For years, I’ve had a feeling this was coming. And now that it’s here — the Alamo Village is being liquidated in January, I’m reminded of the sad state of John Wayne’s pet project. The original negative’s rotting away, and nothing’s being done to preserve it. And the DVD of the film that’s available is tolerable at best. It’s shameful.
I’ve never visited Alamo Village in Brackettville. Always wanted to. And if I could make it out for this sale, I would — and I’d buy something. Anything. That way, I’d know there was one tiny piece of the whole thing being protected.
50 Westerns From The 50s. 
Personally, I can’t deal with this. I’ve been there a few times and I can’t deal with the liquidation of the place. A national catastrophe of epic and everlasting proportions is going down in D.C. and now this. It’s just too damn much.
We (or they) don’t seem to know what to let go of from the past, and what to hold onto. This is sad.
“A land without ruins is a land without memories — a land without memories is a land without history.”
A country without borders is no country at all. Making America Great Again is what’s happening, some love the decline and daily degradation of America by someone that claimed to be president which took place the previous 8 years, I thank the good Lordy it’s over and vanquished.
I know Toby doesn’t like politics involved here but if horrific remarks by the likes of Richard W then consider this the right side of the story. Delete both of us if you wish, but comments like the above can’t go unchallenged assuming we all agree.
Johnny, the quote I used is from Father Abram J. Ryan, a poet who would most definitely not be considered PC these days. Because I chose not to engage in a political quarrel on Christmas Eve, please don’t assume I have any sympathy with Richard W’s political opinions. Thank you, and Merry Christmas.
All I can say is it would be a shame for this to disappear .I do have a DVDr of the full length version of the ALAMO and I guess a restoration won’t happen.The full length version is always good to see,but sometimes you understand why cuts were made.Then again ,with films,you wonder why certain scenes were cut.
It’s hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that a high-profile movie like this can being in danger of being lost. The fact that it’s John Wayne and that I really like it makes it even harder.
It’s Christmas Eve. Let’s put politics aside, enjoy our common interest and wish each other the best. I hope you all have a great holiday.
Toby, isn’t this something that Gretchen Wayne might get into? Or is that part of the past?
Not sure how involved the Wayne family is with this. I think Wayne sold it outright to United Artists back in the day.
They say the original roadshow version is toast as far as restoring it — too far gone. And whatever could be done to the shorter version is compromised by the state of the material.
Toby, the Wayne family has no stake in Alamo Village. John Wayne built the set on JT “Happy” Shahan’s ranch. Shahan raised longhorns and was the mayor of Bracketville, Texas. When the movie company left, Shahan owned the buildings left behind on his property. It’s always been a privately owned set on a privately owned property. When the Shahan’s held a 50th Anniversary celebration for The Alamo filming, the Wayne’s were invited, but they did not respond. Nor did they show up. A lot of people who were involved in the making of the film including local extras came to the celebration. Everyone was disappointed that the Waynes had ignored the event. Like many ranchers in the area, the Shahans have had difficulty keeping the ranch going and holding onto to the land. They’re losing it now. Those are the sad facts.
I did not mean to cause offense with my post. Alamo Village has been one of my favorite places on earth for a long time and it makes me sad to see it go. It just represents so much. I care very much about the place and very wonderful family that has worked so hard to keep the ranch (with its movie set) going for generations. I’m stunned by the animosity a couple of people have expressed and at the assumptions they have made. Perhaps it would be better if you delete the post.
The un-cut THE ALAMO looks GREAT on TURNER CLASSIC MOVIES. My big question is WHY can’t TCM release this, along with many other titles/full versions showing on this station irregularly, on their own DVD-MOD LABEL?? I do not understand this, as so much of what TCM runs is NOT OUT THERE for collectors and fans –let alone, and not to forget, the big PRESERVATION FACTOR, AT LEAST!! So MANY titles….(this last century is getting farther away in memory ), and so little time left to recall some classic items one can only see on TCM.