Texas History
February 1, 1989
The Lost Tribe
They were the classic Texas Indians—fierce, majestic, and free. Today’s Comanches find their lives defined by legends and bitter truths.
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Environment
February 1, 1989
Spot Market
Ranchers hate bobcats. Trappers love their pelts. Both parties have found that there’s more than one reason to skin a cat.
Behind the Lines
February 1, 1989
Behind the Lines
Three years and $400,000 later.
News & Politics
January 1, 1989
If These Walls Could Talk
. . . they’d tell a tale of a half-century of Dallas wheeling and dealing
Travel & Outdoors
January 1, 1989
Superbonanza!
Look out, Waxahachie! Here come the Protonettes, the Big Bang Motel, and the Phil Gramm Institute
Politics & Policy
January 1, 1989
Superpolitics
Will Texas’ acquisition of the supercollider increase the state’s clout in Washington? We’d better hope so, because now that we’ve got it, we’ve got to get the money to deliver it
Health
January 1, 1989
Dad’s Last Home
It was the hardest decision I ever had to make. Had the time come to put my father in a nursing home?
Lifestyle
January 1, 1989
Onward Through the Fog
The plane was heading to Houston at dawn. Surely the pilot was kidding when he said we would be landing in Nashville.
Travel & Outdoors
January 1, 1989
Making Waves
It’s cold and rainy; your stress level has reached an all-time high; your roof has sprung a leak. But you don’t have to sit still for this. Escape to the Bay Islands of Honduras.
State Secrets
January 1, 1989
State Secrets
UT football on the Longhorns of a dilemma; who’s supreme at the Supreme Court; a taxing idea in Washington.
Sports
January 1, 1989
Two-Point Conversion
The question wasn’t whether my son was tough enough to play high school football. It was whether I was tough enough to watch him do it.
Roar of the Crowd
January 1, 1989
Roar of the Crowd
Cleaning up with Heloise; fighting Crack in Dallas; testing the school district in Garland.
Reporter
January 1, 1989
Big Man, Small Town
An East Texas librarian learns the perils of shushing the wrong guy; Houston and Dallas put on the ritz for couture; and Citizen Butt picks the Texas Supreme Court.
Being Texan
January 1, 1989
Texas Primer: King Ranch Casserole
What kind of dish would a Texas clubwoman invent? One that’s not too greasy, not too spicy, and, well, sort of tasteful.
Politics & Policy
January 1, 1989
God Help Her
How Madalyn Murray O’Hair became the supreme being of the American atheist movement.
Feature
January 1, 1989
Smile, Houston
Three photographers of international reputation reveal their own new yet unfamiliar first impressions of Houston.
Bum Steers
January 1, 1989
1989 Bum Steer Awards!
A year of avaricious Arabs, belligerent bovines, convincing Connallys, dubious degrees, elusive Elvises, furious firefighters, George's goofs, hassled Hunts. Ingenious inmates, jilted judges, knotorious Kneppers, loose locomotives, migrant moose, normative nerds, overcautious orchestras, preposterous pythons, qualmish queens, rampant roaches, Sue Ellen's swimsuits, targeted transvestites, upset umps, vetoed Virgins, wanton Willies,
Music
January 1, 1989
Playing It Safe
Take two Aspern: one a world premiere by the Dallas Opera, the other the Henry James novella on which the opera is based. Which is better for you?
Business
January 1, 1989
Bringing It All Back Home
Through shrewd buying and aggressive marketing, Fort Worth-based Pier 1 has transcended its old head-for-the-home image and emerged into the new age a more profitable company.
Politics & Policy
January 1, 1989
Behind the Lines
The case against conspiracy.
News & Politics
December 1, 1988
The Line
Visitors to the Harris County Jail resign themselves to the hours they must spend waiting in line to get fifteen precious minutes with an inmate.
Business
December 1, 1988
Zoom at the Top
What kind of woman gets her own skin-care company, a place in Nouvelle Society, and the second-most-eligible bachelor in the world? Meet Georgette Mosbacher.
News & Politics
December 1, 1988
Making the Grade
In Dallas, people call the new superintendent of schools the Messiah. Now all Marvin Edwards has to do is prove they’re right.
Business
December 1, 1988
The Battle of the Bubbles
One man’s obsession with kicking Perrier in the derriere.
Style & Design
December 1, 1988
True Stories
What happens when ordinary people put on extraordinary clothes?
Business
December 1, 1988
$3,000,000,000
Now that he’s got it, what does Ross Perot plan to do with it?
Politics & Policy
December 1, 1988
Can Ross Perot Save America?
One day in 1962 Ross Perot read Thoreau’s insight that the “mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.” The country hasn’t been the same since.
State Secrets
December 1, 1988
State Secrets
The newest threat to Houston mayor Kathy Whitmire is an old face; an investigation of an acid leak turns sour; a Texas congressman may take over the banking committee.
Sports
December 1, 1988
Kick ‘Em Back! Kick ‘Em Back! Waaay Back!
SMU’s fall socer season had cheerleaders; it had a band; it had pom-pom girls. What it didn’t have was excitement.
Roar of the Crowd
December 1, 1988
Roar of the Crowd
The sounds of country; the life and death of the bay; the interpretation of our state’s history.
Reporter
December 1, 1988
Texas Monthly Reporter
San Antonio media indulge in self-flagellation over Henry; Dallas goes gaga over Tom Cruise; Hoston thrills to a Pearl of a blues singer.
Music
December 1, 1988
Sax to the Max
A Houston bellhop by day, tenor saxman Grady Gaines has come out of retirement to bring back the trademark sound of a great rock and roll band.
Media
December 1, 1988
Brave New World
On temporary assignment, a newspaperman sees that when it comes to TV news, what you see is just about all you’re going to get.
Behind the Lines
December 1, 1988
Behind the Lines
Texas With Tumors?
Food & Drink
December 1, 1988
The Pleasure of Their Companies
Three Texas caterers turn the tables on the ordinary holiday gathering–they roll out the red carpet and bring on the food, but you feel like it’s still your party.
News & Politics
November 1, 1988
How Houston Beat the Bust: Real Estate
The resurrection of a former “see-through” office building. How a land developer diversified—into Jaguars. And secrets of the “vultures” who buy up, fix up, and fill up troubled Houston apartments.
News & Politics
November 1, 1988
This Water Is My Water
Cool, clear, and pure, it’s the bounty of the Edwards Aquifer, and if something isn’t done to limit pumping by Hill Country farmers and a thirsty San Antonio, it may also be dry.
Texas History
November 1, 1988
Compadres de la Revolución
Though the leaders of Mexico’s revolution all lived short and violent lives, a handful of those who rode with them have survived to a ripe old age in Texas.
Business
November 1, 1988
How Houston Beat the Bust: Branching Out
An entrepreneur captures customers in public rest rooms. A high-tech plant moves from oil to medicine. Space and biomedical manufacturing are finally off the drawing boards. And a former union boss becomes a bingo mogul.
Energy
November 1, 1988
How Houston Beat the Bust: Energy
Engineer Saba Haregot’s love affair with Houston (it’s not just all those job offers). How natural gas is helping to reinflate the economy. And a shuttered plant that tempers oil pipe opens up.
Energy
November 1, 1988
How Houston Beat the Bust (Sort Of)
This story is from Texas Monthly’s archives. We have left the text as it was originally published to maintain a clear historical record. Read more here about our archive digitization project. Once Texans thought the boom would never end. Then they thought the bust would
Style & Design
November 1, 1988
Honorable Toys
Godzilla lives! Just ask any Texas collector of Japanese action figures.
News & Politics
November 1, 1988
The War Zone
When crack comes to a neighborhood, it infiltrates, it corrupts, and it destroys—and there is nothing the cops can do about it.
Style & Design
November 1, 1988
Can You Take a Hint?
Heloise, America’s best-known homemaker, has a dirty little secret: she hates to clean house. If you hate it too, she’s convinced that you need her more than ever.
State Secrets
November 1, 1988
State Secrets
The worst school districts in Texas—and how they got that way; where have all the bankers gone?; why Dukakis fell beind in Texas.
Sports
November 1, 1988
Mojo Madness
The Permian Panthers provide the best entertainment between Dallas and El Paso, and nobody enjoys the show more than Jerry Swindall.
Roar of the Crowd
November 1, 1988
Roar of the Crowd
Women, children, parents, teachers.
Reporter
November 1, 1988
Texas Monthly Reporter
Hieromania, the burning curiosity of glyphies; Post time in the race for Houston’s new gossip columnist; an unlikely car and an unlikelier trailer; the parking garage from hell.
Energy
November 1, 1988
Texas Primer: The Drill-Stem Fence
A lot stronger and more hospitable than barbed wire, this is one of those good fences that make good neighbors.
Politics & Policy
November 1, 1988
Power Play
Houston Lighting and Power’s purchase of a Canadian cable TV company may come as a shock to HL&P ratepayers.