.  I mourned the passing of Marion Mitchell Morrison on June 11, 1979.  I'm pretty certain he never would have made such a splash under his real name, but he certainly claimed my heart as The Duke!  Who's your favorite cowboy?


Note:  Thanks to http://www.moviesunlimited for the pictures I 'borrowed.'