The Fort Griffin Fandangle began in 1938 as a school play entitled Dr. Shackelford's Paradise and was first performed that spring by the seniors of Albany High School. Penned and directed by Robert E. Nail, Jr., for whom the Archives is named, the play was a dramatic account of the history of Shackelford County.

Since that original production, the Fandangle has been performed consistently - though sometimes sporadically - by the Albany community. Throughout its 80 year history the Fandangle has ocassionally stopped and restarted, at various times and for various reasons.

After the first production in 1938 the Fandangle was produced annually through the summer of 1941. When the attack on Pearl Harbor brought America into the ongoing conflict of World War II, the Fandangle was placed on indefinite hiatus. Robert Nail, along with many other Albany residents, left their small hometown of Albany to serve their country when needed most.

After the war, late in 1946, Nail and supporters began planning for a revival of the Fandangle and in the summer of 1947 productions of the outdoor musical resumed. Between the years of 1948-57 the Fandangle was produced seven times, with short breaks in 1951 when Nail fell ill, in 1954 when Nail requested a rest so that he and fellow composer Alice Reynolds could recharge, and again pausing for a break in 1956 and 1958.

In the summer of 1958 the Fandangle was dealt a blow which nearly felled the production entirely. G.P. Crutchfield, oil man, civic leader, and the show's producer and special assistant (many of the popular large set pieces, such as the stagecoach, calliope, and Texas Central train were originally designed and built by Crutchfield with help from the employees at Roeser and Pendleton) died at his home suddenly and unexpectedly. Without his vital support and help with the Fandangle, Nail felt the weight of the work of the production had become too much.

It wasn't until the summer of 1964 that the first full production of the Fandangle was resumed, as the community of Albany rallied around the production, which had nearly been moved to Abilene in the interim. The following year, the Fandangle moved into its new home at the Prairie Theater, and the annual productions began again.

In Novemvber of 1968 Fandangle creator, director, and beloved Albany citizen Robert E. Nail, Jr. unexpectedly passed away and the Fort Griffin Fandangle Association made the difficult decision to cancel the following year's summer production. Samplers continued, however, and later that year plans were made and pre-production began for the resumption of the show in June of 1970. And since that production in 1970, the Fandangle has been presented every summer, without interruption...until now.

While the current pandemic may have paused the Fandangle for the first time in 50 years, the history of the show has been one of rebirth and revival. The show is an essential part of the fabric of the community, its music and merriment woven into the hearts of those who live here. The Fandangle is missed, but it will return, just as it always has and always will.