05/28/2026
Throwback Thursday
The Duke in Bodie
Today we share photos from 1970 when John Wayne filmed a television special in Bodie. The show originally aired as John Wayne’s “Swing Out Sweet Land,” although the title was changed to “John Wayne’s Tribute to America,” when it was released on DVD.
Michael H. Piatt, author of “Bodie: The Mines Are Looking Well,” was a seasonal park aide at Bodie when The Duke came to town and has graciously shared his photos and memories of that day. Many of the photos were taken by the film crew and given to the park and the staff. Bodie ended up as a short segment in the final film and no interior scenes were filmed there.
Michael discussed the days before Wayne showed up for the filming:
“The film crew arrived about three days before John Wayne showed up. They brought with them their equipment, props, and wild-west signs, then they transformed Bodie into a ‘reel’ ghost town, Hollywood style. The crew added a fake saloon sign and phony bat-wing doors to the Miners’ Union Hall to make it look like saloons in movie westerns…For a couple of days, they filmed scenes that did not contain Wayne, such as the windblown dusty streets, a barn door that appeared to open and shut in the wind (but TV viewers could see the string leading to a guy hiding in the sagebrush), and Wayne’s movie double riding alone through the deserted town. They got everything ready for The Duke. It was a big deal when he arrived, but he stayed only one day.”
A wind machine made Bodie look like a Hollywood ghost town. The whirling propeller blew gale-force winds down Main Street, while a guy threw handfuls of dust (brought from Hollywood in a coffee can) into the airstream. At the same time, another guy let go of some tumbleweeds (also brought from Hollywood). “Everything blowing down the street, dust and tumbleweeds, looked quite spooky on TV.”
When Wayne arrived, Michael said he only got close enough to watch during his work breaks. “But I did see John Wayne’s famous walk.”
After filming was completed, Wayne met park staff by the jail to sign autographs and pose for photos.
“That's when he looked down at me in my ranger uniform, glanced at my ID badge, shook my hand, and uttered his most famous line, ‘I'm glad-ta meet-cha Mike.’ Then we all scrambled into the jail with cameras ready. Wayne stood outside, peering through the barred window as shutters clicked. I've included the snapshot I took.”
Photos courtesy of Michael H. Piatt
