During the release month of Stardust, I had the privilege of being on a number of blogs to talk about my book, the writing process, and so on. Usually I offered a drawing for a book giveaway to people who commented. Imagine my surprise when one day I read a comment from someone who said that her grandfather built a motel in Marfa, Texas, that was later renamed the Stardust Motel. When I expressed interest in learning more about it, she put me in touch with her mother who agreed to a phone interview. We talked and talked and talked about life in the fifties and some of our shared memories. I hung up feeling like I’d just had a chat with an old friend. It’s quite a story, and I’m so grateful she agreed to let me share it here and even supplied me with some great photos. Thank you, Sue!
In 1950, Susan (Sue) Cunningham had just finished eighth grade when she moved with her family from New Jersey to Marfa, Texas, a small, but bustling town in the southwest part of the state that is home to a military base and known for the mysterious, ghostly Marfa Lights. Her dad brought them there, though, to begin a new venture – building a tourist court/motel on the western edge of town. The business was built near the railroad tracks which would play a significant role in an event a few years later.
Presidio County Courthouse in Marfa, Texas
Sue has vivid memories of her siblings and her and their “jobs” in the construction of the motel. When they got home from school in the afternoon, her brothers mixed concrete for forms to make homemade bricks for the cisterns needed. Sue’s duty was to fill the forms. Another job she had was to hold the rocks for the outside walls of the office while her dad mortared them in place. There was much work to be done, and when it was finished, there were thirteen rooms built in a U-shape with an office and small dining facility.
Sue with her parents beside the motel “office” – and the rocks Sue helped set in place.
With an interest in Texas history and the battle of San Jacinto, her dad chose the monument located near Houston as the design for the sign and the name of his new motel—the San Jacinto Courts.
Sue with her brother and sister in the early 1950s posing with San Jacinto Courts sign.
During high school, Sue came home for lunch and helped make beds and clean the units in need of attention. She laughed when she told me that the teachers understood if she and her sister were late in getting back to school—they were just working in the family business.
At some point, her dad added another smaller structure adjacent to, but not connected to the motel with additional rooms. This building proved to be one that created a bit of excitement when the police arrived one day and made a drug raid of the building. While Sue and her siblings watched, fearing gunfire or possible casualties, their hearts raced. Luckily, the police made a successful arrest without incident, but the drama in a small town not accustomed to such things is seared into Sue’s memory.
That memory pales in comparison to the summer of 1955. Sue had returned from her freshman year at Baylor, and the town was all abuzz with the news that a little Hollywood movie called Giant was being filmed in Marfa. Not only that, but Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor, James Dean, and Chill Wills were the stars!
While the movie stars lived in homes the production company rented for them, the propmen and truckers who hauled in all of the filming equipment stayed at the San Jacinto Courts. Sue and her friend June worked in the dining room and served breakfast to the crew at dawn and suppers to them late in the evening when the day’s filming was done. Becoming acquainted with the crew gave Sue and June an “in” to get up close and personal to seeing the stars and the filming of the now classic movie.
Next time, I’ll share Sue’s experience about the filming and her insider knowledge. With pictures.
Until next week . . .
Photos provided by Susan Cunningham from her private collection and used with her permission. Permission to copy is not granted.