Established in 1937, the Million Dollar Cowboy bar in Jackson, Wyoming
is one of America’s landmark honky tonks. Its authentic western vibe
draws hundreds of visitors a day and yet despite this fame, the joint
retains a folksy charm. That is quite a trick. It is the epicentre of
the Jackson Hole community and probably always will be.
Clint
Eastwood has acted in the bar (Any Which Way You Can), Willie Nelson and
Hank Williams Jr have sung there and I thought it was high time we
filmed there. I was drawn to the ageless facade of the bar, with its
retro neon lighting and famous rotating cowboy on horseback sign on the
roof. My creative pondering never departed much from the premise that
this backdrop offered a definitive sense of place and had to be paid
homage to.
Neon lights don’t do themselves justice during the day,
but as the bar is busy until closing, 365 days a year, shooting at night
offered challenges. The solution was to film at 5.30 am and, on the
morning of the shoot, this offered some bonuses as there was fresh snow
and a temperature of 0°F. This extreme cold allowed the exhaust fumes
from the Ford Bronco to add more drama to the set. I think a few
cowboys were left a little disappointed with the manner of the cowgirl’s
departure in this tableau. To leave the bar alone is one thing, but to
leave with a wolf must have been distressing for all her courters.
We
would like to acknowledge John Baxter, the owner of the Million Dollar
Cowboy Bar, and Jim Waldrop the GM for their kind partnership in this
project. From the outset they embraced our creative vision and offered
help and support. We must also thank Jonathan Ward, the owner of the
beautiful Ford Bronco, and, of course, Brooks Nader for managing to look
so spectacular in the freezing cold.