Marion Robert Morrison was one of the most prominent actors of the Western film genre during a legendary career that spanned nearly five decades–a degree of longevity all but unmatched in the industry. Seldom known by his birth name, John Wayne was a virtually…

Alongside the advent of sound films in the late 1920s came the widespread popularization of the moving picture industry as a leading facet in entertainment and its allure for families across America. Peaking at nearly 70% of Americans attending cinemas on a weekly basis…