toy story - 2006

Of the many interesting items I observed in the garden this past week (dozens of newly hatched praying mantids, the first ripening strawberries of the season, my apparent conquering of three hills of vicious ants I’ve been battling for more than a year, loofa sponge seedlings poking up through the ground in the morning glory patch), none are as intriguing as this curious little find…



After brushing off enough dirt to realize that the tiny horseman was made from lead (and not stone), the first thing that popped into my brain was the late 1960s tune “One Tin Soldier.” Then I flipped the toy over to count the rider’s legs in order to determine if he was the resurrected nameless character from Hans Christian Anderson’s “The Steadfast Tin Soldier” (1838).

He isn’t.



I haven’t decided if this guy is really a soldier, some sort of knight or royalty, or just a dandy out for a Sunday ride. Perhaps it represents Paul Revere? Only the most brilliant scholars will scoff at my notion that the figurine is actually of the famously unknown Hessian trooper who would later become legendary by haunting Sleepy Hollow, rushing off to enlist in the Revolutionary War.

What I do know is that the figurine is hollow and was mass produced. It measures 35 mm from nose to tail by 27 mm hoof to head, and is approximately 8 mm thick. The bottom portion of the horse’s right rear leg is missing- possibly having broken off when separated from the base (assuming, of course, that it once had a base). No evidence of paint remains on the item.



A few Google searches revealed that there are TONS of websites dedicated to toy soldiering, lead miniatures, plastic army men, and scale modeling of famous and imaginary battle scenes. Although one or more of these sites potentially might lead to information about my historic artifact, truth be told, the shear number of them is practically overwhelming (at least during baseball season). Thus, I have emailed photos to a few historians I know, and forwarded my request to other archaeologists who hopefully will pass along the inquiry to historical specialists they work with. Perhaps this will result in a better starting point to determine the origin of this object.

Given that the toy lacks an obvious maker’s mark, I may never figure out who manufactured it, or when. Still, I wouldn’t be at all surprised to learn that it is one countless toys produced by Louis Marx and Company, an American company that made millions of dollars selling toys, including inexpensive ones through dime stores (such as Woolworth’s for example) since opening for business in 1919.

Your comments are encouraged. As improbable as it seems, it would be very interesting to be able to associate this item with one of the previous homeowners.

On a side note, while researching this lead figurine I tripped over a line of long-unremembered toys from my youth that caused me to laugh like Syd Barrett. Do any of you still have one or more plastic Nutty Mads figurines in your toy box?

craft work orange

I thought I should add something here for a couple of reasons: A) I wouldn’t want the administrators tagging this account “inactive” and deleting all my hard work, and B) so readers will stop emailing me asking why I haven’t added anything to my blog lately.

I wish to announce that I’ve added another wacky product to the cyberworld.



If you happen to see one of these stickers on a car in front of you in traffic, I would think it safe to give them a slight tap with your car (or Hummer). Worst case… you slightly damage their rear bumper, and give them yet another excuse to draw their hot glue gun and impress you with their marksmanship.

If you must, you can purchase one or more of these stickers for yourself (or your co-workers) by following this link to my shop at CafePress. Perhaps I will get around to adding this item to my website in time for your Krismas shopping.

With my “I Gave at the Pumps” t-shirts selling like hotcakes, I can’t help but wonder just how well actual hotcakes might sell on CafePress.

By the way, I have added the Spring Training articles I wrote for XXL National Sports Daily to my website. You can download and read those articles for FREE. (Note: The articles are in the very popular .pdf format, so make sure you have the latest and greatest version of Adobe Acrobat installed on your computer before you read them.) I haven’t added any photos yet, so feel free to check back in the future if you are interested in seeing them.

Time to water the garden.

86 years

More from the “Did you know” department…

It became legal for Albuquerque women to vote on February 19, 1920 when New Mexico became the 32nd state to ratify the Suffrage Amendment.

Ethel doesn’t sleep here anymore

(My working title for this entry was “I Love Ethel,” but that was annoying even to me before the cyberink had begun to dry.)

Okay, so everyone knows that Vivian Vance (Ethel Mertz in the "I Love Lucy" television series) got her theatrical start in the Duke City. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that she lived in the Huning Highlands Neighborhood for the short time she was in the area. I wonder if you’ll discover anything surprising in the results of my archival research.

Born "Vivian Roberta Jones" in Cherryvale, Kansas on July 26, 1909, Vivian Vance was a founding member of the Albuquerque Little Theater after moving to the Rio Grande valley in 1928 and marrying Joseph Shearer Danneck on October 6th. According to historical documents, the Dannecks resided at 422 Coal Avenue East while Vivian performed at the KiMo Theater, portraying played a vamp in "This Thing Called Love" and a nun in "The Cradle Song."

Although the Dannecks weren’t divorced until April 20, 1931, it appears that Miss Jones was already living by herself at 409 South Arno as early as 1930. Having taken the name "Vance" as suggested by her dramatics teacher, Vivian was a fixture on the Albuquerque stage until she moved to New York in 1932. It seems that Vance also earned a little spending money by working as a saleslady at Rosenwald’s Department Store in 1931.


The Coal Street residence seems to have been demolished, yet the home at 409 Walter Street SE remains intact.

Obviously, Vivian Vance did very well for herself after leaving the region. Vance’s beloved “I Love Lucy” character “Ethel Mertz” did return to Albuquerque during season 4. “Ethel’s Home Town” (episode 113) originally aired on CBS on January 31, 1955. When the Mertzes and Ricardos visit the Duke City during that show, the locals are under the impression that Ethel is on HER way to Hollywood. Hilarity follows. One of the funniest lines is the episode is delivered by Fred Mertz (William Frawley) who declares “She’s big everywhere!”

Vivian died in Belvedere, California on August 17, 1979. As of this writing, there have been no confirmed reports of sightings of Vivian Vance’s ghost anywhere in Albuquerque.

Here’s a photo of an interesting item I discovered on the ground in front of Vance’s house on Arno. I’ll leave it up to you readers to decide if Vivian is trying to tell us anything.

duke city valentine dining

Just when you think I have a timely post, you discover that I don't.

Did you know that Albuquerque’s old Tic Toc Diner, originally located at 601 Osuna Road NW from about 1947 to 2000, is now located in Lake City, Colorado? Reports indicate that this classic Valentine Diner (serial number 538) is still appreciated by all who visit it.

xxl national sports daily

No doubt about it, getting a call up to the majors is a HUGE deal; even for a photojournalist.

I just found out that I have been selected by XXL National Sports Daily to cover the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim* as they prepare this March for the 2006 Major League Baseball season.

What better way to spend the final weeks before the Isotopes open the 2006 season than soaking up some rays and Cracker Jack in the Valley of the Sun while enjoying Cactus League Spring Training games? My duties will include scoring the contests, compiling game notes, conducting player interviews, writing feature articles and supplying interesting photographs for the recently launched website. You will be able to follow my take on the Angels’ progress all March via FREE downloadable .pdf files available on the XXL National Sports Daily website.

This wild assignment is a result of a connection I made during my trip to the 2005 Arizona Fall League.

town house crackers

Our gang caught a giant wave over to the Town House Lounge (3911 Central Avenue NE) this past Friday evening to check out some charbroiled longhorns and ice-cold longnecks. Initially we congregated in the patio section that fronts Central Avenue where we were informed that there would be no entertainment that evening. Luckily, the waitress only meant in that section of the lounge!

Eventually we moved into the dining room portion of the restaurant where we were greeted by warm lighting softly reflecting off fantastic red Naugahyde booths that make everyone feel like Frank Sinatra. That said, the room belonged to one of Albuquerque’s hardest working entertainers, the iconic Freddie (Kekaulike) Baker.



If you know in advance that you are going to see Freddie perform, it would serve you well to be prepared to join Mrs. Baker as her husband dives into Tiny Bubbles. If you fight her, she’ll only make your life difficult.



Service was first-rate, while the food was both delicious and plentiful. Customers also receive a complimentary shot of brandy at the conclusion of every meal. How kool is that?

As for the restrooms… well, they do have running water. A person more clever than I coined the term “genurinal” to describe the no-name thirsty urinals present in the men’s room.

Although the Town House Lounge offers abundant parking in rear, you may decide to park in front so you can snap photos of the giant cow before you go in. See you there!

fashionably historic

I like history. My wife likes fashion. Sometimes that results in a skirmish over the remote control that sends both cats scurrying for cover resembling the expulsion of the French Acadians from Nova Scotia after the British captured Fort Beauséjour.

Now and again, movies and television programs come along that appeal to us both. Most recently, I discovered a true gem entitled Fashion Horizons- a 20-minute film that documents a trip of four trendy Hollywood starlets as they tour 1940s Albuquerque, New Mexico and Phoenix, Arizona.

The movie includes some interesting footage shot at the original Albuquerque airport and the luxurious Alvarado Hotel where the jet-setting hipsters freshen up before bopping over to Isleta Casino only to be disappointed to discover that Indian gaming had yet to gain a foothold in the Rio Grande Valley. Viewers should be cautioned to not allow the political incorrectness of the early 1940s present in the film to take away from the tender moment shared between Margaret Hayes and child author Louise Albieta (I am a Pueblo Indian Girl).

Other (long-deceased) Paramont Pictures beauties in the film include Virginia Dale, Esther Fernandez, Mary Martin and Martha O’Driscoll. Also noteworthy is a flyover of Acoma Pueblo in a TWA Stratoliner as the gals make their way to the Valley of the Sun. I was impressed how the director managed to cram the feel of an entire lazy Phoenix afternoon into the second half of the short. Admittedly missing the significance of the fashion show at the Camelback Inn, all I learned from that portion of the movie is that “Smoking is cool.”

The trip concludes with a flyover of the Grand Canyon when it becomes obvious that narrator Wendell Niles has assumed full control over the plane’s liquor cart.

Not convinced? DOWNLOAD Fashion Horizons and see for yourself.

eye in the sky

Don’t worry; this entry isn’t about the Alan Parson’s Project (although that I Robot is a damned fine album).

Following up on a blog entry by my friend Chantal at the Duke City Fix, I entered my address in a beta version of the Windows Live Local website- mostly just to see how it compares to Google Earth. For one, the name is noticeably less catchy. Other than that, it is currently only useful if you live in one of a dozen large US cities. Both are fun to mess around with.



While checking out the various views of the property, I wondered when the images were gathered. Then I was dumbfounded when I realized that the views to the west and east had captured me in the process of loading two truckloads of weeds and garden waste into my pickup truck so I could haul it to a city dump in a single trip. Strangely enough, today marks the 10-month anniversary of the date (March 23, 2005) when I actually completed that chore. Luckily big brother managed to document me in the process of actually doing something constructive instead of hanging around in the garden searching for praying mantids or hanging out at the racetrack.

I have only a rough idea when the other two images were captured. The view to the south was obviously taken very early on a Thursday morning (based on the shadows being cast from the trash containers lining the street). All I can tell about the view from to the north is that it was taken not long after March 14th.

Also, in order to prevent any number of readers from emailing and inquiring about the image included here, it is a Photoshop-altered compilation of screen captures I made using a trial version of SnagIt software. (As always, don’t forget to “click” on the photo to see the full-size image!)

where have you gone miss nellie bly?

I find it difficult to believe that 116 years have passed since Nellie Bly (born Elizabeth Jane Cochran), a 23-year-old reporter for the New York World visited Albuquerque on January 22, 1890 during her record-breaking trip around the world. Given that she completed her trip a full seven days quicker than the fictional Phineas Fogg in Jules Verne's Around the World in 80 Days, one would think that Miss Bly could have spent more than TWO MINUTES in the Duke City. As it was, she didn't even have enough time to disembark from the Atlantic & Pacific train in order to purchase a burrito from a vendor outside the Alvarado Depot.



I uncovered this historical tidbit recently while conducting research for a special project that I look forward to sharing with you in the not-too-distant-future. I also discovered an intriguing Nellie Bly website that contains images of a handful of Victorian trade cards that used Nellie’s globe-trotting image to promote canned goods, clothing, and (my favorite) Dr. Morse’s Indian Root Pills. Mostly, I was astounded to learn that the New York World actually published a parlor game called "Around the World with Nellie Bly.” (Good luck finding that on eBay!)

Obviously, Albuquerque is a very different place today that it was when Miss Bly breezed through. I can’t think of a better way to illustrate the changes than to point you toward this very cool map of Albuquerque that was hand-drawn by artist Augustus Koch in 1886. The map has been reprinted a number of times, and was even reproduced as a 12” by 16” image for the 1973 calendar distributed by the Ackerman-Grant Realty Company.

If you wish, you may purchase a print from Photos to Go in various sizes and paper stock starting at $15.95. I’m definitely going to have to pick one up since the map includes the location where our house was constructed two decades later.

how lucky can one get?

When asked, “What’s a good way to spend a three-day weekend?” I’ll either ignore the person, or reply, “Hunting for decent dive bars.” Ever since I first noticed the wonderful sign advertising the Yucca Lounge at 114 Wyoming NE just north of Central Avenue, I thought it might be a tavern worthy of dropping a few bucks. Unfortunately, by the time I got around to checking the place out, it was too late.

The Yucca Lounge might still be a great place to hang out with friends and enjoy a few drinks and laughs, but you should know up front that the place is now decidedly BYOE(verything)… beers, stools, neon lights, jukebox, walls, roof, etc. I have no idea when this place was demolished, or even when/if anyone plans on returning to the location and hauling off the remaining debris.

I would definitely like to install the existing sign in my garden to inspire future agricultural projects, so I thought I’d better begin drafting a proposal to submit to Albuquerque's Landmarks and Urban Conservation Commission to find out what objections they might have to possible relocation.



One might be temped to ask, “Where’s a good place to write such a proposal?” Of course I would ignore such a question and head directly to the lounge at the Lucky 66 Bowl (6132 4th St NW), where I could clear my mind and begin scrawling a few words onto paper.



Dewars Pub offers a sort of crow’s nest lounge that overlooks some 40 lanes of humanity. You sort of feel like you are located in the pilothouse of a large boat- a paddlewheel riverboat in search of the mysterious island of video poker machines, if you must. One can look down over the starboard side and watch people playing ridiculous dancing-themed arcade games while their friends look on with amazed faces. There is no visible jukebox at Dewars Pub, but that isn’t a problem as long as you are in the mood for 80s rock ballads that are pumped out of the sound system. Dewars Pub does feature live music every so often, and karaoke even more frequently.



Service was friendly. Two bottles of beer will run you $4.50 (plus tip). Rum is available for pirates. Smoking is encouraged, and mullets are embraced.

A portion of the floor is covered with fantastic Route 66-themed carpet featuring a tribute to Old Town Albuquerque complete with an image of flamenco dancers. All expenses were spared when the restrooms were being furnished. The low-flow Mansfield urinals are pretty much what you would expect to find in a non-descript "customer's only" public restroom.

All said, Dewars Pub is a decent-enough place to drink a few beers. If you bowl, then you should add Lucky 66 Bowl to your “Must Visit” list.

lindy's diner

While walking to the main library downtown this afternoon, I noticed another movie in production. With winds gusting in 35 mile per hour range, I didn’t bother to nose around and try to figure out what was being filmed inside Lindy’s Diner. Considering the high volume of trucks, equipment and people milling about, I believe it is safe to assume that it was a movie and not a commercial.



I would be willing to wager that the scene will be “explosive,” if not completely gut-wrenching. The anticipation is killing me.

get lost and found

I recently undertook what I’m sure will prove to be a long and difficult project, but will ultimately make servicing our 98-year-old home a less challenging task. When we bought the house, a ton of construction debris was observed in the crawlspace including bricks, lumber, shingles, various types of pipe and lord only knows what else. It was recommended that someone should remove this stuff from under the house. As it turns out, I’ve already managed to put off this task for over a year.

So far I have removed ten 5-gallon buckets of sediment and three 5-gallon buckets of bricks and lumber fragments. Boy, is it ever a dirty job! Unlike an archaeological excavation conducted outdoors, it is proving nearly impossible to avoid getting dust everywhere in the house.

I have uncovered a couple of interesting artifacts already. The first is a plastic Hot Wheels “watch-style” game that features a picture of a school bus on the face. It has two BBs inside that you try to maneuver into two tiny holes. The game is mesmerizing. I briefly attempted to find out more information about the toy on the Internet, but my Google efforts came up empty.

Another interesting artifact is a weight/fortune ticket from one of those old penny scales at F.W. Woolworth that was in operation at 317-319 Central Avenue SW from 1915 to the 1980s (?). The ticket was produced by the International Ticket Scale Corporation in New York (Pat. No. 1610893). Unfortunately, there is no date on the ticket itself, but it is clear that it belonged to a small person as they weighed in at 112 pounds. I would hazard a guess that a penny for a fortune would be an expenditure too frivolous for Lettie Watson-Mize, so possibly the ticket represents the disposable income of her daughter, Henrietta.



I’m also left wondering how many Albuquerqueans weighed themselves following a meal at the Woolworth’s lunch counter, then tucked their fortune behind the infamous Hilda Schrader Whitcher sample Social Security card in their new E.H. Ferree wallet. (You can bet I will let you know if I locate one of those!)

Although the Internet has failed to yield much useful diagnostic information, my searches have unearthed a few clues. One interesting tidbit is an image of a 1927 model International Ticket Scale Corporation Scale Height and Weight Meter on exhibit at Dallas Museum of Art. Neat, huh?

I also discovered an interesting website for the International Arcade Museum. They don’t have much info on their International Ticket Scale page, so I think I will submit this image of my found ticket in hopes that it will result in future information sharing from some knowledgeable old-timer.

The fortune reads, “You are very shrewd in business and are thoroughly capable of managing any large enterprise.” Having pondered this discovery, I have decided to consider it an omen indicating that I will be successful in my quest to clean up the crawlspace, and excavate trenches that will allow better access to the plumbing and electrical elements. Best-case scenario, I discover an old tobacco tin containing a 1909 American Tobacco Company T-206 Honus Wagner baseball card.

only the shadow (of I-40) knows

Sometimes even the most organized people get so caught up in the blur of holiday parties, travels, card sending and gift wrapping that they lose track of time and space- only to discover themselves wondering how they are to know exactly when the Christmas season is truly over. I would have to say when you find yourself sitting at the bar in the Silver Fox Lounge on a Monday afternoon watching a waitress leisurely taking down stands of twinkle lights, tinsel, and assorted ornaments, it is probably time to admit that you have survived yet another holiday season.



You claim you’ve never been to the Silver Fox Lounge? Then you are missing out on one of the Duke City’s finest drinking establishments. Although “they” say that you should avoid judging books by their covers, this is one bar that should be judged by its wonderful signage at the corner of Haines and 4th St NW. Inside, patrons are treated to fast and friendly service, and new customers (or “irregulars”) receive hearty handshakes from the owner.

Located along the pre-1929 alignment of historic Route 66, the Silver Fox Lounge is in all likelihood the best place in Albuquerque to listen to “Love Hangover” spilling from a jukebox and reflecting off a small disco ball before being absorbed by a larger than life-sized painting of a nude woman (who reminds me of Elly Mae Clampett). Walls are sparsely decorated with framed photographs of Elvis, collages of saloon regulars and posters announcing unfathomable happy hour deals.

A small, low stage stands at the ready for live performances by local bands and the low-density of television sets elevates the Silver Fox Lounge above the numerous downtown sports bars. Restrooms are bright and clean by all standards, and the men’s room contains a state-of-the-art 3.8-liter Toto urinal. Large round booths afford great views of the tavern’s billiards tables. The floor is covered with a combination of new tile and festive “Stinko de Mayo” carpeting.

The Silver Fox Lounge also offers a full bar menu from 7:30 am to 9:00 pm for customers desiring more nutrition than just beer. What I’m saying is, the next time you find yourself driving by the Silver Fox Lounge, do not hesitate to dive in. Entrance is on the side. Don’t be surprised if you spot a bumper sticker in the parking lot around back that reads “What Would Scooby Do?”

albuquerque luminaria tour 2005

Here are a few snapshots taken while on walkabout with friends through Albuquerque’s old town and country club neighborhoods checking out the luminaria displays.

At the end is a photo of my favorite present from this Krismas. Can you guess now what it is before you see it?













I love this way kool Jack Skellington cookie jar!

a little bit western

Admittedly, I’ve never been much of a “joiner.” However, I couldn’t resist when offered the opportunity to take photographs for a local radio station (92.3 KRST) during their attempt to create a gigantic Christmas card to send to troops unable to spend the holidays with friends and families in the states.



The energetic morning personalities that make up the extremely popular Get Up Gang could not have asked for a better day (in December anyway) to try to get 1,000 listeners to contribute a couple hours of their busy Saturday for the effort. Unfortunately, the turnout was less than ideal to do justice to their concept.





I urge you to check out Levi and Dawson’s blog to see a bunch of photos I took for them. Although I’m including a teaser photo showing the volunteers practicing creating the “card,” I’m not going to include the final photo here since it is available on their blog. Seriously, go check it out.



Another item that recently captured my attention is the city of Albuquerque’s plan to provide FREE books for people using the public transportation system. As you may be aware, the city’s Rapid Ride buses are equipped to provide wireless web access to commuters. That’s great, but the fact that riders on ALL city buses who don’t have laptop computers are not being overlooked is fantastic!

I find it interesting that the list of book donation locations available on the city website fails to include the most obvious solution for people wishing to donate a handful of books. That is, to simply carry some books onto a bus during a future commute, and leave them on the seat when you depart. Just think, the next time you spot a copy of Contract Archaeology: The Coloring Book on a city bus, you’ll know I’ve been on board.

final flock

It appears that filming of “The Flock” on our block has finally wrapped up. Roderick , one of the Production Assistants, informed me that they were indeed using a wolf in the film. In fact, they had three Canadian wolves at their disposal- I guess because even the best animal handlers are unable to predict in advance how a particular animal is going to react to a given situation. I found it odd that even animal roles in motion pictures are being outsourced these days. I guess no American wolves were interested in the part.

I watched over an hour of the production late last Friday night, including more conversation between Richard Gere and Claire Danes while they sat inside that crappy brown Buick I mentioned a few days before. I also got to see one of the wolves up close. That was insane! I found it really interesting to watch the handler rubbing the wolf’s tummy while it rolled around on it’s back on Walter Street. The PA also told me that in the movie, the wolf enters Danes’ house and begins licking her hand while she is sleeping. Supposedly, the “bad guy” is sending her a message to leave him alone. Not to fear though, as Gere shows up and saves her (assuming, of course, that he isn’t a werewolf in FBI agent’s clothing).

Okay, I don’t expect to be mentioning this film again until I learn when it is scheduled for release. Thank you for your patience!

every krismas tells a story don't it?

While doing some shopping last week, I couldn’t help but be entertained by a number of the people who crossed my path. The one that stands out above the rest though was this young lad who reminded me of Ralphie Parker (complete with glasses) from A Christmas Story. I probably would have mentioned him even if I hadn’t overheard him trying very hard to attract the attention of either his mother or grandmother- both of which were so busy looking for bargains that they were ignoring him completely.

This kid was literally hanging from a red sequin-covered women’s blouse exclaiming “This is what I want people… Dots!” I couldn’t believe that neither of the women would even toss him a courtesy, “You’ll put your eye out.”

The scene reminded me of when I was young and would drop subtle hints by leaving the JCPenny and Sears toy catalogs open on pages with awesome items on them (such as the Marx Fort Apache plastic cowboys and Indians set that came in this really swell metal case that also served as the fort). Everyone tells me that Christmas is for kids. Is it really? I’m not buying it for a second. Christmas is for merchants, the post office and greeting card companies. Are they children?

So what is it you want for Christmas? Anyone interested in FREE music? That’s right… completely free with no fees of any kind, and you don’t even have to give your email address to obtain the tunes. Bill McKirgan, one of my buddies from way back, is part of a midwestern band called Terrapin. They are currently giving away FREE mp3 files of a few of their original songs as well as covers of Grateful Dead and John Prine tunes. Check them out and ENJOY! If you work for a record label, I urge you to sign them to a contract in the near future.

crying wolf

In spite of the very small number of comments posted on the previous entry (one), that blog item has resulted in a flurry of emails. It seems that everyone either wants to read more about “The Flock,” or is hoping to see more photos of Richard Gere. Okay, a few emails have arrived asking what any of this has to do with baseball.

First, I want to clear up any misunderstandings about the photo I posted of Richard Gere. I did NOT take it. The son of the couple who are in the process of “flipping” the property next door did. The ONLY reason I even have the pic is because it was in need of some light and color adjustments, and I volunteered to do them using Photoshop. Since I had access to the photo, I decided to share it with my loyal readers.

I was talking to one of the Production Assistants (PA) Wednesday evening, and he indicated that the character that “lives” in the house is indeed played by Claire Danes. He had this cool iPod-type device that let him view the actual scene that was being filmed in real time while standing about outside. The part he let me watch was a close-up of Richard Gere’s hands as he scanned through a FBI book of crime scenes and body parts. It was pretty graphic. He also confirmed that the movie was originally supposed to be set in New Orleans, but the locus was shifted to Albuquerque because of the hurricane. Thus, people who go to the movie expecting to see Bourbon Street and shots of St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 will instead be treated to various shots of our downtown skyline and the beautiful Sandia Mountains.

This same PA indicated that “Welcome to America,” a Kevin Kline movie currently being filmed in Mexico, is scheduled to wrap in Albuquerque around the middle of January. He also stated that a John Travolta project is to be filmed in the Duke City in 2006.

Okay then, whoever out there in cyber land posted the comment about Narnia must be some sort of genius or mystic. Certainly your timing could not have been spookier. I first read the comment in the wee hours of Thursday morning after coming indoors to warm up after having stood around in the cold watching all the activity. Although the crew didn’t show up at the set until around 4:00 pm, they shot for 10 hours before calling it a day at 2:00 am. Now those are my kind of hours!

At any rate, I stood transfixed in the blackness of winter watching an animal trainer handle what had to be the largest damn dog I’ve ever seen. Quite possibly, it was even a wolf. It appeared that she would release the beast from the leash on cue, and it would charge into the house and do lord knows what. (They really should provide copies of the screenplays to people like me, don’t you think?) As this scene was repeated time and again, I finally noticed the full moon overhead. “Good grief,” I fretted to myself, “I wonder if this is some sort of werewolf flick.” Taking a large step backwards, I attempted to calculate how quickly this wolf-dog could cover the ground between us if it escaped from the handler. Determined to spare my kitties gazing out through the living room window any holiday nightmares, I took an additional medium-sized step back towards the front porch.

Later, I was emailing a writer friend about what I had witnessed, and he inquired whether I thought Mr. Gere was a shape shifter. To be sure, the wolf-dog’s fur was the same color as Richard’s hair, but I didn’t think this was the case. I did recheck the movie’s details at InternetMovieDatabase.com though, just to make sure that Tony Hillerman hadn’t been added to the writing credits. He hadn’t.

Another 25 hours have passed and they are still going at it. They spent the day Thursday using cranes to hoist additional lights and rigging into the surrounding Chinese Elm trees, and have been filming since dusk. It never ceases to amaze me how much footage goes unused while pulling together a motion picture.

They are supposed to finish up in our neighborhood tomorrow, so I can get back to thinking of excuses for not writing.

no place else to go

Yet another entry about New Mexico's film industry. This time I’m not working as an extra, or even sitting around pretending like I’m waiting to be an extra. Instead, this time someone is shooting a movie across the street and three doors to the north of our house. In fact, they are shooting there right now.

This film is reportedly called “The Flock,” and stars Sir Richard Gere and Claire Danes. I won’t delve into the plot since I don’t know any more about it that you can find at Internet Movie Database.

Walter Street has been closed off since 9:00 am. My truck is the only one on the street that belongs to someone who lives in the neighborhood, resulting in an eerie feeling of being stuck in some combination of the Twilight Zone and the film Omega Man. I understand that everyone else on the block has complied with the requests of the production company to park in a church parking lot a few blocks to the east. I’m holding out for them to either sweeten the pot by offering me some cash to move my truck, or at least give me a ride in a limo. If nothing else, perhaps my old Ranger will make it into the movie.

The scene I’ve watched them shoot over and over and over and, well… over again today is this:

Richard Gere is standing out on the sidewalk next to a crappy brown car. Maybe it isn’t “crappy,” but it certainly is ugly. Anyhoo, once the director calls for action, this blonde-haired woman walks out of the house and down the sidewalk. The neighbors are telling me this actress is Claire Danes. I honestly have no idea who that is, so I looked her up online. After looking at her photos, I don’t think they are correct. Instead, I think she is KaDee Strickland. Nevertheless, this woman and Richard talk for a bit before he opens the car door for her and walks around to the driver’s side. They continue talking, and then she yells, “What, are you following me?” That leads to a bit more talking and eventually they climb into the car close the doors.

I shot a few photos from the front yard, but wasn’t able to get close enough to take anything worth sharing. However, our neighbor really wanted to meet Richard, so her son Jeff walked her over to the set and they actually got a decent photo with him before an angry Production Assistant ran them off.



Other rumors I’ve heard about this film include us not be “allowed” to have any outdoor lights on tonight, and that the movie is supposedly set in New Orleans.