John Wayne's Signature Cowboy Hat from his Great Western Bank Commercials. Late in his life, John Wayne donned cowboy attire...

Description

John Wayne's Signature Cowboy Hat from his Great Western Bank Commercials. Late in his life, John Wayne donned cowboy attire one more time to film a series of commercials for the Great Western Bank of California. Wayne had already starred in his final film, The Shootist (1976), and these commercials, shot in Grants Pass, Oregon and telecast only in California, comprised his final work in cowboy costume. Here is the handsome cowboy hat that "the Duke" wore in those commercials. The tan hat is an approximately 7.5" size; the inside crown bears the trademarks "Resistol" and "Stagecoach," with a gold-and-brown drawing of such a vehicle (appropriate, since it was the 1939 film Stagecoach that made Wayne a true star). "American Eagle Outfitters" is embossed on the inside band, as is "Resistol 'Self-Comforting' "and another image of the "Stagecoach" trademark. The heavy string hatband with tassels is a fine complement to a hat truly worthy of a major and irreplaceable star. There is some minor staining on the left crown. By the way, apropos of this hat and those commercials, a giant bronze statue of John Wayne on horseback stands before the Great Western Bank tower at 8484 Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles. This worthy memento from one of the greatest of screen legends is in Very Fine condition.

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