Dallas Film & Creative Industries Office hires new chief Tony Armer

Back in the days when Tom Landry was coaching the Cowboys, Dallas emerged as a Southern epicenter for television and film. The 1987 movie RoboCop was filmed in Dallas, which also became the home of such small-screen successes as Dallas and Walker, Texas Ranger. Dallas endured from 1978 to 1991 and during most of those years reigned as one of the biggest shows in the world, not just Texas. Walker, Texas Ranger lasted from 1993 to 2001, helping to elevate the city’s TV profile. But those days are gone. And because the city’s preeminence as a film and television capital is as old as the Cowboys’ glory years, it’s fair to conclude that maybe the city is hoping to reinvent itself when it comes to success in film and television.

The history came to mind on Monday, when Visit Dallas announced the hiring of a new commissioner overseeing the Dallas Film & Creative Industries Office, which serves as the city’s film commission, music office and “creative industries resource.” The new commissioner is Tony Armer, who comes to Dallas from Florida, where he ushered in what his new bosses in Dallas call “the most productive era of the St. Petersburg-Clearwater Film Commission’s 30-year history, driving record-breaking revenues and economic impact for the county.” Armer succeeds Janis Burklund who held the role for almost 20 years, from October 2002 until May. Among those heralding the decision were Edwin Cabaniss, owner of the Kessler Theater, who became a newsmaker in his own right recently by announcing plans to renovate the legendary Longhorn Ballroom. “Tony’s experience and hustle are exactly what our city needs right now,” Cabaniss said in a statement. “I look forward to seeing how his clear vision and energy help lead the Dallas Film & Creative Industries Office to new heights.”