Saturday, April 19, 1997

Fandangle "Sampler" rescheduled for May 16 at Prairie Theatre

By J.T. SMITH / Farm Editor

The Fort Griffin Fandangle "Sampler" that orginally had been slated for April 25 has been changed.

This Sampler had been scheduled for that date at the Reynolds Bend Amphitheatre on the Matthews Ranch.

Because of the passing of Mr. Watt Matthews this past Sunday, the Sampler has been rescheduled for May 16.

The Sampler location also has been changed to the Prairie Theater at the edge of Albany. (They want to emphasize the Sampler is in <I>town<I> this year).

Lisa Sanders of the Fort Griffin Fandangle Association office in Albany will have more details at (915) 762-3838.

By the way, that Fandangle office is now a local call from Abilene.

Hours of the Fandangle office are Monday through Thursdays from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Lisa will be glad to assist you with more information.

The May 16 Fandangle Sampler performance will begin at dusk.

Fort Griffin Fandangle goes back to 1938

The annual Fort Griffin Fandangle at Albany began in 1938. It was the inspiration for "TEXAS" which people from throughout the world see each year at Palo Duro Canyon in the Texas Panhandle during the summer months. (Fandangle actors did the original pilot of TEXAS in the 1960s to help launch it).

The Fandangle had its start 59 years ago when the Albany High School senior class wanted to go on their senior trip to Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico. But they needed to raise money to make the journey.

The class asked Robert Nail to help them produce a play for the public that would raise money.

Mr. Nail agreed to help. The play was called <I>Dr. Shackelford's Paradise<I> and was presented on the football field in Albany.

But the senior play was so well received that the school superintendent asked the Chamber of Commerce to sponsor a larger version as a city-wide project.

Using only the unpaid townspeople of Albany as cast members, the show was neamed the <I>Fort Griffin Fandangle<I> to remember the cattle town and government outpost of old Fort Griffin.

The play depicted a time in history when the Matthews and Reynolds families settled the open prairie along the Lower Clear Fork of the Brazos - first at Camp Cooper in 1858 prior to the Civil War. And later, came the rough and rowdy cowtown of Fort Griffin.

When World War II broke out and the United States joined its allies, the Fandangle took a break until 1947 when the townspeople came together again to produce three performances.

Today, six performances are staged at the Prairie Theatre during the last two weeks of June each year.

Watt and the Sampler became tradition

In 1965, Watt Matthews, president of the Fort Griffin Fandangle Association, leased 30 acres of the large ranch to the Fandangle Association for one dollar per year.

Watt had a ranch amphitheatre carved from a hillside at Reynolds Bend, some 15 miles inside the main gate of the Matthews Ranch.

He also installed ample seats by carving terraces up a slope. Backdrops, sets, and props were added.

The "Sampler at Watt's" - as visitors throughout the nation commonly called it - let the actors do "an early run" out at the ranch each year, before going into town and doing the six performances at the Prairie Theatre in Albany.

A big turnout in Albany for both the Sampler on May 16 and a huge attendance for all six performances of the Fort Griffin Fandangle in June would be one of the most wonderful tributes that could ever be paid to Watt Matthews.

For this softspoken gentleman's gentleman deeply loved the Fort Griffin Fandangle and the people of Albany with all his big heart.