This week, San Antonio locals are mourning the loss of a local icon. Resources: Mi Tierra plans tribute for San Antonio icon Hispanic Elvis (mysanantonio.com) ‘Hispanic Elvis’ passed away Wednesday, family says | kens5.com Meet the ‘Hispanic Elvis,’ a Local San Antonio Legend Going Viral On TikTok (remezcla.com) San Antonio’s late Hispanic Elvis remembered in…
The “Johnson” Treatment
Lyndon Baines Johnson was known for exposing one particular body part. Resources: LBJ Used this One Thing To Control Others Around Him, Which Became Known as the Johnson Treatment (historycollection.com) https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/giant/
The Legend of the Woofus
A seemingly unholy amalgamation of animals frames the Swine Building in Dallas. Resources: The Woofus, Dallas, Texas (roadsideamerica.com) The Texas Woofus – Dallas, Texas – Atlas Obscura Friends of Fair Park – Woofus (wildapricot.org) 5 Reasons Why The Woofus Will Be Your New Favorite Animal At The State Fair | Art&Seek | Arts, Music, Culture…
The Rise and Fall of the Naked Cyclist
Joseph Glynn Farley made international news for what he didn’t wear while unicycling. Resources: 10 Of The Weirdest Things That Have Ever Happened In Texas (onlyinyourstate.com) Naked unicyclist puts Kemah in national spotlight (click2houston.com) Texan Known As The ‘Naked Unicyclist’ Struck, Killed – CBS Dallas / Fort Worth (cbslocal.com)
That Time Ozzy Peed on the Alamo
In 1982, Ozzy Osbourne committed one of the gravest sins in Texas, by relieving himself on the Alamo cenotaph. Resources: Forget the Alamo by Chris Tomlinson and Jason Stanford A Brief History of Peeing on the Alamo – Texas Monthly Ozzy Osbourne publicly urinated in Alamo Plaza 40 years ago this week (expressnews.com) Ozzy Osbourne…
Bernie Tiede, A Murderer Few People Could Hate
When it was discovered that Bernie Tiede killed a local woman, more people in his Texas town supported him than the deceased. Resources: https://www.texasmonthly.com/arts-entertainment/what-to-make-of-bernie-tiede-now/ https://www.texasmonthly.com/the-culture/midnight-in-the-garden-of-east-texas/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernie_Tiede Bernie film
Candy Barr- “I Did What I Had to Survive’
Candy Barr was a legend of the burlesque circuit, but her life story had more ups and down than a roller coaster. Resources: https://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/candy-barr/ Candy Barr by Ted Schwarz and Mardi Rustam https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candy_Barr
Mike Martin- The Politician Who Had Himself Shot
In 1981 the shooting of a politician became the biggest mystery since who shot J.R. Ewing…but with much less interesting results. Resources: https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1981/08/27/a-texas-tall-tale-who-shot-mike-martin/cf45ad9e-00b6-4c4a-88b3-9a3ac314dc26/ . https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/bum-steer-awards-1982/
Clara Harris: The Mercedes Benz Murder
In 2002, a woman wronged struck and killed her husband with a Mercedes Benz, and then turned around to hit him again. Resources: Clara Harris, Who Killed Cheating Husband With Her Mercedes, Released From Prison – Texas Monthly Suburban Madness – Texas Monthly Shattered Lives (oprah.com) Murder of David Lynn Harris – Wikipedia Amazon.com: Suburban…
The Miracle Horned Toad of Eastland
A toad named Blinky could have died a horrible death, but he was reborn as the more famous Horned Toad in America. Resources: https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/3631
Texas: Slang for Crazy 