Previously:
Jobe to the Future - - Pee-Wee Visits the Alamo
The streets of San Antonio are no stranger to the presence of Hollywood camera crews. From Pee-Wee's Big Adventure to Miss Congeniality, the historic city has been a backdrop for several cinematic soirees. One classic 80s film that took advantage of the city's scenery was 1984's Cloak & Dagger. Not only does it take place in San Antonio but it stars Texas natives Henry Thomas and Dabney Coleman.
But it's not just iconic scenery like the Alamo and the business district that serves as the setting for the spy thriller, there's an elaborate chase scene between Henry Thomas, the movie's young star, and the goons of the film on the famous San Antonio Riverwalk. Movies like these are a great time capsule that preserve the way certain places or attractions looked like in the past...
...not that it really changed that much...at least, not the architecture. But there's always one thing that changes over time: price. There's a quick shot in the movie were you can see posted prices. They go by so fast in the shot that I can't imagine they were put there by the filmmakers so I assume these were the legit mid-80s prices:
$1.25 for adults and 50 cents for kids. Not too shabby, right? By comparison here are some ticket stubs from my grandparents' trip out there about 2-3 years later:
50 cents inflation isn't too bad but these days tickets will cost you about (as of this writing $13.30 for an adult and $7.50 for kids. Still not too bad for a tourist town. Plus, you most likely won't be chased by assassins like young Henry Thomas was.
Keep in mind, that's not the approved way of exiting the boat. But it's a great way to end a low-speed chase through a world famous tourist attraction. The next time you you feel like checking out retro San Antonio, just pop Cloak & Dagger into the ol' movie playing machine (or however people watch movies these days) and take in the sights in all their 1980s glory.
