My teen eyes were glued to the television on Monday, November 14, 1960,
for ABC-TV's "SPIRIT OF THE ALAMO" on the Pontiac Star Parade. This show
marked the first time a television promotion was done for a movie and the
first time a show was ever videotaped out on location. It also marked
the first time I ever laid eyes on Happy Shahan. I recall that he
reminded me of actor Joe Flynn (from "McHale's Navy").
After I saw John Wayne's "THE ALAMO" thirteen times in as many weeks, my
dad and mom said "Let's take him down there and get it out of his
system." That's when I met Happy and Virginia Shahan -- on June 16,
1961. It was like stepping into my fantasy. They owned and operated my
fantasyland.
Over the next four years, I corresponded with Happy. I believe he was
fascinated with a kid who could asked him why his Alamo faced the wrong
direction, and I know I was fascinated with a man who owned 35 square
miles of Texas -- and had run with John Wayne.
Many Alamo Village alums think of the Shahans almost as parents. That is
not true for me. My own father and mother have always been such strong
and loving images in my life that I have never had to seek out
"surrogate" parents. No, Happy and Virginia Shahan have, to me, served
the role of close friends, guiding mentors and unique personalities. As
I grow older in a world that is growing too much "the same" (read:
McDonalds, Hard Rock Cafe, shopping malls... ), I particularly value the
Shahans' uniqueness. Texas author and folklorist J. Frank Dobie had an
expression that fit them perfectly: "Out of the old rock." These are
the pair that ARE Alamo Village -- a place as unique as its creators.
The village itself has been both my retreat and the place from which I
retreat. Nothing is ever completely perfect, and Alamo Village has
always had its share of thorns. But mostly, I think of the village as my
Fantasyland. I went there as a teenager and did much growing up during
my five summers in the sixties. When others were doing drugs, I was
doing Alamo Village.
As I developed as a filmmaker in Pennsylvania throughout the seventies, I
always had dreams of shooting westerns and Alamo movies at Alamo Village.
In 1983, I moved to Dallas to start producing movies, and finally in
1988, I moved to Brackettville and went to work for Happy again -- this
time to make movies. We had talked since 1972 about making our own
westerns. Now it was time.
Others came and went, but I stayed. Finally, in 1992, Happy and I
produced "TRAVIS SMITH," our first western. In his words, "You called my
bluff." Since Happy's death, I have continued my efforts to realize
those movie-making dreams, now with Virginia's encouragement. Had I gone
to Hollywood instead of Happyland, I could no doubt have made a lot more
money and achieved my goals quicker -- but never better.
And I'm still the "toughest man in town!"
by Richard L. Curilla, 5/16/01
P.O. Box 528
Brackettville TX, 78832
65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99,00,01,02
