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Steve Keene

Lowell,

Another thing you did not knoq about Dallas:

Dallas Was on Ray Charles’ Mind

When asked why he moved to Dallas in 1955, Ray Charles said he wanted to settle down with his new family and live in a central location that accommodated his heavy touring schedule. But Dallas in the mid-1950s was also a hotbed of R&B music. It was in South Dallas, while living in a small bungalow on Eugene Street, that Charles began to hone his sound, playing venues like the Empire Room and the Powell Hotel, which anchored the African-American entertainment scene in a harshly segregated city.

Ray Charles’ House

2642 Eugene St.  In this now ramshackle gray and white bungalow in South Dallas, pianist and songwriter Ray Charles composed music for three crucial years of his life in the mid-1950s. He moved to Dallas from Seattle to marry his girlfriend at the time, Della Beatrice Howard, who was pregnant with their first child and living in the Green Acres Motel. He refined his sound just down the street: at the Empire Ballroom, American Woodman Hall, and Arandas Club.

David Cordell

Steve,

I am envious of that Henry lever action rifle. Do you feel like a TV cowboy when you shoot it?

Wayne Gary

David,

This is St Patricks Day so Steve has a O'Henry rifle.

Steve Keene

David, Lowell, Wayne and Bob D.,

Yeah, I feel like Chuck Connors.  However, it is bittersweet because I bought it to replace a Marlin Lever Action 410 Shotgun that was a specialty gun awarded to Marlin employees that were responsible for manufacturing the popular 30-30 version.  It was stolen from me in a burglary.  Also the Henry is a brass plated model and the Marlin was blue steel with a good bit of etched detail work.  Wayne, it was not green steel.

Another Dallas detail that folks don't know about Jack Ruby in the national press:

Not Just The King of Small Time

Jack Ruby and friends at Carousel Club on Commerce Street in late 1950's.

All these stages gave Ruby considerable influence over the careers of musicians who passed through his clubs. David “Fathead” Newman—Ray Charles’ saxophone player and a regular performer at the Vegas Club and Silver Spur—said Ruby wouldn’t allow African-American musicians to look at his white female dancers. Bluesman Zuzu Bollin said a spat with Ruby over booking fees resulted in the club owner pulling Bollin’s records off local radio. But there was one performer Ruby couldn’t nab. After headlining the Big D Jamboree at the Sportatorium, a twentysomething Elvis Presley opted to play an afterparty at the Round-Up, another Cedars club just up the block from Ruby’s Silver Spur.

Joe and Sam Campisi's sister Francis had Ruby's revolver which is now owned by her son Kenny "Bubsy" Penn.

Wayne Gary

Just announced and this is not a joke,

THE HAGUE — The International Criminal Court said on Friday it issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin for war crimes because of his alleged involvement in abductions of children from Ukraine.

The court said in a statement that Putin “is allegedly responsible for the war crime of unlawful deportation of (children) and that of unlawful transfer of (children) from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation.”

Wayne Gary

For those not in the Dallas area, two animal rescue stories,

1sr ) About 3 weeks ago a cop found about 5 week old puppy huddled by a dumpster.  The were not sure if it was a dog or a cayote so the did a DNA.  Ch 8 reported the DNA report came back

48% german shepherd

32% huskie

20% Austrailian cattle dog

100% cute nd ready for adoption.

2nd) A man was videoed dumping a 1 yr German shepherd mix on the side of the road with people yelling at him. They rescued the dog.  The man was tracked down and charged with animal cruelty.  Bail set at $4000.00

Dog is up for adoption.

Jim Bedwell

Chief Dallas Historian,

Thanks for the entertaining Dallas Americana. It's nice to know that there is another person with a brain full of useless but interesting information.

Chief Agonizing Appreciator

Jim Bedwell

My brother told me that he found in the obits in the Dallas Morning News (he still takes the paper!) that Cindy Stiffler (RHS, '70) had died on March 6, with a surname of Reynolds. She was good friends with 1 of my RHS ex-girlfriends, Cindy Phillips (RHS '70). So Cindy was about 20 days short of her 71st birthday. Also Cindy Stiffler became friendly with another ex-girlfriend of mine, Linda Ballantyne (RHS '69) and also the little sister Kathy Masters (RHS '70) of our classmate Ken Masters. I remember thinking at the time that that was a motley trio, Ballantyne, Stiffler & Masters. Kathy Masters unfortunately died in 1986 at age 34, of what I don't know. That didn't surprise me that much when I found that out though, since I remember Kathy as even wilder than I was. 

David Wier

I watched the first 2 seasons of The Chosen on Peacock (streaming) and then, when someone posted that they'd finished the first 3 seasons, I found the third season on Roku along with quite a few background videos.

Jim Bedwell

Speaking of useless information, here is some. Here is a list of the last 29 NBA champions, with a player or two (or a player who later became a coach, Steve Kerr). This list only has 5 players on it.

94     Houston                   Robert Horry

95     Houston                   Horry

96     Chicago                   Steve Kerr

97     Chicago                   Kerr 

98     Chicago                   Kerr

99     San Antonio             Kerr

00     LA Lakers                Horry & Kobe Bryant 

01     LA Lakers                Horry & Kobe

02     LA LAkers               Horry & Kobe

03     San Antonio            Kerr

04     Detroit

05     San Antonio            Horry

06     Miami

07     San Antonio            Horry

08     Boston 

09     LA Lakers                Kobe

10     LA Lakers                Kobe

11      Dallas

12      Miami                      LeBron James

13      Miami                      LeBron

14      San Antoinio

15      Golden State           Steph Curry & (coach) Steve Kerr

16      Cleveland                LeBron

17      Golden State           Curry & Kerr

18      Golden State           Curry & Kerr

19       Toronto

20       LA Lakers               LeBron

21       Milwaukee

22       Golden State          Curry & Kerr

So Steph Curry & LeBron have 4 championship rings, Kobe had 5, Horry has 7 and Steve Kerr has 9.

Wayne Gary

David W.

You can warch all od the episodes of The Chosen free without ads and bonus features on the producers web site,  Angel.com

I do not have cable so I watch from my easy chair on my laptop

I just watched at the end os season 2 Christmas special bonus  (The Messangers)

David Wier

Wayne - 

yes, I too, found out that you could watch them all online. The only problems are that I watch with my wife, and our TV has a much bigger screen and our surround sound receiver makes watching much more enjoyable. I have tried to add the Chosen App to our smart TV, but so far, I've been unable too. I guess I'll just have to break down and call tech support. 

David Wier

Lowell -

I can remember that, when I was young (under 13), my father's dixie land band played at Lou Ann's. Then, later, when I was in the band with Mike Moore, we knew the drums salesman at Arnold-Morgan's and he was playing there, and got us in to see his band. Somehow, he sneaked us in but I don't remember how. Then, when I got old enough to drink (legally), I played in bands myself and I never set foot there again. But it really didn't remove the 'mystique' that Lou Ann's had.

Steve Keene

David,

A retired guy decides to take a scenic train trip across Canada at the last minute and he decides he wants to ride in a sleeper car so he can be comfortable. He goes to the ticket window and they tell him that there is only one car left and he would have to share with another single.  They tell him the sleeper has two bunks.  He decides that is no big deal so he agrees.  He gets on the train and finds his car and sits down to read the paper.  In a few minutes the sleeper door opens and a beautiful hot 40 year old woman that is built just right walks in and sits down.  She says, "I didn't realize my bunk mate would be a man.  I don't want any hanky panky.  Is that agreed?"  

He says, "That's no problem.  I will sleep on the top bunk in my shirt and pants.  You can have the bottom bunk."  

She says,  "I get cold really easily.  Can I have both sets of blankets?" 

He says, "Not a problem since I will be in my clothes."

They both ride, looking at the scenery, read a book and say very little to each other.  About 10:00 p.m. she decides she would like to turn in.  The man agrees to turn in also so as not to disturb her with the lights.  They both fall asleep.  In the middle of the night, the man is about to freeze to death in there so he disturbs the bundled up lady and tells her his problem.  He asks her if she could please pass up one of her four blankets because he is afraid he is going to get sick from the cold.  She says, "You know we are both adults?  Just this one night, can we act like we are married?"

He says, "I can agree to that," thinking this could turn out better than expected.

She says, "Okay then.  Get your lazy ass down here and find your own damn blanket."

David Wier

OK, I'm in

I know you have probably heard this, but for those who haven't:

What do you call a bullet proof Irish man?

Rick O'Shea

Ba-dum!

David Wier

Wayne:

Concerning the news about the Hague, what surprised me was the news tonight (CBS) said that the US was not of the nations who support the ICC. In addition, Putin (of course) doesn't recognize the authority of the ICC.

David Cordell

Especially for Steve

• The Roman emperor's wife hates playing hide and seek because wherever she goes, Julius Caesar.
• I like what mechanics wear, overall.
• If you are being chased by a pack of taxidermists, do not play dead.
• I tried to steal spaghetti from the shop, but the female guard saw me and I couldn't get pasta.
• My friend told me he was going to a fancy dress party as an Italian island. I said to him, “Don't be Sicily.”
• I don't know what you call a small spillage from a pen but I have an inkling.
• My grandfather invented the cold air balloon but it never really took off.
• I hate funerals — I'm not a mourning person.
• I used to work in a shoe-recycling shop. It was sole-destroying.
• When she saw her first strands of gray hair, she thought she’d dye.
• A boiled egg is hard to beat.
• Once you’ve seen one shopping center, you’ve seen a mall.
• It's hard to explain puns to kleptomaniacs because they always take things literally.
• I'm a big fan of whiteboards. I find them quite remarkable.
• Yesterday, a clown held the door open for me. It was such a nice jester.
• Becoming a vegetarian is a huge missed steak.
• The other day she tried to make a chemistry joke, but got no reaction.
• It’s funny — England doesn’t have a kidney bank, but has a Liverpool.
• Acupuncture is a jab well done.
• When a clock is hungry, it goes back four seconds.

David Cordell

Why do I all the sudden yearn for a baloney sandwich?

(Smile, Tommy. It's just a joke.)

Steve Keene

Tommy and David,

Do you know the difference between the Texas Railroad Commission and God?

God doesn't think he is the Texas Railroad Commission.

Steve Keene

David, 

You have that urge for a similar reason that I got the urge to have an Oriental soft pork noodle in tahini sauce. 

Steve Keene

David, Lowell and Chief Pint Guard,

The Granddaddy of Dallas Gentlemen’s Clubs

C.A. “Pappy” Dolsen opened his first club, La Boheme, in 1924. In the 1930s, he went into business with notorious gambler and bootlegger Benny Binion. It was after the war, however, when Pappy opened the grande dame of Dallas burlesque joints, Pappy’s Showland, which was located on the other side of the Commerce Street Bridge in West Dallas.

It was not enough to call Pappy’s Showland a strip club. Burlesque dancers shared the stage with singers, tap dancers, boxers, full orchestras, and some of the most popular entertainers of the day. Tommy Dorsey’s orchestra played Pappy’s, as did Bob Hope. And Pappy’s deep connections with politicians—and the local underworld—enabled him to stay open long past when liquor laws allowed. But that all came to an end when Oak Cliff and West Dallas banned alcohol sales in the mid-1950s. Pappy’s Showland closed up shop.

That didn’t stop its namesake. The charismatic showman, who once called Jack Ruby a “double-crosser” and boasted that he could tell how much a dancer would make after watching her for one minute, continued to manage dancers well into the 1970s. He chewed cigars with his tobacco-stained teeth and kept track of his talent in a little black book, booking strippers at four clubs and operating out of a little bungalow near Dallas Love Field.

Benny Binion took his gambling operations to Las Vegas.  He also took his bodyguard, chief enforcer and hitman R. D. Matthews with him.  About 1986, I walked into Prego Pasta House on Greenville with my fiance Denise Campisi and this 6'6" mean looking guy jumped up and hugs Denise.  He says, "You have sure grown up, baby.  How you doin?"  Denise says, "Fine,  R.D.  This is my fiance Steve Keene."  He says, "If he don't treat you right baby, just give me a call.  I promised your Daddy I would watch out for you."  R. D Matthews passed away in early 2013.  I have to admit I harbored conflicting emotions.  The chance of me having broken kneecaps diminished exponentially.

Lowell Tuttle

Steve, Mike West worked for Tackaberry Fire & Safety for a while and got really involved with the fire and safety sales business...mostly in Houston in the early 70's, then, Dallas in the mid 70's, and then again back to Houston before he trained to become a pruducer for me and later my Dad and State Farn...Tackaberry opened an office in Dallas over off Harry Hines near the Market Center...we lunched a lot at (I think) the Double Nickel with his co worker, Robert.   We frequented a number of gentlemen's clubs but I remember my favorite was some club over off Harry Hines which still had comedians, announcers, and a small combo, in between the girls dancing acts, and the dance acts were still burlesque, more than the pole dancing later so evolved.   It was somewhere over off Denton, and Stemmons...and they always did a pretty good business because there were so many markets each quarter at the Apparel Mart, or Market Hall, etc...This was from 72 or so to 78...I'll bet Pappy owned that one, or at least someone like him.

Actually, the Tackaberry office shared a building wiht the two daughters who you saw a lot on advertising of Standard Insurance.   They were daughters of some old high risk auto insurance agent in Dallas who took his agency to the next level...I think they still own it.   

At the Tackaberry office, which was basically a warehouse, we invented an indoor hockey arena and actually had hockey sticks and goals...

Steve Keene

Lowell,

It is so good to find someone who can appreciate the finer points of strip joints like I can.

David Cordell

Steve,

One of the disadvantages of getting married right out of college (actually, still in college) is missing out on certain more-or-less rites of passage for a young man, like "gentleman's club" crawls.

Now that I think of it, the term "gentleman's club" is one of the all-time great euphemisms. 

My only experience in such a club was in Orlando about 25 years ago. A colleague and I were on a golf trip and we were staying in my timeshare. He decided that the way to pay me back was to take me to a gentleman's club and buy me a lap dance. I was very self-conscious and didn't know where to look. I didn't want to leer, but you don't avert your eyes when a natural -- or maybe not-so-natural -- wonder is placed in front of you!

Wayne Gary

David,

I just read this from Texas Historical Society.  Maybe you went to this place.