Seeing Stars: Where the Stars are Immortalized

There's a giant bronze statue of John Wayne in front of the building at 8484 Wilshire Boulevard - at the southwest corner of Wilshire & Hamiliton - in Beverly Hills. The larger-than-life image of "The Duke" is clad in his traditional cowboy garb, and sits astride a horse. This used to be the Great Western Bank tower, when Wayne was a spokesman for the bank. Then it became the headquarters of Larry Flynt, the publisher of "Hustler" magazine. (Somehow, we don't think the Duke would approve...) The city of Newport Beach, where Wayne lived, has offered to relocate the statue to that Orange County city, but so far those plans are on hold... Flynt sold the building in 2013.

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THE JOHN WAYNE MEMORIAL STATUE:  Another larger-than-life statue of "The Duke" can be found in the main terminal of the John Wayne Airport, in Irvine (about 10 miles southeast of Disneyland). Formerly called the Orange County Airport, the airfield was renamed in memory of the actor shortly after his death. The large bronze statue is a fine likeness, capturing Wayne in mid-stride of his famous swagger, decked out in his Western duds, his right hand hovering over his six-shooter. The Orange County location is an appropriate one, since John Wayne called nearby Newport Beach home, and he is also buried there.





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