The streets of San Antonio are swapping today's traffic for yesterday's charm as the city welcomes the production of "1923," a prequel to the behemoth Paramount series "Yellowstone." Beginning September 23, residents can expect a step back in time and a few inconveniences as Broadway's downtown stretch morphs into a scene from the early 20th century. Filming will prompt closures from E. Pecan St. to E. Houston St., including E. Travis St. and Peacock Alley. Yet, life must go on, and most businesses will bravely keep their doors open amidst the disruption, according to a report from MySA.
While inconvenience is a given, San Antonio is poised to robustly benefit from the glam of the Hollywood scene. "1923" production has strategically selected the San Antonio backdrop for its old-world architectural aesthetic, said Krystal Jones, Executive Director of the city's Department of Arts and Culture. Jones told MySA, they "showed production mansions, streetscapes and different pockets in the city" to be able to convincingly bring to life the era of the 1920s.
The influence of this high-profile project extends beyond mere aesthetics. Ceslie Armstrong, CEO of Women in Film & Television San Antonio, took to Facebook to proudly note the synergy that made this happen. “For the past many weeks I’ve had the pleasure of liaising with the production of Taylor Sheridan’s '1923,'” Armstrong wrote, "I cannot stress enough the diligence and collaboration it takes to bring a production of this caliber to a location that may not have been integral to the production overall." Armstrong’s insights into the colossal efforts required to attract such an event were further illuminated in an article on MRT.
The economic boom for the local film scene is non-trivial. Filming for "1923" is spanning Texas with Austin serving as a base camp of sorts. Extra hiring spree by Legacy Casting in neighboring towns like Galveston and Lockhart paints a picture of a thriving industry. Businesses, steeled for the impact, have been alerted to inescapable changes come September 16, with preparations kicked off even earlier, on September 9, as reported by the MySA. The series, which stars Helen Mirren and Harrison Ford, promises to further immerse audiences into the storied past of the Dutton family amidst pandemics and economic distress.
