BY JANET STEINBERG
Part 3 of a Series
Life in the fast lane!
That is the vicarious life that millions
of people around the world lived as they sat glued to their televisions for 13
years watching “Dallas”, the prime time soap opera saga of
The Ewing family and its giant oil empire.
of people around the world lived as they sat glued to their televisions for 13
years watching “Dallas”, the prime time soap opera saga of
The Ewing family and its giant oil empire.
And, if you promise not to tell anyone,
I’ll let you in on a little secret. Southfork Ranch, the Dallas home of
television’s legendary Ewing family is not in Dallas, Texas. Built in 1970, Southfork Ranch is actually in
Parker, Texas. But little does geography matter to the millions of “Dallas”
fans who faithfully watched the show year after year. To them, and to me,
Southfork Ranch will always be in Dallas.
I’ll let you in on a little secret. Southfork Ranch, the Dallas home of
television’s legendary Ewing family is not in Dallas, Texas. Built in 1970, Southfork Ranch is actually in
Parker, Texas. But little does geography matter to the millions of “Dallas”
fans who faithfully watched the show year after year. To them, and to me,
Southfork Ranch will always be in Dallas.
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| FORGET GEOGRAPHY…TO “DALLAS” FANS, SOUTHFORK WILL ALWAYS BE IN DALLAS |
And, little does it matter to diehard Texans that real
estate barons, who are swallowing up ranch after ranch for financial gain,
would like to get their hands on that property. To
those dyed-in-the-wool Texans, “Southfork Ranch stands as a defiant dinosaur,
daring any would-be attacker…it is the symbol of a proud people fiercely
protecting their rich cultural history.”
estate barons, who are swallowing up ranch after ranch for financial gain,
would like to get their hands on that property. To
those dyed-in-the-wool Texans, “Southfork Ranch stands as a defiant dinosaur,
daring any would-be attacker…it is the symbol of a proud people fiercely
protecting their rich cultural history.”
Having passed through the iconic
Southfork gate, we were directed to the Ranch Round-up Visitor Center.
“Ties, lies and commitments”. ..so screamed the Ewing Family Tree painted
across an entire wall in the small museum. The museum’s “Dallas Legends”
exhibit allowed fans to re-live scenes from the show, enjoy videos of actual
filming at Southfork, and see the actual prop gun that shot J.R.
Southfork gate, we were directed to the Ranch Round-up Visitor Center.
“Ties, lies and commitments”. ..so screamed the Ewing Family Tree painted
across an entire wall in the small museum. The museum’s “Dallas Legends”
exhibit allowed fans to re-live scenes from the show, enjoy videos of actual
filming at Southfork, and see the actual prop gun that shot J.R.
 |
| THE ICONIC SOUTHFORK RANCH GATE |
Departing the museum we drove around International Drive
where the flags, of the 96 countries in which “Dallas “ was aired, are
displayed. Continuing our drive through the ranch grounds we saw
longhorns, llamas, horses, old barns, paddocks, shelters, and the original
rodeo arena utilized in filming of the rodeos.
where the flags, of the 96 countries in which “Dallas “ was aired, are
displayed. Continuing our drive through the ranch grounds we saw
longhorns, llamas, horses, old barns, paddocks, shelters, and the original
rodeo arena utilized in filming of the rodeos.
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| LONGHORN NAP TIME AT SOUTHFORK |
An iron fence enclosed a small mock
graveyard with actual tombstones memorializing “Miss Ellie”, Jock Ewing, and
J.R. Ewing. Inscribed on J. R’s tombstone, along with a cowboy hat and
the fictional date of his birth and death (1939-2013), were the words:
“The Only Deal He Ever Lost”.
graveyard with actual tombstones memorializing “Miss Ellie”, Jock Ewing, and
J.R. Ewing. Inscribed on J. R’s tombstone, along with a cowboy hat and
the fictional date of his birth and death (1939-2013), were the words:
“The Only Deal He Ever Lost”.
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| THE ONLY DEAL J.R. EWING EVER LOST |
Just before reaching the Ewing mansion,
is Miss Ellie’s Porch Deli. A handwritten blackboard displays a sandwich
menu, black and white checkered cloths cover a few small tables, memorabilia
hangs on the walls, and Texas products fill shelves and barrels in this
makeshift gift shop.
is Miss Ellie’s Porch Deli. A handwritten blackboard displays a sandwich
menu, black and white checkered cloths cover a few small tables, memorabilia
hangs on the walls, and Texas products fill shelves and barrels in this
makeshift gift shop.
And then, there it is…the Ewing
mansion.
mansion.
“Howdy, y’all. Welcome to South
Fork Ranch.” Greeted by a lovely Texan tour guide, we were ushered
through the back porch door into a simple “mud room” where the only piece of
furniture was a double horsehead bench, hand carved from mesquite wood.
This would be the entry room from the pool and garden.
Fork Ranch.” Greeted by a lovely Texan tour guide, we were ushered
through the back porch door into a simple “mud room” where the only piece of
furniture was a double horsehead bench, hand carved from mesquite wood.
This would be the entry room from the pool and garden.
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| HAND-CARVED MESQUITE WOOD BENCH |
The front entry hall, that
welcomed Ewing guests to their trademark home, is replete with a rich oak
staircase, mahogany furnishings and a Waterford crystal chandelier. It
adjoins the Lone Star Powder Room.
welcomed Ewing guests to their trademark home, is replete with a rich oak
staircase, mahogany furnishings and a Waterford crystal chandelier. It
adjoins the Lone Star Powder Room.
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| WATERFORD CHANDELIER ILLUMINATES ENTRY HALL |
The formal Chippendale-furnished Ewing
Dining Room is resplendent in rich hues of blue and burgundy. A $15,000
pair of Waterford crystal chandeliers casts a warm glow on the mahogany table
set with sparkling crystal, china, and gold and silver flatware.
Dining Room is resplendent in rich hues of blue and burgundy. A $15,000
pair of Waterford crystal chandeliers casts a warm glow on the mahogany table
set with sparkling crystal, china, and gold and silver flatware.
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|
RESPLENDENT DINING ROOM
|
Across from the dining room is Miss
Ellie’s Kitchen. Overlooking the patio and pool, this cheery room is
wallpapered in burgundy ivy vines with windows framed by burgundy grapevine
cornices. You can almost feel the warmth of Miss Ellie as she
comforts members of her dysfunctional family.
Ellie’s Kitchen. Overlooking the patio and pool, this cheery room is
wallpapered in burgundy ivy vines with windows framed by burgundy grapevine
cornices. You can almost feel the warmth of Miss Ellie as she
comforts members of her dysfunctional family.
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| MISS ELLIE’S COMFY, COZY KITCHEN |
Jock Ewing’s Living Room exudes the
elaborate Ewing lifestyle at Southfork. The patriarch’s portrait hangs
prominently above a limestone fireplace, seemingly still surveying the
goings-on at Southfork. Rich tapestry covered sofas, hand-carved mahogany
furniture and a baby grand piano add to the elegance of the room.
elaborate Ewing lifestyle at Southfork. The patriarch’s portrait hangs
prominently above a limestone fireplace, seemingly still surveying the
goings-on at Southfork. Rich tapestry covered sofas, hand-carved mahogany
furniture and a baby grand piano add to the elegance of the room.
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| GRAND LIVING ROOM OF EWING MANSION |
The bedrooms personify the characters
that slept in them. J.R.’s Master Bedroom and Bath Suite is opulent and
dramatic. From the center of the canopied sleigh bed, that is perched on
a lighted platform, cascades of blue brocade fall to the floor. The
extravagant million-dollar marble bathroom, with its 14-karat gold
fixtures, paints the picture of Texas elegance and arrogant wealth.
that slept in them. J.R.’s Master Bedroom and Bath Suite is opulent and
dramatic. From the center of the canopied sleigh bed, that is perched on
a lighted platform, cascades of blue brocade fall to the floor. The
extravagant million-dollar marble bathroom, with its 14-karat gold
fixtures, paints the picture of Texas elegance and arrogant wealth.
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| J.R.’S CANOPIED SLEIGH BED |
Bobby’s red, white and blue All-American
room reflects the rugged feeling of the ranch he so adored. The headboard
of his bed is crafted from moose antlers, iron horse heads and the brand of the
rustic Southfork Ranch.
room reflects the rugged feeling of the ranch he so adored. The headboard
of his bed is crafted from moose antlers, iron horse heads and the brand of the
rustic Southfork Ranch.
For “Season Two” of “Dallas” 2.0,
Miss Ellie’s bedroom was repositioned into Room 22 at the Colon Hotel where
J.R. was shot. Lucy’s Yellow Rose of Texas Suite is bright, sunny,
ruffled and feminine like Lucy…the girl who literally grew up on the
show. An 80-year old fan of the original TV series, hand-quilted the
coverlet on Lucy’s bed.
Miss Ellie’s bedroom was repositioned into Room 22 at the Colon Hotel where
J.R. was shot. Lucy’s Yellow Rose of Texas Suite is bright, sunny,
ruffled and feminine like Lucy…the girl who literally grew up on the
show. An 80-year old fan of the original TV series, hand-quilted the
coverlet on Lucy’s bed.
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LUCY’S YELLOW ROSE OF TEXAS BEDROOM
|
The mansion’s wet bar
conjured up memories of a cruise I took some 30 years ago. On the ship, I was
one of a group of journalists writing about the production of a “Love Boat” TV
episode that was being filmed on the ship. At a ship party, I met Jared Martin,
an actor in the “Love Boat” show that was being filmed. In his previous
role on “Dallas”, Jared had played the role of “Dusty” Farlow, the
handsome hunk of a cowboy with whom Sue Ellen Ewing had a brief “Dallas” fling.
Although Jared was filming “Love Boat” at the time, we still toasted “Dusty”.
conjured up memories of a cruise I took some 30 years ago. On the ship, I was
one of a group of journalists writing about the production of a “Love Boat” TV
episode that was being filmed on the ship. At a ship party, I met Jared Martin,
an actor in the “Love Boat” show that was being filmed. In his previous
role on “Dallas”, Jared had played the role of “Dusty” Farlow, the
handsome hunk of a cowboy with whom Sue Ellen Ewing had a brief “Dallas” fling.
Although Jared was filming “Love Boat” at the time, we still toasted “Dusty”.
 |
|
30-YEARS AGO…JANET STEINBERG AND ACTOR JARED MARTIN TOASTED HIS “DUSTY” FROM “DALLAS
|
Three decades later,
Google has informed me that the real live Jared/Dusty is now producing and
directing films. However, much to my dismay, some 30-years later at
Southfork’s wet bar, I could only toast a life-sized, cardboard cutout of the
late J. R. Ewing.
Google has informed me that the real live Jared/Dusty is now producing and
directing films. However, much to my dismay, some 30-years later at
Southfork’s wet bar, I could only toast a life-sized, cardboard cutout of the
late J. R. Ewing.
 |
| 30-YEARS LATER…JANET STEINBERG TOASTED A CARDBOARD CUTOUT OF J.R. EWING FROM “DALLAS” |
Such is life in the slow
lane.
lane.
JANET STEINBERG is an award-winning
Travel Writer/Editor and International Travel Consultant with THE TRAVEL
AUTHORITY in Mariemont, Ohio
Travel Writer/Editor and International Travel Consultant with THE TRAVEL
AUTHORITY in Mariemont, Ohio