How about we make a record of UF08 (and 07 for that matter) to let people who didn’t make it what it was all about. We all have photographs to begin with. Anyone want to share any stories would be great such as seeing the Marfa lights and encounters with the deputy sheriff of Alpine Texas!
I will do my part with day one of UF 2008 from a West Texas resident’s view.
I picked up a long time friend of mine, Larry Hill, that has been on many a Fandango with me over the years and two friends that worked on the crew of the movie early Friday morning and headed for Pecos. Hal Semple and Lamont Furlow and their parents worked on the movie and are a wealth of information and stories from a different perspective than a fan or actor. They talked non stop about different locations and people and behind the scenes situations. You have to keep telling yourself that this was a job for them and a very good one for the economic situation in West Texas at the time.
Lamont remembered making about $1500 a week on the movie.
We had breakfast in Pecos and drove on to the Toyah school. Like most of the buildings used in the movie, it is very close to extinction. We did venture into the basement dodging bees and pigeons but noticed no spider webs........bats keep the bugs out. Chuck and the guys got a late start from El Paso and thanks to modern communication, we found the post on the Fandango site via I-phone that told us to meet them at Chata’s.
We got to Chata’s and hour before the rest showed up and had plenty of time to scout around for souvenirs and inspect Chata’s. It really looks bad as you can see by my pictures. When the El Paso group did show up, we met the group and offered a Shiner to everyone. I don’t drink, but Larry had volunteered the beer and a bottle of DOM (the cheap kind) and I had furnished the white styrofoam ice chest. We took lots of pictures, video and listened to some great stories.
After Chata’s we headed in to Pecos and Chuck rode with myself, Hal and Lamont. The questions, answers and discussions from these three that had been there and done that was great. Being from West Texas and seeing Chata’s and the Pecos Parachute School many many times(my wife is from Pecos and I worked for Goodyear there in the 70's).
One of the most enjoyable parts of the UF was having lunch with these guys all around one big table in Pecos.. We stayed in the restaurant for nearly two hours visiting and telling stories.
Larry had also brought red bandanna’s for everyone and we all signed them and passed around some of my Fandango stuff as well as Chuck’s picture album from the movie.
Lamont had taken his mother’s pictures from the movie and had them copied and passed them around for everyone to ooh and aah over. Chuck downloaded them into his laptop and we will see more of those when Chuck catches up. I really enjoyed visiting with Eddie, Andy and Peppe and listening to their thoughts about West Texas and the food, Cheeseburgers and Catfish for lunch. Ian and Doug appreciated the duplicate daily call sheets that I had for everyone and it was great to visit with them also. Chuck also signed my movie poster and my Hulk comic, which improves my Fandango collection.
We headed for the Pyote airbase and again Chuck rode with us and we got to know him a little better. He is a great guy and you can tell how much he appreciates all the fans of the movie. We drove right in over the downed fences and parked right where the Caddy was parked so many years ago. Not much left, but Chuck, Hal and Lamont had many stories about the time there and Hal’s framed crew picture was taken right in front of the old hanger. They told the story of how Randy(the pilot) had actually buzzed the hanger and rolled one wheel of the airplane down the roof of the hanger..We toasted weenies everywhere, took a few pictures and of course Chuck told stories about the shooting of the film there. The wind was blowing pretty hard, the day was late, so we decide not to go to the sandhills, but let the rest of the guys head on south. Due to other commitments, we could only do day one, so the day two stories will have to come from someone else.
I will always remember this trip and the great people I met and look forward to the next Ultimate Fandango and next time my wife and I do it all. I hope everyone that reads this is there to experience it with us. Thanks to everyone that came and a special thanks to Dorman for making it all possible. As Chuck said when we left....”Have a nice life”.
fandangoJeff
(Edited by fandangoJeff)"Remember there is no law West of the Pecos"
