Here’s my brief story of six degrees–or six feet–of separation from Dolly Parton. In 1981 I was working as a newspaper writer and photographer east of Austin, and scenes for the movie “Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” were being filmed at different locations between Elgin and Pflugerville, both still small towns then. In Pflugerville the historic Kuempel Haus was being used as the “Chicken Ranch,” the place of prostitution from the title. An old farmhouse had been “countrified” for some other scenes closer to Elgin. I was sent out to take photos. I can't remember all the details of where exactly, but there were Dolly Parton and Burt Reynolds in some scenes going in and out. It was not exciting. Between cuts they stood apart from each other and did not appear happy. I’ve never cared one way or another about whether anyone is a “celebrity” or who you know who is supposed to be important or trendy or how much money you have. I genuinely just care about people as who they are. I’ve tried to look at the human soul.
I’ve only read up on this movie some because of my experience that day to try to figure out what was happening with them. If you don’t know, the movie is a loose adaptation of a story written for Playboy magazine, about a real place of prostitution in La Grange, Texas. The story had been made into something of a fun-loving, light-hearted caricature of boys will be boys and the girls will enjoy it. I can’t imagine that thinking today.
Turned out that taking this movie role was probably a miscalculation on Dolly Parton’s part. Her first movie, “Nine to Five,” had been a feminist statement, but it had also been a box office hit, and studios wanted to make use of Parton’s larger-than-life persona. Before making the movie, she had had doubts about the title but had been assured it would be all clean fun. Somewhere I read that she thought that maybe Willie Nelson could be talked into co-starring. I’ve read that Reynolds was already upset after breaking up with Sally Field and was put off by the power of this newcomer to movies.
Anyway, they were unhappy people. I wish I could have helped them as individuals over coffee or something. My first thoughts, but I couldn’t. So I took obligatory photos and left. I think experience on that movie probably helped Dolly Parton make better choices. And she would later start her philanthropic work, which apparently was more rewarding to her than anything else.