The 4th Annual John Wayne Film Festival set Dallas abuzz September 24th through 27th, keeping the legendary film star’s legacy alive by supporting the fight against cancer. The talent and charisma that John Wayne embodied was represented all about town through the presence of Wayne family members, including Patrick Wayne, Melinda Wayne-Munoz, Ethan Wayne, Marisa Wayne, Anita Swift, Jennifer Wayne, and Matthew Munoz. The festival kicked off on Thursday, September 24th, with the Wayne family and Festival Chairs Kara and Randall Goss, taking part in an Art Walk through Highland Park Village’s Beretta Gallery, St. Johns, Billy Reid, A-K-R-I-S, Carolina Herrera, and LAFCO New York. The family and chairs viewed the work of famous celebrity photographer John R. Hamilton at each participating store before attending the VIP screening of The Shootist at Highland Park Village Theatre. A VIP dinner and auction was held at host committee member’s Alberto and Vivian Lomabrdi’s Highland Park Village restaurant Bistro 31, and was attended by Wayne family members, festival chairs, and sponsors. John Wayne memorabilia and other impressive items such as an image of Wayne in The Searchers from the John R. Hamilton Collection, an image of John Wayne by pop artist DeVon, a John Wayne .45 pistol and custom case by America Remembers, a John Wayne guitar and case by ASG, and a diamond dust painting of Grace Kelly by Russell Young were auctioned off by auction sponsor Heritage Auctions. The night ended with a toe tapping, hand clapping performance by Wayne’s singer-songwriter granddaughter, Jennifer Wayne and Runaway June.
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photos Shana Anderson
On Friday, September 25th, the film festival’s opening night kicked off with a party at Five Creeks Tavern inside Highland Park Village and took place in true grit style with festival sponsor Dan Hagood, introducing the first film, In Harm’s Way, with members of Chapter 31 Special Forces Association veterans standing by his side. Closing night festivities on Saturday, September 26th, began with the screening of Red River and concluded with a public screening of The Searchers at Klyde Warren Park and the closing night party at the residence of this year’s Honorary Co-Chair members Anne and Steve Stodghill. To thank this year’s festival chairs for their hard work and dedication, the 2014 festival chairs Anne and Steve Stodghill, presented a John R. Hamilton photograph and custom John Wayne belt buckle to Kara and Randall Goss. Marisa Wayne addressed attendees on behalf of her family, sharing her gratitude for the commitment and generous donations by the evening’s guests made to the John Wayne Cancer Foundation and the fight against cancer.
The festival wrapped up on Sunday, September 27th, with screenings of The Sea Chase and How The West Was Won at LOOK Cinemas. Event Chairs Kara and Randall Goss and Honorary Co-Chairs Anne and Steve Stodghill; along with Wayne Family members Patrick Wayne, Melinda Wayne- Munoz, Ethan Wayne, Marisa Wayne, Anita Swift, Jennifer Wayne, and Matthew Munoz; and Festival Founder Barry Tubb, were seen around town throughout the four-day festival with Dallas’ most charitable socialites including, Mayor Mike Rawlings, and wife Micki Rawlings, along with Hayley and Gary Cogill, Mi Chel and Dan Hagood, Holly and Doug Deason, Tiffany and Paul Divis, Ellen and Don Winspear, Rhonda and Fraser Marcus, Debra Nelson, Katy and Lawrence Bock, Alison and Harry Hunsicker Jr., and Sarah and Todd McCoy. For more information visit www.johnwayne.org.
