The Texana Review - Podcasts

Texas History Tidbit: Battle of Velasco, 1832

The Battle of Velasco took place on June 26, 1832. 

It's considered by historians to be a harbinger of the Texas Revolution.

Although Texas independence wasn't actually declared until March of 1836, tensions had been running high for years between Mexico and it's Tejas state bordering the United States.

More and more lethal spats broke out between Texas settlers and Mexican soldiers after the Battle of Velasco, in which were involved many future leaders of Texas.

For example, William B. Travis, who perished at the Alamo, was involved, although indirectly.

Anyway, here's another Texas History Tidbit.

Listen...

5:56 minutes

Music by Deyo under Creative Commons License Podshow Podsafe Music Network

 

IceRocket Tags: Texana Review,Ed Blackburn,Texas,history

 

Bill Leftwich - cowboy, writer, artist, Texan

HAPPY 85TH BIRTHDAY, Bill Leftwich!

Bill Leftwich lives and works quietly in Fort Davis, Texas. 

He's known as an artist, writer, sculptor, leather worker, educator and storyteller. 

He used to cowboy a bit and worked with the USDA down in Mexico while the United States and Mexico fought the hoof-and-mouth disease. 

But his love lies in his art and even at 85 years old, he's up-and-at-em every day - sculpting, drawing, painting and writing.

I visited with him about a year ago

Listen...

23:00 minutes

Music by Luke McNeil under Creative Commons License Podshow Podsafe Music Network

 

 

Technorati Tags: Texana Review,Ed Blackburn,Texas,cowboy,artist,sculptor,writer

Texas History Tidbit: La Reunion, Texas b. 1855 - d. 1857

Back in the 19^th century there was a socio-political movement very much in vogue. It was called Utopianism and was making its way from Europe to America.

One of these Utopians came to Texas to found a colony on the Trinity River in a location that is now inside the city limits of Dallas. That colony was dubbed La Reunion.

The Utopian I’m speaking of was named Victor Prosper Considerant. According to historical records, he was one of the leading democratic socialist figures in France in mid-19^th century.

He wandered into northeast Texas around 1852 looking for a place to colonize under the Utopian philosophy; in other words, his Texas Utopia.  He found his spot on the Trinity River and invited about 2,000 people from Europe to come a settle at La Reunion.

Listen to this Texana Review Texas History Tidbit.

Listen...

3:30 minutes

Music by  Dave Howard under Creative Commons License Podshow Podsafe Music Network

More on La Reunion Here and Here

 

Technorati Tags: Texana Review,Ed Blackburn,La Reunion,Texas,Considerant,utopia,Dallas

 

 

An interview with David Wilkinson, co-author of "One Ranger"

In my opinion, David Marion Wilkinson is one of the finest, intuitive writers Texas has to offer these days.

I was introduced to David’s writing when I met Joaquin Jackson at a doowa in Houston, Texas about two years ago. He and David had written a book together … a book that has become a runaway bestseller – titled "One Ranger."

As a former Texas Ranger, Jackson told his story, and David converted it into exquisite prose.

David had written several other books before "One Ranger," and is currently working on a couple of others.

He visited me in San Angelo earlier this year and this is what he had to say…

 

Listen...

30:00 minutes

Music by liveloop under Creative Commons License Podshow Podsafe Music Network

Buy David Wilkinson's books HERE

 

Technorati Tags: Texana Review,Ed Blackburn,Texas,books,David Wilkinson,stories

Chapter One from Charles Chupp's "Frankly Speaking"

Charles Chupp came to my attention in a used book store in Houston about two years ago when I pulled his “Nth Reader” from the bookshelf …and where I immediately fell in love with his storytellin’.

When Charles called and asked if I would read a couple of chapters of his new book “Frankly Speaking,” I felt honored, and immediately accepted.

What comes next is my interpretation of the first chapter of Charles Chupp’s – “Frankly Speaking.”

Chapter Two to follow under separate posting.

Listen...

16:29 minutes

Song "Ja Da" by Cliff Edwards

buy "Frankly Speaking" HERE

Technorati Tags: Texana Review,Ed Blackburn,Great Depression,Charles Chupp,Texas,Texas stories

Chapter Two from Charles Chupp's "Frankly Speaking"

 

What follows is my interpretation of the second chapter of Charles Chupp’s – “Frankly Speaking.”

Charles Chupp came to my attention in a used book store in Houston about two years ago when I pulled his “Nth Reader” from the bookshelf …and where I immediately fell in love with his storytellin’.

When Charles called and asked if I would read a couple of chapters of his new book “Frankly Speaking,” I felt honored, and immediately accepted.

Listen...

16:51 minutes

Song "Ja Da" by Cliff Edwards

buy "Frankly Speaking" HERE

Technorati Tags: Texana Review,Ed Blackburn,Great Depression,Charles Chupp,Texas,Texas stories

Wind Energy's Impact on Land Value: an interview with Allen Price

(Originally produced for Texas Rural Land News & Review which merged with The Texana Review in March 2008)

Allen Price is an attorney-at-law and senior partner with the Smith, Rose, Finley, Harp & Price law firm in San Angelo. 

Mr. Price grew up in Sterling County and, after graduating from Abilene Christian University, took a law degree from Texas Tech.

He started out specializing in Estate Planning and Probate law but has recently become heavily involved in wind energy issues.

He's a rural landowner himself and has been a steady counsel for other landowners in negotiating leases with wind energy developers.

 

Listen...

18:10 minutes

Music by Torchmatic under Creative Commons License Podshow Podsafe Music Network

 

Sponsored by

and

 

Technorati Tags: Texana Review,Texas,Wind Energy,Ed Blackburn,Rural Texas,Rural Living,Alternative Energy

Elmer and Anni Kelton - a Love Story: Part Three

A continuation of my interview with renowned western author, Elmer Kelton, and his wife, Anni, about how they met in Austria at the end of World War II and eventually married.

Listen...

18:23 minutes

Music by Barry McCabe under Creative Commons License

Find Elmer Kelton's books at your local bookstore or Amazon.com HERE

 

Technorati Tags: Literature,western literature,Texana Review,Ed Blackburn,Elmer Kelton,Spur Award Winner,Western Heritage Award,Texas

Sharon Spinks talks about her book, "Law on the Last Frontier"

I met Sharon Spinks in San Angelo where she was speaking at an author’s conference for area high school students.

She had recently published a book titled “Law on the Last Frontier,” framed around the exploits of her grandfather-in-law, Texas Ranger Arthur Hill.

Several weeks later, Sharon and I met in Abilene to chat about her book.

"In a career forged in the saddle on scout duty along the Rio Grande, Arthur Hill witnessed dramatic changes in his working life as a Texas Ranger from 1947 to 1974. Whether inspecting brands, deterring smugglers of everything from cattle to candle wax, or giving horseback pursuit across unforgiving terrain, often into Mexico, Hill found himself immersed day to day in a world that straddled centuries as well as cultures." - from dust jacket

Watch our chat!

Watch with Windows Media Player...

Get "Law on the Last Frontier" at Amazon.com HERE

 

Technorati Tags: Texana Review,Ed Blackburn,Texas,Texas Ranger,Books,Texas History

Wind Energy's Impact on Land Value: an interview with Jack Hunt

(Originally produced for Texas Rural Land News & Review which merged with The Texana Review in March 2008)

Jack Hunt has been president and CEO of the King Ranch since 1995 and has steadily worked to diversify the assets of the famous ranch. 

He also has strong views on wind energy especially as it impacts the environment along the Texas coast.

So I posed the same question to Mr. Hunt that I posed to the other panelists for this series

“Does the presence of wind turbines on any given farm or ranch property enhance or detract from that property’s market value?”

Listen...

19:00 minutes

Music by Jeff Bosset under Creative Commons License Podshow Podsafe Music Network

 

Sponsored by

and

 

Technorati Tags: Texana Review,Texas,Wind Energy,Ed Blackburn,Rural Texas,Rural Living,Alternative Energy

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