This Week in the West: John Wayne

🤠 This Week in the West 🎙️ Episode 32: John Wayne

📢 Episode Summary: This week’s episode of This Week in The West rides into history with the larger-than-life story of John Wayne and his special connection to the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. We take listeners back to 1965, when "The Duke" led a grand opening parade through downtown Oklahoma City, drawing a crowd of more than 100,000. Riding atop a white horse, Wayne thrilled fans, embodying the spirit of the American West as only he could.

The podcast retraces Wayne’s journey from a small-town Iowa boy to one of Hollywood’s most enduring icons. From his early struggles in the film industry to his legendary roles and deep involvement with the museum, the episode paints a rich portrait of a man whose legacy still looms large in Western culture. With stories of family connections, iconic film props and a donation that became a cornerstone of the museum's collection, this is a must-listen for any fan of Wayne and Western heritage.

🔍 What You’ll Learn:

• How John Wayne helped open the National Cowboy Museum in 1965 and the unforgettable parade that marked its grand opening.
• A brief overview of Wayne’s rise to stardom and why he became a symbol of American masculinity
• The story behind Wayne’s remarkable donation to the museum, including personal artifacts from his films and life

👥 Behind the Scenes Host: Seth Spillman Producer: Chase Spivey Writer: Mike Koehler

🔗 Further research:

• Official Website of John Wayne: https://www.johnwayne.com/
• Timeline of John Wayne’s life: https://www.johnwayne.com/about/john-waynes-life/
• Explore the archives and history of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/drc/

📬 Connect With Us: 🌐 Website: www.nationalcowboymuseum.org 📖 Read Our Blog: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/blog/ 📩 Email: [e-mail] 📲Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/ncwhm/ 📷Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nationalcowboymuseum ❎X/Twitter: https://x.com/ncwhm 💼LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-cowboy-&-western-heritage-museum

🗺️ Visit Us: The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd Street, Oklahoma City, OK, 73111. See us on the map

💡 Support Us:🏅Become A Member of the Museum: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/support/memberships/ 🛒Shop at Persimmon Hill, our Museum store: https://persimmonhillstore.com/

🎧 Listen & Subscribe: 🔹 Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-the-west/id1776228708 🔹 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2KYmd2BumVtQVH1ez1Cr2U 🔹YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFoE2kU21JpX9T6W9NonXuD9UapS1TsmN 🔹Podbean: https://thi