“The Alamo” Plays the Palace – April 1961

My favorite TV network GRIT has been showing John Wayne’s epic production The Alamo lately, so it’s a good time for this post. The blockbuster feature arrived at the Palace Theater in Lorain exactly sixty years ago this month. 

Here’s the teaser ad that ran in the Journal on April 5, 1961 on the eve of its first showing.

And here’s the Journal ad from April 6, 1961. Looks like the artwork was cropped a bit this time to get the prices in.

As an article in the Journal on April 8, 1961 noted, “The exciting battle between Davy Crockett’s brave band of fighters against the numerous Mexican forces commanded by Gen. Santa Anna is the main event in “The Alamo,” playing at the Palace.

“Starring John Wayne as Davy Crockett, Richard Widmark as Jim Bowie (younger brother to the man who designed the knife) and Laurence Harvey as William Travis, who established the first line of defense against the Mexicans, the film also includes Frankie Avalon and Pat Wayne in its cast.

“Production of the film, totaling $12 million, including the construction of a full-size replica of the original building of the Alamo at a cost of $1,500,000.

“The set has been a tourist attraction in the Brackettville, Tex. area since the end of the filming.

"The film is produced and directed by Wayne, who has been planning to bring the story to the screen for 14 years.

“The actual battle centered around the Alamo mission, where for 13 days 185 volunteers fought off over 7,000 Mexicans who were well trained and armed battle veterans.

“The Alamo is reported to be the most expensive film ever produced in the United States.”

In this smaller Journal ad from April 8, 1961, it looks like Davy Crockett has lost his trademarked coonskin cap in all the chaos.

The film was popular enough in Lorain to be held over. Here’s the Journal ad from April 13, 1961.

Anyways, Pilgrim, this is one of the many John Wayne movies that I own a copy of on DVD. 

It was a souvenir gift from the Texas Bradys, who made the pilgrimage to Alamo Village in Brackettville when it was still open as a tourist attraction.