Come And Take It

They were the heroes of Texas wrasslin’, the legends of Dallas’ world famous Sportatorium, and the idols of millions. For a few years their star shined brighter than any in the Lone Star State before heartbreaking tragedy destroyed their empire. This week we look at the triumph and tragedy of Texas’ greatest wrestling dynasty.

In 1986, Texas celebrated its 150th anniversary of independence from Mexico. Originally conceived as a deeply-funded, centrally-planned series of well-organized events, economic conditions turned it into a hodge-podge of nearly ten thousand events, large and small, scattered throughout the state. It was a year-long “Texas-sized birthday party” known as the Texas Sesquicentennial

During a more than fifty-year performing and recording history, this Texan has become one of the top Tejano artists with a unique style, imbuing his sound with norteño, country, blues, and rock-and-roll. Established in 1959 by José María de León Hernández, today we are talking about Little Joe y La Familia.

He was known as 'The Big O', a shy boy from the west Texas oilfields who became one of most successful and admired pop stars of the 1950s and 60s. His distinctive look and haunting voice made him an icon and led to an unlikely career revival in 1988 cut short by his untimely death.

The Houston Astros are not an old franchise. They don’t have the 100-plus year history of the Boston Red Sox or the Chicago Cubs, and they don’t get the worldwide recognition of the New York Yankees. But to Houston and the surrounding area, the Astros are more than just a baseball team. They’re part of the fabric of this oil town that became an international hub of commerce, culture, and Texan pride.

We’ve had a Pig War and a Chicken War, and today we bring you yet another ridiculous “war” that helped define the history of Texas, and it's all about a bunch of paper.

Pioneer, Texas Ranger, Lawyer, Soldier, Chief Justice of Lavaca County, and Indian Fighter . Today we’re talking about John Himes Livergood, early Texan and survivor of the Mier expedition.

From the earliest days of popular music to the top of today’s charts, the Lone Star State has a justifiably rich tradition in music. There are songs about Texas, and artists that are quintessentially Texan, but there are also many great and popular artists that people don’t immediately associate with the state and its heritage.

In the early 1700s, a European conflict between Spain and France reached the contested borders of their North American empires in a most unusual and ridiculous way. This week we look at the role of Spanish Texas in The Chicken War.

There have been hundreds of books about Texas and its history, and we haven’t come close to reading all of them. But we have read some, and today we’re going to have a round table discussion about our favorite Texas history books.

Guitar master, bearded wizard, and bonafide car nut. Today we’re talking about the legendary Texan guitarist and front man for ZZ Top.

A snooty French diplomat, a surly Texas innkeeper, and pack of rampaging pigs. A dangerous combination that nearly cost Texas its independence.

They were the most notorious outlaws of the Great Depression, known both for their violent crime spree as well as their scandalous public image. Their names have gone on to be forever linked to the image of young criminals in love.

From 1942 to 1944, Texas was home to one of the most remarkable programs in the history of the Second World War. Hundreds of young women from all walks of life were trained in airfields in Houston and West Texas to become the first women to fly military aircraft in American history, as the Women’s Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs).

She was called the greatest woman athlete, excelling at every sport she tried from track to golf. From the 1930s until the 1950s, she set records, broke barriers, and became one of the famous women in America.

He was a business executive and radio star who managed to parlay his fame into the Texas Governor’s Mansion and the U.S. Senate. He also became the only person who defeated LBJ in an election. This week we look at the life and career of W. Lee Pappy O’Daniel.

Once a sports sensation who put competitive cycling on the map of American culture, Lance Armstrong would eventually be known as the man who perpetrated one of the biggest doping scandals in athletic history. For better or worse, it was a sad end to the story of Texas' greatest cyclist.

In 1968, the city of San Antonio enacted a remarkable program to transform their historic city into a modern tourist destination by hosting a fabulous World’s Fair. Today we talk about the history of HemisFair '68.

This March marks the 223 anniversary of the birth of the greatest figure in Texas history, Sam Houston. Last year we did an extensive three part series on his life, but this year we’ll take a look at the remarkable lives of his eight children.

He was a career naval officer who had risen through the ranks of the US Navy to become the architect of victory against the Japanese in the Pacific. He was a pioneer in submarine operations and eventually commanded the largest naval force in history. But before all that, he was a small town boy from the Texas Hill Country whose grandfather instilled him with a love for the sea.