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Post by bubbabod on Sept 4, 2007 10:49:29 GMT -5
When visiting John Wayne's Alamo and Alamo Village, in the village I bought a magazine-type book entitled "Alamo Village, How a Texas cattleman brought Hollywood to the Old West" by John Farkis. It's a great bit of reading that gives the history of how John Wayne wanted to build his Alamo and do the filming in Panama or somewhere in Mexico, but Texans put up such a fuss, he eventually found the right site in Bracketville thanks to the efforts of Shahan. The book also gives the history of Ft. Clark Springs from its beginnings as a watering hole oasis for the Comanche to the establishment of the fort and its use until it was closed. There's also a history of the building of JW's Alamo, showing many pictures of it being built, as well as pictures of where the scenes were filmed on the fort's grounds, which is how I found the places I took pictures of. Otherwise, I'd have never known the fort played such a prominent part in the filming. Ft. Clark Springs is a great place to spend a couple days while exploring JW's Alamo, the village and the fort.
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Post by neferetus on Oct 5, 2007 10:47:34 GMT -5
This just in from Virginia Shahan at Alamo Village:Howdy to all the Trail riders of Alamo Village, It has been brought to my attention that there is an E-mail floating out there that the October Trailride has been canceled. THIS IS NOT TRUE! We will be having the trailride this year on October 18th,19th,20th, & 21st. We do hope everyone we'll be able to come have a great time. We are all ready to go. So Saddle up! It’s time for the Annual October Trail Ride and Longhorn Cattle Drive at Alamo Village & Shahan HV Ranch. Thursday October 18th will kick off the weekend with a registration party, live entertainment and dinner inside the Alamo complex. This is always a good fun night. Thank you Again Virginia Shahan Alamo Village 830-563-2580 www.alamovillage.comhappy@hilconet.com
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Post by Bromhead24 on Oct 31, 2007 18:02:16 GMT -5
Didn't i read that Alamo Village is going to be restored? Does that include the Alamo it's self?
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Post by neferetus on Nov 1, 2007 0:06:16 GMT -5
Yes, it does, Bromhead.
According to Rich, the sale of the Village is a done deal.There will be some radical changes to Alamo Village over the course of this coming year. New owner David Jones has great plans for the location. Starting with a restoration of the Alamo set that will put the place back as close as possible to how Al Ybarra envisioned it, Jones also hopes to put a hotel in the village itself for folks who want to stay over. That's the deal; to try and get folks to want to stay in Alamo Village for more than just a few hours.
New additions will include a train that will take you from the front gate, around back of the village. Don't worry, a screen of trees will block the train from view, so that those who still want to feel they are back in 1836 will not have their vision shattered by the presence of a choo-choo.
The village itself will be revitalized and that means all new plumbing and electrical, all around. Most of the current plumbing and electrical dates back to 1958 and THE ALAMO film. Speaking for myself and from experience, I'm all for those restrooms actually working again. All the electrical and plumbing will be also hidden from view, so as to not detract from the Western flavored ambiance of the place. New air conditioning units will be located on rooftops and not marring the Cantina porch, as they currently do.
Hopefully, by March, 2008, when many of us in town for the High Holy Days go to visit the Village, we will be in for some pleasant surprizes.
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Post by seguin on Nov 1, 2007 4:42:43 GMT -5
That´s good news, indeed! Alamo Village does a great job of educating the public about the Alamo and all the movies that where made there etc.
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Post by Bromhead24 on Nov 1, 2007 10:01:40 GMT -5
And make sure you take about 200 zillion photos..
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Post by neferetus on Nov 1, 2007 11:31:06 GMT -5
And make sure you take about 200 zillion photos.. Yes, it should be intersting to see photos of Alamo Village in transition. John Farkis plans on being there when it happens, along with his trusty camera. If new owner Rob Jones is shrewd, he should do a video of the whole process and then sell it in the Village giftshop.
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RebAl
Senior Member
Civil War Photographer
Posts: 296
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Post by RebAl on Nov 1, 2007 12:52:30 GMT -5
The Alamo Village should look excellent when all the work gets done.
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Post by alamojohnuk on Nov 2, 2007 8:01:44 GMT -5
That really is great news about the village, I haven't been around here for a while so I wasn't aware of these things happening but it is great news to come back to. I didn't manage to get to Bracketville on my visit earlier this year but will try "BIG TIME" hopefully in 2009 when I hope to get back over for the Holy days that year fingers crossed, and see the Wayneamo in all its former glory (maybe even with the Travis HQ properly restored minus the pink hump??) now that really would be worth waiting for. PS: I know it's late but thanks to everybody for the kind birthday wishes back in September, much appreciated and warmly wecomed.
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Post by neferetus on Nov 2, 2007 8:29:52 GMT -5
Welcome back, AlamoJohn! Your input is always appreciated.
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Rick
Junior Member
Posts: 170
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Post by Rick on Nov 2, 2007 22:19:58 GMT -5
Ned, are there any regularly scheduled re-enactments at Alamo Village? Alamo guys doing Alamo stuff. Or do the Alamo re-enactors mostly do their thing there on special occasions, like on or around March 6?
I have a few potential photo ideas in mind, but I'd need a couple dozen guys decked out in their Alamo duds and above all, with their weapons.
Just wondering . . . . .
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Post by neferetus on Nov 2, 2007 23:38:27 GMT -5
I can't say for sure, Rick. Although some reenactor groups have used the Alamo for living history programs, the last major one that I know of was in 1998. That particular living history weekend was recored for posterity by Rich Curilla in his video, ALAMO: The New Defenders (1999).
As to future reenactments at Alamo Village, it's anyone's guess. That will be up to the village's new owner, David Jones.
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Post by Bromhead24 on Nov 3, 2007 10:48:54 GMT -5
Do you think he is going to destroy all of the add on's that where built after the Alamo was filmed?
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Post by neferetus on Nov 3, 2007 13:28:13 GMT -5
Do you think he is going to destroy all of the add on's that where built after the Alamo was filmed? Probably not. That would mean tearing down every building on the San Fernando church side of the street and beyond. (Including the Indian Store.)
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Post by neferetus on Nov 3, 2007 13:38:32 GMT -5
Ned, in the Alamo Village Tradin' Post with Virginia Shahan, March 2005.
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Post by seguin on Nov 3, 2007 14:05:09 GMT -5
Nice pic! First time I see a pic from the Tradin´Post. Interesting!
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Post by neferetus on Nov 3, 2007 14:23:54 GMT -5
Nice pic! First time I see a pic from the Tradin´Post. Interesting! Hans, upstairs from the Tradin' Post is the balcony where Crockett enters Flaca's room in THE ALAMO.
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Post by Bromhead24 on Nov 3, 2007 14:46:24 GMT -5
Been there many many times.
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Post by seguin on Nov 3, 2007 16:55:18 GMT -5
Right! Flaca´s room. I remember the scene! Is this pic from a movie shot at Alamo Village or do they have a real stage coach there for the tourists to ride in?
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Post by neferetus on Nov 3, 2007 17:29:20 GMT -5
Right! Flaca´s room. I remember the scene! Is this pic from a movie shot at Alamo Village or do they have a real stage coach there for the tourists to ride in? It is a postcard of the Village from the 1960's Hans. Back in the Sixties, they used to run the stagecoach over to the Alamo ruins and outlaws would hold it up. By the time I'd arrived in 1973 however, the practice was stopped. There are still gunfights in the streets of Alamo Village, however and plenty of live entertainment in THE CANTINA. Perhaps the new, refurbished Alamo Village will continue the practice of running stage coaches to the Alamo. It would make a lot of sense and also be quite popular with the tourists, I'm betting.
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