The EMI Production Blog

On Location #14 - The Cele Store

2012-01-23T07:32:00.000-08:00

Behold the Cele Store!

It's located in the middle of nowhere in Manor, TX and has been featured in several films like a few of the Texas Chainsaw Massacres although since there have been several sequels and remakes, I'm not particularly sure which ones.

Its rustic exteriors and interiors make it perfect for period pieces like the Clint Eastwood/Kevin Costner film "A Perfect World":

And for the film "Secondhand Lions":

Both films also shot interiors at the store but when I visited it was closed so I couldn't take any inside shots. You'll just have to wait until I make my way out there again. Both films also happen to be very good and have the rarity of getting thumbs up on the EMI blog!

So whenever you have some free time on your hands rent them both and have a Cele Store Double Feature!

Marking Time #19 - Dodd's Creek Bridge

2012-01-22T06:31:00.000-08:00

Salado, TX puts a lot of effort into giving off a "quaint" vibe. So much so that even their historic marker is quite quaint. Check out one of the few lenticular truss bridges west of the Mississippi:

The unique bridge was moved to this part of Salado to keep pedestrians safe as they walk through the impressive Salado Arts District.

The marker reads:

One of many patented truss designs developed by American inventors and engineers in the mid- to late-19th century, this 87-foot lenticular truss bridge represents an unusual truss type in the United States. The lenticular design features a curved top and bottom chord which forms a lens shape. The patent, issued to William O. Douglas of Connecticut in 1878, was the only one given for a lenticular truss bridge in the United States. Most were constructed in the New England area and in New York state. Through the efforts of William Payson, a salesman for Douglas' Berlin Iron Bridge Company, Texas acquired at least a dozen truss bridges in the late 19th century.
The Coryell County Commissioners Court contracted with the Berlin Iron Bridge Company to build four lenticular truss bridges for $16,500 in 1889. This bridge originally was located across Cowhouse Creek and later was moved to Dodd's Creek.
In 1990 the Texas Historical Commission and the Texas Department of Transportation identified eight lenticular truss bridges surviving in Texas. Four of the spans were located in San Antonio; the other four were positioned on out-of-service roadways. The only examples of this rare bridge type west of the Mississippi, they are recognized as historically significant engineering structures. The Society for Industrial Archeology and Historic American Engineering Record, a branch of the National Park Service, also have recognized the importance of the Texas lenticular bridges as products of a short-lived but important period of bridge technology in 19th century engineering history. The Dodd's Creek bridge was moved to this site in 1997 to improve the flow of traffic, protect pedestrians and enhance the Salado Historic District. (2000)

Like any good bridge, this one has a troll protecting it as depicted here in the sculpture "Billy Goat Gruff" by Troy Kelley.

The other side of the bridge has a sculpture titled "Lovers" by Aaron Gist.

And after you cross the bridge you are greeted by what can only described as a "Bicycle Fence."

The Geology Room at the Heard in McKinney, TX

2012-01-21T10:01:00.000-08:00

Devin takes a quick look at some of the specimens in the Geology Room at the Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary in McKinney, TX

On Location #13 - "Whip It" on 6th Street

2012-01-18T13:24:00.000-08:00

While we're in Austin we had to visit 6th Street. Our first stop was The Museum of the Weird but now we're going a little farther down the street for some more shooting locations from "Whip It."

At one point in the film there's the standard "love montage" featuring Whip It Girl & Whip It Boy having fun at various places in Austin. Here is looks like they just stopped by Roppolo's Pizza to have a slice and a quick piggy back ride:

Later they went down the street a few feet and took in a movie at The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema (which is one of the greatest movie theaters in the world despite the fact that they've never screened any of our films):

So that's another quick 6th Street visit. We've got at least one more before we leave Austin.

Fossil Hunt at the Museum of the Weird

2012-01-17T12:53:00.000-08:00

Mummies and monsters haunt the halls of the chilling, thrilling and confounding manic menagerie known to many as the Museum of the Weird in Austin, TX. From Big Foot to mermaids, the shelves of the museum are filled with the uncommon and the unnatural.

But what do they have for the geo-enthusiast? The rock hound? The fossil junkie? Well, that depends on how strict you are about that "reality vs. fantasy" thing. For example, how about some fossilized faeries?

If you are interested in something a little more grounded in reality (~~then why would you come here?~~) then check out the fossilized skull of a Chilotherium, a.k.a. the "Dino Rhino":

The bulk of the rest of the museum pieces seem to be creepy creatures and mangled monsters but another fossilized find can be found in the gift shop. Check out these sweet ammonite earrings:

So there's a quick geo-run down of this unique place. It can easily be qualified as one of the most awesome places in existence so the next time you are partying on 6th Street in Austin, take 10 minutes to go check out the weirdness!

Marking Time #18 - Iron Works BBQ

2012-01-15T08:21:00.000-08:00

A barbecue themed blog entry is long overdue so I hope you brought your appetites for today's installment of "Marking Time."

Iron Works BBQ is in downtown Austin and serves up heaping plates of smoked goodness with a side of history. The restaurant's site was the location for an actual family run iron works.

Their historical marker reads:

"Ironsmith Fortunat Weigl (1884-1973) migrated to Austin in 1913 from Germany with his wife Anna and sons F. Lee and Herbert. Work was scarce until 1917, when Weigl was commissioned by the noted local woodcarver Peter Mansbendel, who supplied a forge and tools. In 1922 Weigl established his own ornamental iron works, which he moved to this site in 1935. With the help of his sons, he produced original works, entirely hand wrought, for many significant Austin homes, the State Capitol, and buildings of the Universities of Texas and Texas A & M. His firm remained in operation until 1977."

So grab some lunch on your next history hunt. And if you need more convincing I'll leave you with this shot:

PepperGate

2012-01-12T16:55:00.000-08:00

In case you haven't heard the sad news about the results of the Dublin Dr Pepper lawsuit you can read about it HERE or HERE. The bottom line is that there will be no more Pure Cane Sugar Dublin Dr Pepper.

To give you some background on the whole Dublin Dr Pepper phenomenon here is some video we shot awhile back:

Cool, huh? Well, forget about it. While they'll still be bottling soda the old fashioned way, none of that soda will be the sweet, sweet Dr Pepper that we've all grown to love.

Need comforting? Me too. Let's head to the Twitterverse for reaction:

Food Network's Science-Food God Alton Brown had this to say:

The Artisan Baking Company is circulating an online petition:

Mega-soda mecca "Pops" on Route 66 in Arcadia, OK offered their condolences (and some short term solace):

Laura Seay found some good ol' American capitalism in the face of tragedy (see also eBay):

And finally, e.lugo recognizes that this and other recent events must be harbingers of the end times:

On Location #12 - "Whip It" in Austin

2012-01-11T08:16:00.000-08:00

"Whip It" is what you must do when a problem comes along. It is also the name of a movie about roller derby chicks and whatnot and it brings us to today's "On Location."

Here's a scene where Juno/Kitty Pryde/Whip It Girl gets off a bus in Austin. The location is on South Congress Avenue near Elizabeth Street and has some of the the Wacky Austin Shops™ in the background.

The most recognizable shop is Lucy in Disguise With Diamonds costume shop/clothing store/Wacky Austin Shop™. As you may have noticed, it has a great big Carmen Miranda Zebra on the roof.

You can see downtown Austin in the background. Apparently a giant skyscraper was built after the filming of the movie but the rest of the skyline is relatively the same. You can see the Capitol Building in the middle.

Austin and the surrounding area have had plenty of films shot there (like Office Space) so hopefully I'll stumble across a few more while I'm down here.

Marking Time #17 - The Hippos of Hutto

2012-01-07T09:34:00.000-08:00

When you visit the town of Hutto, TX (about 30 miles north of Austin) you can't help but notice the multitude of hippo statues. What gives? Well the town also has a Historic Marker which will hopefully shed some light on the situation.

The marker reads:

"Located near Shiloh, one of the earliest villages in Williamson County, this area was settled in 1855 by J. E. Hutto (1824-1914) and Adam Orgain, a former slave. Hutto sold land for this townsite to the International & Great Northern Railroad in 1876. A post office was established in 1877 with Hutto as postmaster. By 1882, the town had a school and a Baptist church. By 1898, there were six churches, a Masonic lodge, newspaper, hotel, bank, two gins, and several stores. Hutto grew rapidly after Swedish immigrants turned nearby farms to cotton production. The town was incorporated in 1911."

Ok, that really didn't help so here's the short version of the story: in 1915 a hippo escaped from a circus train and went about the business of hippo hi-jinks until the townspeople and animal trainers were finally able to catch him and return him to the train. Ever since then the town has had Hippo Fever!

The school even adopted the hippo as the official mascot and the town is riddled with hippo statues. Some say there are hundreds but I don't think anyone has ever done an official count.

On Location #11 - Office Space

2012-01-06T10:11:00.000-08:00

We're going to move a little farther south for today's "On Location"...all the way to Austin, TX, the home of beloved businesses like Initech & Chotskies!

You may remember the exterior of the soul crushing company from the move "Office Space." The offices look vacant today and there are some "For Lease" signs up if you'd like to spend some dough to recreate your favorite scenes.

The location of Chotskies Restaurant has definitely lost its flair...it's now a bank. And a bank that doesn't seem to like it when people show up to takes pictures, no less!

It was hard to try and copy the angle from the film to get the picture but you can still see the background building behind the trees that have grown up.

There's still a few more locations from this film I need to track down but right now I need to get back to work on those TPS Reports.

Cabbing Demonstration at the Houston Gem & Mineral Show

2011-12-30T09:34:00.000-08:00

This is a quick cabbing demonstration that we shot at the Houston Gem & Mineral Show

Marking Time #16 - Collin Street Bakery

2011-12-25T05:26:00.000-08:00

Just in time for Christmas: a fruitcake themed edition of "Marking Time"!

The Collin Street Bakery in 1896 in Corsicana, TX and is known all over the world for their famous fruitcake!

They create all kinds of other confections here but it is the fruitcake that brings in the crowds. And when they stop by they can take a gander at the historical marker:

The marker reads:

Opened two blocks north of this site in 1896, by August Weidmann, an immigrant baker from Wiesbaden, Germany, and W. T. McElwee, a local cotton buyer.
Combining the talents of a baker whose pride and joy was baking a better cake with the flare of a man whose business ability had a touch of the sensational was a move that resulted in a most unusual and successful business enterprise.
One of Weidmann's few assets was an unknown cake recipe. This was to become the famous original "deluxe fruitcake," today shipped to every state in the United States and to many foreign countries.
McElwee, a lover of sports and the theatre, built a rooming house over the bakery in 1906, and invited visiting baseball players, circus performers and vaudeville troupes to stay there. Soon guests were having fruitcakes shipped to friends in remote places.
Employees at the bakery during this era recall visits from Will Rogers, Enrico Caruso, John J. McGraw, "Gentlemen Jim" Corbett and many other celebrities. They also recall the day the great circus showman, John Ringling, and many of his famous performers stopped in an ordered Christmas cakes sent to their many friends in distant lands.

So there you have it! Merry Christmas!

Marking Time #15 - "Katy" & the Red River Railroad Museum

2011-12-22T13:17:00.001-08:00

All aboard for the next installment of "Marking Time"!

The marker near the Red River Railroad Museum in Denison, TX is all about "Katy" and it reads:

In 1865 the Union Pacific Railway southern branch was incorporated to build a railroad from the St. Louis-Kansas City area to the Gulf of Mexico. In 1870, with construction completed to the border of Indian Territory, the line was renamed the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad. This title was often shortened to M-K-T, which led to the familiar nickname by with the line is best known -- "The Katy."
Following the route of an old cattle trail, the Katy became the first railroad to cross Indian Territory, now the state of Oklahoma, and enter Texas from the north. On Christmas Day 1872, over 100 passengers rode the first Katy train into Denison, a new townsite named for M-K-T Vice President George Denison. The construction and acquisition of branch lines soon extended the Katy east to Greenville, west to Rotan and Wichita Falls, and south to Galveston and San Antonio. By 1904, the system had over 1,000 miles of track in Texas. The railroad transported cattle, cotton, and other crops to market. It also carried passengers on such trains as the "Texas Special" and the "Katy Flyer" before passenger service ended in 1965.
Today (1975) Denison is a division headquarters on the M-K-T and the home of about 600 railroad employees.

Here is some video we shot at the museum & depot:

(FUN FACT: We shot this about 30 minutes after Devin had left the emergency room after hurting his hand. We tried (and failed) to hide the bandage on his hand by having him stand behind stuff.)

The Dallas Museum of Nature & Science's Origami Tree

2011-12-15T15:07:00.000-08:00

The Dallas Museum of Natural History in (now known as the Museum of Nature & Science after merging with the science place) had a holiday tradition of putting up a tree and having their patrons decorate it with origami. We shot this a video a few years back:

Marking Time #14: Amarillo - Helium Capital of the World

2011-12-14T13:58:00.000-08:00

We head to the Texas panhandle for the next installment of "Marking Time"...all the way to Amarillo, Texas, home of big steaks, planted Cadillacs and, yes, helium.

It's true, Amarillo is sometimes known as the "Helium Capital of the World" due to amount of halium gas produced from the area. In 1968 this monument to helium (and is meant to resemble a helium molecule) was build an now stands outside the Don Harrington Discovery Center.

The historical marker reads:

"Erected 1968, commemorating the 100th Anniversary of discovery of helium in the gaseous atmosphere surrounding the sun. (The discovery of traces of helium on earth was first announced in 1895.)
The four time columns are filled with books, documents, and various artifacts that will tell future generations about life in 1968. After the time columns were filled, the caps were welded on and the contents sealed in a helium atmosphere. In twenty-five, fifty, one-hundred, and one thousand years from the time of filling, the four individual columns are to be opened.
Helium is an element which occurs in commercial volume in natural gas produced since 1918 from wells in the Texas Panhandle. In 1929 the first of several helium processing plants began operations near Amarillo. Large quantities of helium extracted from natural gas are stored underground northwest of Amarillo, and will provide a valuable source of supply for many years. Once used only in lighter-than-air craft, helium now serves vital needs in industry, science, and the nation's military and space programs."

As mentioned on the marker, the capsule contains four time capsules. The first one was opened in 1993 and the contents are on display inside the museum. The others will be open in 2018, 2068 and 2968!

I can't wait to see what's in there!

Marking Time #13: Morris Sheppard Dam & Possum Kingdom Lake

2011-12-02T13:48:00.001-08:00

It's been a while since we've done a "Marking Time" entry so let's head out to picturesque Possum Kingdom Lake to brush up on our local history with a side dish of geology.

Today's historical marker commemorates the impressive Morris Sheppard Dam at Possum Kingdom.

It reads:

"Built in response to disastrous Brazos River flooding, Morris Sheppard Dam and Possum Kingdom Reservoir were early attempts at water conservation and flood control in Texas. The U.S. Government funded $4,500,000 of the three-year, $8,500,000 project through the Works Progress Administration, a Depression era recovery agency. Named for U.S. Senator Morris Sheppard and completed in 1941, the dam is 2,740 feet long and 190 feet high. Nine spillway gates allow for the passage of flood waters and drift material. Power generating facilities consist of two 11,250-killowatt units which serve much of the surrounding area. The creation of Possum Kingdom Lake from the impounded waters of Morris Sheppard Dam sent bridges, roads and an entire town underwater. Recovery was initially slow, but quickly picked up after World War II with the establishment of major fishing lodges, camping areas and other recreational facilities. The growth and success of the area is a tribute to the spirit of the surrounding communities which continue to benefit from the project's original purposes of water conservation and supply, and hydroelectric power generation."

And on our last visit we shot some video about the lakes geology. Check it out:

On Location #10 - Go West

2011-12-01T13:40:00.000-08:00

This time we head out to the Big Bend area of west Texas to find our next filming location. Big Bend Ranch State Park contains what seems to be a deserted village but in actuality it is a completely fake movie set.

"Contrabando" was built for a film called "Uphill All the Way" but we today we'll look at it being featured in "Streets of Laredo" which was the sequel to "Lonesome Dove."

A lot of the movie takes place in "Ojinaga, Mexico" and the hovel seen in the background here:

And here we are getting some video of it:

Here's a wide shot from the film showing off more of the village:

And a similar shot with us visiting. You can see that a small church has been added to the background and other small changes but the mountains remain the same:

And you may ask, what were we shooting while we were there? I'm glad you asked. Here is the video we shot that shows off the movie set and explains some of the science behind the geology of the area and why it looks so darn cool:

On Location #9 - Small Town Double Feature

2011-11-28T09:03:00.000-08:00

Time for another "On Location"! Crandall, TX (just southeast of Dallas) is a small town like any other where nothing ever seems to happen but it has been the filming location for at least two major motion pictures!

1967's Bonnie and Clyde tells the true story of two Texas bank robbing lovers and was filmed in and around the Lone Star State. In this scene Gene Wilder is making time with his special lady while Bonnie & Clyde steal his car:

He then jumps into action in a vain attempt to stop the robbery. You can see that the house is still there but is in bad shape. I believe it was bought by the church next door and they are making restorations.

Later on in the film the duo are on Main Street in downtown Crandall:

You can see that a lot has changed but the water tower is still in the background:

Main Street also makes an appearance in 1999's "Boys Don't Cry." The Karate School has been replaced with a Mexican restaurant but not much else has changed since then:

On Location #8 - "Serving Sara" at Pioneer Plaza

2011-11-19T13:09:00.000-08:00

In the interest of full disclosure, I've never actually watched this movie:

But only because it looks absolutely horrible. "Serving Sara" came out in 2002 and the other day I scanned through it to pull these stills. So, with that complimentary introduction, let's get started!

Our first stop is what I like to call "the dome thingy outside Comerica Bank Tower" in downtown Dallas. In the film it was a steak restaurant:

But the most recognizable Dallas location is Pioneer Plaza (also in downtown). It's featured in a foot chase scene with Bruce Campbell and a sweaty, bloated Matthew Perry.

Campbell then runs past the Pioneer Plaza Cemetery and the Confederate War Memorial (which is in the opposite direction that he was running in the Plaza...movie magic!) on his way into the Convention Center.

And then some other stuff happens and then the movie ends. Roll credits!

In the interest of maintaining some educational content in the blog, here's a video segment we shot on Pioneer Plaza:

Dallas Heritage Village: Candlelight at Old City Park

2011-11-17T13:54:00.000-08:00

Devin enjoys the festivities at the Dallas Heritage Village's "Candlelight at Old City Park" event! This year is Candlelight's 40th Anniversary!

On Location #7 - "The Good Guys" in Fair Park

2011-11-15T12:26:00.000-08:00

Let's have another look at some Dallas shooting locations of the unjustly canceled Fox series "The Good Guys." This time our stop is Fair Park!

In episode #4 "The Dim Knight", an out of town chemical supplier meets with his translator right outside Centennial Hall. As they talk you can see the Hall of State in the background. (Later they go get hamburgers in a part of town that is not too far from there.)

In episode #8 "Silvio's Way" a duo of incompetent thieves target pharmacies. For some reason the producers thought that the Coliseum in Fair Park would make a great pharmacy in the episode...and it seems to work. (Later in the episode the thieves try to rob Raven's Pharmacy in south Dallas.)

In episode #12 Little Things" the guys take part in training kids for the police sponsored "Juniors Officers" program. They conduct the exercises at the Leonhardt Lagoon which is behind the Museum of Nature & Science and in front of the Cotton Bowl.

All right Junior Officers, I've only got one more episode of this show to watch so we'll see if our heroes managed to visit any other famous Dallas locations.

Highlights from the 2011 Veteran's Day Parade

2011-11-14T13:10:00.000-08:00

Here is some video we shot last week at the Veteran's Day Parade in downtown Dallas:

On Location #6 - Raven's Pharmacy

2011-11-09T11:54:00.000-08:00

Once again we had back to the streets of Dallas to track down another filming location for the short lived Fox series "The Good Guys." This time we end up at the semi-historic Raven Pharmacy which is in south Dallas on Jefferson Street and N. Adams Ave between Llewellyn and Bishop.

In the episode the store is robbed by some would-be thieves who botch the robbery and have to flee quickly (or else get ventilated by the clerk's shotgun). When they rush out you can see a few of the other businesses across Jefferson Street.

They quickly jump in their van and make their escape by heading east toward Bishop Ave.

So there ya have...short and sweet. I'm almost out of "Good Guys" episodes so you'll only have to put up with a few more of these and then I'll switch to movies.

Okie-pocalypse Continues!

2011-11-08T08:32:00.001-08:00

Another day, another Oklahoma earthquake (and tornadoes). Another Oklahoma earthquake, another set of Oklahoma earthquake tweets:

Record 5.6 Oklahoma Earthquake Wrap Up

2011-11-06T06:50:00.000-08:00

Last night Oklahoma had their biggest earthquake on record. Since we missed out on it here in North Texas we thought we'd do a wrap up of the online activity that came about from the Great Quake of 2011.

Starting off with some social networks, our own Devin Dennie was quick to express his unbridled excitement:

Oklahoma based comic book artist Paul Milligan was caught by surprise:

J.C. Chang, a Norman, OK based geo-scientist was all over the quake on twitter last night:

And he posted this picture from the Oklahoma City seismic station:

KJRH posted that there were no reported injuries (which is always good to hear) and mentioned the damage in Lincoln County:

Which was also covered by CNN they re-posted this video from KWTV:

But some of the best video may be Kirk Herbstreit's reaction as he experiences the quake on lived TV:

And finally, sometimes you just have to try to take things in stride...just like Jake the Great:

On Location #5 - Hank Hill Visits the Cadillac Ranch

2011-11-04T14:41:00.000-07:00

We're going to give the "Good Guys" the day off and take a look another another Texas TV show...perhaps the greatest: King of the Hill!

And even though it was animated the producers still used real life locations. For example, at the end of the Season 11 episode "Hank Gets Dusted," Cotton's beloved Cadillac is buried at the world famous Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, TX along the world famous Route 66!

The occasion is event is even more Texas-centric with he inclusion of ZZ Top. The non-animated version of the Cadillac Ranch looks like this:

And we should know because the Cadillac Ranch and other roadside art are the work of the great Stanley Marsh and we produced a documentary short on him a few years ago. Check it out:

Marking Time #12: Downtown Grapevine

2011-11-03T12:52:00.000-07:00

Today's "Marking Time" takes us to picturesque downtown Grapevine, TX where they have their fair share of history. Just driving down Main Street is a trip through time starting with the city's historical marker.

The marker reads:

"Wild mustang grapes growing profusely in this area inspired the name "Grapevine" for this community. Ambrose Foster (1794?-1847) and his wife Susannah Medlin (1796-1876) were among the first settlers in 1845, from Platte County, Missouri. The Fosters, their daughters and sons-in-law acquired land that became the heart of Grapevine. Within the first year worship services and school classes were conducted.
Cattle raising was the major enterprise prior to the Civil War. Beef cattle were sold to Camp Worth (present Fort Worth) by Archibald Leonard, Fosters' son-in-law, who owned a mercantile store. In 1858 a Federal Post Office was established and run by Solon Dunn. During the 1870s the village was also known as "Dunnville". In 1914 the name became "Grapevine". After the Cotton Belt Railroad line opened in 1888, the town thrived as a shipping center for cotton, grain, truck crops and dairy products. In 1907 Grapevine incorporated. By 1934 two major paved roads leading to Dallas and Fort Worth were constructed. A dam built in 1942 on Denton Creek formed Lake Grapevine. It serves as a water supply, flood control measure, and a recreational area. In 1974 the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport opened within the city limits."

The marker is amongst a myriad of shops and attractions and is right next to the Torian Log Cabin which has its own historical medallion.

The medallion reads:

"This cabin of hand-hewn logs was built along a creek at the edge of the Cross Timbers near the pioneer community of Dove. It originally stood on a headright settled in 1845 by Francis Throop, a Peters colonist from Missouri. J.C.Wiley bought the property in 1868. He sold it in 1886 to John R. Torian (1836-1909), a farmer from Kentucky. Torian family members occupied the structure until the 1940s. The cabin was moved about four miles to this site in 1976."

And right next to the cabin, in Liberty Park, is the "Walking to Texas" sculpture, which is the city's first piece of public art which salutes the first pioneers to come to the area. Very close to that is:

"The Sidewalk Judge" who is always eager for visitors to sit down and keep him company. But even farther down is a fully functional piece of history: The Tarantula Train!

A while back we shot some video of the "Murder Mystery on the Tarantula Train" event. Check it out:

And right behind the train is a functioning blacksmith shop:

Live blacksmithing demonstrations are given frequently and homemade metal items are for sale.

Devin was able to speak with the blacksmith and learn a little about the craft:

Marking Time #11: The Hall of State

2011-11-02T14:34:00.000-07:00

Today's "Marking Time" takes us to a building in Dallas that is dedicated to history: The Hall of State! (yeah, I know we've been hitting Dallas pretty hard in the blog lately but bear with us. We've got some other stuff planned soon)

So just like at the Fort Worth Stock Yards entrance, we've got an Historical Medallion instead of an Historical Marker but it definitely still counts:

The Medallion reads:

"Construction of this building, which served as the focal point of the 1936 Texas Centennial Central Exposition, was approved by the State Legislature to be "Texanic in proportion and Centennial in character." Designed by a team of Dallas architects, it is built of native Texas materials with ornamental representations of commerce and history. Completed during the 1930s Depression, it is one of the best examples of Art Deco architecture in Texas."

Outside the building you can see statues of former Dallas mayor R.L. Thornton and the "Tejas Warrior."

On Location #4 "The Good Guys" Return to Deep Ellum

2011-11-01T12:32:00.000-07:00

It's that time again...time to deconstruct the shooting locations of various scenes of a canceled TV show that most people don't remember. Yes, it's time to amuse myself by posting a blog entry that only I would be interested in: On Location #4 "The Good Guys" Return to Deep Ellum!

So in episode #8 the boys run afoul of some psuedo-mobsters and wacky hi-jinks ensue. The episode starts off at "The Thirsty Coyote" which you may recognize as the real life "Dancing Marlin." (They didn't even bother to take down the giant marlin from the sign.)

You may remember that this establishment made an appearance in the background of the pilot episode and you may remember that I recommended the Cobb Salad. Since I don't want to repeat myself, this time I'll recommend the Angel Hair Pasta with Garlic and Olive Oil and Shrimp/Scallops. It's really good.

So later in the episode we see that the pseudo-mobsters hang out at "Mama Mia's Italian Restaurant" which in real life is "Mama Mia's Italian Restaurant." Convenient, huh? They didn't even need to change the sign. I've never eaten there and it seems like a good thing because a quick Google search did not reveal very positive information about the establishment.

So when Jack has to stake out the restaurant he parks his car across the street at "Rudolph's Meat Market" which in real life is, you guessed it, "Rudolph's Meat Market." Just like when they shot at Thanksgiving Tower this is another example of incorporating the actual physical area into the scene/story because this place really is across the street from Mama Mia's.

All right, enough fin for today! Coming Soon: Raven's Pharmacy!

A Tribute to the Big Horn Mountains

2011-10-31T14:26:00.001-07:00

Here's a real quick video tribute to the beauty and majesty of the Big Horn Mountains in Wyoming. He visited there earlier in the year during Geo-RoadTrip 2011.

On Location #3 "The Good Guys" go Downtown

2011-10-29T07:50:00.000-07:00

Here we go again: Another episode of "The Good Guys," another Dallas shoot location. This time Thanksgiving Tower in downtown served as a bank that was going to be robbed. Here's the getaway driver's car parked out front:

Jack and Dan have the place staked out and as Jack waits in their sweet Trans Am, you can see the Press Box Grill behind him. A lot of times in TV shows and movies they don't shoot different angles of the same scene in the same location but this place really is across the street from Thanksgiving Tower.

Once the bank robbery is foiled you can notice the unique tiles that are in front of the building:

You can also see that they put up their own signage for the show ("Dallas Trust & Loan") which is not there in real life:

More shooting locations coming soon! (I'm really starting to get into this show.)

The Berlin Bear Statue at Fair Park

2011-10-28T07:57:00.000-07:00

Our buddy Weldon Adams points out one of his favorite statues in Fair Park in Dallas.

On Location #2 "The Good Guys" in South Dallas

2011-10-24T10:35:00.000-07:00

It's time, once again, to hit the streets and find the physical locations where our favorite TV shows and movies were shot. We're going to do another episode of the short lived Fox series "The Good Guys" (I told you there would be several of these).

In episode #4 "the Dim Knight," an out of town chemical supplier (who sells to meth labs) stops to grab a hamburger while his beleaguered translator talks on the phone.

The real location for this scene is Mr. Charlies Hamburgers on Good Latimer & Hickory in Dallas. This is not far from the Deep Ellum shooting location we mentioned earlier.

Normally I'd give a recommendation from the menu but even though I've driven past it several times I've never actually eaten there. But any place with a giant cartoon hamburger painted on the side of the building has GOT to be good.

Later our heroes Jack and Dan track a suspect to a sleazy motel. The real location for this scene is in fact, a real life sleazy motel! It's off of I-35 at Overton just south of downtown Dallas.

I had always assumed that this place had been shut down for years but when I stopped by there was a maid cleaning the rooms.

The iconic sign is easy to spot from the highway and made a great backdrop for the scene.

In the episode the boys find a guy trying to cook meth in one of the rooms. I didn't knock on any doors because it looked like a place where people would cook meth. So great job to the location scouts who picked it!

Tune in next time for some more interesting locations in your own backyard!

Devin Tours Rangers Ballpark in Arlington

2011-10-23T13:01:00.000-07:00

Devin takes a behind-the-scenes tour of Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, home of the Texas Rangers!

Marking Time #10: Texas Rangers and the Fence Cutters

2011-10-22T07:56:00.000-07:00

There's a ton of history at the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame & Museum in Waco. Outside you'll find monuments like this one to George Erath a former Ranger and one of the orignal surveyors of the area.

You'll also find this Historical Marker which brings us to today's "Marking Time."

It reads:

Before 1875 in Texas, cattle roamed over thousands of acres of public land, and free grazing became a tradition. After 1875, however, an increasing farm populace tended to protect crops and other property with barbed wire fences which were resented by stockraisers. Cattle losses in drouths of the 1880s provoked such widespread cutting of fences that the Texas government recognized this as a crime and in 1884 enacted laws and measures to curb the practice.
Texas Rangers were dispatched by the Governor at the call of County Judges and Sheriffs to apprehend the fence cutters. They operated from the Red River to the Rio Grande, and from the Panhandle to the Pine Woods of East Texas. Disguise and concealment were required, and one of the Rangers who won praise for his work pronounced it the most disagreeable duty in the world. The vigorous effort went on for some years. Finally, however, stockmen who had wanted to restore the open range were won over to fencing their own lands and using windmills to water their cattle herds. The Texas Rangers had in one more instance helped to stabilize life in the West.

Here's some video we shot a few years ago about the museum:

On Location #1 "The Good Guys" in Deep Ellum

2011-10-20T06:39:00.000-07:00

It feels like it's just about time to start up a new semi-regular feature here on the ol' blog so we proudly present "On Location" where we show pictures of various locations that we've stumbled upon that have been featured in TV or films.

Today we take a look at an episode of the short lived Fox series "The Good Guys" (they shot in Dallas so get ready for plenty of these types of entries) that was shot in the Deep Ellum section of Dallas.

In the pilot episode there is a shoot out at a pawn shop. The actual location was on Commerce Street and Crowdus Street and is currently vacant:

From this angle you can see that it is right next to the former "Coyote Ugly's" (which is now also currently vacant).

Behind our heroes, Bradley Whitford and Colin Hanks (Tom Hanks' son), you can see St. Pete's Dancing Marlin (I recommend the Cobb Salad, it's awesome...and HUGE) and the Angry Dog (get the hot dog...hold the onions). You can also see part of the downtown skyline.

And once the bad news goes down our boys hit the street. The bulk of this section of the street is vacant but the windows with the blue trim belong to Buzz Brews (I haven't eaten there yet so I don't have any recommendations. Although they serve breakfast and I definitely like that).

Tune in next time for more locations that we accidentally find!

Marking Time #9: The Dallas Zoo

2011-10-19T08:01:00.000-07:00

Today's "Marking Time" takes us to one of our favorite places to see our furry, fuzzy and feathered friends: The Dallas Zoo!

The original location of the Zoo was where Old City Park a.k.a Dallas Heritage Village is today and only started with two deer and two mountain lions.

The marker reads:

The Dallas Zoo traces its history to 1888, when the city purchased two deer and two mountain lions and placed them in pens in the City Park. In the 1890s, with the support of Dallas citizens, the City Council provided funds for the zoo, and additional animals were bought for the collection.
The zoo was located in the City Park (now Old City Park) until 1910, when the animals were moved to the newly acquired Fair Park. Under the leadership of Zoo Commissioner William H. Atwell, the zoo's collection was enlarged and improved, and a new site was purchased in Marsalis Park in Oak Cliff.
In the 1920s a special Zoo Commission was created by the city, and the collection was further developed with the acquisition of numerous specimens from famed game hunter and trapper Frank Buck. During the depression years of the 1930s the zoo facilities were upgraded with the help of the Federal Works Progress Administration Program.
The Dallas Zoo Society was organized in 1955. By the 1960s the zoo had become a popular local attraction, and more improvements were made. Still popular with both Dallas citizens and tourists, the zoo continued to entertain and educate the public.

Here is some video we shot a few years ago about the "Lacerte Family Children's Zoo" portion of the Dallas Zoo:

Marking Time #8: Mineola, TX

2011-10-18T07:54:00.000-07:00

Today the small East Texas town of Mineola provides us with our "Marking Time" entry.

This is one of many towns that sprang up thanks to the railroad.

According to the marker:

Since its establishment in 1873, the community of Mineola has been tied historically to the railroad and transportation industries. The Texas & Pacific Railroad planned to connect Longview and Dallas by rail, and began building west in 1872. Meanwhile, the Houston & Great Northern Railroad built northward from Troup. Several communities developed near anticipated depot sites, though they declined when the two railroads joined. The site was named Mineola; various stories recount the naming of the new settlement.

Additional rail lines soon connected to Mineola, which experienced impressive growth. The rail brought new residents, including a number of immigrant families, and made Mineola a shipping center for agricultural Wood County. The growth sparked the establishment of various institutions, including a newspaper, the Mineola Monitor; churches, beginning with St. Paul’s Baptist Church in 1871; a city cemetery, founded in 1873; a school system started in 1875 and becoming public in 1881; and First National Bank, which organized in 1898. An 1888 fire destroyed 18 buildings downtown, but the community quickly recovered.

In the early 20th century, transportation continued to affect Mineola, as the federal government built U.S. Highway 80 through the town. In 1929, the Texas 7 Pacific terminal in Longview relocated to Mineola; many families resettled here, sparking population and commercial growth. The railroads continued to be vital to the community until they declined in the 1950s.

In 1996, Amtrak revived passenger service to Mineola, restoring the town’s bond with rail. Today, Mineola continues to be a leading community in Wood County and east Texas.

The marker is found in the middle of town along with several items of railroad memorabilia.

Marking Time #7: Fort Worth Stock Yards Entrance

2011-10-17T09:26:00.000-07:00

Strap on your boots because today's "Marking Time" takes us to the Fort Worth Stock Yards. There is a ton of history at the stock yards so we won't even try to cover it all at once. In fact, we'll start at the beginning...or the entrance:

Ok, so this one is an Historical Medallion as opposed to an Historic Marker but just go with it:

The text reads:

Spanning Exchange Avenue, this gateway to the Fort Worth Stock Yards was completed in 1910. Constructed by the Topeka Bridge & Land Co. for the Fort Worth Stock Yards Co., it was a significant feat of concrete work for that era. The columns are 22 feet high and 13 feet in circumference. The sign is 36 feet long and 4 feet high. The entrance is a significant landmark in this historic area of Fort Worth. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark-1985.

We've also got some video at the Stock Yards that we shot a few years back for your viewing pleasure:

Marking Time #6: Downtown Tyler

2011-10-16T05:28:00.000-07:00

Courthouse Square in downtown Tyler has is full of history...and fountains.

So once again we get a double-shot of historic markers:

This one reads:

In area opened 1839 to white settlers by Republic of Texas victories over Cherokee Indians whose trails led the way to good springs, fine farmlands, useful salines. The first Legislature of the state of Texas named the town (founded 1846) for President John Tyler, who signed the resolution annexing Texas to the United States.
Originally a farm market, Tyler in early years had few men of wealth, but by 1860 was known for good schools, churches and cultured citizens. Several men here raised and commanded troops in Civil War. After mid-1863 this was transportation headquarters for Trans-Mississippi Department of the Confederacy. It had an ordnance factory and was site of Camp Ford -- the largest P.O.W. post west of the Mississippi.
In 1870s important as site of railroad shops and roundhouse. Developed industries, manufacturing, fruit and vegetable packing, shipping, expanding economy.
Furnished Texas with statesmen, including Governors Richard B. Hubbard (in office 1876-1879), O. M. Roberts (1879-1883) and James Stephen Hogg (1891-1895).
Upon discovery of nearby East Texas oil field in 1931, became investment, banking, servicing center. Home of Tyler Junior College; Annual Rose Festival.

And this one chronicles the first county agricultural extension agent:

At a time of low crop production and depressed farm economy, Smith County became the birthplace of the County Agricultural Agent concept. This occurred in an historic meeting Nov. 12, 1906, in an opera house near this site. Present were Dr. Seaman A. Knapp of the United States Department of Agriculture, County Judge S. A. Lindsey, and some 44 local leaders-- many belonging to the Tyler Commercial Club which sought to underwrite farm improvement.
Smith County that day appointed Wm. C. Stallings (1842-1916) the first county agent in Texas and the first in the nation to serve only one county.
Three years earlier the first cooperative farm demonstration program was begun on the Walter C. Porter property, Kaufman County. That successful application of scientific farming operations and appointment of Stallings (an outstanding farmer of the Dixie community, west of Tyler) were first steps toward establishment of the County Agricultural Agents' system, now known the world over as the Cooperative Extension Service. Today its educational programs further development of agricultural and human resources in both rural and urban areas.

The park area also contains several veteran memorials:

Marking Time #5: Eastland County

2011-10-12T11:32:00.000-07:00

Today's "Marking Time" entry take us to Eastland, TX where we get a double-shot of historical markers:

The one of the left reads:

"County seat, Eastland County. Named for William M. Eastland--Texas War for Independence hero who was in Mier Expedition against Mexico, and was executed in "Black Bean" lottery at Rancho Salado in 1842.
Most noted early local people were Comanches, who resisted occupation of area by white settlers. The last recorded Indian raid in county was in 1874.
Eastland was named county seat in an election on Aug. 2, 1875. With 250 people it was incorporated on June 6, 1891, and W.Q. Connellee was elected as mayor.
After a discovery in 1917, one of the fabled oil booms of Texas occurred nearby, with Eastland center for legal matters. With oil priced $2.60 a barrel, many wells flowed at 10,000 barrels a day. The city quickly grew to 25,000 people; 5 banks prospered.
Coming here to seek "black gold" were celebrities, including evangelist Billy Sunday, circus owner John Ringling, sports figures Jess Willard, Tex Rickard.
An international wonder-story happened here: the old courthouse cornerstone was opened (on this site) in 1928 to reveal survival of "Old Rip", a horned toad placed there with other mementoes on July 19, 1897.
Continuing oil production, agricultural processing and clay products bolster the present economy. "

And the one on the right:

"First known Eastland area inhabitant was Frank Sanchez (d. 1867), who grazed herds here in the 1850s. The United States in 1853 established Army posts at Fort Phantom Hill, in present Taylor County, and Fort Belknap, in present Young County, giving the frontier protection against hostile Indians. This opened a modest influx of settlers, including families named Bell, Birden, Birt, Blair, Ellison, Fitzwaters, Flannagan, Gilbert, Herring, Highsaw, McGough, Mansker, Melburn, Oliver, Owens, Richards, Shirley, Singleton, Upton, and Wyatt, from "old states" of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North and South Carolina, and Tennessee. The county was created, but not organized, in 1858. The U.S. Census for 1860 showed 99 residents. When Texas seceded from the Union in 1861, and Army garrisons withdrew, many pioneers left or took refuge at Blair's Fort, in southeastern part of the county.
Post-Civil War settlers included such leaders as Dr. Edwin Daniel Townsend, who arrived from Kentucky in 1871. The county was organized in an election held Dec. 2, 1873, with Merriman designated county seat (in violation of legislation creating the county). In 1875 the government was moved to Eastland, founded that year by investor Charles U. Connellee (1851-1930)."

Eastland has few interesting claims to fame like the 6-ft. x 10-ft. mural made from over 11,000 stamps at the post office:

But, of course their most well known resident is "Old Rip" the world famous horny toad:

Old Rip is a local legend and his coffin resides in the Eastland County Courthouse where people come from all over the world to pay their respects. (He was also the subject of one of our documentaries).

Marking Time #4: Texas School Book Depository Building

2011-10-10T08:30:00.000-07:00

Today's "Marking Time" entry takes us to downtown Dallas and the former Texas School Book Depository Building, the site of the assassination of JFK.

The location now houses the "6th Floor Museum" and chronicle's the life and death of President Kennedy.

The Historical Marker reads:

This site was originally owned by John Neely Bryan, the founder of Dallas. During the 1880s French native Maxime Guillot operated a wagon shop here. In 1894 the land was purchased by Phil L. Mitchell, president and director of the Rock Island Plow Company of Illinois. An office building for the firm's Texas division, known as the Southern Rock Island Plow Company, was completed here four years later. In 1901 the five-story structure was destroyed by fire. That same year, under supervision of the company vice president and general manager F. B. Jones, work was completed on this structure. Built to resemble the earlier edifice, it features characteristics of the commercial Romanesque Revival style.
In 1937 the Carraway Byrd Corporation purchased the property. Later, under the direction of D. H. Byrd, the building was leased to a variety of businesses, including the Texas School Book Depository.
On November 22, 1963, the building gained national notoriety when Lee Harvey Oswald allegedly shot and killed President John F. Kennedy from a sixth floor window as the presidential motorcade passed the site.

The area is a part of Dealey Plaza and contains a statue of George Dealey, former publisher of the Dallas Morning News.

Marking Time #3: World's Richest Acre

2011-10-09T11:12:00.000-07:00

Today's installment of "Marking Time" takes us out to East Texas where they had quite an oil boom awhile back. The HUGE amount of drilling is commemorated by the "World's Richest Acre" Park:

Which also has a State Historical Marker which reads:

Part of fabulous East Texas oil field discovered in 1930. This 1.195-acre tract had first production on June 17, 1937, when the Mrs. Bess Johnson-Adams & Hale No. 1 well was brought in.
Developed before well-spacing rules, this block is the most densely drilled tract in the world, with 24 wells on 10 lots owned by six different operators. This acre has produced over two and a half million barrels of crude oil; selling at $1.10 to $3.25 a barrel, it has brought more than five and a half million dollars.
A forest of steel derricks for many years stood over the more than 1,000 wells in downtown Kilgore, marking the greatest concentration of oil wells in the history of the world. Dozens of these derricks still dot city's internationally famous skyline.
Since 1930, the East Texas oil field has produced nearly four billion barrels of oil. It now has more than 17,000 producing wells, and geologists predict a future of at least 45 years for this "granddaddy of oil fields." Its development has attracted to the area many diversified industries and a progressive citizenship with a high degree of civic pride.

And as luck would have it we have a video for this one that we shot a few years ago:

Marking Time #2: World's Largest Jackrabbit

2011-10-08T07:35:00.000-07:00

Today's Marking Time entry is the pride of Odessa, TX: The World's Largest Jackrabbit!

The marker reads:

True plains Rabbit. Lives only in the west. Burro-like ears gave him his name. color is protective, blending with sand and dry grass. Very long legs make him a swift runner, clocked at speeds to 45 miles and hour. Object of hunts with Greyhounds. Was prized by plains Indians for food and fur. to white man a reminder of desert-hard life. In drouth and depression, meat source for thousands. Subject of tall tales. Actual hero of world's only Jackrabbit Rodeo, in Odessa, May 1932.

You can see how it maintains it's "World's Largest" status by towering over geologist Devin Dennie.

Eating Gluten Free at the State Fair of Texas

2011-10-06T07:03:00.000-07:00

Here's some video we shot earlier this week about eating gluten free at the State Fair of Texas for the "From Cows to Quinoa" blog.

Marking Time #1: The B.W.J. Wofford Home

2011-10-05T11:37:00.000-07:00

In our travels we are constantly running across State Historical Markers. The typical reaction by most travelers is to ignore these points of posterity in an effort to get where they are going. But the focus of each of the markers is to remind weary road goers of important people, places and events of the past. And as the expression goes, those who forget history are doomed to repeat it...

To that end, we are introducing a new feature on the blog: "Marking Time." Each Marking Time entry will focus on one historical marker. While we won't go terribly in depth with the history of the marker, we will show off it's location and hopefully remind roadtrippers to take a look around on their next journey and possibly appreciate what a great learning tool the open road can be.

Our first Marking Time entry is the B.W.J. Wofford Home:

The home was relocated to the East Texas Arboretum in Athens, TX.

The marker reads:

Bushrod W. J. Wofford Bushrod William John "Bush" Wofford was born in February 1832 to William M. and Mariah Frances Johnston Wofford in Madison County, Alabama. He grew up an only child in Tippah County, Mississippi. His parents died when he was a young man, and he came to Texas in the early 1850s.
In 1852, Wofford married Martha A. Miller of Anderson County, Texas. The following year, he bought 320 acres of the Matthew Goliher Survey near Fincastle (25 mi. Se). He built a house, using hand-hewn logs, handmade bricks and, perhaps, an existing cabin structure. His first son, George M. Wofford, was born in February; Martha died a few months later.
Wofford remarried to Frances Eliza Ayres of Tippah County in 1855, bringing her to his Fincastle home. It is believed she initiated additions to the cabin, including a long, front gallery porch, two log rooms and a dog run, and clapboard siding. Between 1855 and 1878, Bush and Eliza had nine children, many of whom lived to become successful residents of Henderson County.
During his long life, Wofford worked as a farmer and owned a Fincastle mercantile business, called Wofford & Son. He also served as a lieutenant in a reserve unit from Fincastle during the Civil War. Eliza and Bush moved to Athens in 1890. He died in 1891, and he is buried with Eliza at the Athens City Cemetery.
The house remained in Fincastle until 2001, when the family donated it for relocation to this site. Wofford descendants provided funds for the restoration of the house and its use as a museum.

Outside the house is a recreation of the family's garden which is enjoyed by visitors to the arboretum.

While we won't be able to catalog every historical marker (there are tons of 'em) we will feature as many as we can and look forward to the journey.

Pictures From This Year's Visit to the State Fair

2011-10-04T08:50:00.001-07:00

Here are some pictures from our visit to the 2011 State Fair of Texas!

This year's Butter Sculpture:

A fairly underwhelming world record:

Angry Birds in crochet form! (which, in my opinion, really should have placed higher than "Honorable Mention)

Why does "Fried Chicken Skin" not get more publicity?

The winners and judges from the Spam Cook-Off:

2011 State Fair of Texas Opening Day Parade

2011-09-30T13:59:00.001-07:00

Geo-Walk: Gneiss & Easy

2011-09-15T07:58:00.000-07:00

Devin has a nice time checking out some nice gneiss.

Geo-Walk: Lake Mineral Wells State Park

2011-08-27T07:34:00.000-07:00

Devin takes a walk around Lake Mineral Wells State Park to view some of the local geology:

Geology Candy

2011-08-24T08:35:00.000-07:00

The next time you get all of your rockhound buddies together for a shindig you can now provide some appropriate treats like:

Chocolate Rocks

Gold Nugget Bubble Gum

Rock Candy Crystals

Dinosaur Egg Jawbreakers

The Birds of the World Show at the State Fair of Texas

2011-08-08T08:23:00.000-07:00

The State Fair of Texas will be here sooner than you think but until then you can watch this video we just uploaded that we did a few years ago about the "Birds of the World" show that happens every year at the fair.

Oklahoma Archeology: Certain Bison Kill Site

2011-08-02T14:32:00.000-07:00

Dr. Lee Bement form the Oklahoma Archeological Survey talks about the Certain Bison Kill Site near Elk City, Oklahoma.

This is an extended version of a clip from the documentary film "Oklahoma Rocks!"

Geo-RoadTrip 2011

2011-08-01T11:17:00.000-07:00

Without further ado, we present Geo-RoadTrip 2011:

Sweeping Changes

2011-07-20T15:18:00.000-07:00

As a bit of a postscript to "Geo-RoadTrip 2011," we present one last parting gift from the road.

The giant Chimney Sweep Statue greets people on I-135 between Wichita and McPherson, Kansas. He's a striking site that comes out of nowhere while you're in the middle of nowhere. His roguish smile and Dick Van Dyke-esque demeanor conveys a sense of old school chimney sweepery that is sadly missing in our modern world of dirty smoke stacks.

However, as many people do, he started out in a different industry before his career change:

Happy Chef is/was a chain of restaurants in the Midwest that each had Happy Chef statues out front greeting hungry travelers with a smile and a spoon. They also had a button you could push to hear the Happy Chef give you, what I assume was, a happy message.

Sadly most chefs are gone but some have been re-purposed like our friend here. If you're one the road in the middle of Kansas, stop by and say "hi."

Geo-RoadTrip 2011: Prairie Dog Town

2011-07-01T07:46:00.000-07:00

At this point in the trip we went south through Colorado and cut back across Kansas to return home. We were exhausted but you're never too tired to skip a classic roadside attraction and so that's why we stopped at the Prairie Dog Town in Oakley, KS:

Like any good roadside attraction they have a pit full of rattlesnakes:

Devin made friends with a donkey. He wanted to take him home with us but we couldn't figure out how to fit him in the car.

So this is what a five-legged cow looks like:

And of course this is also the home of the World's Largest Prairie Dog:

The prairie dogs had the run of the grounds and they didn't mind stealing the other animals' food:

Well that's the last set of pictures from "Geo-RoadTrip 2011"! Thanks for coming along with us. We'll post the short film of the trip soon!

Geo-RoadTrip 2011: The Fossil Cabin

2011-06-30T08:33:00.000-07:00

Not far from Medicine Bow, WY, near the Como Bluff area, stands the fossil cabin! It was built and 1932 and claims to be made up of 5,796 different dinosaur fossils that were excavated nearby.

Here's a closer look at some of the fossils:

They also make the claim that Como Bluff is the "Geological Loction of Petrified Life"...whatever that means.

There is a house next to the cabin had some pretty big fossils on display out front but they also had a sign saying that they were gun owners and did not appreciate trespassers. So we got this quick shot and got right back on the road.

Video coming soon!

Geo-RoadTrip 2011: The Medicine Bow Museum

2011-06-29T08:30:00.000-07:00

We made a stop in Medicine Bow, WY to see the Medicine Bow Museum but unfortunately it was closed at the time we got there so we had to make due with getting pictures of the outside:

Including this monument to local cattle ranchers and their brands:

There were also some monuments to author Owen Wister (author of The Virginian) who was known as the father of western fiction:

This Wister monument us made of petrified wood (which pleased the geologists in our group):

And just across the street is the historic Virginian Hotel, thought to be named after the novel Wister wrote in Medicine Bow.

Geo-Road Trip 2011: Shell Falls

2011-06-28T08:06:00.000-07:00

Our next stop along the Bighorn Scenic Byway is the beautifully majestic Shell Falls:

The massive, raging waterfall pours over steeply pitched granite and into a flowing creek:

Here's one of the smaller falls that can be seen in the area:

It was a great location to take the EMI group picture:

Video coming soon!

Geo-Road Trip 2011: Red Gulch Dinosaur Tracksite

2011-06-27T11:48:00.000-07:00

Today's stop is at the Red Gulch Dinosaur Tracksite near Shell, WY. They've got a nice little area to view some preserved dinosaur tracks:

One of the tracks of a three toed Theropod:

Devin gets a closer look at one of the dino footprints:

Another three-toed track:

As usual, video coming soon!

Geo-RoadTrip 2011: Petroglyphs

2011-06-26T06:35:00.000-07:00

We're still tooling around in the Big Horn Mountains at this point in the trip and we decided to check out one of Wyoming’s premier archaeological sites.

Here are some pictures of some of the petroglyphs (Native American rock carvings) that are found at Medicine Lodge Archaeological Site (they are easier to see if you click the pics for the larger image):

Video coming soon!

Geo-RoadTrip 2011: The Bighorn Mountains

2011-06-25T06:25:00.001-07:00

For the next road trip entry we've got several shots of the beautifully diverse and extremely photogenic Bighorn Mountains and Bighorn National Forest:

Video coming soon!

Geo-Road Trip 2011: Ayres Natural Bridge Park

2011-06-24T09:35:00.000-07:00

Our next stop in Wyoming took us to the beautiful Ayres Natural Bridge Park. This area was close to the Oregon Trail and was one of Wyoming's first tourist attractions.

Devin gets a look at the bridge from the bottom:

And the top:

And here's a semi-out of focus shot of a sign there that explains a little about the park.

An old Indian legend says that a young brave was struck by lightning and killed on the bridge and that an evil spirit lives beneath. We didn't see any evil spirits...just other tourists.

Video coming soon!

Geo-Road Trip 2011: World's Largest Jackalope

2011-06-23T08:25:00.000-07:00

Our next stop on the Geo-Road Trip 2011 took us to what may or may not be the World's Largest Jackalope in Douglas, Wyoming:

There's always controversy surrounding anything that claims to be the World's Largest Something so I usually take it with a grain of salt. I think this one is slightly larger than the one I saw in South Dakota but can't be sure without seeing them side by side (which would be really cool).

The Jackalope sits next to the Douglas Chamber of Commerce and the Douglas Railroad Interpretive Center so here are some bonus train pictures:

And yet another bonus! Remember when we mentioned we were shooting a quick Food Field Review before we left on this trip? Of course you do.

Here it is: Devin takes on both the Tactical Sammich and the Candwich:

Geo-Road Trip 2011: Famous Formations

2011-06-22T08:52:00.000-07:00

Our road trip took us to Nebraska next where we saw some historically significant rock formations. Rock formations like these were often used by pioneers, trappers and travelers to help navigate the the difficult journey across the west.

Here's Court House Rock & Jail Rock (sorry that they are so small in the frame. They were really far away from the road!):

And some information about them:

Next is Chimney Rock:

And its historical marker:

Which was next to monuments commemorating the Oregon Trail:

And the Pony Express:

Tomorrow the journey continues with more pictures from the trip!

Geo-RoadTrip 2011: The Sternberg Museum

2011-06-21T14:35:00.000-07:00

One of the first stops on the historic Geo-RoadTrip 2011 was at the Sternberg Museum on the campus of Fort Hays State University in Hays, KS. We were very impressed by the place and definitely recommend it. Here are some pictures:

Devin checks out one of the "Terrors of the Deep."

They've got a multitude of giant dinosaurs on display (and some of them move which is very surprising).

One of the museum's big claim to fame is the "Fish-Within-A-Fish" fossil.

I'm always a sucker for a good fluorescent rock display!

Devin checks out yet another sea creature (he loves 'em)!

Thanks to Fort Hays State University for putting together some great exhibits! Check out the museum online:

http://sternberg.fhsu.edu/

(Video coming soon!)

Road Trip 2011: Prelude

2011-06-16T21:33:00.000-07:00

Shooting a quick "Food Field Review" before we leave in a few hours:

Eruption/You Really Got Me Going

2011-05-24T07:51:00.000-07:00

Here's some great footage by filmmaker Jon Gustafsson of the Icelandic volcano Grimsvötn erupting:

Volcanic Eruption in Grimsvotn, Iceland May 21 2011 from Jon Gustafsson on Vimeo.

Check out Bad Astronomy for more on this.

Dinosaurs Unearthed in 90 Seconds

2011-04-25T14:36:00.000-07:00

This past weekend we visited the "Dinosaurs Unearthed" exhibit at the Museum of Nature & Science. Think of this as a highlight reel:

And check out our pictures:

"Dinosaurs Unearthed" in Dallas, a set on Flickr.

The Snakes of Cedar Hill State Park

2011-03-09T09:21:00.000-08:00

Here's a quick look at some of the snakes found at Cedar Hill State Park:

Devin Visits the Texas Reptile Expo

2011-02-10T11:30:00.000-08:00

Looking for a new exotic pet? Devin investigates the possibilities at the Texas Reptile Expo:

Makes your dog and cat look kind of boring, doesn't it?

Magic Rocks with The Thing

2011-02-09T07:36:00.000-08:00

There's nothing like a wholesome, educational activity to help slow down the inevitable onset of insanity that comes from being snowed in for over a week. And since I don't have "Vincent Price's Egg Magic" handy we'll go with the other old standby: Magic Rocks!

Since our usual geologist is unavailable we'll need the help of another rock expert. And who is more intimately familiar with colorful rocks than our old pal The Thing from the Fantastic Four?

So first we're going to remove the contents of the package which include our tiny little display tank, small bag of colorful rocks and a big ol' bag of eye irritating "magic solution."

We mix the solution (I totally got a ton of it in my eye) with water and you know what comes next:

And like any super fun activity, there is plenty of waiting...

Over an hour later:

And another hour (actually a little over an hour):

Over two hours later:

2 - 3 hours later:

Over twelve hours (What? I got sleepy) later:

So what did we learn here? Anyone?

Well, at the very least I don't think you're supposed to put the little rocks so close to the front of the display tank or you'll get the big ugly wall of "magic" that we see on the left side of the tank. Like most scientific experiments we learned more from failure than success.

Other than that...I don't know. Feel free to give it a try yourself though:

The Angels of Bass Hall

2011-01-29T07:24:00.000-08:00

Bass Performance Hall in downtown Fort Worth, TX has an impressive exterior:

Food Field Review: Backpacker's Pantry Potatoes & Gravy with Beef

2011-01-21T12:05:00.000-08:00

This time Devin Dennie, the Hungry Geologist, reviews Potatoes & Gravy with Beef from Backpacker's Pantry:

Agree? Disagree? Want to try it for yourself? Click below:

Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame

2011-01-20T08:17:00.000-08:00

Here's a look at the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame located in the Fort Worth Stock Yards:

Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site

2011-01-18T11:24:00.000-08:00

Here is some Civil War battle footage we shot awhile back at Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site in Mississippi (NOTE: It's also the location where we got that snazzy Civil War fashion footage we posted earlier).

Dr Pepper Bottling Plant in Dublin, TX

2011-01-14T08:44:00.000-08:00

For those of you that enjoyed our trip to the Dr Pepper Museum in Waco but would still like a second taste of the sweet stuff, we present the Dr Pepper Bottling Plant in Dublin, TX where they still brew the bubbly the old fashioned way:

For more wacky Lone Star road trips check out the Tall Tales of Texas DVD.

Food Field Review: Mountain House Scrambled Eggs With Bacon

2011-01-12T12:51:00.000-08:00

In the Food Field Review Devin Dennie, the Hungry Geologist, reviews camp cuisine so you won't have any surprises on your next camp out.

First up is Scrambled Eggs with Bacon from Mountain House:

Want to try it yourself? Click below:

Road Does Not End

2011-01-11T08:22:00.000-08:00

This is a short film we made a few years ago about legendary artist Stanley Marsh 3, the creator of the world famous Cadillac Ranch located on Route 66 in Amarillo, TX:

Here are some of the festivals where it screened:

San Antonio Underground Film Festival
Listen With Your Eyes Video
Gulf Coast Film and Video Festival
Tulsa Overground Film Festival
Dallas Video Festival
deadCENTER Film Festival

Devin Learns How to Play Paintball

2011-01-07T10:51:00.001-08:00

On one of our many trips to Lake Texoma, Devin took up the sport of paintball:

He seemed to like it.

Rock Stars

2011-01-06T07:29:00.000-08:00

Artist Eduardo San Gil recently gave the internet his unique view of his favorite fictional rocks & minerals:

I think he should have also added a grain of salt to the graph.

Devin Visits the Gateway Arch in St. Louis

2010-12-29T08:56:00.000-08:00

Devin takes a trip to the top of the Gateway Arch and visits the Museum of Westward Expansion in St. Louis.

Earth & Energy Article About Devin

2010-12-27T08:06:00.000-08:00

Here's an article about Devin from the University of Oklahoma's "Earth & Energy":

That's no moon! Oh wait, yeah it is

2010-12-21T10:13:00.000-08:00

In case you couldn't stay up for last night's Winter Solstice Lunar Eclipse, here's some morning-after time-lapse love courtesy of William Castleman from the University of Florida:

The Possum Story

2010-12-14T08:09:00.000-08:00

Ever have one of those days where you find a possum and don't know what to do with it? We did. Here's the story:

The Red Menace

2010-12-03T11:48:00.000-08:00

There's a new type of be in town...a Red Bee!

No, not the wildly unpopular comic book character (who most certainly did NOT make the cut for our Best Geology Themed Comic Book Characters list).

We're talking about a new wave of bright red bees spotted in New York. Their new crimson makeover comes from drinking too much maraschino cherry juice. Sound too weird to be true?

Check out the news story:

Bug lovers may be all abuzz about these new red bees but nothing beats the classic color scheme. Awhile back Devin checked out the bees and other bugs at the former Science Place (now known as the the Museum of Nature & Science) and now you can too:

Civil War Fashion

2010-11-27T14:07:00.000-08:00

This one is for the ladies!

We shot this a few years ago during a reenactment at the Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site in Tupelo, MS.

(Don't worry, we got plenty of cool battle footage too.)

The Rock Food Table

2010-11-21T05:19:00.001-08:00

Yesterday we posted pictures from the 2010 Dallas Gem & Mineral Show. The show had the world famous Rock Food Table on display. Here are some pictures:

Bill & Lois Pattillo tour the country with the table and are happy to answer any and all questions.

And, yes, these are all rocks. No real food.

If the table seems familiar it might be because we included it in our documentary "Rockhounds: The Movie." Here's a clip from the film:

Thanks again to Bill & Lois!

Dallas Gem & Mineral Show Pictures

2010-11-20T13:42:00.000-08:00

The Dallas Gem & Mineral Show was this weekend and, of course, we had to visit. Here are some pictures:

For more information check out the DGMS website:

http://www.dallasgemandmineral.org/

Where the Wild Things Are Manufactured

2010-11-15T13:17:00.000-08:00

What? They make robot dinosaurs in the DFW metroplex and I didn't know?!? How did that one get past me?

Anyhoo, here's a look behind the curtain:

I can definitely recognize a few from the "Dinosaurs Alive!" exhibit we sat at the Heard.

Knap Time

2010-11-12T07:54:00.000-08:00

Here's another video we shot at the Houston Gem & Mineral Show:

Bud Trammell from the Slab House demonstrates knapping and shows off some of his homemade tools.

Earthquake vs. Railroad Tracks

2010-11-11T08:07:00.000-08:00

"Your puny railroad tracks are no match for my big, honkin' earthquake!"
- Mother Nature, 2010

Dave Petley at the Landslide Blog has posted pictures of some earthquake aftermath in New Zealand. One of the wackier pictures involves railroad tracks that are now officially Wibbly Wobbly™ in their post-earthquake form. Check out the link for pics or this link for other pics.

New Video: Polymers - A Science Thing!

2010-11-09T09:07:00.000-08:00

We've uploaded a new video to YouTube. So for those of you who were craving a short explanation/demonstration of polymers, you're in luck!

This was shot at the Houston Gem & Mineral Show a few years ago.

Our Friend Dirt

2010-11-08T08:05:00.000-08:00

Our friend Weird Al Yankovic takes a special look at our friend dirt:

Giant German Sink Hole

2010-11-02T08:18:00.000-07:00

ITN provides video from the German town where a giant, car swallowing sink hole recently opened up:

Dinosaur Skull Found in Church

2010-10-30T06:37:00.000-07:00

It's good to finally see a nice, church-goin' dinosaur.

Discovery News is reporting that a dinosaur skull was found embedded in marble at the Cathedral of St. Ambrose in Vigevano near Milan.

Click HERE to read the story.

Museum of Rocks & Minerals Stalked by Moss Man?

2010-10-29T07:09:00.000-07:00

Was the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals almost burgled by a Moss Man? And what the heck is a Moss Man, anyway?

Well it may be a particular ghoul who looks a little something like this:

Picture Courtesy of BakersfieldNow.com

Here's the full story from the Today Show:

Halloween hi-jinks or monster mineral mash & grab? You be the judge.

More information on the story is available from the Washington Post and check out the website for the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals. It looks like a great museum with some very interesting specimens. But when you plan your visit leave your Halloween costume at home.

Penn Farm Agricultural History Center

2010-10-27T07:36:00.000-07:00

We've uploaded a new video:

Devin tours the historic Penn Farm at Cedar Hill State Park.

Crazy Tornado Footage

2010-10-26T07:32:00.000-07:00

Here is some wild tornado footage courtesy of CNN:

This was recorded in Rice, TX during the recent storms.

New Dinos in Town!

2010-10-25T07:48:00.000-07:00

Nothing gets us more excited than robot dinosaurs of various types! So we definitely hope to visit the new "Dinosaurs Unearthed" exhibit at the Museum of Science & Nature that recently opened. The museum was kind enough to post a short video of the dinosaurs being unloaded:

And here is the official trailer for the traveling exhibit which should give you a good idea of what it's all about:

Yea! Robot dinosaurs!