Dallas is one of the largest cities in Texas, and it became world-famous in the late 1980s — not because of an oil boom or rapid economic growth, but thanks to the legendary TV show Dallas. The series aired on CBS from 1978 to 1991, spanning 14 seasons and 357 episodes. Interestingly, the show’s peak popularity came during its fourth and fifth seasons. You can read more about this iconic production on dallaski.com.
Filming Locations
The show began with a pilot season, filmed right here in Dallas — most notably at the famous Southfork Ranch.
The first five episodes were filmed in 1978, originally as a miniseries. Shooting at a real Texas ranch gave the show a distinctive authenticity and atmosphere. Southfork Ranch, located just outside Dallas, became central to the series’ storyline. The real-life ranch turned into a symbol of the show and soon became a major tourist attraction.
Many scenes were filmed at actual locations around Dallas, which was quite unusual at the time — since most TV shows were typically produced inside Hollywood studios. Some of the show’s interior scenes, however, were filmed at MGM Studios in Hollywood.
By 1989, due to rising production costs, the main filming operations were relocated to California.
Still, throughout the series, viewers could see real Dallas neighborhoods that captured the Texan urban landscape of that era.
The Plot of Dallas
The story itself is fairly straightforward. Dallas follows the lives of the wealthy Ewing family, who own the oil company Ewing Oil and the sprawling Southfork Ranch.
Viewers quickly came to know the main characters: J.R. Ewing, the ruthless and ambitious patriarch; his wife Sue Ellen; and his brother Bobby. Over the years, the Ewings fought for power, money, and prestige. The show focused on complex family and business rivalries — full of betrayal, passion, love affairs, fraud, kidnappings, corporate schemes, alcoholism, and even serious illness.
The series lasted 14 seasons and 357 episodes, airing on CBS from 1978 to 1991. Dallas became one of the first American TV shows to gain global popularity in the 1980s. It was broadcast in 90 countries and translated into 67 languages — a record for its time.
However, after the tenth season, ratings began to decline. Viewers grew tired of the repetitive storylines, and new competing shows began to capture their attention. For instance, Dynasty — another highly dramatic series — depicted the glamorous lives of the wealthy Carrington family, who fought for control over their oil empire in California.
Another similar show was Falcon Crest, a drama centered around a California wine dynasty and its family conflicts — thematically and stylistically similar to Dallas and Dynasty. And, of course, the hit teen drama Beverly Hills, 90210 soon followed, portraying the lives of privileged youth in upscale California.
All of these series became cultural touchstones of the 1980s and 1990s, a time when viewers eagerly awaited each new episode and were fascinated by the extravagant lives of America’s wealthy elite.We hope you enjoyed this article and learned something new about our city.
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