See Saw

Not too long ago our travels led us to Leander, TX which was one of the filming locations for the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie, considered to be one of the most influential films in the genre.

The grisly "warning" scene at the beginning of the film was shot at Leander's Bagdad Cemetery.

The cemetery is also used in another scene at the beginning of the film.  The scene doesn't show too many recognizable landmarks but you can see a tombstone marked "Pickle" in the film which is still there.

If that doesn't satisfy your inner Leatherface, you can always head up to the Fort Worth Stockyards.  The World Famous Tattoo Ranch has what they claim is the "Original Saw" from the movie on display:

You can also check out the live snakes that hang out there:

On Location #40 - TNT's Dallas Episodes 16-18

Episode #1 - - Episode #2 - - Episodes 3 & 4 - - Episodes 5 & 6  - - Episode #7 - - Episode 8 & 9 - - Episodes 10 & 11 - - Episodes 12-14 - - Episode #15

 Well we've clearly fallen behind on this so we'll try to burn through a few more episodes to catch up.  Luckily these featured a lot of interiors and Southfork shots so there's not a lot for us to track down.  Let's start near downtown Dallas:

Rebecca's new apartment is in one of the newest buildings in the city, Museum Tower:

The new building caused a controversy with its neighbor, the Nasher Sculpture Center.  As the reflection (at certain parts of the day) was described as a "Death Ray" by visiting art lovers.

The next episode featured a return location to Adair's Saloon in Depp Ellum:

John Ross and the family detective meet there to discuss various Ewing schemes and shenanigans.  You may also remember it as the post-oil strike celebration location in the first episode.

Sadly the next episode features the death of an icon.  The storyline had J.R.'s murder taking place in a hotel in Mexico:

But the famous and historic Cowtown Coliseum in the Fort Worth Stockyards played the part of the Hotel Colon:

Dallas the show and Dallas the city will never be the same without the villainous J.R. Ewing and the legendary Larry Hagman.

Matchbook Memories: The Buckhorn Saloon

Sometimes coming across something as mundane as an old matchbook can bring back memories.  So a couple of old matchbooks from the Buckhorn Saloon are a flashback to one of San Antonio's most populous attractions.  These look like they were from the era of the saloon's original location:

The inside of the second one promotes Lone Star beer but there was a time when the Buckhorn proudly served their own custom branded brew:

All this reminiscing brings back memories of our trip there a few years back.  Here's some video we shot highlighting some of the more unusual things in their collection:

Secret Fair Park Decoration Graveyard

While tooling around near Fair Park, I recently stumbled upon what can only be described as a Secret Fair Park Decoration Graveyard.  It is behind the park and completely fenced in but I got what pictures I could:

Clearly, there are several leftovers from the Chinese Lantern Festival (which was, in fact, extended it Feb. 17th) but look closely and you'll see some other interesting stuff:

Notice the dinosaur?  Well, there's more.  A few more dino statues, a Santa Claus, some longhorns...a cornucopia of wackiness:

What's the story here?  Are these beautiful things left to rot?  Just being stored temporarily?  Would it be a big deal if I rented a truck and took some stuff?  Questions abound.

Dallas Multitasking Building

A lot has happened at the Dallas Municipal Building.  The historic downtown building has been home to City Hall, the Dallas Police Department and the assassination of Lee Harvey Oswald by Jack Ruby.  The exterior also attracts location scouts for television and movies.

You might have recognized it from the movie Robocop:

Or from a Season 2 episode of Prison Break:

During one of their many breakouts, a little of downtown Dallas can be seen as the Prison Break boys run to freedom:

You can also see the building in a 1962 episode of Route 66:

Which also shows off a little of downtown:

More info can be found on the building's own historical marker (including referring to Lee Harvey Oswald as JFK's "alleged" assassin.

Long Lost Love

If you've had a hankering to lay your eyes on Love Field Airport in Dallas circa 1962 then your best bet is to take a look at the season 2 episode of Route 66 titled "Aren't You Surprised to See Me?"  The beginning of the episode starts with the episode's crazy antagonist arriving at the airport:

Music Memories

When you think about monuments to Texas music legends, the Stevie Ray Vaughan statue or the Willie Nelson statue, both in Austin, might first spring to mind.  But let me introduce you to another Lone Star performer whose memorial is worth a stop on your next east Texas road trip:

Jim Reeves started his career as a minor league baseball player but an injury led to his pursuit of fortune and fame in the music industry.  And it worked.  So much so that his hometown of Carthage, TX (also the former home to country music legend Tex Ritter) has created an impressive memorial to his memory:

 

Check it out the next time you are in the area.  If you aren't familiar with Reeves' work then sit back and enjoy his effortless performance of "I Love You Because" on a Norwegian TV show in 1964: