The Winning of Barbara Worth is a 1926 Western silent film starring Ronald Colman, Vilma Banky, and Gary Cooper in his first feature role. It was filmed partially in the Black Rock Desert where Samuel Goldwyn had a city built. In order to bring in the supplies he needed, he actually ran railroad tracks eight miles from the Western Pacific line to the town that was to be called 'Barbara Worth.’ The station of Trego was created at Barbara Worth and Luthur Greybanc was appointed station master.
A mess hall with a chef from San Francisco and a recreation hall with books, records and a radio were erected. A 150’ well was dug. There was a post office, infirmary, and bank and sanitary systems were put in place. The Barbara Worth Times carried local stories, filming details, and other quirky anecdotes. Horses and wagon trains completed the set. Goldwyn named himself mayor to make the town official.
But, Goldwyn did not understand the desert. On the second day a sand storm followed by a cloud burst halted filming for three days. Then the temperature started climbing to 120 degrees. All filming started at five in the morning and had to be completed by noon.
Filming began on June 21st and was over by August 6th despite temperatures, injuries, and the weather. All of this for 47 days! On September 11, a dozen ranch hands from the Gerlach Land and Livestock Company showed up to take the building materials.
Gerlach and Winnemucca were the closest cities and if you were going to choose one for further accommodations or facilities, which would you choose? Winnemucca, hands down! And where in Winnemucca would you go? To the brand new, modern Hotel Humboldt of course!
Vilma Banky was known to have slept at the hotel on at least one occasion from July 22th to July 26th. Miss Banky went shopping the morning after her arrival, purchasing a camera, several dresses, shoes and other items of wearing apparel. She spent two hours walking around town snapping pictures and expressed surprise at finding Winnemucca such a pleasant place - paved streets, trees, attractive buildings - not at all what she had been led to expect. She went for an auto ride on the outskirts of town and joined her fellow performers at the American Theatre that evening.
* “More Than a Dream: Rediscovering the Life and Films of Vilmy Banky” by Schilden
* Wikipedia
* “Making of the Film Barbara Worth” by Philip Earl
* Photos below are a rare look at the set and the stars relaxing (Banky is writing). They were taken by Vera Haviland, daughter of the mayor of Winnemucca. She and her father the mayor both were extras in the movie along with many, many other citizens of Winnemucca.
A mess hall with a chef from San Francisco and a recreation hall with books, records and a radio were erected. A 150’ well was dug. There was a post office, infirmary, and bank and sanitary systems were put in place. The Barbara Worth Times carried local stories, filming details, and other quirky anecdotes. Horses and wagon trains completed the set. Goldwyn named himself mayor to make the town official.
But, Goldwyn did not understand the desert. On the second day a sand storm followed by a cloud burst halted filming for three days. Then the temperature started climbing to 120 degrees. All filming started at five in the morning and had to be completed by noon.
Filming began on June 21st and was over by August 6th despite temperatures, injuries, and the weather. All of this for 47 days! On September 11, a dozen ranch hands from the Gerlach Land and Livestock Company showed up to take the building materials.
Gerlach and Winnemucca were the closest cities and if you were going to choose one for further accommodations or facilities, which would you choose? Winnemucca, hands down! And where in Winnemucca would you go? To the brand new, modern Hotel Humboldt of course!
Vilma Banky was known to have slept at the hotel on at least one occasion from July 22th to July 26th. Miss Banky went shopping the morning after her arrival, purchasing a camera, several dresses, shoes and other items of wearing apparel. She spent two hours walking around town snapping pictures and expressed surprise at finding Winnemucca such a pleasant place - paved streets, trees, attractive buildings - not at all what she had been led to expect. She went for an auto ride on the outskirts of town and joined her fellow performers at the American Theatre that evening.
* “More Than a Dream: Rediscovering the Life and Films of Vilmy Banky” by Schilden
* Wikipedia
* “Making of the Film Barbara Worth” by Philip Earl
* Photos below are a rare look at the set and the stars relaxing (Banky is writing). They were taken by Vera Haviland, daughter of the mayor of Winnemucca. She and her father the mayor both were extras in the movie along with many, many other citizens of Winnemucca.