Why is Texas thought of as desert? (Houston, Dallas: house, high school)

[TexasReb]

Originally Posted by High_Plains_Retired

The eucalyptus trees in the old westerns were always a clear give away that the cowboys chasing the bank robbers were not anywhere near Texas. Also one would have to look hard and long in Texas to find a place with huge rounded boulders that provided the great Hollywood shoot-it-out scenes.

Right! Another one is when you see saguaro cactus in the scene (that tall type with several "forks" on it). This species is not native to Texas at all, but Arizona.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE those old westerns, but they definitely, IMHO, are largely responsible for creating that false image of Texas in terms of topography.

In fact *chuckling a bit* SO ingrained in the American mindset (or at least the eastern part of the country) did that notion of Texas being one big expanse of desert become, that, paradoxically, it seemed certain later films had to present it that way to be "believable" to those who believed it! LOL

For instance, I can't remember the name of it, but there was some movie I watched in the 70's where the "action" took place across various state lines going east to west, starting in the Deep South. Anyway, once the "plot" reached Texas, the scenery suddenly and instantaneously shifted from thick pines and cypress bayous of Louisiana to transform into a barren desert full of cactus and tumbleweeds! Oh man...it was both hilarious and irritating.

[awecelot]

I think the biggest motion-picture contributor to the stereotype that Texas is a desert is a movie that actually was filmed in Texas: Giant, which starred Rock Hudson and Elizabeth Taylor. I believe it was filmed near Marfa.

[love roses]

We rented No Country for Old Men this past weekend. On the production commentary section (My husband always watches all the extras), the directors said they liked the West Texas area not only because of the fit with the story, but that the area is great for being able to shoot wide panoramas without anything getting in the way. Well, I say panoramas, but he was talking wide shots and things I know nothing about

[case44]

Originally Posted by gold dust

My goodness, I've never heard Texas described quite this well and it never sounded so good! I have only been in Texas 4 months so I am still learning!

Well, that's the Cliff Notes version. It was also past my bedtime.

Basically, I could have done a little more, but that's pretty much what you need to know outside of our great cities. I'm still learning, myself, about how to better describe places and things. The pity is that just my descriptions alone don't always do it justice.

[High_Plains_Retired]

Originally Posted by TexasReb

Right! Another one is when you see saguaro cactus in the scene (that tall type with several "forks" on it). This species is not native to Texas at all, but Arizona.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE those old westerns, but they definitely, IMHO, are largely responsible for creating that false image of Texas in terms of topography.

Yes, the saguaros are native to the Sonoran Desert but continue to be cast in movies set in the upper Chihuahua. You either have some biological training or are just very astute. I am a retired biologist who recieved his education in New Mexico so the plant and animal life in southwestern movie sets are always an interest to me.

I also know exactly what you mean about people not really thinking when they consider the nature of the border between Louisiana and Texas. I grew up not 60 miles from Louisiana in the east Texas "Pineywoods" but left for west Texas and New Mexico as a young serviceman. Years later, as a student in New Mexico, it was always difficult to explain that Louisiana did not abruptly end at the Sabine River with a Texas desert on the other side. Its difficult to explain to those who have never been there that the pictures that Hollywood paint are many times flawed. Hollywood for the most part subscribes to the old Roger Corman philosophy that obvious cardboard tombstones should not keep the film from rolling.

[bostoner]

Yep, it was Hollywood and all those Westerns they filmed back in the day. Most were actually filmed in California and Arizona, but were set in Texas. Go figure.

[momof2dfw]

Originally Posted by High_Plains_Retired

Years later, as a student in New Mexico, it was always difficult to explain that Louisiana did not abruptly end at the Sabine River with a Texas desert on the other side. Its difficult to explain to those who have never been there that the pictures that Hollywood paint are many times flawed. Hollywood for the most part subscribes to the old Roger Corman philosophy that obvious cardboard tombstones should not keep the film from rolling.

So true, so true. Even within East Texas you have VERY different regions. Some areas have hills while others are flat. Some have HUGE towering pine trees while others have more trees like oaks. Then you have Caddo with the moss hanging off the trees and more of a "swamp" in some parts.

We have discussed things like this before and how some people don't have a clue about Texas and Hollywood has been the main culprit. I can never get over "the hurricane" that hit Dallas on the tv show Dallas. LOL!!!

As for the directors and how they would just dismiss obvious flaws I thought this was interesting concerning the tv western Bonanza:
"The opening burning map of the Ponderosa Ranch was illustrated with incorrect bearings. David Dortort, choosing not to redo the map, altered the compass points. "

[Muhnay]

Originally Posted by case44

You have to get to know our state. The desert lands are in West Texas. Another feature found in West Texas are mountains, and they are truly majestic. All the forests, tall pines and green trees are in East Texas. You'll also find prairies and lakes in North and Central Texas. Also found in Central Texas is the Hill Country, and it is best described through pictures. You'll have interesting rock cuts, rolling hills, vistas, and southwestern yucca. Oh, and a lot of small cacti. In the Panhandle and the south plains (West and Northwest Texas), there's caprock and lots of farmland, as well as canyons. Southeast Texas features the beaches of the upper coastal bend. South Texas is plains and desert lands.

You have to also get past the misconception that Texas is nothing but tumbleweeds and Wild West desert. This land is so much more. Come see this.

When I was in Washington DC area, I was actually asked if we still used covered wagons in Texas? Its funny but some people think were all still yahoos and cowboys down here.

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by High_Plains_Retired

The eucalyptus trees in the old westerns were always a clear give away that the cowboys chasing the bank robbers were not anywhere near Texas. Also one would have to look hard and long in Texas to find a place with huge rounded boulders that provided the great Hollywood shoot-it-out scenes.

And...the older the movie, the funnier it gets.

Classic old western.....supposed to be the Rio Grande...and you look across the river from Texas (!!) at what is supposedly Mexico....and see Monument Valley..in Utah.

I just cracked up....LOL!! They did some nice splicing, I think...

[desertsun41]

Originally Posted by case44

You have to get to know our state. The desert lands are in West Texas. Another feature found in West Texas are mountains, and they are truly majestic. All the forests, tall pines and green trees are in East Texas. You'll also find prairies and lakes in North and Central Texas. Also found in Central Texas is the Hill Country, and it is best described through pictures. You'll have interesting rock cuts, rolling hills, vistas, and southwestern yucca. Oh, and a lot of small cacti. In the Panhandle and the south plains (West and Northwest Texas), there's caprock and lots of farmland, as well as canyons. Southeast Texas features the beaches of the upper coastal bend. South Texas is plains and desert lands.

You have to also get past the misconception that Texas is nothing but tumbleweeds and Wild West desert. This land is so much more. Come see this.

Love your descriptions. You must be a Geography Teacher. I bet it would take 10 lifetimes to see all Texas has to offer. My only familiarity is in the Lake Livingston area and a little bit of the Bolivar Peninsula. Maybe a little of the surrounding Lake Conroe area.

It will be full time home to me shortly and I cant wait to explore.