Archive for the ‘Outdoors’ Category

From WFAA.com:

Larry Hagman was reluctant to be on a new TV show called “Dallas” when he first read the script in the late 1970s, figuring there wouldn’t be any money in it.

But his wife persuaded him to give the role of conniving oil baron and cattle rancher J.R. Ewing a shot, saying they could “renegotiate” and that the job might pay off.

It did, eventually earning Hagman a reported $100,000 or more per episode. And now fans from across the world are paying as much as $1,000 apiece to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the debut of what became one of the most popular prime-time soap operas in TV history.

“People are crazy,” Hagman said Thursday. “I guess it’s a TV show people identify with.”

On Nov. 8, J.R., Bobby, Sue Ellen and other Ewing kin will mark the anniversary with a reunion and barbecue at Southfork Ranch. Viewed panoramically in the show’s introduction, the ranch is in the Dallas suburb of Parker, about 25 miles north of the flashy downtown skyscrapers also featured in the opening scenes.

Fans from Japan, Australia, Europe and across the United States have plunked down anywhere from $100 to $1,000 for the tickets. The more one pays, the greater one gains access to cast members including Hagman, Linda Gray and Patrick Duffy.

“This thing is going to be a lot of fun,” said the 77-year-old Hagman, seated in the formal living room of the Southfork mansion, a trademark cowboy hat on his head. “It’s the first one we’ve ever done with fans. They’re coming from everywhere.”

Along with the barbecue, there will be country music, dancing, fireworks and a laser light show.

“This is a chance to live like and be a Ewing for a day,” said Jason Hardison, the event’s executive producer. “We’re going to celebrate the excess and success of the 1980s, at least the oil boom, and the money that surrounded Dallas.”

Given the various story lines and characters in each hourlong episode, Hagman said he saw Dallas as more of a cartoon and “had fun with it.”

Hagman, who grew up in Weatherford, west of Fort Worth, said he patterned J.R.’s twang, persona and family views after a businessman he worked for in high school who supplied oil drilling equipment.

But those close to Hagman say he’s the antithesis of the scheming, arrogant head of the wealthy but dysfunctional Ewing clan.

Hagman, a former vegetarian and outspoken nonsmoker who gave up alcohol after his 1995 liver transplant, is now an avocado farmer. He and Maj (pronounced MY), his wife of nearly 54 years, rise with the sun and are often asleep by 7:30 p.m.

Their 44-acre spread in Ojai, Calif., is all-organic. Their home runs on solar power, which Hagman said knocked their electric bill from $40,000 a year to $13.

He remains close to a few “Dallas” cast members, hunting and fishing with Duffy, aka brother Bobby, each month. And he and Maj often dine with Gray, who played his trophy wife on the show.

Maj Hagman recalled that when her husband first got the “Dallas” script, he was out of work. The couple were in New York, where Hagman’s mom, actress Mary Martin, was doing a show with Ethel Merman.

He was busy reading a script for a half-hour comedy while Maj reviewed the “Dallas” proposal.

“Woo! Larry, this is it!” she shouted. “There’s not one redeeming character in the whole show.”

She said it was right down his alley.

“But Maj,” he replied. “The money is terrible.”

She said: “We’ll renegotiate.”

After the “Who shot J.R.?” cliffhanger that concluded the 1980 season, when it was unclear whether J.R. would live, Hagman bargained hard with producers and landed a huge raise.

“That’s chutzpah,” Hagman said, explaining that the writers could have easily killed off his character. “But I made millions and they made billions. Everybody did well.”

Today, Hagman said the question people most often ask him as a conversation opener is, “Who shot you, J.R.?”

When he tells them it was Bing Crosby’s daughter, Mary, who played his sister-in-law and pregnant mistress on the show, they say, who is Bing Crosby?

“It’s a different generation,” Hagman said.

The Red River Rivalry is due to kick off at 11a Saturday at the Cotton Bowl.

University of Texas Longhorns (#5) v. Oklahoma Sooners (#1) battle it out each year during the State Fair of Texas at Fair Park. There will be 92,000 fans squeezed into the revamped Cotton Bowl for the 11a kick-off.

Downtown Dallas was awash with visitors from both teams Friday and will continue through Sunday as they enjoy the festivities at the Fair and the King Tut exhibit at the Dallas Museum of Art.

Dallas-based Neiman Marcus revealed the 82nd edition of its annual Christmas catalog Tuesday and it includes a Texas-sized offering for any Dallas Cowboys fan.

For only $500,000, one lucky Cowboys fan can take ownership of an end-zone from Texas Stadium. For that price, the buyer also receives the full VIP treatment for the last game in Texas Stadium, including a post-game party with the world-famous Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.

Team owner Jerry Jones is donating the entire $500,000 purchase price to the Salvation Army.

Sunday, 5 October 08, is the 14th Annual Stevie Ray Vaughan Remembrance Ride & Concert.

The festivities begin at 9:30a at the world’s largest Hooters in the Dallas West End. The ride departs at 11:30a heading to Cowboy’s in Arlington.

The concert lineup includes: Bugs Henderson & The Shuffle Kings, Tallan “T-Man” Latz, Jim Suhler & Monkeybeat, Mike Morgan, Voodoo Blue and many more!

The after party will be held at Sons of Herman Hall in Deep Ellum from 7p - 2a.

Get on your bike and ride as all proceeds benefit the Stevie Ray Vaughan Scholarship Fund.

Ok boys and girls, The State Fair of Texas is now open! Opening day is always a wonderful time to go….

….the park is clean…
…the carnies still have their voices…
…the grease is fresh…

Fletcher’s Corny Dog’s are the original and located near Big Tex’s boots, the struedel, fried twinkies, lemonade and battered deep fried bacon is all waiting for you.

The Midway’s game booths are stuffed full and the Arts & Crafts building show off amazing crafts handmade by local residents and the Embarcadaro building has the best of Texas produce whether it’s salsa or jams.

And remember, nothing beats people watching at the Fair! Mullet hunting season is now open.

See ya’ll out there.

As some of our steady readers know, yours truly is very involved with the motorcycle world. I’ve been staying in touch with contacts in Houston regarding the status of the Lone Star Rally and it IS all systems Go!

The City of Galveston wants the rally to take place and come hell or high water, they are looking forward to the 500,000 bikers!

For those of you that have hotel reservations, please know that the phone lines are NOT working on Galveston yet. If you call a hotel, it is being re-routed to their corporate 800# and those staff are thinking it’s all doom and gloom. My contact at the Rally said she was at the Galveston Hilton yesterday and the hotel looked fine. There was some broken glass but that was being replaced while they were there. Keep your hotel reservations - it looks like those are all going to be fine and ready to rock by the time you roll into town.

Here is the official update from LSR:

Dear Friends!
I¹d bet you have been waiting to hear from us! First, let me tell everyone effected that our hearts and prayers are with you and the Lone Star Rally
will not sit idle. We are prepared to help! We too lost our offices and
are working under combat like conditions. We apologize for being difficult to get ahold of.
The good news is that the City has asked us to remain in Galveston and to keep the dates the same. So, The Lone Star Rally will happen in Galveston Oct 30th thru Nov 2! Everything will remain the same only better. We are now officially the Rally to Rebuild! We encourage everyone to come and help rebuild the Galveston economy. Yes, hotels are going to be a little hard to find. Keep watching our website as we will add lodging daily.
LSR will create special logos that can be added to your shirts for a donation to the fund, provide donation centers, a telethon and more, all to help our effected community. Our vendors will serve as trick or treat stations for the kids with candy, etc.
For more details join us at San Jacinto Harley Davidson this week for our second LSR Preview Party. Everyone knows that San Jacinto throws great parties and we could all use one! Plase join us ther this Saturday beginning at 12noon for all of the festivities, parkiing pass sales, Beach boys tickets and much more!
Let¹s show the world how much bikers care and show up in droves to Galveston this year. Jean Lafitte founded Galveston and he will return with his two wheeled pirates to rebuild!
Please watch our website for lodging opportunities. Please be patient with the hotels as they are all trying hard to get back online. Please do not call our offices unless it is absolutely necessary. We are swamped getting re-ready and are operating with limited capacity. Thanks for understanding!
You can help further by emailing this to all of your friends to help us get the word out that all is well and happening!
See you at the Rally!
Ron

The following story is from WFAA.com. Information on how to donate a bike is at the end of this story.

Tucked away in a warehouse in Arlington they gather. While the few dozen used bicycles may not look like much, to 13-year-old Dalton Hatch they symbolize the passion his mother had for the sport.

“It was really tough for me to lose her,” Hatch said of his mother, an avid cyclist who, along with her friend, was killed after police said a drunk driver struck them as they rode on Camp Wisdom Road last June.

After her death, Hatch got the idea to remember his mother by collecting bikes to give out to needy kids.

“It means a lot to me to remember my mom because I didn’t know what to do after she died,” he said.

The program has brought something good from the tragic death of Meredith Hatch, said Sherman Hatch, Dalton’s father.

“This is something positive we can bring from a horrible accident, providing something to children or families that might not otherwise have,” he said.

Family and friends have reached out to help Dalton’s program.

“I think these bikes were donated from families that knew my mom,” he said pointing out some of the bikes.

He has also placed signs at area businesses and schools asking for donations.

“Meredith would be so proud of him for doing this,” said Michelle Johnson, a family friend. “And he’s exactly like she was. She was compassionate, kind, had lots of strength and he takes after her.”

If you would like to donate a bike, the details are as follows:

1st Annual
Meredith’s Run for Bikes
September 27, 2008
Katherine Rose Park
8:00 A.M.

Join Meredith Hatch’s family and friends
as they collect bicycles for children.

Participants can run/walk in memory of Meredith Hatch at the Mansfield Pecan Festival 5K/1K Fun Run

Pick up registration forms at:
Mansfield Area Chamber of Commerce
114 N. Main St., Mansfield, TX 76063
or download the forms at www.mansfieldchamber.net

Bike drop dates and times:
September 20, 2008 (Saturday) 10am-2pm at Primrose*
September 26, 2008 (Friday) 5pm-7pm at Primrose
September 27, 2008 (Saturday) 8am-5pm at Mansfield Pecan Festival
October 4, 2008 (Saturday) 10am-2pm at Primrose

If you are unable to bring a bike, cash donations will be accepted at Frost Bank: Meredith Hatch Memorial Fund

*Primrose is located at 2201 Matlock Road, Mansfield, TX 76063