Film and Music Production

The Lawton-Ft. Sill area has had pre-production, production, and post-production activities for feature films on an ongoing basis since 1908.  This includes TV crews, commercials, and documentary filmmakers.

For support outside of Lawton City Limits, contact the Comanche County Office of Public Information.

Historic Towns within easy driving distance, to name a few are Medicine Park, Frederick, Marlow, Duncan and Snyder, OK

Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge

Comanche, Kiowa, and Apache Nations within easy driving distance

Museum Archives for Pre-Production Research include Lawton Public Library and Family History Center, Cameron University Library, Ft. Sill Army Museum, Museum of the Great Plains, Chisholm Trail Museum, Comanche National Museum, Southern Plains Indian Museum (Anadarko), 

Oklahoma Expatriates - Producers, Directors, Writers, & Actors

Strong presence of creative sectors and multicultural organizations

Arts for All Member and Affiliate Organizations

Lawton Community Theatre

Lawton Philharmonic Society

Southwest Oklahoma Opera Guild

Wichita Wildlight Photographic Society

Lawton/Fort Sill Art Council

Lawton Pro Musica

Leslie Powell Foundation

Cameron University

Blue Moon Productions

SW OK Historical Society

SW OK Genealogy Society

Holiday in the Park

Holy City

Dance Studios & Organizations such as Kicker Cloggers, Lawton Academy of Dance, Mexican Folkloric Dancers, Sherri’s Dance Center, Story & Barton School of Dance, Southstar Dance, Kealii’s Polynesian Dance School and various Square Dance Clubs

Lawton Heritage Association and Mattie Beal Home

Leslie Powell Foundation and Gallery

Wichita Mountains Friends of the Wichitas

Daughter of the American Revolution

Philips Music Company

Sounds Impossible

Journey Productions

Sweet Adelines

Lawton-Duncan Barbershop Chorus, “Southwest Pride”

Buffalo Soldiers, Ninth & Tenth Horse Cavalry Association

Lawton Area

Army Public Affairs, www.army.mil/publicaffairs/

Arts for All, Inc., (580) 248-5384, www.lawtonafa.org

Comanche County, www.comanchecounty.us

Comanche Nation, (580) 492-3752  comanchenation.com

Ft. Sill, Public Affairs Office, (580) 442-2521 - Request to film on Ft. Sill

Great Plains Economic Development Center, (580) 250-5550, bdc.greatplains.edu/

Great Plains Technology Center, (580) 355-6371, greatplains.edu/

Lawton Community Theatre, (580) 355-1600, lawtoncommunitytheatre.com/

Lawton Public Library's Family History Room Research, (580) 581-3450, www.lawtonok.gov/departments/library/about-us/family-history

Lawton Public Schools, (580) 357-6900, www.lawtonps.org/

Lawton-Ft.Sill Chamber of Commerce, 800-872-4540, lawtonfortsillchamber.com/

Museum of the Great Plains Archives Research, (580) 581-3460, www.discovermgp.org/

Medicine Park, OK, (580) 529-2825, medicinepark.com/

Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, (580) 429-8587, www.fws.gov/refuge/wichita_mountains/

Producers, Directors, Writers, Actors & more with ties to SW Oklahoma (*Award-winning/Honors)

Jana Acevedo (Lawton, OK), In 2008, Jana graduated with her B.A. in Theatre Arts from Cameron University. She worked as Costume Designer for Lawton Community Theatre from 2008-2011. In 2013, she received her M.F.A. in Production Design from Savannah College of Art and Design. Her recent projects include working in the costume department as a seamstress for Halt and Catch Fire (Season 2), Sleepy Hollow (Season 3), and Making History (Pilot)

Annette Arkeketa* (Otoe-Missouria), Lawton, Hokte Productions

Margaret Avery* (Mangum) Actress, Oscar Nomination, Best Actress in a Supporting Role
for "The Color Purple" (1985)

Big Productions*, Dan Big Bee Jr (Comanche) and Lily Shangreaux (Lakota)

Russell Bates* (B. 6/6/1941, Lawton - D. 4/9/2018, Anadarko) 1975 Emmy for Animated Startrek, He was a proud member of the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma and on his paternal grandfather's side descended from the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes of Oklahoma and military veteran. After leaving the service, he worked for a time at the Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Los Angeles. While in LA, he attended Open Door classes for television writing at the Writers Guild of America. There he met writers Gene Roddenberry, D.C. Fontana and Gene L. Coon who were influential in his 12-year screenwriting career. He started out with his mentor, Gene L. Coon on Universal Studios' "The Name of the Game". He produced work for television series including "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir," "The 6th Sense," "M*A*S*H," "All in the Family," "The Six Million Dollar Man," "Kolchak: The Night Stalker," and the original "Battlestar Galactica." With David Wise, he wrote the "Star Trek: The Animated Series" episode How Sharper than A Serpent's Tooth. In 1975, the episode was the basis for the Star Trek franchise's first and only major Emmy Award win for Outstanding Entertainment Children's Series. The episode also won a Peabody Award. He wrote the pilot episode for the 1970s children's series Filmation Studio's "The Secret of Isis" called The Lights of Mystery Mountain. He performed as an actor in seven motion pictures including his acting debut 1981's "Freddie of the Jungle" and as Mike Jumper in "Porky's II: The Next Day." He was the subject of the Oklahoma City PBS affiliate OETA's Gallery program in 2011 and an episode of the YouTube channel series, "Trekspertise." In his writing career, he had 36 short stories published, three teleplays published, 15 teleplays sold and six produced and 24 articles published nationally and internationally. In 2015, the University of Central Oklahoma hosted A Passport to Native Oklahoma "An Evening with Kiowa Writer Russell Bates" at the Paramount Theater in downtown Oklahoma City. In January 2017, he was the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Miami International Science Fiction Film Festival. He was a member of the Kiowa Black Leggings Warrior Society, the Screen Actors Guild of America and the Writers Guild of America.  "Time and life may still a writer's hand, but not his voice." -Russell Bates Source: The Lawton Constitution Newspaper, Obituary for Russell Louis Bates, Mon, 04/16/2018 

Charlotte Black Elk* (Lakota), Apache, researcher and activist for Native rights, a scholar of Lakota tradition and western technology, featured in many documentaries

Katela Black Elk (Lakota), Apache, Actress

Wallace Bridges (Lawton) Founder and Artistic Director, Idlewild Theatre, Acting professionally on stage, commercials and film, and Educator, www.bridgesweb.com

Layne Brightwell* (Altus) Costume designer, Key costumer, Supervising costumer, Set costumer and Wardrobe supervisor for television series and films such as "Diary of a Mad Black Woman” (2005), “Ghost Whisperer” (2005), “Seabiscuit” (2003) and “The Legend of Bagger Vance” (2000)

Florence Britton (1904 - ?) (Lawton) Actress 1904-?

Cameron University, Department of Communications, various student productions*

Mark Carlton (Lawton) Actor & Second Unit Production Manager

Vicki Caroline Cheatwood-Daves* (Lawton - Fort Sill) Playwright, 1996 Best New Play - Southwest Theatre Association, 1997 Robert Bone Memorial Playwriting Award, Dallas Theatre Critics League Award for Best New Play, 2005 Austin film festival screenplay competition finalist, Potlatch screenplay reading series (Dallas), and Alchemy works “Movie Midwifing” screenplay series (Austin), 2005 Worldfest Houston film festival-Special Gold Jury Award, short film dramatic-adaptation

C. J. Cherryh* (Lawton) Writer, John W. Campbell Award, Hugo Award, Locus Award, New England Science Fiction Association's Edward E. Smith Memorial Award (The Skylark), Oklahoma Book Award's Arrell Gibson Lifetime Achievement Award, Asteroid 77185 Cherryh, discovered March 20, 2001 and named in her honor

Pamela Clay (Fort Sill) Actress

Tokala Clifford (Lakota), Actor

Kalvin Cook* (Apache) Actor, Guinness World Record Holder, appeared in numerous movies, television shows and commercials

Alvin Dark aka "Blackie" & "The Swamp Fox" (1922 - ?) (Comanche) Baseball Player, Played self in movies

Bill Devine (Fort Sill) Production Manager, Voice recordist, & Sound design

Candace Early* (Lawton) Actress & Singer (August 18, 1950 - January 31, 2019) She was born at Fort Hood, Texas, on August 18, 1950, the daughter of (Colonel, ret.) H.E. Earley and Jean Daily Earley. At a young age, her Father was transferred to Germany where she learned German in Kindergarten. Her Family was transferred to Ft. Sill, in Lawton, Oklahoma, when she was 5 years old.

She was educated in the Lawton public schools, where she was an honor student, and was active in the theatre and arts programs. It was during these years that her 4-Octave coloratura soprano voice was developed and honed via voice lessons. She was selected Miss Lawton and was First Runner-up to Miss Oklahoma. She attended Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, and from there left for San Francisco to begin her stage career. While there, she joined the Cast of Hair in 1969, and shortly was cast in the lead role of "Shelia". From then on, and through all of her life, she was one of the proud and select members of the "Tribe".

At age 21, she moved to New York, and was a member of the Broadway "Tribe". She was then cast as the lead in Jesus Christ Superstar on Broadway. While eating lunch at Sardi's, the Casting Director of ABC daytime television asked, " Who is that attractive mid-western looking type across the room?". Shortly thereafter she was cast as "Donna" on All My Children, where she starred for 18 years. During this time on AMC, she continued her Broadway stage career playing the lead role of "Sandy" in Grease, and later played the role of "Nellie Forbush", opposite Bob Goulet, in South Pacific. During her years in New York, she also starred in Summer Stock Productions of Oklahoma, Bells are Ringing, and Woman of the Year. While living in New York, she regularly returned to Lawton, which she considered "home". Source Arkansas Democrat, Arkansas Online, Obituary submitted by Young's Funeral Directors, 508 Champagnolle Road, El Dorado, AR, 

Judy Guyll (Lawton) Actress

Ava Hamilton* (Arapaho), Weatherford, Producer & Director

David G. Harper (Fort Sill) Actor

Marc Hausman (Lawton), Videographer & Photographer, Comanche Tribe member

Tony Head (Fort Sill) Actor

Stephen Hillenburg* (B. August 21, 1961, Fort Sill - D.  November 26, 2018, San Marino, CA) Creator & Executive producer, SpongeBob SquarePants, From Wikipedia, "Stephen McDannell Hillenburg was an American cartoonist, voice actor, and marine biologist. He was best known as the creator of the Nickelodeon animated television series SpongeBob SquarePants, which he also directed, produced, and wrote. It has gone on to become the fifth longest-running American animated series. Awards - British Academy Children's International Award, Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Class Animated Program"  Also, there is a Broadway Musical based on SpongeBob SquarePants. From Wikipedia, " SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical (originally titled The SpongeBob Musical) was co-conceived and directed by Tina Landau with songs by various artists and a book by Kyle Jarrow.  Its world premiere was in June 2016 at the Oriental Theatre in Chicago.  The musical premiered on Broadway at the Palace Theatre in December 2017 and went on to be nominated and won various awards including twelve Tony Nominations. The show closed at the Palace Theatre on September 16, 2018 due to construction at the theatre. A United States tour is planned for 2019. At the time of its closing, it had played 29 previews and 327 regular performances."

Charles Nedwin "Ned" Hockman* (Carnegie 1921–2009) Producer, Director, Production Manager, & Actor - 1996 Cameron University Distinguished Alumnus; Boyd Professor Emeritus, School of Journalism, The University of Oklahoma; Former delegate to the Cannes Film Festival, Cannes, France; Former Delegate to the International Lision Schools of Cinema and Television, Warsaw/Lodz, Poland; Former Delegate to the Mannheim Documentary Film Festival (Ger.); Visiting Professor, Summer Term, University of Washington, Seattle, USA; For 26 years, Director of the Annual Television-News Video Workshop sponsored by the National Press Photographers Association, Eastman Kodak, Sony and the University of Oklahoma; President, Oklahoma Motion Picture Hall of Fame, Charter member; University Film and Video Association of America, Member; Oklahoma Governor's Film Committee, & Awarded the Joseph A. Sprague Memorial Award for Photojournalism by the National Press Photographers Association  For more information, visit the Oklahoma Historical Website

Johnny Horn (Lawton) Actor, "Special Ed"; feature film; (2006) "Unsolved Mysteries; NBC TV, commercials

Howard Family (Duncan) Rance, Jean Speegle-Howard, and Ron; Producer, Director & Actors

Tvli Jacobs*, Producer & Director

Cassie Jaye (Fort Sill) Actress

Dr. Matt Jenkins*, Matt Jenkins Productions

Darrell Kosechequetah (Comanche Tribal member) Producer, Photographer & Graphic Design

Mike Kosechequetah* (Comanche Tribal member) Producer, Photographer & Graphic Design

Barbara Lawrence (Carnegie) Actress - Among her many roles, in 1955 she was cast as Gertie Cummings in the movie Oklahoma! She reprised the role she played on the stage.

N. Scott Momaday (Lawton) Kiowa Tribal member, Pulitzer Prize-winning author featured in many documentaries

Lauren Nelson (Lawton) Miss America 2007, Discover Oklahoma and Channel 9

Juanita Pahdopony (Lawton) Comanche Tribal member, Voice Actor and Technical Adviser, "The Son"

Lee Pace* (Chickasha) Actor with a Gotham Award for Breakthrough Actor and nominated for several other awards, including a Golden Globe, for his work in the 2003 "Soldier's Girl"

Pat Payne* (Ringling) Producer & Composer

Tom Platz (Fort Sill) Actor & Body Builder 1973 Mr. Adonis competition & 1978 World Amateur Championship middleweight division

Rod Pocowatchit* (Pawnee, Shawnee and Comanche), Producer, Director & Writer, Sundance Fellow

Rudy Ramos (Lawton) Actor, Rudy was cast in the hit TV western, The High Chaparral, as "Wind".  He has had recurring roles on TV include Resurrection Blvd and Hunter. Rudy has had starring roles in made-for-TV movies such as The Blue Knight, Helter Skelter, Everybody's Baby: The Rescue of Jessica McClure and Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman: The Movie.  He has made guest appearances on George Lopez, NYPD Blues and JAG, Murder, She Wrote, Mac Gyver, Hill Street Blues and Hawaii Five-O.  He has also performed in many feature films; Beverly Hills Cop !!, The Enforcer, Colors, Defiance, and Torchlight.  In 2018, he was cast in Yellowstone with Kevin Costner.  

As a member of the Los Angeles Actors Theatre, Rudy performed the role of "Cupcakes", in the award-winning hit show, Shorteyes. Other stage performances have taken place in such notable theaters as The Mark Taper Forum, John Anson Ford, The Met, Matrix, The Los Angeles Theatre Center, Nosotros, South Coast Rep, New Mexico Rep and The Ojai Playwrights Conference. Ramos brought his one-man performance of "Geronimo: Life on the Reservation" to life and takes it on tour. He was inducted into the Oklahoma Movie Hall of Fame. 

Leon Russel (Lawton) Singer, Actor & Musical Arranger

Buddy Ryan (Frederick) Sports legend, played self

Alton Tabor (Hobart) Actor

Sunrise Tippeconnie* (Comanche & Navajo) Producer, Director & Actor

Deron Twohatchet * (Kiowa & Comanche), Producer, Director & Actor

Levi West* (Otoe-Missouria) Lawton, Videographer, 5 Time Emmy Award Winner

Bryan White (Lawton) Singer & Voice

Jan Woomavoyah * (Comanche), Lawton, Producer & Director

Rodney Yee ( Altus) Self in Yoga series

Brad Yoder (Fort Sill) Producer, Production Manager, Actor& Writer

The research for this data came from many sources such as The Internet Movie Data Base, the Internet Broadway Data Base, Wikipedia, Museum of the Great Plains, and in some cases the person or their family. Should any information need to be updated, corrected, or added, please, call our office (580) 581-3470 or email us arts@lawtonok.gov.

Early silent film production in Oklahoma has a unique history as the state was formed from two territories prior to statehood, November 19, 1907. One territory was known as the Oklahoma Territory and the other was Indian Territory.

Lawton and Southwest Oklahoma was in the Oklahoma Territory. It was and still is the home of the Comanche, Kiowa, Apache, Caddo, Wichita, Delaware, Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribal Nations. The City of Lawton was established in 1901 when the indian lands were opened for settlement. Prior to that, nearby Fort Sill was established in 1869.

A few of the early silent films produced in the area are 1908, "The Wolf Hunt"; 1908,"The Bank Robbery"; 1914, "The Sign of the Smoke"; and 1920, "Daughter of Dawn".

1914 The Sign of the Smoke, Geronimo Film Company-

Oklahoma Research Source of Information: Federal Theatre Project / Mr. Frank V. Wright 765-3-4 S203 / 708 D Street, Lawton, Oklahoma

In 1914 Mr. Frank V. Wright organized a film company known as the Geronimo Film Company.  Producers of true to nature western films.  (Studio, Wichita Mountains). “The Sign of the Smoke” was made in the fall and winter of 1914.  The following is copied from newspaper clippings from the News-Republican, a newspaper printed in Lawton at that time:

Lawton, Oklahoma, Wednesday, December 30, 1914

“SCENERY A DELIGHT TO MOTION PICTURE ARTISTS"

“With a few days of sunshiny weather “The Sign of the Smoke,” the feature picture being made by Frank Wright and his associates, will be completed.  Immediately afterwards, Mr. Kent, photographer, will proceed to make a feature film for Bill Tighman and his associates, many of the scenes being made in the Wichita Mountains.

“Mr. Kent, who does the photo work for the 101 Ranch and is one of the best in the business, is delighted with the scenery of this section and says it is equally as good for all purposes as California.  In his opinion, if the businessmen would lease a section of land adjacent to the mountains and provide a studio and a few cottages, every month of the year would find a motion picture company on the ground, as many of their stories could be made into film there.  He told of one or two instances where this had been done by business interests.

“Not only is it a good advertisement for a city but a splendid business proposition, says Mr. Kent.  The people, to a large extend, employed are high-salaried people and sometimes there are a very large number employed in the making of a picture.  They naturally spend a large portion of their salaries wherever located.

“This arouses a train of thought well worth following, it would seem.  While local citizens seem to appreciate the natural scenery of this section, strangers are enthused over it, and especially those who have come here for the purpose of film making.  The proper inducement would probably mean that of the many companies, some one, or perhaps two, would be on the ground at all seasons of the year.

“It can readily been seen what advantages would accrue to Lawton and vicinity from an advertising standpoint.”

* * * * * *

“THE SIGN OF THE SMOKE”

This film is a product by the Geronimo Film Company, composed of Frank Wright and associates.  The picture composing the plot was made in the Wichita Mountains, where the national reserve is located.  The buffalo herd there is included; the beautiful scenery and clear, pretty shaded streams that abound.  Among the most prominent people carrying out the story are Vern and Edith Tantlinger and Miss Kent, of the 101 Ranch, owned by Miller Bros., in northern Oklahoma; also Jack Arnold.

The Comanche Indians taking part are among those around Lawton, and White Parker, son of Chief Quannah Parker, is the principal character.  The members of this tribe of Indians performed well their part and completed a truly western picture.

“The Sign of the Smoke” is a high-class production, affording much food for thought, as well as being an interesting story of adventure, containing a love plot that always adds to the merit of any production.

It was seen by hundreds yesterday afternoon and last night at the Murray and many more will witness it today, which is the last it will be shown here for the present.

* * * * * *

“THE SIGN OF THE SMOKE”

The Real Comanche Indian Pictured In His Native Haunts

A scenario written about an actual life incident of a famed Comanche Chief that had much to do with his final submission to the white man’s laws and his later profession of Christianity.

Every Feature True To Nature

More than 100 full-blood Comanche Indians.

More than 50 head of range buffalo -- the finest in America.

More than 200 long-horn range cattle stampeded.

A full company of Uncle Sam’s troops.

An emigrant train composed of real emigrants, secured at the opportune moment for this production.

A positive relief from the Broadway exaggeration of the true western life. 

A picture showing the Indian as he really was in the past and he really is today.

BIG

BRIGHT

BEAUTIFUL

BIG because no expense was spared.

BRIGHT because the scenario carries a story that tugs at every heart string.

BEAUTIFUL because nature did her best where the settings for this picture were created.

A Heart Story Endorsed by Press and Public.

* * * * * *

What the Managers have to say about “THE SIGN OF THE SMOKE”

Lyric -- Pawnee, Oklahoma, R.B. Stafford, Mgr.

“The Sign of the Smoke” showed here to a packed and pleased house.  One of the greatest pictures of its kind and can recommend it as a sure winner.  Don’t miss exhibiting feature.

Bijou -- Monett, Missouri, W.S. Sevier, Mgr.

This is to certify that we have this day (April 21, 1915) run “The Sign of the Smoke.” The feature gave entire satisfaction and the display is certainly a box office attraction.

Electric Theatre -- Hennessey, Oklahoma, M.A. Blackburn, Mgr.

Patrons of our theatre last night (April 7, 1915) were delighted with “The Sign of the Smoke.” So true to nature -- its many thrilling scenes -- it’s real portrayal of Indian life and characteristics, along with the roaming buffalo on the plains and the hunt by the old-time Indians, makes the show that catches everybody.  We take pleasure in recommending this splendid feature to our fellow managers.

University Theatre -- Norman, Oklahoma, Ray C. Berry, Mgr.

This picture showed in our No. 2 house to capacity business and gave satisfaction.  We have asked for a return date in our No. 1 house at any time it may please the booking office.  “The Sign of the Smoke” is a good one and the advertising given it gets the money.

Oklahoma Research, Classification: Indian Story, "Daughter of Dawn"

Federal Theatre Project 765-3-4, Obtained by Interview from Esther LaBarr Jordan

In the interview I had with Esther La Barr Jordan, she said “The Daughter of Dawn” was made in 1920 in the Wichita Mountains.

During the 4 months it took to make this picture, there were about 5,000 Indians who camped and helped to make the picture.  These Indians were used in the cast as extras.  Several Indian battles were fought in the picture.

The story of “The Daughter of Dawn” was the story of two young Indian braves, both of whom wanted to marry Chief Dawn’s daughter.  One was rich; he had great herds of cattle and ponies.  The other one was very poor; all he could offer was his strength and courage.

Since Chief Dawn favored the poor young brave, he told them that they would have to prove themselves worthy of his daughter by jumping over a high cliff.

When the time came for the test, the old chief had everything ready, and all the tribe was watching to see who could claim the Indian princess.

Both young braves were there, but at the last moment, the brave with the cattle and ponies refused to make the leap over the cliff.

So the old Chief Dawn gave his daughter in marriage to the poor young Indian that had neither cattle nor ponies but only his brave deeds to offer.

The poor young brave in the picture was White Parker, son of Quannah Parker.  The brave with the many ponies and herds of cattle was Jack Sanka-doey.

Immediately after this picture was finished, Esther La Barr married.  She was 16 years old at that time.

The other picture was made several years before “The Daughter of Dawn.” Esther La Barr was not in this picture.  It was called “The Sign of the Smoke.”

                        Submitted by: Margaret Harrold, Research Worker

Oklahoma Research, Title: Early Day Theatres

Federal Theatre Project: 765-3-4, S-304 Source: Copied from a Newspaper

Clipping Belonging to Mrs. Frank V. Wright

Electric Parlor

Electric Parlor is dedicated to the use of ladies and gentlemen of Lawton as a place of public amusement.  The employees of the house are ladies and gentlemen.  For them, we ask and demand the same courteous treatment that will be extended patrons.

“Posers,” “ogglers” and “mashers,” if any there be in Lawton, are invited to stay away -- we don’t need the money or desire the presence of that class.

Rules of propriety, such as prevail in our best homes, will govern Electric Parlor so long as the present management is in control.

Trusting that our policy may be thoroughly understood and that our effort to establish a popular place of amusement may not prove an utter failure, we are,

                        Very respectfully yours,

                        FRANK V. WRIGHT

                        Proprietor

* * * * * *

Gaining in Popularity

Electric Parlor, under the management of Mr. Wright, is daily gaining favor with the amusement-loving people of Lawton.  As was his custom when engaged in the newspaper business in this city, Mr. Wright now exerts his characteristic energy in making his new venture popular with the people.  That he is succeeding admirably is evidenced by the big crowds attending the after and evening entertainments.  Mrs. J.W. Enochs has accepted a permanent position as pianist at Electric Parlor and her overtures alone are well worth the price of admission.  Miss Gertrude Salter, of El Reno, is enlightening the Lawton public with her illustrated songs and special intermission selections.

Various documentaries, commercials, industrial & feature films, and television work have ties to Lawton, Fort Sill, and surrounding area.

From research to pre-release screenings here are but a few of the various projects.

Documentary 

"ReCreating America", InCA Productions, Flashback TV, Ken Burns documentary "The Way West" and "Baseball" which aired on the PBS network.

Discovery Channel Canada, Red Apple, Denmark's Paul Eric Eilbuth, and projects for Discovery channels, BBC, A&E, & American Experience

Feature Films:

Inspiration ...."Blazing Saddles", Mel Brooks was stationed at Fort Sill, Source Yahoo Movies, Article by Adam Pockross, May 7, 2014, Excerpt of Mel Brooks Quote: "When I enlisted in the Army, I was sent to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, near the wonderful town of Lawton, Oklahoma. I think I get a lot of "Blazing Saddles" from Lawton, Oklahoma. It was an artillery base, Fort Sill. It was called Field Artillery Replacement Training Center. Put that together and you got farts. And it just stuck in my head, and I thought I never could find a place for it. Then when I had this cowboy story, with beans and tin plates, I said, "OK, we can let it go."" Yahoo Movies, Link to full story

"In the Valley of Elah", location scouting

Mel Gibson's "Apocalypto", Pre-release screening

Sound Crews for "War of the Worlds" & "Saving Private Ryan" (Academy Award for Sound)

"Dances with Wolves" - Pre-production research

"In the Army Now" - Filmed on Fort Sill

Television:

"The Son", AMC, casting call

"America at a Crossroads, Kansas to Kandahar" Lumiere Productions, PBS 

"Beauty in the Suffering" Music Video, Barfield Productions

"Digital Ranch" for History Channel

"Extreme Makeover Home Edition", ABC

"Hillbilly Handfishing"

"Military Snapshot" for Capitol Media Group

"Mudcats"

"Paranormal Witness - True Terror"

"Prison Break", location scouting

"River Monsters"

“What it Takes”, Best Read Blind’s production, PBS

Size It Up Productions for Discovery Channel

PBS National Productions

Trailer: "Lazarus Rising", Los Angeles based Screenwriter/producer Larissa FastHorse, Executive Producer Mark E. Lee and editor/camera operator Larry Milburn worked on the trailer. Larissa FastHorse selected Tvli Jacob and Steven Judd as Directors with Restless Natives Production Company of Oklahoma. The short trailer of her feature script was created for possible investors. The shoot was funded by National Geographic All Roads Seed Grant, and the script was developed with the Sundance Institute/Ford Foundation. Press Release

Foreign Projects:

Marthe Thorshaug, Norway, "Comancheria"

Commercial:

Jordan Advertising, Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation

Blue Sky Productions, Tulsa

Circle 7 Productions

Cameron University Student Documentary Film Program, Partial Listing

"North of Austin/West of Nashville: Red Dirt Music”, 2007, The musicians/songwriters speak openly, honestly and passionately about this unique musical form born in the heartland of the southern plains. Free of the over-polished and superficial influences of today’s music marketers, these artists live the stories that they sing about while remaining true to themselves.  Features interviews with Amy Hughes and the Dirty Seven, Bob Childers, Brandon Jenkins, Brandon Rhyder, Casey Pilgreen, Clint Osmus of the Paul Daniels Band, Cory Morrow, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Frank Jackson with Smith Music Group, Jackson Taylor, Jim Nash with 106.9, The Ranch, Johnny Cooper, Kyle Hunt Band, No Justice, Randy Crouch, Red Dirt Rangers, Roger Creagar, Stoney Larue, & Wade Bowen. The documentary was an Official Selection at the Trail Dance Film Festival and received the Best Student Documentary Award, Barebones Film Festival (2007, 1 hour, 7 min)

“Unbreakabull”,  An investigation of the bull breeding industry in Oklahoma - This documentary focuses on the art and science of bull breeding and specifically examines the question: Have the bulls been out-bred of the cowboys?  It features interviews with such notable people as 2005 #1 PBR Stock Contractors H. D. and Dillion Page, PBR announcer Justin McKee, and top ranked PBR Bull Rider Cody Whitney. This film won the 2007 Trail Dance Film Festival Audience Choice Award and the 2006 OK Broadcast Educators Association’s 3rd Place for TV & Serials (2006, 26 min)

“Saddle Up”,  Howard Council, in the 1940’s began making custom leather belts. Things changed when a friend brought in a saddle for repair asking, do you think you could make a saddle?  Since that time, Mr Council’s work has become recognized as the “Roll Royce” of saddles.  His saddles are characterized by not only the quality but also more importantly his engineered fit of saddle to both the rider and the horse. Customers on his “list” include George Strait,  Roy Cooper, Eight time World Calf-Roping Champion, Cody Ohl, Current World Calf-Roping Champion and many others. This film won the 2005 Oklahoma Broadcast Educators Association’s 3rd Place for TV & Serials (2005, 25 min)

Hoyt Axton* (1938-1999), born in Duncan but raised in Comanche, Actor, Singer, and Songwriter, His mother was Mae Boren Axton (September 14, 1914 in Bardwell, Texas – April 9, 1997 in Hendersonville, Tennessee) was known in the music industry as the 'Queen Mother of Nashville'. She was one of the co-writers of the song "Heartbreak Hotel", made popular by Elvis Presley. She was an influential member of the Nashville music industry. For decades she used her influence to contribute to the success of many musical careers including Mel Tillis, Reba McEntire, Willie Nelson and Blake Shelton to name only a few.

Douglas Benton* (1925-2000), Hollis, Producer, Director& Writer, 1973 Emmy for Columbo

"Sunset Carson" aka Winifred Maurice Harrison (1920's - 1990), Gracemont, Actor & Producer

Charles Collins (1904-1999), Frederick, Actor

Fay Cotton (1919 - 1992), Marlow, Actor

Lou Crosby (1914-1984), Lawton, Actor & Announcer, known for Days of Glory (1944), Behind the Mask (1946) and Coke Time (1953). Also was the announcer for the "Lum and Abner" radio series. He was married to Linda Hayes. He died on January 27, 1984 in Australia.  His daughter Lucinda Crosby was born on July 17, 1952 in San Francisco, California, USA as Lucinda Sue Crosby. She is an actress, known for Pretty Woman (1990), War Games (1983) and Overboard (1987). His other children were Cathy Lee Crosby, Actress and Linda Lou Crosby, Producer. 

Joan Crawford (1905-1977), Lawton, Academy Award-winning actress

Brigadier General Eugene L. Eubank aka Eugene Eubanks (1892- 1997), Mangum, Actor & Played self in movies

Van Heflin (1910-1971), Walters, won 1942 Academy Award for Best Supporting Act in film, "Johnny Eager".  Heflin was born Emmett Evan Heflin Jr. to Fannie B. and Dr. Emmett E. Heflin, a dentist. Van Heflin attended the University of Oklahoma, where he was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity. Heflin began his acting career on Broadway in the early 1930s before being signed to a contract by RKO Studios. He made his film debut in A Woman Rebels (1936). He was signed by MGM Studios, and was initially cast in supporting roles in films such as Santa Fe Trail (1940), and Johnny Eager (1942), winning an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for the latter performance. MGM began to groom him as a leading man in B movies, and provided him with supporting roles in more prestigious productions. Among his more notable film credits are Presenting Lily Mars (1943), The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946), Possessed (1947), Act of Violence (1948), The Three Musketeers (1948), The Prowler (1951), Shane (1953), and 3:10 to Yuma (1957). He also performed on stage throughout his acting career. His stage credits include, "The Philadelphia Story" on Broadway opposite Katharine Hepburn and Joseph Cotten, and the Arthur Miller play, "A Memory of Two Mondays".  Heflin's last major role was in Airport (1970). He played "D. O. Guerrero", a failure who attempts to blow himself up on an airliner so his wife (played by Maureen Stapleton) can collect on a life insurance policy.  He has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, for his contributions to motion pictures at 6309 Hollywood Boulevard, and for television at 6125 Hollywood Boulevard. Heflin's  sister was Daytime Emmy-nominated actress Frances Heflin (Oklahoma City) who played Mona Kane Tyler, mother of Erica Kane (Susan Lucci) on the soap opera "All My Children". 

Troy Hoskins (1912-1978), Marlow, Actor

Ada Leonard (1915-1997), Lawton, Actress

Cleavon Little* (1939-1992), Chickasha, Actor, Emmy & Broadway's 1970 Tony Award as Best Actor (Musical) for "Purlie"

Judith (Ives) Lowry (1890-1976), Fort Sill, Film, TV, & Broadway Actress

Buddy "Red" Morgan (1915-1988), Waurika, Actor and stunt man beginning in 1937 appeared in over 120 films from "Gunsmoke" to "Blazing Saddles"

Tommy Dale Newby (1954 - 2016), Lawton, The son of Jess and Geneva Newby. "Tommy was the youngest of four children. He was Student Council president at Lawton High School in 1972. Tommy attended the University of Oklahoma as a dance major. After college Tommy performed with the Houston Ballet and then moved to San Francisco, where he fell in love with ballroom dancing. Tommy taught, competed, choreographed and coached ballroom dancing for 40 years. Some of Tommy's awards and accomplishments include: U.S. Professional Rising Star of America Style Champion, Undefeated International Grand Champion, and he was also a finalist in all major U.S. Ballroom Championships. He was trainer of World Champion Roller Skaters Doug Wait and Deanna Monahan, Trey Knight and Kyoko Harader, and Greg and Yumi Goody.Tommy also taught Worls Professional Smooth Champion Jonathon Roberts, Cheryl Burke, and as children Derek and Julianne Hough of Dancing with the Stars fame. For the past four years he was a teacher, mentor and coach at Ballroom Revolution in Broken Arrow, OK. Tommy was a gifted dancer, teacher and choreographer. His passion was choreography. He loved nothing more than watching those he coached achieve their own successes".Excerpts from The Lawton Constitution Newspaper Obituary, Sun, 02/28/2016 - 2:02am Staff

Parker Family (Comanche) Quanah Parker, (1845-1911) Comanche Leader & Actor, Wanada Parker (wife of Harry Page) daughter and his son White (1887-1957) - They appeared in early silent films produced by various companies in Cache and the Wichita Wildlife Refuge

Dan Priest (1924-2004), Altus, Actor appearing in over 20 TV and films such as the "Waltons", "Days of Our Lives", "Dallas", and "Beverly Hills, 90210"

Earl Slatton, Walters, Actor, (1917-1955) Munchkin in Wizard of Oz

Jim Thompson aka James Myers Thompson (1906-1977), Anadarko, Writer

Gene Tracy (1927-1979), Anadarko, Actor & Comedian

William Whitney (1915-2002), Lawton, Director, Assistant Director, Editor, & Actor

The research for this data came from many sources such as The Internet Movie Data Base, the Internet Broadway Data Base, Wikipedia, Museum of the Great Plains, and in some cases the person or their family. Should any information need to be updated, corrected, or added, please, call our office (580) 581-3470 or email us lahc@lawtonok.gov.