September 10, 2025

From Bonnie & Clyde to JFK: Reel Meets Real in Texas | Kelly Kitchens & Farris Rookstool

1 hour 6 minutes

This week, Mike Rhyner and Rob Ervin settle into the shadows with a pair of guests who know exactly how Hollywood spins a Texas yarn. Kelly Kitchens, the mastermind behind the It Came from Texas Film Festival, takes us behind the curtain on curating films like Bernie and The Great Debaters, where fact and fiction duke it out in the Lone Star State.

Then comes Farris Rookstool III — retired FBI analyst, JFK authority, and genealogical surprise package (yep, there’s a Bonnie and Clyde connection). From ferrying assassination files across the country in a U-Haul to surviving an awkward dinner with Oliver Stone, Farris proves truth is stranger (and often funnier) than film.

Together, the crew unpacks what happens when Texas history collides with cinematic mythmaking — and why Garland’s Plaza Theatre might just be the best place on earth to argue about it.

Pull up a chair, pour a drink, and prepare for a ride where the stories are as big as Texas — and sometimes just as unbelievable.

Chapters

0:00 – Festival Lights Up Garland

Kelly introduces the It Came from Texas Film Festival and its mission to mix fun with fact.

3:20 – Plaza Theatre, Small Town, Big Screen

Why Garland’s historic square is the perfect stage for Texas tales.

12:43 – Growing Up with Bonnie & Clyde

Farris recalls childhood memories of the movie shoot and his family’s unexpected ties.

17:56 – From Curious Kid to FBI Analyst

How fascination with history turned into a career in federal investigations.

21:41 – Dinner with Oliver Stone

When Farris met the JFK director — and lived to tell the awkward tale.

26:51 – A U-Haul Full of Secrets

The wild journey of transporting classified JFK files across the country.

40:11 – Family Trees and Texas Lore

Genealogical surprises that prove history can be deeply personal.

45:50 – Dallas, Ground Zero for Breaking News

Why the JFK assassination made Dallas the world’s media hub.

54:02 – Preserving Stories, Screening Truths

Kelly shares how the festival keeps Texas history alive on the big screen.

1:03:02 – Wrapping with a Lone Star Verdict

Rob weighs in on Oswald, accuracy, and the power of film.

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By Mike Rhyner

44 ratings