Newport wants bronze statue of John Wayne

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Newport Beach, Calif., officials are considering trying to persuade a bank to give its bronze statue of John Wayne to the city where the actor once lived.

The sculpture shows Wayne -- a Hollywood icon who starred in "The Searchers" and "The Quiet Man" -- saddled up on a horse.

Owned by Washington Mutual, the statue stands in a Beverly Hills plaza outside a building that once housed the bank, but is now occupied by Larry Flynt Publications, The Orange County Register said Thursday.

Ethan Wayne, the actor's son, told the newspaper the building's latest tenant is not a factor in the statue's possible move.

City Manager Homer Bludau said City Council approval would be needed to apply for the statue and he stressed it is unclear whether the bank would consider donating it to Newport.

"It is still very preliminary," Bludau said.

"I like the statue," Ethan Wayne said. "And I hope that it comes to Newport where John Wayne lived. I doubt that any piece like that will ever get made again."

Washington Mutual did not return calls for comment, the newspaper said.