WISE ABOUT TEXAS

The great depression was hard on everyone everywhere, and Texas was no exception.  People couldn’t work, could barely eat and just needed a break.  The people wanted excitement, they wanted romance, they wanted something to cheer for…even if it was evil.  That’s when a petty chicken thief met a beautiful wanna-be movie star, both from the poor side of town.  They set off on one of the most wide-ranging, violent, notorious, and legendary crime sprees in American history.  Pretty soon, everyone knew their names…Bonnie & Clyde.  Meet two of America’s most notorious outlaws in this episode of Wise About Texas.  

 The account of the Texas revolution makes for glorious telling, retelling and reading.  It seemed that every man, woman and child in early Texas just couldn’t wait to rebel against the tyrannical Mexican government and win another glorious war for independence.  Didn’t they?  Well, not exactly.  Just like the 13 American colonies, Texas had its tories too.  Learn more about “differences of opinion” in revolutionary Texas in the latest episode of Wise About Texas

 The late 19th century saw Texas industry expanding west.  The railroads were laid and towns were springing up everywhere.  That quintessential Texas opportunity was knocking once again. One railroad entrepreneur gave one aspiring town builder the idea to layout a new town near the Big Bend called…what else…Progress City.  He surveyed, he platted, and he sold.  He sold thousands of lots.  Deeds were filed and taxes were charged and paid.  The problem was…it never existed.  Hear the story of Progress City in the latest episode of Wise About Texas.  

Over 5000 Texans served in World War One.  Many returned to Texas and continued their service to their home State.  Here are just a few stories of men who returned from war and continued their service.  A tribute to all our men and women who served so bravely in the Great War.  

December 23, 1927 was a typical day in Cisco, Texas.  People going about their Christmas shopping, ready for holiday time with family and friends.  The kids even saw Santa Claus walking down Main Street!  He engaged with the kids, wishing them Merry Christmas.  Then he walked to the First National Bank, and into history, in what would be one of the most sensational gunfights and manhunts in Texas history.  Hear the story of the Santa Claus Bank Robbery in the latest episode of Wise About Texas.   

Before they can fight, our soldiers must be trained.  General Sherman decided that the dwindling U.S. Army would be consolidated into two garrisons, one being based in San Antonio, Texas to protect the frontier and conduct the Indian wars necessary to western expansion.  When war in Europe beckoned, San Antonio was ready.  But the Army was running out of room.  So the Army began buying ranches until San Antonio became the huge military city it remains today.  Learn about San Antonio’s role in equipping our troops for world war in the latest episode of Wise About Texas.  

A Tribute to our 41st President…a Texan.

The early 20th century brought chaos to the Texas/Mexico border.  The Mexican revolution(s) created opportunities for raiders, bandits and criminals to run rampant.  The law was hard to enforce and depredations hard to prevent.  Germany fostered this chaos to distract the U.S. from the war in Europe.  Soon, two documents were discovered that would focus U.S. attention on either quelling the chaos, or joining the war.  Hear the story of the role Texas played in the U.S. entering World War I in the latest episode of Wise About Texas:  Texas and the Great War, Part 1.

In the early 20th century Japan sought to extend its relations around the world.  Texas made imminent sense.  A Japanese professor saw the Alamo as a perfect companion to one of ancient Japan’s most famous battles.  The Emperor saw Texas as a perfect place to relocate some of his brightest farmers.  Learn about the early connections between Japan and Texas in this latest episode of Wise About Texas.

In the first days of 1836 revolution was brewing in Texas.  The battle of Gonzales had spawned the Texian conquest of La Bahia and Bexar.  The Texians were sure the Mexicans would soon see the wisdom of allowing the Texians their own government.  The Indians, however, just saw opportunity.  Depredations continued and the further up the Guadalupe river you lived, the more danger you faced.  That danger reached Sarah Hibbens and her family.  This wasn’t her first suffering at the hand of the indians and it wouldn’t be her last.  But after a harrowing escape from the horror of captivity, she ran into a new force that would change the course of Indian/settler relations forever:  The Texas Rangers.  Captain Tumlinson and his men chased the Indians into the area that would later become the capital of the Republic of Texas.  Hear the story of the first battle between Texas Rangers and Comanche Indians in the latest episode of Wise About Texas.