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Crowley book about John Wayne goes to eighth printing

PARKERSBURG — A book about John Wayne by a local author has gone into its eighth printing to mark the Duke’s 110th birthday.

Roger M. Crowley published “John Wayne – An American Legend” in 1999 for the 20th anniversary of Wayne’s death.

Wayne was an actor who appeared in many of the iconic cowboy movies from the 1940s to the 1970s, including “Stagecoach,” “Red River,” “She Wore a Yellow Ribbon,” “Fort Apache,” “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance,” “Hondo,” “True Grit” and “The Shootist.” Wayne also starred in many war movies, among those were “The Sands of Iwo Jima,” “Flying Leathernecks,” “In Harm’s Way,” “The Fighting Seabees,” “The Longest Day” and “The Green Berets.”

Wayne, born Marion Morrison on May 26, 1907, in Winterset, Iowa, died on June 11, 1979. He remains among the most popular movie stars.

“It’s amazing all the young people who grew up on John Wayne because of their parents,” said Crowley, a writer and authority on movie and TV westerns and the actors in them.

“In movie polls, he’s still in the top 10,” Crowley said.

The eighth printing of “John Wayne- An American Legend” will include additional information and photos, Crowley said. Crowley, who didn’t personally know Wayne, has met with his wife, Pilar, and sons Ethan and Michael, who died in 2003.

“I met over 40 people who worked with him,” Crowley said.

The book is the behind-the-scenes stories of Wayne’s classic westerns, Crowley said.

The locations were at Bracketville, Texas, Elgin, Old Tucson and Sedona, Ariz., Monument Valley and Moab, Utah, Santa Fe, N.M., Ridgway, Colo., Lone Pine, Calif., and Durango, Mexico.

It includes rare photos and movie posters, including from “The Big Trail” in 1930 and “The Shootist” in 1976 and stories, interviews and photos about Wayne’s co-stars, his birthplace, and commemorative memorabilia, including guns from Colt and Winchester, coins and paintings.

The cover of the book is a photo from “The Comancheros,” shot in 1961 and co-starring Stuart Whitman, Nehemiah Persoff, Lee Marvin, Michael Ansara, Bruce Cabot, Jack Elam and Edgar Buchanan.

Crowley cites a letter from the late Harry Carey Jr., who starred with Wayne in the movies, about the book when it was first published in 1999.

“It is so nice to read a book about my old friend John Wayne that doesn’t talk about his wives, health and politics,” Carey said.

The 8.5-by-11-inch book is more than 160 pages and contains more than 200 photos on glossy stock. Cost is $34.95.

While the previous printings of the book remain available on amazon.com, the latest printing is available by calling Crowley at 304 295-7239 or email him at oldwestshop@aol.com

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