Larry Jensen Wrote:
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I believe Hollywood saved the Rio Grande narrow gauge for all of us to enjoy.
IMHO, Hollywood certainly helped -
By providing ammunition to the troops with their "boots on the ground" and by helping promote -
but NOT initiating - the surge of tourism that resulted from the prosperity of the Eisenhower era.
As noted by others, a lot of things fell into place at the right time, ALL of which were critical. What
if Mesa Verde hadn't become a well-known tourist destination - would as many riders have found
the Silverton Mixed as an added attraction to tell their friends about?
What if Clarence Quinlan hadn't thrown the "Historic Preservation" argument in the fire, and convinced the Friends of the Narrow Gauge to pursue the "Economic Development" argument instead - would the C&TS be here today?? Did the films made by Hollywood play a critical role in helping to save the Narrow Gauge? Absolutely! Would the Silverton Train or the C&TS be here today without Alva Lyons, Elizabeth Pellett and Bob Richardson, or the Barkmanns, 'Chili John' Pritchard, Ernie Robart and Terry Ross et al? Probably not.
- El Abuelo Histœrico, Greengo y Curmudgeoño de los Locomoturas Viejos y Verdes,
aka Der Grossväterlich DünkelOlivGrünDampfKesselMantelLiebHabender
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/16/2014 12:21PM by Russo Loco.