Frank Hardy Made My Photographs Two

Dan Dailey and Maureen O’Hara are shown arriving at the Pensacola Airport.  They were here in Pensacola to film a movie with John Wayne, Wings of Eagles , in 1956.  I had posted this image on the other blog site that I had of my father’s images five or six years ago and had hoped that some locals who were around when they were in town making the movie would have made a comment, but no one ever did.  Maybe this time around it might jar someone’s memory and I will get a few comments.  I have often wondered who the guy is that looks like he is directing everyone … maybe he is someone that the airport hired and dressed up to give a more “Hollywood” / “Los Angles” appeal to the movie stars.  Also, the look on the little lady’s face watching all of this is priceless … you wonder what is running through her mind as she is watching this production.

The lady who runs Maureen O’Hara’s blog, Ms June Beck, saw my first post and graciously sent me a photo that some Navy photographer had made of John Wayne, Maureen O’Hara and members of the movie out on the Pensacola Naval Air Station.  Here is the photo along with Ms Beck’s notation of the crew members and their relationship to the actors …

“On the running board is stuntman “Good” Chuck Hayward (that was his nickname) and, of course Maureen and Duke…then just to our right of Duke’s cap is “Bad” Chuck Roberson (John Wayne’s stunt double for over 30 years and a good actor himself).  Roberson has a great book he published in the 1980’s called “The Fall Guy” that is absolutely great if you can find it – all about the stuntman’s colorful life.  To our left of Duke’s cap is Ken Curtis, who was in many of Ford’s movies.  He was an excellent singer and musician as well.  Don’t know the name of the guy in the uniform – but he’s a redhead I’ve also seen in a lot of Ford’s films as an extra, etc.” … June Beck

That was very nice of Ms Beck to send the photo to me and to take the time to write the copy identifying all of the individuals in the photo.  The guy in uniform in the back is very familiar, but I could not put a name to him.  I went on the IMDb site, but could not match a name to the face.  For some unknown reason, I picture him playing a German in some of the old WW II movies.  The man that Ms Beck mentioned named Ken Curtis played Festus in Gunsmoke – now I know that everyone knows Festus.  If anyone has any memories of these actors or of Ms O’Hara being in Pensacola, please feel free to share them with us.  Thanks for looking and please check back … Frank

Several more things …. If the people out at the Pensacola International Airport decide to dress someone up a tux / dinner jacket as a greeter to all of the incoming flights at the airport, please give me credit for the idea and not to anyone down at City Hall.  I can use all of the free publicity that I can get.  Also, I went back and added a link to IMDb for Ken Curtis ” Festus ” after I read his bio.  I am trying to give the readers some more information that what little I know or have on these photos in future posts.  I do not know if it will get me any more viewers or readers, but at least you will be ready with some new trivia when Jeopardy comes on the tube, I mean TV.  Thanks again for looking …