Listen to New Voices on Studs Terkel our partnership with 826CHI-here! Read the Story

Garry Wills discusses his book "John Wayne's America: The Politics of Celebrity"

BROADCAST: Mar. 10, 1997 | DURATION: 00:53:39

Digital audio not yet public.

Synopsis

Garry Wills, writer and historian, discusses his book "John Wayne's America: The Politics of Celebrity." He explores the popularity of John Wayne that took him from an actor and made him into an American symbol. He explores how the symbol of John Wayne is used by white male politicians to influence their decisions and how that affected the Vietnam War. Wills gives a biography of John Wayne, including the many influential people in his life such as his working partner, John Ford. The song "I Ride an Old Paint" is played at the. start and end of the interview.

Details

Broadcast Date
Mar. 10, 1997

Physical Format
1 sound tape reel (ca. 55 min.) : 10 1/2 in.

Duration
53 minutes, 39 seconds

Digital Format
WAV

Ownership
The Chicago History Museum

Language
English

Topics

Film Vietnam War

People

Actors Historians Journalists Authors, Writers Government

Tags

WFMT (Radio station : Chicago, Ill.) Wills, Garry, 1934---Interviews Wills, Garry, 1934-. John Wayne's America. Wayne, John, 1907-1979--Biography. Motion picture actors and actresses--United States--Biography. Journalists--United States--20th century--Interviews Historians--United States Radio programs. Audiotapes. Gingrich, Newt Canutt, Yakima, 1895-1986 Ford, John, 1894-1973 Frontier Wild West Hawks, Howard, 1896-1977 Nixon, Richard M, (Richard Milhous), 1913-1994 Kennedy, John F. (John Fitzgerald), 1917-1963 Manifest destiny Stagecoach (Motion picture : 1939) Rambo (film series) Dirty Harry (Motion picture : 1971) True Grit (Motion picture : 1969) Westerns American Adam Reagan, Ronald Bentley, Eric, 1916-2020

Related Programs