Hood County Courthouse in Granbury, TX

HOOD COUNTY COURTHOUSE
GRANBURY TX
picture from Hood County website

On a recent trip to the cute, small town of Granbury, Texas, The Travelling Toe was able to take a few pictures of the Hood County Courthouse.

W.C. Dodson was the architect for this county courthouse that was built in 1890. It seems that Mr. Dodson designed several Texas county courthouses during his career.

It is built from buff colored limestone in the Second Empire style, which was most popular between 1865 and 1880.  One of the best features of the Second Empire style was that it could be super-sized allowing for it to be used widely in municipal buildings. The 3-story central clock tower serves as the main attraction of the Hood County Courthouse.

The Hood County Courthouse is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

National Register of Historic Places

HOOD COUNTY COURTHOUSE
GRANBURY TX

This plaque on the courthouse grounds is in honor of Nellie Gray Robertson.  Ms. Robertson was the first female county attorney in Texas, having been elected to that post in 1918.  

Nellie Gray Robertson
historical plaque

Also on another corner of the courthouse square, is a statue in honor of Mary Lou Watkins. She was famous for ringing the dinner bell to let everyone in town know that food was ready to be served at the Nutt House Hotel.

Statute of
Mary Lou Watkins

Base of statute of
Mary Lou Watkins

This beautiful courthouse anchors Granbury's very active town square.  Businesses, celebrations, activities and many restaurants surround the courthouse making it appealing to both tourists and locals alike.  Granbury is a fun day-trip destination from the DFW area.  

HOOD COUNTY COURTHOUSE
ENTRANCE

Denton County Courthouse in Denton, TX

DENTON COUNTY COURTHOUSE
DENTON TX

Recently, The Travelling Toe and a Dear Friend made the short journey up 35 W north up to Denton, Texas.  Dear Readers, The Travelling Toe must admit that she has a fascination with the older courthouses of Texas and it has become a quest to visit as many as possible. So that was the focus of this day trip.  Well, plus a little antique shopping as well! 

The Denton County Courthouse was designed in 1896, by W.C. Dodson in the Romanesque style.  That type of architectural design is characterized by round arches and arcades with a profusion of sculptural ornamentation.

It has a central octagonal tower that houses a clock with four adjacent domes. The courthouse is made of sandstone and granite in contrasting colors .It has eighty pink granite pillars. Situated on a beautiful plot of land in the Denton downtown area, numerous native trees surround the courthouse. It is indeed he central feature of the downtown area. The city square surrounding the county courthouse is bustling with restaurants, businesses, activities and even a thriving community theater.  

Brass door hinges
both photos by The Travelling Toe

This is a picture of the brass door hinge and isn't it interesting?  Love that it has the Lone Star emblem on it.

The courthouse is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

National Register Of Historic Places

Inside the Denton County Courthouse is the Denton County Historical Museum.  It is well worth the time to visit this small but interesting museum.  The Travelling Toe featured it in a previous post.

So get out and go explore the historical sites of Texas!

postcards featuring the
Denton County Courthouse

"The Legend Of Tarzan" (movie critique)

THE LEGEND OF TARZAN
movie poster

Well, the Friday Movie Mavens and The Travelling Toe were out and about for our Friday movie adventure.  This week the choice was "The Legend of Tarzan". 

Dear Readers, unless you have been living under a rock then you must know the beginnings of the story of Tarzan.  His parents perish in the African rain forest leaving him as a baby all alone.  But he is taken in by a family of Apes and has a mother, Kala and a brother, Akut.  He becomes part of the Ape family and lives with them. But then he meets Jane and his life is changed forever.  They find out that he is the heir to his father's title, Lord Greystoke.  After marring Jane they move to the family estate in England, but they both dream of returning to Africa someday.  

In 1884, Colonial powers, Great Britain and Belgium, carve up the African Congo between the two countries. However,King Leopold II, of Belgium, is going broke and needs to mine diamonds found in the Congo to fund his military and his expansion plans.  The British government tells Tarzan that King Leopold wants him to head up an expedition to evaluate the  situation in the Congo.  But Tarzan refuses. However, George Washington Williams, an American diplomat, suspects that the tribes of the Congo are being enslaved to work on the Belgian railroad.  Tarzan decides to go with George but he does not want Jane to go with them, but she talks him into it as she wants to go home....home to Africa. So the 3 start out and forge their own path as Tarzan and George are suspicious of the Belgium expedition forces and their leader Rom. But the 3 are intercepted at their village home.  Tarzan is captured and is to be taken to a tribal leader who demands Tarzan for a revenge killing then the tribal leader will  give Rom the diamonds he wants and needs. But with the help of George, Tarzan is able to escape.The 2 of them are then on a quest to rescue Jane and the Congolese villagers who have been captured as salves.

So Dear Readers, is Tarzan able to save Jane from the dastardly Rom?  Are the native Congolese released from their slavery?  Does Tarzan settle the score with the tribal leader who wants him dead?  Does Rom get what's coming to him?  Well, you will just have to see this movie yourself to find out the answers to those questions and so much more.  By the way, Christoph Waltz is an awesome bad guy. He can be devious so well!

The Travelling Toe and the Friday Movie Mavens really did like this version of the story of Tarzan.  The scenery in the movie was absolutely breathing.  At the end of the movie we found out it was filmed in Gabon and the Dolomite Mountains of Italy.

Side Note:

Gabon is about the size of Great Britain.  It is on the west coast of Central Africa.  The country has a large National Park which is untouched and that was the area used for filming the movie.

Side Note 2:

The actor who played Tarzan, Alexander Skarsgard, was of course very handsome but he was not so beefed up he looked out of proportion and he did not wear a loincloth.  Later The Travelling Toe learned that he worked out at a gym, then did yoga and Pilates. He also worked with a movement coach who is a ballet choreographer.  That is why Alexander was so fluid in his movements as he swings from vine to vine and running through the rain forest.


CAST:

Alexander Skarsgard
Tarzan

Margot Robbie
Jane

Samuel L Jackson
George Washington Williams

Christoph Waltz
Rom

The Travelling Toe gives this movie 1 big toe up with a loincloth as worn by the Tarzan of our youth, Johnny Weissmuller!









Disclaimer:  The Travelling Toe is not a professional critic and any opinions expressed are for entertainment purposes only!

"Central Intelligence" (movie critique)

CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
movie poster

A Dear Friend and The Travelling Toe went to see the action comedy film, "Central Intelligence" as we both needed some laughs - and this movie delivered that in spades. The plot is a tad thin but still fun and a couple of parts of the movie might just relate to one's own High School experience!

As a young man in high school, Bob was overweight and bullied. The only friend he had, well sort of, was Calvin who was the big man on campus.  Twenty years go by and we now see Calvin as an unhappy accountant who has been passed over for a promotion. Calvin is married to his high school sweetheart, Maggie, who is a successful lawyer.  With their 20 year high school reunion coming up, Calvin does not want to attend but Maggie does. The fun begins when Calvin receives a Facebook friend request from a Bob Stone. He accepts the friend request and they decide to meet for a drink at a local bar.  Calvin can not believe that this is the same guy he knew in high school as he was rather overweight as a kid and now has really re-shaped his body.  To make the long story shorter, Bob needs Calvin's accounting skills to decipher some accounting records.  But come to find out they are really satellite codes. The CIA comes to Calvin's house looking for Bob as they think he is a traitor who got his former partner killed.  After they leave, Bob reappears and the fun begins. When Calvin realizes what Bob has dragged him into, it is way too late and he can't get out. The CIA is hunting them as well as the bad guys and there is not a safe place. During the movie there are car chases, double crosses, fight scenes and even a break-out from a clandestine CIA facility

Well, Dear Reader, The Travelling Toe will leave the action at this point.  Do Bob and Calvin retrieve the satellite codes before they are sold to the highest bidder?  Do they get the bad guys and get the CIA off their backs? And most important of all, do they make their 20 year high school reunion?

This is a funny movie and does not takes itself too seriously.  As Dear Friend said, just check your brain out in the lobby before you go in!

Do stay a few minutes after the movie ends, as there are a few outtakes shown that are so funny.


CAST:

Dwayne Johnson
Bob Stone

Kevin Hart
Calvin Joyner

Amy Ryan
Agent Pamela Harris

Danielle Nicolet
Maggie Joyner

Jason Bateman
Trevor - AKA The Bully

Tim Griffin
Agent Stan Mitchell

The Travelling Toe gives this movie 1 middle toe and 1 pinkie toe up with an evite to a high school reunion!

Disclaimer:  The Travelling Toe is not a professional critic and any opinions expressed are for entertainment purposes only.

"Don't Talk To The Actors" presented by Circle Theatre

DON'T TALK TO THE ACTORS
play program

One thing that The Travelling Toe enjoys is attending live theater presentations in the Fort Worth area.  Circle Theatre is a particular favorite and has been for some time.  So she and a Dear Friend attended a Saturday performance of their current show "Don't Talk To The Actors".  The play was written by Tom Dudzick. 

The "Playscripts" website provides an overview of the play as follows: 

Play Details

The best laid plans go awry when the cast and crew of a Broadway-bound play resort to manipulation, diva-like behavior, and chaotic abandon to get what they want. Fledgling playwright Jerry Przpezniak and his fiancee are a couple of Buffalo greenhorns suddenly swept up in the whirlwind of New York's theater scene when Jerry's play is optioned for the big money, ego-driven world of Broadway. It's a young playwright's dream, but the crazy characters and dilemmas they encounter are the things theatrical nightmares are made of.

Tom Dudzick
playwright

The following remarks were printed in the play program and provided by Mr. Dudzick:

This play is loosely based upon my experiences putting on my first New York play, "Greetings!" which starred Darren McGavin and was produced by the late, legendary producer, Arthur Cantor.  The character of director Mike Policzek is faithfully based upon my good friend, Dennis Zacek, former Artistic Director of Chicago's Victory Gardens Theatre, who was hired by Mr. Cantor to direct "Greetings!".  The remaining characters are composites of colorful people I've known on and off the stage.  Except for Jerry, the starry-eyed playwright.  He is, for the most part me.  This play was created in response to my wife's question, 'Why don't you write something that's just funny?"  

We did enjoy the play and it was funny.  The character of Curt Logan, a "TV" actor, worked hard on getting the playwright Jerry, to give his part more grit, texture and suspense and who was at heart  just an obnoxious egomaniac actor...but funny!

CAST:

Jerry Downey                                                            Louis Shaw

Bob Hess                                                                   Curt Logan

Ben Phillips                                                                Mike Policzek

Curtis Raymond Shideler                                           Jerry Przpezniak

Meg Shideler                                                              Arlene Wyniarski

Wendy Welch                                                             Beatrice Pomeroy

The Travelling Toe has seen several of Mr. Dudzick's plays at the Circle Theatre and they are all enjoyable.

Circle Theatre

"Finding Dory" (movie critique)

FINDING DORY
movie poster

Well, the Friday Movie Mavens, dragging The Travelling Toe along with them, went to see "Finding Dory" on a Saturday morning which was showing at the local Movie Tavern.  First The Travelling Toe must admit in full disclosure that she is not a fan of animated films (oh the horror) and did not see the first installment of this franchise, "Finding Nemo".  Even with all those factors,The Travelling Toe must admit that she did not find herself asleep at anytime during the flick nor were extended trips to the restroom required or visits to the snack bar needed just to pass the time.......well, actually at the Movie Tavern they come to you for your snack requirements. 

Apparently Dory has some issues with amnesia and can not remember where her parents are and how to find her way "home".  So Marlin and Nemo set out to help her with her problem.  Along the way they run into many interesting sea creatures, who are all cute, funny and in their own way trying to help Dory find her parents. Of course some of these adventurous plans do work out correctly.  One of the funniest sea creature friends, was Hank the red octopus who could blend into any surroundings he encountered.

So after all their adventures, does Dory find her home and her parents?  Well, Dear Readers, after all this film is from the Disney Studios who inspired living happily ever after!

There are almost 30 voices used in this movie so only a few cast members will be highlighted below.

CAST:

Ellen DeGeneres
Dory

Albert Brooks
Marlin

Hayden Rolence
Nemo

Ed O'Neill
Hank

As her friends said this movie was not quite as good as the first one, The Travelling Toe gives this movie 2 middle toes up with a seashell.

"Free State Of Jones" (movie critique)

FREE STATE OF JONES
movie poster

Recently the Friday Movie Mavens and The Travelling Toe went to the local multiplex to see "Free State of Jones", starring Matthew McConaughey.

A synopsis of the movie provided by an internet site is as follows;

In 1863, Mississippi farmer Newt Knight serves as a medic (actually in the movie he was called a nurse) for the Confederate Army.  Opposed to slavery, Knight would rather help the wounded than fight the Union.  After his nephew dies in battle, Newt returns home to Jones County to safeguard his family but is soon branded an outlaw deserter.  Forced to flee, he finds refuge with a group of runaway salves hiding out in the swamps.  Forging an alliance with the slaves and other farmers, Knight leads a rebellion that would forever change history.

It was a provocative movie but is often very violent and is not a movie for the faint of heart. The Travelling Toe must admit that during several scenes, her eyes were safely hidden either behind her hands or within the comfort of her jacket.  It was an fascinating story line and based on "actual" facts.....but how true is the movie to these facts is uncertain. Screenwriters and directors often don't let the facts stand in the way of a good story.

Recently The Smithsonian Magazine featured an article on this interesting part of our history.  Here is a link to that story.  

 Smithsonian Magazine


CAST

Matthew McConaughey
Newton Knight

Gugu Mbatha-Raw
Rachel Knight

Keri Russell
Serena Knight

Mahershala Ali
Moses Washington

They do favor each other a tad:

Matthew McConaughey 
with Newt beard

Newton Knight

So, is Newton Knight a deserter, an outlaw, Union sympathizer, bigamist or just a man trying to keep his family, friends and land safe?  Well, who really knows for sure!!!

The movie is 139 minutes long so plan your liquid consumption accordingly and it is rated "R:. 

The Travelling Toe gives this movie 2 middle toes up with some mosquito repellent for swamp living.

Disclaimer:  Travelling Toe is not a professional critic and any opinions expressed are for entertainment purposes.