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:

Fine Food and Spirits

Is Larry's Mexican Restaurant in Richmond, TX haunted?  This photograph, taken in 2010, seems to indicate that it's frequented by at least one little spirit:

But don't strap on your proton packs just yet.  According to this article on Snopes there's more gravy than grave about this little specter.  Apparently it's just an example of some simple photographic trickery.

Sure, that's not as much fun as a good old fashioned haunting but hopefully, if the restaurant manager's are smart, they can spin this into a Texas tall tale use the gimmick to promote the business:

"Larry's Mexican Restaurant - Home of the Haunted Habaneros!"  It would definitely make me want to stop for a burrito on my way through town.

On Location #39 - TNT's Dallas Episode 15

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

The Ewing family are no strangers to the inside of a courtroom.  It stands to reason that they've seen the outside of a few courthouses as well.  Which brings us to the next episode of TNT's Dallas.  Several scenes take place at what appears to be the "Dallas County Courthouse":

But, of course, it was just a little Hollywood magic as it was actually the Rockwall County Courthouse standing in:

There were several shots in and around the courthouse.  Here are some side-by-sides:

Another scene in the episode features this BBQ joint being patronized by Drew while his rig gets vandalized:

The actual location is in Wylie, TX and I didn't have time to eat so sadly I can't make any recommendations: