RFD-TV VISITS ALAMO VILLAGE AND THE SHAHANS

[Rich Curilla]

I thought you would all like to know about the four programs (30 min. each) that RFD-TV shot with us last month at Alamo Village and nearby. They are going to be televised nationally throughout March on Larry Butler's weekly show Out on the Land. Here is the information you need to find them.

RFD-TV
Program: Out on the Land
Producer/Host: Larry Butler
6 PM Central, Tuesdays
DishNet: 231
DirectTV: 345
For other carriers, go to www.rfdtv.com
and click "Find RFDTV"

Program 1: March 3 - Show host Larry Butler interviews Tully Shahan and Jamie Shahan Rains (Happy and Virginia's son and daughter) about the family and Happy's uniqueness in bringing John Wayne's The Alamo and other movies to Brackettville and creating Alamo Village.

Program 2: March 10 - Larry explores Tully Shahan's innovative conservation ranching techniques on his ranch across the highway from Jamie's (and Alamo Village).

Program 3: March 17 - Larry Butler visits Clearwater Creek Ranch west of Brackettville.

Program 4: March 24 - Larry interviews Rich Curilla about movies made over the years at Alamo Village.

[Rich Curilla]

Here are the three programs related to the Shahans, THE ALAMO and other Alamo Village movies:

outontheland.com/category/episodes/

Our episodes are 62, 63 and 65. My walk-and-talk is in 65.

[loucapitano]

Rich, you are fantastic. What a great job you did for this program. The entire series was wonderful. We never would have seen it in New York, so thanks for letting us have the episodes to enjoy.
You're just as fascinating in person as your correspondence in the forum. I'm so glad to know you.
Warmest regards,
Lou from Long Island

[Rich Curilla]

Thanks mucho, Lou.

[loucapitano]

Rich, recently saw a TV movie staring Chris Christopherson as an escapee from a Louisiana chain gang in 1836 and Tom Scerritt as Sam Houston in a largely fictionalized version of the Texas revolt title "Two for Texas." The climax is the battle of San Jacinto which I think was well re-enacted. The rest of the movie took a lot of dramatic license. For example, there is a segment where Christopherson and companion go to the Alamo to help their friend Jim Bowie and arrive at what appears to be just hours after the massacre. They find Bowie's body and Chris takes the knife (for later dramatic use.) They also rescue Mrs. Dickenson and bring her to Houston's encampment after she gives a dramatic account of what she just witnessed. I think the producers meant well but there where a lot of anachronisms and historical lapses that fans like me find annoying.

But the real reason I'm writing this that the scenes at the Alamo were apparently shot at Shanahan's Alamo village where they did a credible job of recreating the aftermath destruction of the battlefield with burnt out wagons and cannon and numerous Texan and Mexican bodies. It looked like the set directors added a lot of realistic scenery that must have required some alterations to the set. I was wondering what you can add to background of filming these scenes. Until I saw it, I had no idea that this would be another time where Hollywood would avail itself of the iconic "Waynamo." I think the scenes at the Alamo were quite well done, except for the history. Any perspective you can give would be appreciated.
Lou from Long Island

[Rich Curilla]

Lou, "Two For Texas" was not filmed at Alamo Village. Cary White was the production designer and has designed three movies at Alamo Village (including "Lonesome Dove"), so he would have if the company had wanted to travel all the way here for one day of filming (or whatever it was), but they chose to have Cary build the facade where they were shooting most of the film. It was all plywood and Styrofoam. I think that is the facade now at Six Flags.

[loucapitano]

Thanks Rich, I wondered why they would go to Alamo Village for such a short scene. I also wondered how much damage they did during the shooting with all the destruction and carnage. So, tt was all plywood and Hollywood magic.
Well, to me, it looked a lot like the Alamo Village façade. Too bad.
Rich, you're a treasure of information. I hope to meet you someday.
Lou from Long Island

[Rich Curilla]

Thanks, Lou. I just wait for the opportunity to pounce and expound. Or, as Davy Crockett once said, what a slop-jar my brain is. LOL.