Doin’ the Social Climb

From the heights of the Dallas social heap, they leaped to the national celebrity circuit. Rich, young, and fashionable, Twinkle and Bradley Bayoud are a case study on how to rise to the top.

by Mark Seal

Bass’n Gal

There are bass in Sam Rayburn Reservoir, and the gals were out to hook ‘em. And Rhonda Wilcox hoped to hook the biggest one of all.

by Skip Hollandsworth

The Tree-ear, The Comb Tooth, & The Destroying Angel

Alice in Wonderland never discovered a mushroom half as exotic as Texas’ own native fungi.

by Barbara Rodriguez

Texas Primer: Cedar Fever

When cedars start to mate, Texans start to suffer.

by Patricia Sharpe

Turn It Up!

The rudest, crudest, and most obnoxious disc jockeys are on in the mornings. Here’s the best—or the worst—of the lot.

by Joe Nick Patoski

A Trust Corrupted, A City Betrayed, Part Two

The continuing saga of the Hermann estate scandal was a shocking lesson in how Houston’s most respected philanthropists, civic leaders, and biggest deal makers had abused their power.

by Harry Hurt III

Western Art: In Defense of Da Dogie

by Lane Smith

Lifestyle

My Intergalactic Champion Yodeler

“Hiiidee yodelo oh, hodeleh dee whoo,” sang Randy, and I knew I’d found the man for me.

by Dusty Rhodes

Behind the Lines

Muddling along in Dallas.

by Gregory Curtis

Fatherhood

Kwell or Be Kwelled

Cradle Cap was nothing, diaper rash was a breeze. But when my son brought home head lice—well, it made the plague look good.

by Lawrence Wright

Movies

Dizzy Spin

Down and out in Beverly Hills is Mazursky magic; Clan of the Cave Bear is Sheena of the Stone Age; Trouble in Mind is—never mind.

by James Wolcott

Classical Music

Changing the Tune

Some new recordings of old symphonies reveal how the composers really wanted things to sound.

by W. L. Taitte

Television

Falling Star

T. R. Fehrenbach’s Lone Star is now a series on public television. Watch it and sleep.

by Joe Nick Patoski

Reporter

Texas Monthly Reporter

Rio Hondo’s Broadway producer; Boys’ Life’s ripe old age; etiquette’s ups and downs.

by Emily Yoffe

Back Roads

Ted Krechel, honorary winter Texan mayor of Pharr, oversees a culture as arcane as a Melanesian cargo cult.

by Peter Applebone

Post-Modern Times

At the singles bar of the eighties, is it’s not love, it could still be a good investment opportunity.

by Michael Ennis

Downtown

Look into the Houston sky—those helicopters are full of commuters who are having fun.

by Jim Atkinson

Puzzle

Look sharp!

Touts

Five-finger exercises.

by Patricia Sharpe

Roar of the Crowd

Sesquicentennial notes.

State Secrets

How much will $15 oil coast Mark White?; two new R’s for school districts: resistin’ reform; the truth about those bank rumors.

Edited by Paul Burka