Finally in Dallas

[Laurie Marr]

After a few days in New Orleans where I had some music gigs, I arrived in Dallas a few hours ago. Won’t go downtown until tomorrow as we’re at a hotel close to The Galleria (which featured several times on the show). The view from my hotel window is rather nice.

I want to ask my TellyTalk friends what locations are worth checking out downtown? Still confused about the location of the Ewing Oil building, for example! We’re making our pilgrimage to the hallowed turf of Southfork on Friday.

 

[Michelle Stevens]

Renaissance Tower (the Ewing Oil build for most of the TV run) is within walking distance of Dealey Plaza, several blocks from what I remember to the east. 2100 Ross Avenue is where the Oil Barons Club was.

Have fun in Dallas!

 

[Laurie Marr]

Thank you!!!! That helps a lot. Texas State Fair tomorrow too in downtown Dallas - so a busy day.

 

[bmasters9]

We’re making our pilgrimage to the hallowed turf of Southfork on Friday.

I bet that'll be fun, seeing how television magic was made all those years on CBS, and seeing where it happened (albeit it was a set in California for much of the run).

 

[Laurie Marr]

We are now in Las Vegas, but wanted to share with you some photos of my time in Dallas. I will provide a more considered review later, but meantime here are some pics of locations associated with the show - Ewing Oil, JRE Industries, Thanksgiving Square, Barnes Wentworth, and - of course - Southfork.

 

[Michelle Stevens]

You hit all the landmarks of the series. Looks as if you had great weather in Texas. I hope you had a good time. Enjoy Las Vegas!

 

[bmasters9]

We are now in Las Vegas, but wanted to share with you some photos of my time in Dallas. I will provide a more considered review later, but meantime here are some pics of locations associated with the show - Ewing Oil, JRE Industries, Thanksgiving Square, Barnes Wentworth, and - of course - Southfork.

That is something else, seeing what Dallas is like these days (and love the memorabilia from the hit CBS serial as well, including that script page).

 

[Rove]

Love, love, love and thank you, thank you, thank you. Your images are stunning and I can only dream I make it to Dallas and Southfork one day. Stud Barn? Did they name that barn after Ray Krebbs and his infamous dalliance with his niece? The one image I really like is that long driveway, lined with trees which have really grown into the property. Beautiful.

 

[Laurie Marr]

Dallas is such a handsome city. It is sprawling, though - especially what natives call the metroplex.

What I found surprising, though, was just how close the tv locations were to each other (apart from the gold towers). Thanksgiving Square is just behind the Ewing Building on Elm and JRE Industries is only 5 minutes walk on Main. Even the San Jacinto tower on Ross is at most a 10 minutes stroll. So: to my telly talk friends who are planning a trip, be assured that walking isn’t a problem.

Another surprise was just how close Dealy Plaza is to this cluster of locations. Again, only 5 minutes to the bottom of Elm. My visit there was especially memorable. Now that I’ve seen with my own eyes the configuration of that building, the grassy knoll, and the street - I am even less convincedthe horrible event that happened there could have originated with one crazed assassin.

Southfork? Yes, as many posters have stated in the past, the exhibition looks dated and the interior of the house looks tacky. But, oh my, I wasn’t prepared for just how beautiful the ranch was. I spent over an hour by the house and around the barns almost entirely by myself. The place is very peaceful and far exceeded my expectations. Once the next round of development takes place I fear this serene quality will be lost forever - so please visit soon if it’s on your bucket list.

As far as updating the attraction is concerned, replicating the Calder house set was never an option. However, they should probably repurpose the rooms with modern exhibition installations that could pay tribute to the show, but also maybe broaden the appeal of the house as a tourist attraction. A museum of ranching? The oil business in Texas? Just a thought.

Visiting Southfork for me was such a buzz and it genuinely felt like meeting a friend that I’ve known all my life but had never met. Standing alone on that balcony and surveying that famous scene with birds chirruping nearby will linger long in the memory. In that moment the convergence of fiction and reality, of the Ewing story and my story, of who I once was and who I was today, seemed to blend into a sweet and seamless inevitability that was surprisingly moving.