Jack Ruby

The Life and Death of Dallas Theater Center's Jack Ruby, All-American Boy

In 1974, DTC premiered its best show ever. Why was it never seen again?

KKDA Lays Off Bobby Patterson, Most Of Its On-Air Staff

In my ten years of working in radio, I had many conversations with people who were unceremoniously let go. Formats flip, contracts aren't renewed, or a big company gobbles up a small company and puts the long-timers out to pasture. Not really any different from layoffs in most fields, but in radio, ... More >>

Discovering a Rare Bobby Patterson Single Mentioned in the Warren Commission Hearings

​A Friend of Unfair Park wondered Saturday afternoon: Is the "unknown teen" named Robert Patterson heard singing "Tell Me How" and "Dear Debbie" on this purchased-this-morning Future Records single none other than the Bobby Patterson? Why, yes, yes it is; just listen to that voice. Said Bobby when ... More >>

It’s Tassle Time!

On Nov. 22, "JFK Day" at the Texas Theatre, Starring Van Heflin and Naughty Dallas

​What you see above is the ad for the Texas Theatre that appeared in the newspaper on November 22, 1963. But for some, that photo taken of the marquee on that day is burned on the brain; no need to consult the listings to know War is Hell and Cry of Battle were playing when police arrested Lee Har ... More >>

Lakewood Landing Remembers Lucille Mathews this Saturday

Lucille Mathews at Lakewood Landing​They just don't make them, or at least not many of them, like Lucille Mathews. Legend in Dallas, she started working at the Lakewood Landing in 1959, shortly after leaving Jack Ruby's Carousel Club, and tended bar there for over 30 years. In a profile that ran i ... More >>

Parkland Was Certainly Quite Proud of Itself Following the Shootings of Kennedy, Oswald

Via The Sounds of History​Had dinner at the folks' house last night, after which the boy and I went digging through a stack of old Dallas Newses and Times Heralds my dad keeps stashed in a closet, almost completely forgotten. They were my grandfather's and date back to November 22, 1963, and fast- ... More >>

Having Fun in Downtown Dallas: Is There a Form You Need to Fill Out For That?

​Jack Floyd (I don't really know Jacquielynn personally, but I'm told that's what cool people call her) has a good column today behind The Dallas Morning News pay well today about making downtown Dallas fun. I know. I know. Right off the top it sounds like a dreadfully dreary topic, sort of l ... More >>

From the Film Vaults: Rush to Judgment

A witness to the Kennedy assassination shows Mark Lane where he was on November 22, 1963.​While looking for something unrelated this morning, I came across quite the cinematic find just posted to the Internet Archive: a full-length copy of Oscar-nominated director Emile de Antonio's 1966 film Rush ... More >>

Football and strippers: You can't say you've done Dallas till you see a little of both

Dallas, despite being the Buckle of the Bible Belt, has a rich tradition of gambling, gangsters, boozing and naked ladies.

Celebrity Barkeeps Michael Martensen and Eddie "Lucky" Campbell Plan Downtown Watering Hole

Dallas' thriving craft cocktail scene will soon have a downtown outpost, courtesy of local celebrity barkeeps Michael Martensen and Eddie "Lucky" Campbell. The pair has begun renovations on the Main Street space previously occupied by Dr. Bell's BBQ in the 1400 block of Main Street. While the cockt ... More >>

So Dean Foods Is Eliminating the "Schepps" Name in Dallas. Well, That Doesn't Seem Right.

Soup Can​"Schepps" has been a brand name in Dallas since 1942, when Harmon Schepps started the dairy with a single truck that became a ginormous bidness since swallowed up by Cityplace-based Dean Foods. (Fun fact: Harmon was called to testify in front of the Warren Commission due to his friendship ... More >>

Your Wednesday Morning Eye Candy: Local Sign Maker, Collector Dan Holzschuh's Vision

Today's eye-opener is more abstract than a short doc about Willis Winters. Instead, it's a virtual sculpture by noted neon-sign collector, Dan Holzschuh, who counts among his collection's pieces remnants from the old Prince of Hamburgers, the Circle Inn, the Gemini Drive-In and even Jack Ruby's Caro ... More >>

Meddlesome Moth: Great Beer, but the Food Doesn't Make Our Heart Flutter.

The Problem With... "In My Head" by Jason Derülo

Folks, do you ever have the urge to read other people's minds? To find out what is going down in someone's head like the major motion picture What Women Want? Well, one pop star, Jason Derülo, saves us the trouble and lays his thoughts out in a song. Like most of our thoughts before they reach our ... More >>

Once, At the Intersection of Commerce and Brower, Stood "The Bright Spot After Dark"

​Among the myriad reasons I like posting vintage photos of bygone Dallas: You never know who'll show up in the comments to provide details previously thought lost to history. So, great thanks to Jerome Weeks and Bud Kennedy; courtesy their comments here, I've learned a great deal about Dallas's ho ... More >>

Crushing Grain and Slasher Blend Violence And Dark Comedy With Mixed Results

UNT Libraries Sorts Through City's Official John F. Kennedy Archives, Then Reposts

University of North Texas Libraries/Dallas Municipal ArchivesIf you ever wondered what it looked like during a night in Jack Ruby's Carousel Club, wonder no longer.​Dallas's official John F. Kennedy Collection has always been on the city's Web site -- a little hidden on the City Secretary's Offic ... More >>

If You've Always Wanted Tom Landry's Hat ...

​So, let's say Jack Ruby's hat doesn't do it for you. Fine. In that case, Heritage Auction Galleries has another option for your noggin: one of Tom Landry's old fedoras, this one circa 1980-something. Heritage's Noah Fleisher sends word that the trademark hat'll be amongst a handful of Dallas Cowb ... More >>

The Perfect Halloween Costume: Jack Ruby's Hat and Shackles, Now Up for Auction

​Heritage Auction Gallery had hoped to keep The Hat under its hat a little while longer -- the press release was going out tomorrow, matter of fact. But word got out (someone espied the item already posted on the auction house's Web site), which is why Heritage's Noah Fleisher is out spreading the ... More >>

Holy Mackerel! Reporter Who Broadcast Oswald's Murder Dead at 75

Naughty Dallas: "A Moviegoer's Must!"

Craig Watkins: No, Steve Blow, You're an Embarrassment

At Least One Major U.K. Paper Wants to Believe Ruby Talked to Oswald

Making a Killin' Off Kennedy

Helter Skelter, Na Na Na Na Na Na Na

Naughty Dallas

Arcadia Fire Sale

"Dallas Rag" and Other Stomps

This Week's Day-By-Day Picks

Popping the Lid

Pandora Japanese Cuisine is minimal, and that's the least we can say

This Week's Day-By-Day Picks

This Week's Day-By-Day Picks

Defining Moment

Forty years later, "local yokels" take pride in covering tragedy

JFK Journey

Oswald, from shot to grave

Lizzie Does Dallas

Plus: Oh, My Aikman Balls

Best Gym For Real Men

Doug's Gym

Thomas by Numbers

You can almost smell the character at 2900--and that's a good thing

Josh Alan Band

Josh Alan Band (Black Cracker Music)

Letters

Leavin' on a jet plane; Crummy teachers; Learning experience

Good time Charlie

The don of Dallas criminal lawyers, Charles Tessmer reshaped justice through decades of hard-fought cases and hard drink

Buzz

Make nice; Hacked off; Party hardly

Talk the talk

Officer down

Thirty-five years ago, Jesse Curry was Dallas' respected, popular police chief. Then Jack Ruby shot Lee Harvey Oswald, and Curry became just one more victim of the Kennedy assassination.

The Race Not Run

Republican Bill Hill is running against Democrat Rick Reed for district attorney. Don't think you have a choice.

Night & Day

August 6 - 12, 1998

Joe Bob Briggs

Drive-In Movie Critic of Grapevine, TX

Idol worship

In the 1950s and '60s, Tony Zoppi wrote about -- and rode with -- the stars