About the Film

The story of the town – “The Grove, Texas” –  is a rich, detailed piece of important Texas history. In 1972, Moody Anderson, a good-natured cowboy collector of offbeat treasures, bought an abandoned town located southeast of Gatesville, and brought it back to life.

In the film “The Grove, Texas” Moody faces the heart-wrenching task of dismantling and selling his collection of Americana artifacts used in hundreds of famous films from “Lonesome Dove” to the Coen Brothers version of “True Grit.” Director Lori Najvar captures the emotional storm of doubt, excitement, and sense of closure as Moody puts his life’s passion in the hands of Robb Burley, a young auctioneer.

This documentary has something for everyone – Baby Boomers nostalgic for the good old days, movie buffs, treasure hunters, and even younger generations reared on a steady diet of voyeuristic-style reality TV will each find meaning in this story. While on-screen, Anderson has an extraordinary ability to seemingly stop time and ignite a sense of youth and hope in the viewer as the camera follows his dream to recreate an idealized past that may or may not have existed.

This film blends compelling personal narratives with a larger discussion of community survival while contrasting the experience of frontier settlement with modern economic and social realities of contemporary Texas. The story follows the tenacity of serious collectors, and the historical, economic, and cultural importance of auctions in communities large and small.

Director Lori Najvar is the creator of PolkaWorks, a multi-media non-profit, that illuminates hidden and unique aspects of Texas culture.

“The Grove, Texas” is a recipient of a Humanities Texas: National Endowment of Humanities “We the People” award and is an example of communities that are in support of this documentary.

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Production Crew

Lori Najvar—Director & Producer
Jefe Brown & Loretta Cooper—Co-Producers
Nancy Higgins–Editor

Peter Baer, Sandy Carson, Melissa Eddy, Rose Potter, Dawn Orsak, Mark Southern, Joseph Vitone,

Original Music

Chuck Allen, Susan Norwood, Thomas E. Murphy, Chuck Pinnell, Star

Media Release

Official Media Contact:
PolkaWorks lori@polkaworks.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The story of the town – The Grove, Texas – and the documentary film of the same title, is a rich, detailed piece of important Texas history. In 1972, Moody Anderson, a good-natured cowboy collector of offbeat treasures, bought an abandoned town located southeast of Gatesville, and brought it back to life. In the film, Moody faces the heart-wrenching task of dismantling and selling his collection of Americana artifacts used in hundreds of famous films from Lonesome Dove to the Coen Brothers version of True Grit. The emotional storm of doubt, excitement, and sense of closure as Moody puts his life’s passion in the hands of Robb Burley, a young auctioneer.
The Grove, Texas documentary has something for everyone – Baby Boomers nostalgic for the good old days, movie buffs, treasure hunters, and even younger generations reared on a steady diet of voyeuristic-style reality TV will each find meaning in this story. While on-screen, Anderson has an extraordinary ability to seemingly stop time and ignite a sense of youth and hope in the viewer as the camera follows his dream to recreate an idealized past that may or may not
have existed.
The film blends compelling personal narratives with a larger discussion of community survival while contrasting the experience of frontier settlement with modern economic and social realities of contemporary Texas. The film follows the tenacity of serious collectors, and the historical, economic, and cultural importance of auctions in communities large and small.
Director Lori Najvar is the creator of PolkaWorks, a multi-media non-profit, that illuminates hidden and unique aspects of Texas culture.

Coming soon— Documentary “The Grove, Texas,” about a cowboy collector of offbeat treasures who bought, developed, and later sold a ghost town.

http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/food/2013/04/kolaches-the-next-big-thing-in-pastries-and-the-tex-czech-community-behind-them/

IN PRODUCTION

Texas Czechs: Rooted in Tradition exhibit launch at Texas State Capitol – Fall 2013

COMING TO A SCREEN NEAR YOU

The Grove, Texas Documentary. Details soon.