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With a name like John Wayne, it might seem as though it was only a matter of time before the man became a screen legend. But as most will no doubt know, this was not the actor's original name. The Duke spoke about his given name in a 1969 BBC film, "John Wayne and his Films," where he revealed that the John Wayne moniker came from studio execs. "My right name is Marion Michael Morrison," he said, "and the studio decided that it was not American enough for a boy who was going to play Breckenridge Coleman in 'The Big Trail,' back in 1929. So, the studio heads were put together and they came up with the name John Wayne."

"The Big Trail" (which was largely doomed by cutting-edge camera tech and the great depression) was Wayne's first starring role. After appearing in small background parts in the late-20s,...

A one-night-only special concert A Chorus Line Official 50th Anniversary Celebration will take place on Sunday, July 27 at 7:30 pm Et at Broadway’s Shubert Theatre. The concert, benefitting Entertainment Community Fund programs serving dancers, will star original 1975 Broadway cast members Kelly Bishop, Wayne Cilento, Baayork Lee, Priscilla Lopez and Donna McKechnie, with special performances by Charlotte d'Amboise (Chicago), Jessica Lee Goldyn (Moulin Rouge! The Musical), Robyn Hurder (Smash), Francis Jue (Yellowface), Krysta Rodriguez (Smash), Jessica Vosk (Hell's Kitchen), Anthony Wayne (Tina: The Tina Turner Musical), Tony Yazbeck (Flying Over Sunset) and Leigh Zimmerman (Olivier Award Winner)*. Additional casting will be announced at a later date. The evening will be directed...

As the motion picture industry lurched into the sound era, John Wayne's career was languishing. He wasn't getting many decent roles. He wasn't impressing people when he did. He wasn't even John Wayne.

He was Marion Robert Morrison, a strapping, 6'3", Iowa-born washout from the USC football team. Wayne found his way into Hollywood via his coach, Howard Jones, who frequently procured tickets for the silent movie star Tom Mix. The actor, along with director John Ford, took on the young Wayne as a favor to Jones, giving him steady, if unspectacular work as a prop man and extra.

Given his athletic stature and boyish good looks, Wayne had the physical makings of a future star. After plugging away throughout the second half of the 1920s in bit parts (occasionally as a member of the USC football team), he finally received his first official credit Duke Morrison in James Tinling...

Billy Corgan has announced a livestream benefit concert to raise money for the victims of the July 4th mass shooting in Highland Park, Illinois.

The Smashing Pumpkins frontman and Chicago native will host the July 27 show — dubbed Together and Together Again — at his Madame Zuzu’s tea house in Highland Park, where he’s lived for 20 years. (Corgan’s teahouse was so close to the scene of the shooting that it had to remain closed for a week due to the FBI’s investigation.)

Together and Together Again, July 27 at 8 Cst,...

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Billy Corgan is stepping up for his community. The Smashing Pumpkins frontman and his partner Chloe Mendel announced Thursday that they are hosting a livestream charity show to benefit the victims of the July 4 Highland Park, Ill., shooting.

“About a week ago, we had the horrible tragedy here on July 4 that took so many lives and injured so many people and really have affected us as a community,” the rocker, who has lived in Highland Park for about 20 years, said in an Instagram video. “So what we want to do on the evening of July 27 is we’re going to have a very special charity concert. Jimmy Chamberlin’s going to be part of the concert, other parts of the Pumpkins family.”

“There are so many people here affected by this tragedy,” Corgan concluded. “It’s very close to our hearts and we...

Debuting on DVD July 23 from Lionsgate Home Entertainment, the Robotech: 2-Movie Collection features both the 2007 hit Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles and the never-before-seen feature Robotech: Love Live Alive. The studio has released DVD trailer for this upcoming release, and we also have cover art and the full press release with all the official details. Robotech fans, this is one collection you will surely not want to miss.

Robotech: Beyond The New Generation Trailer

The Robotech saga continues as the celebrated characters that gained world-wide popularity in the original series return in an exciting new adventure debuting as part of the Robotech: 2-Movie Collection. Arriving on DVD July 23 from Lionsgate Home Entertainment, under license from A+E Networks Consumer Products, the Robotech: 2-Movie Collection DVD set includes the never-before-seen feature Robotech: Love Live Alive as well as the timeless Robotech hit Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles.

The Robotech chronicle...

Live in or near Chicago? Love The A.V. Club's Nathan Rabin and have nothing to do tomorrow night? He'll be a special guest on Mark Bazer's The Interview Show to talk about his new book with "Weird Al" Yankovic, Weird Al: The Book. The Interview Show is a monthly talk show hosted by columnist Mark Bazer that features a variety of guests in a casual and conversational setting. Other guests for tomorrow's show include Chef and Wine Director Curtis Duffy and Michael Muser of the soon-to-open Grace Restaurant and Chicago-based jazz musician Frank Catalano. The ...