Talons Tips and Tales from the seat of my motorcycle

Don't Fence Me In

Down the road from Madrid is a longtime cultural feature of Northwest New Mexico.  Eaves Movie Ranch began life as part of the fifteen hundred acre Rancho Allegre, a cattle ranch owned by New Mexican businessman and native Texan, J. W. Eaves.  Starting in 1962 with the television series Empire, the stunning scenery of the Eaves Ranch began to lure film and photography production companies, including several famous Marlboro ads.

In 1969, Hollywood arrived at the ranch to film a big budget western called The Cheyenne Social Club, with Jimmy Stuart and Henry Fonda.  Director Gene Kelly (Singin in the Rain) collaborated with J. W. to build a large western town, later named the Eaves Movie Ranch, as a film set for the production.  When word spread of the new western set near Santa Fe, Hollywood came rushing in. Thomas Wingate, actor and manager, of Eaves Movie Ranch will be with me on Friday May 26 on KMRD-FM 96.9 at 11am MT.  Tune into Talon's Tips and Tales at www.kmrd.fm/listen to hear the history and little known stories of this famous movie location.

be strong, be safe, Talon