Happy Shahan was the founding Father of the Texas film industry and the surrogate Father to countless young people who worked each summer at the Alamo Village.
He attracted both those seeking fame and fortune and those seeking love and guidance. Happy reached out to rich kids, poor kids, troubled kids, and talented kids, bestowing on them all the same gift. The ability to discover integrity in themselves.
No acting break or record deal could have been as valuable as the lessons learned during the summers at Alamo Village.
Remember being called to Happy's back room? Most of us can. When that request was made, we knew we were in trouble. Shahan would sit us down in the chair next to his, lean in real close and commence to tell us how what we had done was an act of "stupidity."
Sometimes there would be a fine attached, sometimes a
handshake or a hug, but in all cases there were the words,
"Hey... I'm not mad at you." A reprimand handed down by a man most of us placed on a pedestal, and all of us placed in our hearts.
It has been several years since many of us have walked the streets at Alamo Village, but just like a magic time machine one special memory can bring us back again.
These pages are dedicated not only to our memories of Alamo Village, but to the man who made those memories possible.
Above, you will find a time line of buttons. Click on the year that you worked at ALAMO VILLAGE and see pictures and stories of fellow workers of that year.
At this time, the buttons are working, but not every year has information on its pages.
If you have pictures and a list of the people who worked the same year as you worked please email or US mail me the information and I will add it to the page. With your help this should be a fun project but I do need your help to make it a success.
Penny Campbell-Loewen
Please sign our Guestbook, and tell us the year you worked at AlamoVillage, and the thoughts you still carry of this great man...
Happy Shahan
Taken Nov, 1995 photo by Penny Campbell-Loewen
If you are interested in contacting Alamo Village Office
the address is, P.O. Box 528 Brackettville Tx 78832
With the passing of Texas Icon, Virginia F. Webb Shahan, a difficult business decision has been made by family members. Alamo Village is closed to the general public. Our gates have been open to the visiting public and to the film industry for fifty years. At this time, we choose to close the gates of Alamo Village in order to reconstruct management and possibly redirect our efforts toward new positive goals. The future possibilities for this historical movie set are many. At present time, managers and owners continue with sound decision making even in the midst of a troubled economy. Our future goal includes the pursuit of continued business relations within the film industry, producing more and even larger trail drives and promoting individual group tours. As decisions are finalized, announcements will be made to the general public.
“To the multitudes of visitors, businesses, employees and dear friends who have contributed to the success of Alamo Village throughout these five decades, we offer our heartfelt gratitude and a sincere Texas thank you.”
Statement from the family sent out July 1st 2009
IMPORTANT NOTICE!
I've been getting emails from people who are concerned that now that Virginia has passed
and Alamo Village has closed its gates, that this web site will close down as well.
THIS WEB SITE HAS NEVER BELONGED TO ALAMO VILLAGE.
It is owned and maintained by me alone.
I made this web site and have paid for the hosting costs for it for 12 years now.
I do it so that everyone can "find" and "stay" in touch with one another.
I feel it is important that the ones who once worked at Alamo Village have a way to stay in contact with each other.
Virginia owned the official www.alamovillage.com web site. And I am the web master for it as well.
The family has not yet told me if they will renew the hosting cost for it.
So its life may be temporary, but I assure you, this site will stay on line
