San Marcos Record, San Marcos, TX

Local News

Related Photos

  • Three cast members of a documentary on Jack C. Hays wait to act out a scene at the Halifax Ranch on Saturday in Kyle. Ashley Landis

    Hays 1

  • Scott McMahon, who plays Jack C. Hays, talks to crew members during a costume change. Ashley Landis

    Hays 2

  • Cameraman Don Hauk lines up a shot. (Photos by Ashley Landis) Ashley Landis

    Hays 3
October 20, 2009

Captain Jack: History in Focus

Historical commission takes on the legend of Jack C. Hays

By Ashley Landis

Kyle — History came to life this past weekend as crews filmed the first-ever documentary about the county’s namesake, Jack C. Hays.

The Hays County Historical Commission (HCHC) is producing the 30-minute video that was filmed Friday through Monday at two area ranches.

Hays, or Captain Jack as he was known to his fellow Texas Rangers, led many battles in the Mexican War. The documentary will show re-enactments of key battles, including the Walker Creek Indian Fight, which was filmed at the Rutherford Ranch in Buda. Other scenes were shot at the Halifax Ranch in Kyle.

During the gold rush of 1849, Hays left Texas for California, where he became the surveyor general.

The script was written by Gene Shelton, a Texas author who has published four books, including one on Hays entitled Captain Jack, The Story of John Coffee Hays.

The director of the video is Richard Kidd, who has 40 years of experience in documentaries, film, event management and museum installation. He is a member of the Hays County Historical Commission and director of the Documentary Film Unit, which has produced several oral histories.

Jack C. Hays will be played by Scott McMahon, who is a historical re-enactor at Washington on the Brazos. Other re-enactors were chosen to work on the film to create a more accurate scene.

There has never been a documentary on Jack Hays, historical commission officials said.

The current project is supported by Hays County and funds have also been provided through private donors and foundations. The budget for the film is about $50,000, the HCHC’s Shelley Henry said.

“I think we’re pretty lucky to be able to do this,” she said. “I don’t know of very many historical commissions that have been able to do this.”

Once completed, plans are to provide copies of the film to all county schools as well as to the Texas Ranger Museum in Waco, Henry said.

The HCHC is also working to restore the old Hays County Jail in San Marcos. HCHC officials said there is a possibility that the jail will be transformed in to a Jack C. Hays museum, where the film will play.

Text Only
Local News
House Ads
Video
Business Marquee
AP Video
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium 50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes Raw Video: Fight Erupts in Ukrainian Parliament Texan Ranchers Remain Wary of Drought Raw Video: Soldiers Plant Flags at Arlington Police: Man Arrested in Etan Patz Disappearance NYC Protests: the Revolution Will Be Scripted Chicago U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald Resigns Neighbors of Etan Patz's Suspect: It's Shocking Gulf Fishermen Reel From Seafood Troubles Stuntman Makes Skydive Without Parachute in UK Raw Video: Bride Who Faked Cancer Released
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
Twitter Updates
Follow me on Twitter
Facebook
Seasonal Content