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Film crews favoring historic downtownCity draws national attention for ‘hometown feel'By Scott PriceStaff WriterGrapevine’s historic features are attracting more than just tourists lately.Commercial film makers have taken a liking to area locations, as well. Last month a Dr Pepper commercial was filmed in the Mam street Barber Shop, and more recently, a Colombo Yogurt commercial was shot on Main Street using local residents as actors.Ross Bannister, Convention and Visitors Bureau director of special events, said the city gets no money from commercials filmed here, but Grapevine doesget a little bit of good exposure and a shot of excitement when the cameras roll.“It’s really fun for the citizens,” Bannister said. “It is a glimpse behind the curtain.”Bannister said advertisers are looking for that “hometown feel,” and Grapevine hasit.“Grapevine has a lot of natural charm,” Bannister said.Colombo Yogurt chose three cities in the United States for their commercial, and Grapevine was one. Hurricane,Utah, and Las Vegas, Nevada, were the other two cities chosen for the ad.Sheree Ross, an employeewith the Clutts Agency, said her agency was hired by Crash Films, the company that filmed the Colombo Yogurt commercial, to scout out locations for the TV spot She said his agency also scouted out locations for Dr Pepper, which chose the Main Street Barber Shop Ross said there are other cities in the Metroplex that have historical features, but “Grapevine is one of the strongest ones with the look ” Alfredo and Dora Gonzales, owners of Main Street Barber Shop, have worked seven years to get that look — from the 1947 Dr Pepper machineto the 1910 barber chairs. A1 said the idea came from an old customer, Spanky McFarland of “Our Gang” fame.At that time, Gonzales owned a shop called Ole Barber in Bedford, and McFarland advised him to take advantage of the name“Al, you ought to cash in on the name. Man, get you an old clank phone; Get you an old barber pole,’ “ Gonzales recalled.Gonzales said he started collecting the classic items but didn’t know exactly what to do with them. He saw a painting of an old-fashioned barber shop by Bill Souder and toldhis wife he wanted his shop to look like that Thus, if a customer looks at the picture now hanging on the back wall of his Main Street shop and turns around, they will see a strong resemblance Children who come into the shop receive free ice cream, pop corn or candy They can even ask mom or dad for a dime to get a Dr Pepper. These Dr Peppers, however, are a little different The soft drinks come in returnable bottles, and they are made at the oldest Dr Pepper bottling plant, located in Dublin, Texas, which is the only one still using the originalrecipe Oh, yes, mom and dad have to pay another $1 for the soft drink after the kids use a dime to get it out of the machine.Gonzales said he has a deal with the Dublin plant owner, Bill Koster, who sells him 35 cases of Dr Pepper in the old-style bottles every time Gonzales drives to Dublin “Bill Koster has been a great source of inspiration,” Gonzales said.A1 said the barber shop decorations are all a part to bring fathers and sons closer.“It begins to narrow theSee FILM/9B
Newspaper Details
Grapevine Sun
Grapevine, Texas, US
Sun, Mar 22, 1998
Page 13
Full Page
Clipped by
Grapevine P.
Tx, USA 29 Apr 2019
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Grapevine Sun
