Wayne Alamo Set Rooms Use

[cje]

In the mission set, were other rooms not used to make the movie used for anything? I can picture things put in them that would need to be out of sight while filming. Things like movie making gear. Perhaps some of the cast and crew could have used them in between takes or whatever. It would kind of be interesting to know a tale or two. Thanks!

CJE

[Rich Curilla]

Right you are. The only buildings that had interior sets were the chapel and its side rooms, Travis' H.Q., the Dickensons' quarters downstairs, Crockett's quarters suggested by the front entrance under Travis' balcony but never used, Bowie's quarters on the west wall and Smitty's hospital room in the middle part of the long barrack.

The room "west" of the gate in the low barrack was used as the armory when filming at the Alamo. The two-story northern part of the long barrack that shouldn't have been two stories was used completely as dressing rooms for supporting players (including Chill Wills), and the "east" end of the "north" wall (the low adobe building) was the electrical switch box room (still is). Most movie equipment (other then light stands and tripods) would not have fit in the rooms (through the doors) unless completely broken down, so no equipment to speak of. A movie company always works out of a "base camp" of trailers, trucks, honey wagons, catering and large tents that is always within a short walk of the shooting area. Base camp moves with the company, so, when shooting at the Alamo, it would have been there, but it would have been moved down to the village when town scenes were being filmed. Thus, all equipment that isn't just left outside on the set and covered is put in the movie vans in its actual storing place.