May 26, 1907 - June 11, 1979 
A handful of actors from the past can be considered icons of the American screen. John Wayne may top that list. At 6’4” with a propensity to wear lifts in his later movies to compensate for weight gain, he loomed bigger than life. Regardless of what you feel about his politics or even his acting talent, he was an instantly recognizable as the ultimate personification of an uncomplicated American patriotism. According to several sources, Wayne's fame reached far and wide. Nikita Khrushchev turned out to be a big fan and demanded to meet him, having watched the Duke’s films in as unlikely a place as the Kremlin. It is said that the Communist leader told the star that Stalin had a bounty on his head, but that he as the new head of the Communist state had removed it. Emperor Hirohito of Japan visited the United States in 1975 anxious to see two things, Disneyland and John Wayne.
John Wayne has been immortalized on stamps and both lionized and satirized in song. But in commemoration of his 100th birthday anniversary, the library recently purchased a set of recently released DVD versions of his movies. And naturally, we have many more on both VHS and DVD format.
I have a simple question for today. Name a younger modern actor who you feel will someday reach the iconic stature of John Wayne? A star who will be known by a simple nickname and recognized world over for more than his latest exploits. Love him or leave him, there was only one Duke.