On Location #26 - Dallas Returns! Episode 1 Filming Locations!

Dallas is back and and they are taking advantage of the character the city has by filming on location in North Texas.  So they are perfect for another "Ongoing Feature Within an Ongoing Feature" as we track down the show's geography in our "On Location" feature!

Starting with episode #1, the most famous Dallas (the show, not the city) location: Southfork Ranch:

Since most of the main characters live there (even though a lot of them hate each other...ah, the Ewings...), quite of bit of the series is shot there.  It's actually in Parker, TX (about a 30 - 40 minute drive from Dallas) and instead of going back there to try to take pictures that match shots from the show (like we usually do) we thought we'd show this segment we shot on the location a few years ago:

In the first episode John Ross, J.R.'s son, discovers oil on Southfork.  He and his cronies go to Piggy's Cantina, the closest bar to Southfork, to celebrate.  In reality, Piggy's is Adair's Saloon in Deep Ellum:

If you ever find yourself in Adair's celebrating a new oil well, I recommend the burger...one of the best in Dallas.  The Ewing gang decided on champagne instead.  You can see from the pictures that the Dallas production crew added quite a bit of set dressing for the scene, particularly to cover up any recognizable branding or advertisements but the saloon's character still comes through:

They also added some nondescript neon signs that I assume they took with them.  At the bar when John Ross talks with one of his guys you can barely make out the "PHARMACY" sign that is still visible today behind the bottles:

After his celebratory wheelin' and dealin', John Ross heads out to meet his mystery associate in the alley behind Adair's to do some double crossin'...Ewing style! 

By the end of the episode he needs to meet his associate once again for another secret meeting and chooses one of the most public places possible.  I don't have to tell you where this is:

Coming soon in our look at the second episode: John Ross picks and even more public place for his next secret meeting (HINT: "Howdy, folks!")