Month: July 2026

By 1970, John Wayne had already cemented his place as Hollywood’s biggest Western star. But behind the scenes of Rio Lobo, the legendary actor was facing physical challenges that audiences never saw on screen.

Despite filming while in poor health — and while recovering from a serious shoulder injury — Wayne powered through production of what would become the final film directed by his longtime collaborator, Howard Hawks.

More than 50 years later, Rio Lobo continues to earn recognition, landing on IMDb’s roundup of the greatest Western movies of all time.

John Wayne Filmed Through Pain

According to IMDb’s trivia page for Rio Lobo, Wayne struggled physically throughout production.

The actor was in poor health during filming and reportedly had difficulty getting on and off his horse. He was also still recovering from a torn shoulder ligament he suffered while making 1969’s The Undefeated.

Those challenges weren’t obvious to moviegoers.

In Rio Lobo, Wayne stars as Union Army Colonel Cord McNally, who sets out to track down the Confederate traitors responsible for a deadly train robbery during the Civil War. Along the way, he forms unlikely alliances in a story filled with shootouts, revenge and classic Western action.

An Oscar and a Practical Joke

Production also coincided with one of the biggest moments of Wayne’s career. During a break in filming, he traveled to accept the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance as Rooster Cogburn in True Grit. The Oscar remains the only competitive Academy Award Wayne ever won.

When he returned to the Rio Lobo set, his castmates celebrated in unforgettable fashion. According to IMDb, every member of the cast greeted Wayne wearing an eye patch — including his horse — in a playful tribute to his one-eyed, Oscar-winning lawman.

Rio Lobo marked the final film directed by Howard Hawks, ending one of Hollywood’s most influential careers behind the camera.

Hawks and Wayne had previously collaborated on classics including Red River, Rio Bravo and El Dorado, making Rio Lobo the closing chapter in one of the Western genre’s defining partnerships.

The film also featured veteran character actor Jack Elam, whose performance reportedly impressed audiences so much that Wayne later joked Elam had stolen several scenes from him.

When fans discuss the greatest guitar solos of all time, there is a list of iconic performances that always make the cut. While iconic solos from Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Brian May, and David Gilmour all deserve the respect they get, praising them again doesn’t add much to the conversation. That is why it is so fascinating that a major expert with decades’ worth of knowledge recently highlighted a 1973 song as the greatest guitar solo that often gets forgotten.

Who Ranked Mahavishnu Orchestra’s ‘Birds of Fire’ the Greatest Forgotten Guitar Solo of All Time?

On May 4, 2026, Rolling Stone published its ranking of the “100 Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time.” In response to that ranking, Brad Tolinski penned an entertaining, funny, and informative article for his Substack that anyone who cares about the subject should read. As his Penguin Random House bio notes, Tolinski is an expert who was the Guitar World editor-in-chief for 25 years. He has also written books about music, including Light & Shade: Conversations with Jimmy Page.

In addition to covering Rolling Stone’s list, Tolinski also offered up a pair of guitar solo rankings of his own. The first detailed his ranking of the best guitar solos from a historian’s perspective and featured Brian May, Eddie Van Halen, Chuck Berry, and Jimi Hendrix. He then noted he was “a little sick” of those solos and would be fine to never hear them again. Tolinski then offered his own “subjective list” of “solos that may not always appear in the official canon, yet somehow still sound fresh, dangerous, surprising, and alive every time I hear them.”

For his second list of the best guitar solos that are often forgotten or ignored, Tolinski named the 1973 Mahavishnu Orchestra song “Birds of Fire” at No. 1. The blistering solo featured in the instrumental track was performed by John McLaughlin. While explaining his choice, Tolinski hilariously started his argument by writing, “By and large, most jazz-rock fusion is awful — the worst of both worlds.” From there, Tolinski praised McLaughlin for briefly making the genre “a thrilling hotbed of musical experimentation.”

The article detailed the guitarist’s collaborations with an absolute icon. McLaughlin’s “jagged funk rhythms and lightning-fast, Indian-influenced solos fueled several extraordinary Miles Davis albums, including In a Silent Way, Jack Johnson and the essential Bitches Brew.” Ultimately, Tolinski praised “McLaughlin’s reckless soloing” on “Birds of Fire” while vividly describing how exciting he found the performance. He wrote the solo “remains one of the most exhilarating guitar performances I’ve ever heard, possessing the same abandon as Little Richard or the New York Dolls at their absolute wildest.”

Next: 1980 Classic Voted the ‘Greatest Guitar Solo of All Time’ by Guitarists

Denzel Washington is, without a doubt, one of the most prolific talents Hollywood has ever seen. The two-time Oscar winner becomes a chameleon on the big screen. He was phenomenal as Malcolm X in the biopic film, he was incredible as a desperate father in John Q, he was inspiring as a coach in Remember the Titans, and the list really does go on and on. And as wonderful as he is to watch in biopics and endearing dramas, he also excels in action thrillers. Case in point, HBO Max just added a popular action franchise of his, and it’s sure to provide some entertaining watching (or rewatching) for fans. 

HBO Max Adds ‘The Equalizer’ Franchise 

Back in 2014, Washington teamed up with Michael director Antoine Fuqua and esteemed writer Richard Wenk to launch the film adaptations of The Equalizer. Based on the 1980s TV series of the same name, The Equalizer follows Washington’s Robert McCall, an ex-marine and intelligence officer, who makes it his mission to exact some vigilante justice, especially after a young acquaintance mistakenly gets involved with a crime syndicate. Here’s the official synopsis of the film:

“In The Equalizer, Denzel Washington plays McCall, a man who believes he has put his mysterious past behind him and dedicated himself to beginning a new, quiet life. But when McCall meets Teri (Chloë Grace Moretz), a young girl under the control of ultra-violent Russian gangsters, he can’t stand idly by — he has to help her. Armed with hidden skills that allow him to serve vengeance against anyone who would brutalize the helpless, McCall comes out of his self-imposed retirement and finds his desire for justice reawakened. If someone has a problem, if the odds are stacked against them, if they have nowhere else to turn, McCall will help. He is The Equalizer.”

The Equalizer 2 and The Equalizer 3 see Robert McCall continue in his quest to deliver his form of justice. It’s worth pointing out that critics by and large agree that The Equalizer 3 is the best of the franchise. 

Will There Be an ‘Equalizer 4’?

In a remarkable feat, Washington confirmed with Esquire that there will, in fact, be a fourth installment in The Equalizer movie franchise. Not only that, but Washington confirmed there will be a fifth movie as well. As of publication, neither one has a published release date. 

Again, the first three movies in The Equalizer franchise are available to stream on HBO Max with a subscription. 

Related: Robert De Niro’s Netflix Film Is Still the Greatest Mafia Movie of the Last 20 Years

Earlier this week Idaho, Montana and Wyoming received heavy snowfall despite the calendar indicating summer was very much underway.

With the United States’ 250th birthday just a few days away, many in the region were left shoveling their driveways as some spots received as much as 16 inches of snow.

“It wasn’t just those two communities affected, though. Ski areas around the state received some fresh powder, highlighted by Discovery getting eight inches and Darkhorse Lake, near the Montana-Idaho state line, receiving 16 inches,” KTVQ wrote.

The snow isn’t quite done, though.

More Snow Coming to the U.S. as Some States Brace for Heat Indexes Over 110 Degrees

The snow is finally starting to wind down in some states, but drivers in the area were still dealing with significant travel issues.

“THIS is why the highway remains CLOSED at the MT/WY state line. Give the Plowboys time to get this mess cleared and conditions safe for travel. Monitor @511mt.net for accurate highway status information. Do NOT use map apps!” the official Beartooth Highway account said on social media showing snow drifts several feet high.

While Montana and Wyoming finish dealing with the fallout from the snow storm, parts of Alaska are under a new warning from the National Weather Service as snow and ice form to create possible “hazards.”

“Expected precipitation across N Alaska through Thu morning features steadier rain for the Upper Tanana Valley & E Alaska Range. Meanwhile, a frontal system brings rain and wintry mix to the NW Arctic Coast (Point Lay to Utqiagvik), with localized icing hazards possible,” the Fairbanks office of the National Weather Service said.

The official warning from the NWS runs from Tuesday night through Thursday.

As Montana and Wyoming clean up and Alaska prepares for more snow, other states are expected to see heat index temperatures well above 100 degrees, making it dangerous for some groups.

“With the combination of high humidity, heat indices may reach 100-110 Degrees,” said the NWS. “Much of the central and eastern U.S. is under a Moderate to Major HeatRisk, which can pose health impacts on those without hydration or cooling.”

In parts of New Jersey the “feels like” temperature is expected to reach 111 degrees.

Related: 1953 Western Classic Among John Wayne’s Best – But He Was The Second Choice