Category Archives: John Wayne

Aissa Wayne, 59, one of the Duke’s daughters and sometimes co-star, said the museum will be a tangible reminder of what her father stood for: integrity, perseverance, patriotism, freedom and, of course, good triumphing over evil.

While most kids were watching “Sesame Street” or “Dora the Explorer,” 5-year-old Ethan Pro was taking in rough and tumble westerns like “True Grit” and “The Searchers.”

Ethan, now 14, said he remembers horsing around as his dad watched old John Wayne movies on TV. Eventually, the California native put down his toys and lost himself in the rugged world of the Old West and the drawl and dress of The Duke.

“I loved how (Wayne) was always the hero and could beat any bad guy,” Ethan said. “He was tough, and a respectable man. I loved his walk, his voice, his outfits, just everything about him.”

Ethan’s interest never waned. Today, his room in Canyon County, Calif., is outfitted with all things Wayne. He draws pencil sketches of “The Duke” and, after a successful “Go Fund Me” campaign, he will attend this week’s grand opening of the new John Wayne Birthplace Museum in Winterset.

“It’s been my dream since as long as I can remember to go to the John Wayne birthplace,” Ethan said. “To me, he’s the biggest and best movie star that ever lived.”

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“Hopefully, Sean and Mary Kate’s ‘wee humble cottage’ is finally going to get the chance it so richly deserves.”

The beloved but crumbling cottage that featured in the film “The Quiet Man” is one step closer to receiving protected status.

The White O’Morn cottage in Maam, Co. Galway is one of six structures that will be listed as proposed additions to the Record of Protected Structures (RPS) by Galway County Council on April 24.

The council unanimously voted in October that Sean Thornton and Mary Kate Danaher’s cottage would be added to the RPS after a fierce campaign by activists from the White O’Morn Foundation, which include fans of the cottage from the US and Canada.

The list of proposed RPS structures will go on public display for six weeks, the Connacht Tribune reports, during which time members of the public are invited to make comments and suggestions. After this, the list will be presented to the appropriate government bodies and then the Galway County Council will hold a final vote, likely in July.

Previous reports stated that the cottage had already been added to the list of protected structures, but this will not be finalized until the final vote.

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