The Italian connection

An informant offered to lead a journalist to Europe’s largest cache of stolen art. Soon they were trapped in a web of lies, suspicion, treachery, and impending death.

by John Bloom

In the Still of the Night

A photographer finds mystery and magic.

by Robert A. Widdicombe

The Modified Triple-reverse, Double-handoff Option

Football has degenerated into a routine encounter between two sets of programmed, steroid-stuffed robots. These trick plays could change all that.

by Paul Burka

The $38,000 a Year, Wife and Two Kids, House and a Pool Blues

Is inflation deflating your standard of living? You are not alone.

by Michael Ennis

The Longest Weekend

It was the worst of times: the president was dead, the nation in shock, the government in limbo. But in those dark days Lyndon Johnson shone.

by Merie Miller

Behind the Lines

On the Move.

by William Broyles, Jr

Health

The Inheritance Factor

In Austin, experts in genetics are helping parents of children with birth defects come to terms with the most painful questions of their lives.

by Judy Benson

Country Notes

The Heat Treatment

This one has been a humdinger, but every Texas summer is broiling hot—and that’s nothing to get all steamed up about.

by John Graves

Church

Onward, Brother Roloff

The feisty pastor of the People’s Baptist Church keeps marching on to war with the State of Texas. Mexican American Pentecostals in the Valley ask Houston’s God’s help on a hot problem.

by William Martin

Dining Out

Fit To Be Thai’d

Go east, young Westerners, for the oddest, spiciest food in Dallas; Houston’s Cho is chic, but its kitchen is all shook up.

Film

Lights, Camera—Willie!

Willie Nelson tries on a starring role and comes out smelling like a Honeysuckle Rose; in Willie an Phil Paul Mazursky pays homage to Truffaut, although he shortchanges himself.

by George Morris

Theater

Shock Tactics

Houston’s Equinox Theatre has fine actors and directors, but its raunchy sex and violence can make you squirm. The nineteenth-century Granbury Opera House is a fetching setting for Texas Meg.

by W. L. Taitte

Books

Capote Changes Coler

In Music for Chameleons it’s hard to tell whether Truman Capote is telling the whole truth or nothing at all of the truth; Conspiracy ferrets out much of the truth about John F. Kennedy’s murder.

by Stephen Harrigan

Reporter

Texas Monthly Reporter

A black Houstonian revised the Horatio Alger legend; making a racket in Mason; UT astronomers yearn to conquer the universe; requiem for a reef.

by Gene Lyons

The Inside Story

Help!

by Gregory Curtis

Puzzle

Look! Up In the sky!

Roar of the Crowd

Bettered bests, cultural quests, manhood tests.

State Secrets

Texas chic hits bottom; bak error pinches UT law school; carter alienates Texas again; a test for teachers.

Edited by Paul Burka

Touts

Eat, eat, it’s good for you.

by Patricia Sharpe