John Wayne on the set of "The Alamo,"
1960. The movie set, later known as Alamo Village, was constructed near
Brackettville, Texas, on the ranch of James T. "Happy" Shahan. Chatto
Rodriquez, the general contractor of the set, built 14 miles of tarred roads
for access to the set from Brackettville. His men sank six wells to provide
12,000 gallons of water each day and laid miles of sewage and water lines. They
also built 5,000 acres of horse corrals.
Rodriquez worked with art designer Alfred
Ybarra to create the set. Historians Randy Roberts and James Olson describe it
as "the most authentic set in the history of the movies". More than
1.25 million adobe bricks were formed by hand to create the walls of the former
Alamo Mission. The set was an extensive three quarter-scale replica of the
mission, and has been used in 100 other westerns, including other depictions of
the battle. It took more than two years to construct.
John Wayne was to have portrayed Sam Houston, a bit part that would have let him focus on his first major directing effort, but investors insisted he play a leading character. He took on the role of Davy Crockett, handing the part of Houston to Richard Boone.
John Wayne was to have portrayed Sam Houston, a bit part that would have let him focus on his first major directing effort, but investors insisted he play a leading character. He took on the role of Davy Crockett, handing the part of Houston to Richard Boone.