Back Talk

Alan says: I am in favor of limiting the governor to two consecutive terms. But blacklisting someone after eight years altogether, regardless of how good or bad they did their job, can needlessly force an effective public official out of public service. Many state governors throughout history have served well over eight years without their constituents regretting it. I would point out that such a system is wholly unworkable in twenty-first century America: we live in the era of the permanent campaign and the 24-hour news cycle. A governor facing re-election every other year would essentially do nothing but fundraise (which is close to what most do anyway even with four-year terms). (November 19th, 2009 at 11:09pm)

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Anne Dingus

Anne Dingus

Features

(September 2005)

One hundred simple questions—well, not that simple— stand between you and Texas literacy. (September 2005)

What to do if you're bitten by fire ants, lost in the wilderness, sprayed by a skunk, attacked by a shark, stuck in a lightning storm, swept away by a riptide, or caught in any of eleven other worst-case scenarios. (October 2004)

Growing up, I read scores of pulpy paperback westerns with good-guy-bad-guy action—and it was their amazing covers in gaudy, manly hues that roped me in. (January 2004)

In the sixties, when stars like the Beatles, Dinah Shore, and Marlene Dietrich descended on Dallas, Peggie and John Mazziotta captured them on film. (September 2003)

Where else in Texas can you see a Picasso, a classic courthouse, and one of the most famous ranches in the country, along with an outdoor theatrical performance that’s equal parts kitsch and civic pride? If you haven’t been to Albany, get your fandangle in gear. (June 2003)

From Ann on a Harley to Anna Nicole on a Bum Steer binge, we present our fifty favorite Texas Monthly issues with a female face. (February 2003)

Before you start wrapping presents, here's a gift from us to you: a Texas-holiday-themed crossword puzzle. Sharpen your pencil and get a clue. (December 2002)

Most of the lighthouses that once kept watch over the Texas Gulf Coast have vanished, victims of time and the modern world. Yet a few romantic relics remain. (November 2002)

Indians slain by settlers and vice versa. Lynchings and shoot-outs. Poisonings and dismemberings. Assassinations and massacres. Our past three hundred years or so have been, uh, colorful. A fond look back at the murder and mayhem. (July 2002)

On June 7 the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame opens in - where else? - Cowtown. So saddle up and mosey on over to this tribute to such illustrious women of the West as Tad Lucas, Dale Evans, and Sandra Day O'Connor. (June 2002)

From cornball classics to rousing rib-ticklers, these two hundred Texas jokes are definitely on us. (January 2002)

Can you keep up with the state's most famous Joneses? Get to the bottom of this burning question—and 21 others—by taking the final installment of my Texas literacy test. (December 2001)

What tall Texan dated top actress during Hollywood's heyday? Find out the answer-and other Lone Star lore-by taking the penultimate installment of my literacy test. (October 2001)

Texas is changing before our eyes, but fried pies, drive-in movie theaters, and other vestiges of earlier days are all around. To find these treasures, we risked life, limb, and cholesterol count-and had a blast from the past. (August 2001)

In 1883, being caught with what everyday object could have gotten you killed? Find out the answer, along with 24 other equally fascinating tidbits, in the second installment of my Texas-literacy test. (June 2001)

Who exactly was Cabeza de Vaca? Why did Texas revolutionaries shout, “Remember Goliad”? Sharpen your pencils for Part I of my four-part Texas literacy test. (March 2001)

Have you gotten lost in the Big Thicket? Attended a South Texas pachanga? Whether you’re a newcomer or a native, following these suggestions will give you a crash course in all things Texas—and one heck of a good time. (March 2001)

Kitschy calendars that say "Feliz Navidad." (December 2000)

Photographer Kurt Markus spent years tracking down modern working cowboys for his new book, Cowpuncher. He corralled the genuine article at several Texas spreads. (November 2000)

Anne Dingus has a few bones to pick with the modern mystery novel, which she says has been decomposing in recent years. Stepping up to defend the genre: none other than Texas' queen of murder and mayhem, Mary Willis Walker. (November 2000)

(October 2000)

(October 2000)

(October 2000)

(October 2000)

(October 2000)

(October 2000)

Man of the centuries. (September 2000)

A Tony guy. (September 2000)

From a boutique hotel in hip South Austin to a bed-and-breakfast across the Mexican border, from fly fishing on the Llano River to bathing in the Chinati Hot Springs, 33 getaways the guidebooks don’t tell you about, courtesy of our intrepid staff of weekend warriors. (June 2000)

From the fabulous, furry Gilbert Shelton to the hypercaffeinated Shannon Wheeler, these celebrated Texas cartoonists will surely draw you in. (April 2000)

Cuff links? A commemorative plate? For Alamo hobbyists like me, rule number one is, Never surrender or retreat from the chance to snag a few iconic tchotchkes. (March 2000)

Various specimens of that celebrated species, the Texas woman, captured on film by photographer Annie Leibovitz, who used to be one herself. (January 2000)

Children’s writes. (September 1999)

Artist of the portrait. (September 1999)

Austin painter Julie Speed is the latest ascendant to the ranks of art royalty. Talk about a brush with greatness. (August 1999)

(July 1999)

No one captures the majesty and mystique of wide-open spaces like photographer Peter Brown. (July 1999)

Elegant antebellum furniture in Jefferson, Latin American folk art in Smithville: Where the buys are in two dozen communities. (March 1999)

La Grange’s Mr. Barbecue, the police chief of Athens: Fifteen local characters with, er, character. (March 1999)

An East Texas community’s simple charms, captured on film. (December 1998)

(November 1998)

In the Central Texas town of Seguin, Leon Kubala has been documenting life and death for more than fifty years, one picture at a time. (October 1998)

Man makes the clothes. (September 1998)

In the suddenly trendy world of World War II wannabes, these Texans are big guns. (July 1998)

Ten years after the filming of the miniseries Lonesome Dove, screenwriter Bill Wittliff shares his photographic memories of life on the set. (June 1998)

This time of year, Yule find him hanging around East Texas: On lawns and roofs, he’s a Claus célèbre. (December 1997)

As in Hanoi and Moscow, the circus in Mexico is no three-ring extravaganza. It’s one of the grittiest shows on earth. (November 1997)

Culturally centered. (September 1997)

Doing the write thing. (September 1997)

From buckskin to polyester, a look at 166 years of Texas fashion that doesn’t skirt the issues. (June 1997)

After fifty years of traveling the Southwest, ranch photographer Frank Reeves left behind a vast body of work and unforgettable portraits of the cowboy’s way of life. (April 1997)

With a private-school atmosphere, involved parents, and a veteran principal and faculty, this Richardson school makes the most of its many blessings. (November 1996)

A new exhibit in San Marcos pays homage to Manuel Alvarez Bravo, the grandfather of Mexican photography, and the generations of fotógrafos who followed his lead. (October 1996)

For the Wilsons of Dallas, taking pictures was a family affair. Today the mother is a successful photographer and her boys are hot Hollywood commodities. Here’s a look at Laura Wilson’s personal album. (May 1996)

The rodeo belt buckle is prized by cowboys and collectors alike. By the look of these handcrafted samples, it’s easy to see why. (April 1996)

One of the country’s top photographers traveled around his home state to capture these stunning portraits of exotic animals on display. (March 1996)

A loving look back at nine grand old movie houses from the golden age of small-town Texas. (December 1995)

From “Lone State Doom” to “Land of Violent Men,” a look back at Texas’ classic pulp fiction. (June 1995)

As a curator and in his own work as a painter, Jerry Bywaters left a lasting legacy of Texas art. (January 1995)

Come hell or high water, you’ll want to read our compilation of down-home aphorisms. (December 1994)

It’s not just another roadside attraction—here’s to a lasting monument of Texas kitsch. (July 1994)

Eight indigenous authors, nine native critters: A bookish look at the wildest, woolliest creatures in Texas history. (March 1994)

If traditional holiday meals leave you hungry for something new, you’ll devour the dishes that Dallas chef Dean Fearing has prepared. (December 1992)

Get your masks on; put on your dancing shoes. It’s time for Mexico’s Day of the Dead, one of the liveliest celebrations around. (November 1992)

Fashion designers are betting the ranch on new Western shirts with styles inspired by Hollywood, not history. (September 1992)

Haven’t heard of Geof Kern, Texas’ most famous photographer? You must live here. (July 1992)

Vintage Texas postcards depict larger-than-life views in hyper hues. (April 1992)

The great polka boycott, Willie’s Sunday school status, the cold trugh abour Vanilla Ice, and other notable moments in Texas Music. (February 1992)

But for this ever-so-practical invention, Texas history as we know it would be gone with the wind. (January 1990)

Peanut patties are red, raspas are blue, sugar is sweet, and so are pralines, pecan pie, kolaches, and seven other great Texas desserts. (April 1989)

What kind of dish would a Texas clubwoman invent? One that’s not too greasy, not too spicy, and, well, sort of tasteful. (January 1989)

Look out, Texas! If drought comes, can tons of blowing dirt be far behind? (August 1988)

The laid-back Texas way of saying howdy on the road. (June 1985)

It spelled the end of the open range and the beginning of modern Texas. (March 1984)

Yes, Virginia Sue, Texas really does have its own holiday traditions. (December 1983)

Sure it means water. It also means pride. (May 1983)

It’s everybody’s favorite reptile, and it’s disappearing from Texas. (June 1982)

It’s only a humble weed, but just try to imagine West Texas without it. (March 1982)

Columns | Miscellany

I’m in love with you, cherry lime. (August 2005)

You’d love my collection of vintage Texas cookbooks. Just don’t ask me to cook from them. (June 2005)

How the cosmetically challenged among us manage to save face. (April 2005)

Blondness—natural or otherwise— is even more Texan than Big Hair. (February 2005)

From bullet bras to panties emblazoned with the Lone Star flag, a brief history of women’s underwear in Texas. (November 2004)

I've been collecting vintage Texana since I was ten years old, and believe me, I've got loads. But it's time to sell. (August 2004)

Explaining the enduring appeal of Jell-O can be as challenging as, well, nailing it to a tree. (June 2004)

With March 6 fast approaching, let's doff our coonskin caps to the Serious Alamo Guys, a band of mostly Anglo, mostly bearded, mostly fifty-plus historians who are Bowie-knife sharp on the subject of the mythic battle. (March 2004)

For decades, family-run motels looked after weary travelers all across Texas. And who looked after the families who ran them? The Temple-based Tourist Court Journal. (October 2003)

For 117 years, the State Fair of Texas has been part parade, part carnival, part livestock show, part museum—and all fun. (September 2003)

LBJ's dogs and Dale Evans' horse are among the most famous four-legged friends in Texas history. But can you name the only pig in the Texas Animal Hall of Fame? (June 2003)

My siblings and I had plenty of pets growing up, but they were never quite as exciting as those we caught ourselves, such as tarantulas. And garden snakes. And of course, horny toads. (May 2003)

When I was a kid, my grandmother was partial to Imperial sugar and other products made in Texas. You know what? I'm still sweet on them. (March 2003)

Let's hear it for beans and cornbread, the tastiest of plate-mates, a classic Southern supper—and a meal any fool can cook. (November 2002)

The truth about the Lady of White Rock Lake, the Neiman Marcus cookie recipe, and other seemingly tall Texas tales. (October 2002)

Texans turn to Dairy Queen for more than just Hungr-Busters, Steak Finger Country Baskets, and Blizzards. They also come for a taste of days gone by. (May 2002)

What's the story behind "Bug Tussle"? "Old Dime Box"? "Frognot"? It turns out there's more to a name than I ever expected. (April 2002)

A groundbreaking exhibit and an accompanying book make this a banner year to stand up and salute the history of Texas' flags. (March 2002)

Break out the hog-bladder balloons and get ready to chase livestock! It's time for a look at Texas' Christmas past. (December 2001)

Bob Phillips' passion for small-town oddities makes Texas Country Reporter as irresistible as a bookshop that doubles as a beauty parlor. (October 2001)

(September 2001)

Falling for Davy Crockett (um, Fess Parker). (September 2001)

Phyllis George and Texas’ other former Miss America’s didn’t let the tiara go to their head. (September 2001)

What was Texas like before air conditioning? Thinking about it gives me the chills. (July 2001)

How Juneteenth, a nationwide celebration of the end of slavery, got its start in Texas. (June 2001)

After more than a century of operation, it's last call at San Antonio's Pearl brewery. (May 2001)

I think, therefore iamb: My personal tour of the history of bad Texas poetry, from best to versed, prose to cons. (July 2000)

For an outing that’ll make you go stark graving mad, visit Texas’ peaceful old cemeteries—and experience the esprit de corpse. (October 1999)

Call it A Simpler Plan: Austinite Jim Magnuson’s new novel is about the consequences of finding a lot of money—and it’s a good read. (March 1999)

Sexist, shmexist: For pure viewing enjoyment, my feminist friends and I know that nothing can match the Miss America Pageant. (September 1998)

Did a flying saucer really crash-land in a field outside Roswell fifty years ago this month? The truth is out there; find out for yourself. (July 1997)

His stories are grotesque, disturbing, and award-winning: Meet Nacogdoches’ Joe R. Lansdale, the most twisted writer in Texas. (March 1997)

Obituaries are a grave matter, of course. But they can also be funny, insightful, and poetic, which is why I’m so obsessed with them. (January 1997)

The time is ripe, and so are the chiles: This tiny, homey town in New Mexico is the ideal spot for a fall weekend getaway. (September 1996)

The time is ripe, and so are the chiles: This tiny, homey town in New Mexico is the ideal spot for a fall weekend getaway. (September 1996)

How many people died in the New London school explosion of 1937? (March 2001)

(March 2001)

Who's the rising star of Midland politics? Oh, brother! (February 2001)

What Galveston native filmed the black and white scenes in The Wizard of Oz? (February 2001)

(February 2001)

(January 2001)

Whose picture did Sam Rayburn always hang in his office? (December 2000)

What was the real name of the dog that portrayed Old Yeller? (November 2000)

How many monkeys did Frank Buck capture? (October 2000)

Which professional sport did Charley Pride play? (September 2000)

How much money has the Brown Foundation given away since 1951? (August 2000)

In what movie was Ginger Rogers first paired with Fred Astaire? (July 2000)

What is the one movie that Dennis and Randy Quaid appeared in together? (June 2000)

Who was Stevie Ray Vaughan's musical role model? (May 2000)

What chewable confection did Santa Anna help invent? (March 2000)

Which Oscar-winner did Alvin Ailey act alongside in the play Call Me by My Rightful Name? (February 2000)

(January 2000)

(January 2000)

(January 2000)

(January 2000)

How much did baby shoes cost in Texas in December 1899? (December 1999)

(November 1999)

The University of Texas Tower figured in which movies? (October 1999)

Why was Eric Dickerson nicknamed Mr. Benny? (September 1999)

On which two sitcoms did Sharon Tate have a guest-starring role? (August 1999)

What part did Shelley Duvall beat out Gilda Radner for? (July 1999)

Which Américo Paredes book was made into a movie starring Edward James Olmos? (June 1999)

Which American president was befriended by Quanah Parker? (May 1999)

How did Pecos Bill invent hot sauce? (April 1999)

Which future Texas governor hired Bob Wills to play on his Fort Worth radio show? (March 1999)

At what age was Leon Jaworski the youngest lawyer in the history of Texas? (February 1999)

How many years after his death did Scott Joplin win a Pulitzer prize? (January 1999)

Why was Mirabeau B. Lamar known as the Father of Texas Education? (December 1998)

How much did Life pay Abraham Zapruder for the rights to his assassination film? (November 1998)

Why did Sandra Day O’Connor once say, “I come to you tonight wearing my bra”? (October 1998)

Which soft drink’s quart-size bottle did Lee trevino use as a golf club? (September 1998)

How many times did Mary Martin shampoo onstage while appearing in South Pacific? (August 1998)

(July 1998)

Why was the former governor Pa Ferguson nicknamed Farmer Jim? (June 1998)

(June 1998)

(May 1998)

What was so special about Mance Lipscomb’s dentures? (April 1998)

(March 1998)

Texas Primer Who’s been on our cover the most times? Ross is boss. (February 1998)

How much are the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders paid per game? (January 1998)

Why was Howard Hughes’s plane nicknamed the Spruce Goose? (December 1997)

How did Audie Murphy win the Congressional Medal of Honor? (November 1997)

Which Tex sang “High Noon” and which was a member of the Manson family? (October 1997)

What respiratory ailment afflicted Jimmie Rodgers, prompting fans to shout “Spit ’er up and sing some more”? (September 1997)

(August 1997)

In which Texas towns did Georgia O’Keeffe teach art, and for which photographer did she pose nude? (July 1997)

Which sports did Babe Didrikson dominate, and in what Hepburn-Tracy film did she appear? (June 1997)

Who gave Debbie Reynolds her name, and what did she have to learn to do before starring in Singin’ in the Rain? (May 1997)

What did Roy Orbison drink compulsively, and who called him the world’s greatest singer? (April 1997)

How did Susanna Dickinson survive the Battle of the Alamo, and who played her in John Wayne’s movie? (March 1997)

What was Bill Pickett’s nickname, and how did he wrestle steers to the ground? (February 1997)

To whom were Bonnie and Clyde really married, and whose saxophone was found in their car? (January 1997)

In Texas the ultimate arbiter of good taste has always been Neiman Marcus, the Dallas-based department store that marks its ninetieth birthday next year. (December 1996)

(December 1996)

What did Uvalde’s John Nance garner think the vice presidency was really worth? (November 1996)

(November 1996)

(October 1996)

What is Darrell Royal’s code name, and what does his middle initial stand for? (September 1996)

(September 1996)

(May 1996)

(April 1996)

(October 1995)

Reporter

How many Texans died at the Alamo? (March 2007)

Did The Texas Chainsaw Massacre really happen? (January 2007)

Does the ten-gallon hat hold ten gallons? (November 2006)

Who put the Bowie in the bowie knife? (September 2006)

Was J. R.shot in Dallas? (July 2006)

Do horny toads really squirt blood? (May 2006)

Oil’s well that begins well. (January 2006)

Great Houston’s ghost! (October 2005)

Is DWB (driving while barefoot) illegal? (August 2005)

Is Juneteenth ours? (June 2005)

Bluebonnet burglars, beware? (April 2005)

No, you can’t shoot your adulterous wife. (February 2005)

Gene Autry’s reindeer games. (December 2004)

The seven dips on a Texas trip. (October 2004)

How high may our flag fly? (July 2004)

The myth of the saguaro cactus (May 2004)

Why Anne Dingus hates "Texas, Our Texas." (April 2004)

Anne Dingus drives herself to tears. (October 2003)

Anne Dingus puts her teenage son in the driver's seat. (April 2002)

Anne Dingus' language lesson. (April 2001)

(December 2000)

(October 2000)

(September 2000)

(August 2000)

(July 2000)

(June 2000)

(April 2000)

books by Christopher Reich and Jay Brandon (March 2000)

(February 2000)

A rough-neck novelist hits pay dirt. (April 1999)

A terrific and prolific photographer remembered. (December 1998)

UT’s writing program achieves Texas-size success. (June 1998)

Reshooting history in Garfield (January 1998)

A McKinney writer’s Brit lit. (November 1997)

Stanley Marsh 3’s mobile autos. (October 1997)

A history mystery involving ranching’s King family. (September 1997)

(August 1997)

Who was Jesse James—really? And where is he buried? (August 1997)

A cryptic puzzle you’ll utter no cross words about. (July 1997)

Texas City lives on, fifty years after the infamous explosion. (April 1997)

(September 1996)

An El Paso novelist makes history. (August 1996)

(May 1996)

The big-screen bungling of Rosellen Brown’s Before and After. (April 1996)

(April 1996)

(March 1996)

(February 1996)

Snow business comes to Houston. (February 1996)

(February 1996)

(January 1996)

Web Exclusives

From tamales and chile con carne to boiled fish and macaroni with mushroom sauce, the first-ever compendium of Mexican American cooking, Mexican Cooking: The Flavor of the 20th Century—That Real Mexican Tang, takes readers on an unusual culinary ride. (June 2005)

What to do in ten more worst-case scenarios, from getting bitten by a brown recluse to getting caught in a dust storm. (October 2004)

If you're an Alamo fan—and even if you aren't—you'll find these fifteen titles worth your while. (March 2004)

Senior editor Anne Dingus discusses auto camps, motels, and newfangled amenities like swimming pools, ice machines, and television. (October 2003)

The State Fair has seen it all, from a model of the Washington Monument made entirely out of human teeth to a visit by King Olaf V of Norway on Norweigian Day. (September 2003)

How much do you know about Texas Monthly? (February 2003)

Senior editor Anne Dingus relays some tales that are tall—even by Texas standards. (October 2002)

The 1800's had its share of criminal activity. (July 2002)

Senior editor Anne Dingus offers a list of Texas true-crime books to die for. (July 2002)

Senior editor Anne Dingus tests your knowledge of cowgirl minutiae. (June 2002)

Teaching your child how to drive is no easy task. Senior editor Anne Dingus offers ten tips to make your assignment successful—and enjoyable. (April 2002)

Take senior editor Anne Dingus' Web-only exam to test your knowledge of Texas and pop culture. (October 2001)

More Texas-trivia questions, ranging from musical and military to historical and hysterical. (June 2001)

So you think you know Texas? Take senior editor Anne Dingus' Web-only quiz and see if you know as much as you think you do. (March 2001)

Senior editors Anne Dingus and Joe Nick Patoski tell the story behind this month's cover story, "50 Things Every Texan Should Do." (March 2001)

Executive editor Paul Burka and senior editor Anne Dingus tell the story behind January's cover story, "The 2001 Bum Steer Awards". (January 2001)

Senior editor Anne Dingus lists her ten favorite whodunits. (November 2000)

(January 1000)

(January 1000)

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