The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 60, July 1956 - April, 1957 Page: 72

Southwestern Historical Quarterly

Votes ow the ofqglhorn-Cahisholm rail
WALTER E. LONG
E ARLY in 193o the Paramount Publix Moving Picture Cor-
poration wrote the Austin Chamber of Commerce asking
for certain old photographs made in Austin in the 6o's
and 7o's with special reference to certain points of interest to
them in making a moving picture of "The first large herd of
Longhorn Cattle driven to Abilene, Kansas." The Research Di-
rector stated that the first herd of any size of Longhorn cattle
which traveled from Texas to Abilene, Kansas, originated in the
vicinity of Lockhart; came through the eastern side of Austin;
north on East Avenue; thence across Brushy Creek, east of Round
Rock; thence north between Dallas and Fort Worth to a crossing
on the Red River.
In this correspondence they stated that since some financing
was needed for this herd, a few ex-Confederate veterans and
cowboys went to a bank-which stood at the intersection of Con-
gress Avenue and Sixth Street in Austin-where needed funds
were secured. A picture of this bank was needed. It was gotten
by me and its appearance reproduced in Hollywood. A picture
of the Capitol was also provided and used. Along with these
two photographs quite a number of other Austin scenes of the
6o's were placed in my hands by Austin people, making a final
collection of between twenty and thirty of these old photographs
which I sent to the Paramount people. These pictures were used
in filming the beginnings of "The Conquering Horde."
Just before 1930 Carl Edward Bock, whose hobby was photog-
raphy, began part-time work with the Chamber of Commerce as
my assistant and through his able work I preserved copies of
these old scenes.
As I remember, two other moving pictures were produced in
the early 30's of Longhorn cattle drives, the theme of each one
being rather similar. One of these pictures was titled "North of
36," the other was "The Thundering Herd." It is my impression