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Lot 211
A Maureen O'Hara group of correspondence from and about John Wayne
29 November 2016, 12:00 EST
New YorkSold for US$1,125 inc. premium
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A Maureen O'Hara group of correspondence from and about John Wayne
Four typed letters signed from John Wayne to O'Hara (signed "Duke" and "Pat and Duke"), two signed ("John Wayne") in black marker, 1977-1978, with transmittal envelopes stapled to letters; approx. 9 pp of additional correspondence regarding Wayne from various parties including a typed letter from Sen. Barry Goldwater, signed ("Barry") in blue ink; with materials related to Wayne's Congressional Gold Medal; three 8 x 10 color photographs of O'Hara, Elizabeth Taylor, and others speaking to Congress; one 8 x 10 in color photograph of John Wayne with others, circa 1970s, with related correspondence; also a DGA program, Six Pioneers, from a screening of How Green Was My Valley (1941), 4 pp, October 7, 1972, signed on first page by John Wayne, John Ford, Walter Pidgeon, Anna Lee, Roddy McDowall, and Philip Dunne in felt-tip marker and pen, stapled; with a file of clippings regarding John Wayne, housed in a manila folder.
John Wayne was undoubtedly Maureen O'Hara's key leading man; their friendship abided from their first film collaboration, John Ford's Rio Grande (1950), until Wayne's death in June, 1979. Wayne's deep affection for O'Hara is obvious from the warm kidding in their correspondence. In a letter on Wayne's stationery, dated December 27, 1977, Wayne thanks O'Hara and her aviator husband, Charles Blair, for a recent visit to their Virgin Islands home: "Excalibur III looks like it's held up by more than a string. Maureen, I notice it is made for solo flights. Who holds the first trans-Atlantic speed divorce record? You better get up and get his breakfast once in a while." In a February 24, 1978, letter from Wayne to O'Hara and Blair, Wayne explains that he has suggested to a Senator that Blair advise him on a specific aeronautical development. Wayne writes, "Sorry to drop this in your lap, but my memory and knowledge of the suggested proposal are dimmed by many a sunrise of both time and tequila." There are also two form letters from Wayne: an invitation for O'Hara to come participate in a Variety Clubs International salute to Elizabeth Taylor; and a request from Wayne for donations to a Mexican children's charity. Both are signed ("John Wayne") in black marker, but these signatures may be preprinted.
In 1979, knowing that Wayne's death was imminent, Sen. Barry Goldwater pushed through legislation to give Wayne a Congressional Gold Medal, a rare honor. O'Hara and others implored a Senate Subcommittee to grant Wayne the medal. They succeeded and Wayne received the medal shortly before his death. In an April 1980 letter, Sen. Goldwater writes to O'Hara, in part: "It was a beautiful tribute to one of America's most loved citizens, and thank you again for being a part of this effort." In other correspondence, Pat Stacy, Wayne's companion in his final years, writes to O'Hara on January 13, 1982, explaining that she is writing a book on Wayne and requesting photographs of Wayne's Virgin Islands visit; this letter is stapled to a carbon copy of O'Hara's reply, agreeing to help, dated April 29, 1982, and a draft of that letter. In the typed draft, O'Hara wrote a heartfelt passage about Wayne which she later deleted: "We shared two, never to be born again, men during that wonderful time. When I lost Charlie [Blair] first, and then Duke, I thought my world had ended too. Pat, it is not necessary for people to communicate with each other every minute of the day. It is only necessary to know that that friend is there always. Duke loved me and I loved Duke because we knew that that [sic] friendship and that loyalty to each other was always there, to be called upon in time of need, to let gather interest in time of no need," and she scratched out the last line, "I would like to offer you that same friendship," then wrote underneath the passage, "Not sent."
John Wayne was undoubtedly Maureen O'Hara's key leading man; their friendship abided from their first film collaboration, John Ford's Rio Grande (1950), until Wayne's death in June, 1979. Wayne's deep affection for O'Hara is obvious from the warm kidding in their correspondence. In a letter on Wayne's stationery, dated December 27, 1977, Wayne thanks O'Hara and her aviator husband, Charles Blair, for a recent visit to their Virgin Islands home: "Excalibur III looks like it's held up by more than a string. Maureen, I notice it is made for solo flights. Who holds the first trans-Atlantic speed divorce record? You better get up and get his breakfast once in a while." In a February 24, 1978, letter from Wayne to O'Hara and Blair, Wayne explains that he has suggested to a Senator that Blair advise him on a specific aeronautical development. Wayne writes, "Sorry to drop this in your lap, but my memory and knowledge of the suggested proposal are dimmed by many a sunrise of both time and tequila." There are also two form letters from Wayne: an invitation for O'Hara to come participate in a Variety Clubs International salute to Elizabeth Taylor; and a request from Wayne for donations to a Mexican children's charity. Both are signed ("John Wayne") in black marker, but these signatures may be preprinted.
In 1979, knowing that Wayne's death was imminent, Sen. Barry Goldwater pushed through legislation to give Wayne a Congressional Gold Medal, a rare honor. O'Hara and others implored a Senate Subcommittee to grant Wayne the medal. They succeeded and Wayne received the medal shortly before his death. In an April 1980 letter, Sen. Goldwater writes to O'Hara, in part: "It was a beautiful tribute to one of America's most loved citizens, and thank you again for being a part of this effort." In other correspondence, Pat Stacy, Wayne's companion in his final years, writes to O'Hara on January 13, 1982, explaining that she is writing a book on Wayne and requesting photographs of Wayne's Virgin Islands visit; this letter is stapled to a carbon copy of O'Hara's reply, agreeing to help, dated April 29, 1982, and a draft of that letter. In the typed draft, O'Hara wrote a heartfelt passage about Wayne which she later deleted: "We shared two, never to be born again, men during that wonderful time. When I lost Charlie [Blair] first, and then Duke, I thought my world had ended too. Pat, it is not necessary for people to communicate with each other every minute of the day. It is only necessary to know that that friend is there always. Duke loved me and I loved Duke because we knew that that [sic] friendship and that loyalty to each other was always there, to be called upon in time of need, to let gather interest in time of no need," and she scratched out the last line, "I would like to offer you that same friendship," then wrote underneath the passage, "Not sent."