The Texas Archive of the Moving Image team was saddened to learn that Ramon Galindo—World War II veteran, Austin businessman, magician, filmmaker—passed away July 2. He had just turned 99 at the end of May.

Galindo had donated more than 100 films and videotapes to the Texas Archive since 2009. Comprising everything from self-made instructional and narrative films to footage of magic performances to home movies of a changing Austin, the Ramon Galindo Collection demonstrates the creator's many talents. To commemorate Galindo's life, we wanted to share highlights from his collection for others to discover and enjoy.

A Day of Horror (1964)

Galindo produced two narrative films: Josephine's Dream (1962) and A Day of Horror (1964). The latter in an amateur horror film starring Chris Crow, a colleague from Galindo's Custom Ace Tailors shop in downtown Austin; Galindo's daughter, Josephine, and other Travis Heights neighborhood children; and the Galindo family dog, Humphrey. Galindo re-edited the film for exhibition at the 2015 Wimberly Film Festival, where he won Lifetime Achievement and Best Director awards.

The First Annual Aqua Festival Parade and Rodeo (1962)

Galindo moved to Austin in the 1920s, buying his first movie camera—an 8mm Brownie—soon thereafter. As a filmmaker, he consciously prioritized documenting the changing urban landscape. This home movie highlights the inaugural Austin Aqua Festival, a ten-day festival held every August from 1962 to 1998 that featured local music acts and a variety of water-related events.

Performing at Paris Convention (1973)

A professional tailor for most of his life, Galindo's true passion was magic. Galindo captured his magic tricks on film for more than 70 years, both to show his work to others and help himself perfect his techniques. This film documents his performance at a 1973 convention in Paris, France. In 2009, the Texas Association of Magicians recognized Galindo as its most distinguished member for his efforts to preserve the achievements of the Texas magic community on film.

Galindo was also one of eight filmmakers the Texas Archive featured in our 2015 web exhibit, Amateur Auteurs. "I've been a camera bug all my life," he told us in an interview for the project. Explore the exhibit to watch select films from his collection as well as hear excerpts from that conversation, including the story of how he got into moviemaking.

"Mr. Galindo was one of the most fascinating people. I was lucky to visit with him several times at his home perched on top of a hill overlooking downtown Austin. We would discuss his life, career as a tailor, his love of magic and of filmmaking. He would show me a film or video (often something he had recently made) and sometimes he would do a magic trick. His videos offer a unique view into his passion for magic and his skill at tailoring, but they also tell the story of Austin, specifically through the changing skyline he captured from his front door. I feel fortunate to have known him and proud that we are able to share his videos."
— Elizabeth Hansen, TAMI Interim Director