Stories

Go Behind-the-Scenes With The Duke At the height of the Vietnam War, John Wayne made a bold move to show his support of the United States’ involvement in the war: he made a movie about…

Written by Dorothy Kosich Wagon Train’s Terry Wilson Loved Doubling Duke Wayne Actor-stuntman Terry Wilson, best known for his role as Assistant Wagonmaster Bill Hawks on the classic TV Western series Wagon Train, enjoyed telling stories…

Hollywood icon John Wayne starred in such classics as The Searchers, In Old California, Flying Leathernecks, Dark Command, McQ, and more. Here’s his story…

Wayne and Arness share a birthday and that’s why we’re celebrating these two men, who are beloved and synonymous with great Western fare on screens big and small.  By Henry C. Parke You don’t need…

Old Hollywood made them legends. But it’s their children and grandchildren who make sure their family lineage lives on in front of the cameras for generations to come. 1. CLINT EASTWOOD The man with no…

Stuntman Terry Wilson Proudly Played Wagon Train’s Hawks By Dorothy Kosich Playing Assistant Wagonmaster Bill Hawks on the hit Western drama, Wagon Train, made veteran Hollywood stuntman Terry Wilson into a star and a Western TV hero. Ruggedly handsome,…

By Henry C. Parke Partisans endlessly debate whether Tombstone or Wyatt Earp was a better film, and if Kevin Costner and Dennis Quaid, or Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer were the ultimate Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday team. But…

Willie of the West At first glance, sagebrush troubadour Willie Nelson may have seemed an unlikely choice for a western leading man. After all, he more closely resembles the ultimate sidekick, Gabby Hayes. But then…

Jimmy’s Legacy is Alive and Well in Indiana, Pennsylvania You may know him as James Stewart or Jimmy Stewart. You may recognize him as one of the leading men during the Golden Age of Hollywood.…

James Stewart bio, star of Philadelphia Story, It's a Wonderful Life, Harvey, Shenandoah, among 80 classic movies and western films.

By Henry C. Parke More than sixty years after his death, Humphrey Bogart remains an icon of the movies. Like John Wayne and Clark Gable, Bogart epitomizes what women want, and men want to be.…

By Henry C. Parke The Western world of Louis L’Amour, comprising nearly 100 novels and 400 short stories, has a reach far beyond traditional western fans. I was introduced to his work by two fellow…

They Bore Babies. They Bore Arms. They Bore Battle Scars. Like most women of their era, Native American women cooked, tended to their homes and their children, and cared for the sick, among other domestic chores.…

Humphrey Bogart: Classic Leading Man The Early Years Humphrey Deforest Bogart was born on December 25, 1899, in New York City to Belmont and Maud Bogart. Humphrey had two younger sisters: Frances (Pat) and Catherine…

By Henry C. Parke When I recently ran into the ever-beautiful Dee Wallace, best known as the mother in E.T., I reminded her of a film we had worked on together, briefly. It was in the 1980s,…

Best romantic couples in westerns on INSP. John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara to Sam Elliott and Katharine Ross. Tom Selleck in Last Stand at Saber River, and more.

The Return of the Western: The Current Resurgence By Henry C. Parke Every genre of film and television entertainment rises and falls in popularity – musicals, mysteries, super-heroes, Westerns. Box office numbers tell us at…

Western Stars That’ll Melt Your Heart We can’t stop gushing over these Hollywood hotshots! Not only are they easy on the eyes, but their stories live forever in our hearts.

Cowboy Hats 101: Let’s Take it From the Top! From practical protection on the ranch to an ornate and over-the-top fashion statement, the cowboy hat is a mainstay in Western wear. It isn’t going anywhere—and…

Well, the fact is, nobody ever outdrew Matt Dillon. For years, at the start of every episode of Gunsmoke, Dillon, in the person of James Arness, faced a gunslinger on Dodge’s Main Street – and shot…

By Henry C. Parke Whether you’re a fan of television crime dramas, thrillers, comedies, or Westerns, from the 1950s on, you couldn’t miss stunning, vivacious Ruta Lee. Those sparkling eyes reveal such a crafty intelligence—she…

Tip of the Hat to How Far We’ve Come  While tuning in to your favorite network, you may notice our logo looks slightly different—but don’t fret! The INSP you love isn’t going anywhere. In fact,…

From High School Cut-Up to Hollywood Icon Introduction Clint Eastwood has lived an amazing life filled with adventure, hard work, and purpose. This actor, director, producer, and musical composer has been a cultural icon for…

Tis the Season for Gift Giving! Let’s face it. Finding a fantastic gift for the hard-to-buy-for is an art. That’s why we’ve put together a list of foolproof gifts with a Western flair for every…

You’ll Not See Nothing Like the Mighty Quinn! By Henry C. Parke Yes, Bob Dylan wrote those lyrics about Anthony Quinn, and his portrayal of the Eskimo hero in the 1960 film, The Savage Innocents. And…

And Introducing…Actors’ Debuts By Henry C. Parke It always creates a tingle of anticipation when a movie’s opening credits include, “and introducing…” followed by some unfamiliar name. It can signal the start of a major…

The Family That Grows Together, Stays Together. Over nine seasons and countless specials, the Walton family grew up right in front of our eyes. See where they started and who they became. John Walton, Sr.…