The Texana Review - Podcasts

Lady of White Rock Lake

 

Dr. Barksdale, a local Dallas physician, was driving home past White Rock Lake from a country-club dance late one Saturday night.

He slowed a bit while driving past the lake so he could admire the glistening of the full moon against the water.

As he drove, enjoying the view, out of the corner of his eye appeared a lovely young girl by the roadside, dressed in the sheerest of evening gowns, beckoning him for a lift.

He slowed, stopped and motioned her to climb into the back seat of his sedan.

"All cluttered up with golf clubs and bags up here in front," he explained. "But what on earth is a youngster like you doing out here all alone at this time of night?"

 

Listen... 

"Dog Pile" by Charles Chupp

I met Charles Chupp about three years ago after stumbling on one of his books at the second-hand book store.

Little later, when the clerk came around and announced, “We’re closing now,” I’d made it more than halfway through the book.

Had to buy it, because I wasn’t finished.

However, was glad to pay the discounted price (being the Scotsman that I am) because it started me on a soul-enriching journey of putting Charles Chupp’s writing to voice, with his permission, of course.

Hope you like my read of Charles Chupp’s “Dog Pile!”

 

Listen...

Six minutes

Music by: Carl Cubbedge

under Creative Commons License Podshow Podsafe Music Network

 

Technorati Tags: Texana Review,Ed Blackburn,Texas,history,Charles Chupp

A Chat with Baxter Black

Last year a friend of mine sent me an email with a video attached to it.

The video was by Baxter Black - a superb performer, also a veterinarian, and a poet, a storyteller and who knows what else.

Anyway, the video was titled “So Lucky To Be An American.”

I watched it; then I watched it again. I even watched it a third time, which is unlike me.

I was moved by Baxter Black’s comments in that video and the fact that he made his comments from the front porch of his country home had even more impact on my mind.

I became curious, so I searched out Baxter Black.

Found him on the Internet at www.BaxterBlack.com and then discovered he’d been a regular on RFDTV since 2005.

You can find RFDTV on your TV remote guide if you look hard enough or you can visit their website at RFDTV.com.

Good stuff, if you're country-oriented.

Not only that, I found Baxter on National Public Radio as a regular.

You can find his NPR stuff HERE.

Anyway, thought I’d give Baxter a call to see if he’d chat with me for a few moments about who he was, where he came from, and how he came to Entertainment when he was a veterinarian by training.

He said “okay” so here you have it.

Listen!

 

Listen...

Sixteen minutes

Music by the Dave Lambert Band under Creative Commons License Podshow Podsafe Music Network

Visit Baxter Black's website HERE

Photo by Kevin Martini Fuller

 

Technorati Tags: Texana Review,Ed Blackburn,Baxter Black,RFDTV,Texas

Poverty Knob Christmas by Charles Chupp

This podcast was inspired by Tracy Funchess—who is an instructor at Azle Junior High School in Azle, Texas.

She’s also Charles Chupp’s favorite, and only I might add, daughter.

Tracy got her dad to furnish the words—and then asked me to provide the recitation.

I was more than happy to comply.

All of us, Charles, Tracy and I, hope this story brings a little Christmas joy to your Holiday Season—and the upcoming year of 2009.

 

Listen...

Six minutes

Music by:

Tracy Jane Comer and The New Autonomous Folksingers under Creative Commons License Podshow Podsafe Music Network

 

Technorati Tags: Texana Review,Ed Blackburn,Texas,history,oral history,Charles Chupp

"Sooner" by Charles Chupp

After several hiccups, bumps, potholes and a move halfway across Texas, I managed to link up with Charles Chupp last week in Brownwood. Met him at a place called Skillets and he bought me lunch as we talked about, well, everything.

He also gave me a couple of his books – “Waggin’ Tails” and “Coffee at LaDon’s.” He signed them both for me.

I’d been struggling to get a makeshift studio together in my new digs near San Angelo so I could renew my efforts for The Texana Review, which includes some reading of Charles Chupp’s work.

I already had one of his other writings picked out when I picked up “Waggin’ Tails” and read the first story titled “Sooner.” I knew I had to put voice to it.

Sooner was Charles Chupp's first canine companion.

So, rather than later, here’s “Sooner.”

(Oh, by the way, a few definitions: "Hugh" is Charles Chupp’s dad; "John Franklin," his younger brother; and "snipes," well they’re cigarette butts for those who haven't the addiction to tobacco)

Listen...

7:00 minutes

Music by Jim Fidler under Creative Commons License Podshow Podsafe Music Network

Buy Charles Chupp's books at his website HERE

 

Technorati Tags: Texana Review, Texas, Charles Chupp, tall tales, texas stories, Ed Blackburn

History 101 by Charles Chupp from "I Got No Reason To Lie"

History 101 by Charles Chupp isn't the history I remember learning as a history major in college. Nor as a continuing student of that which could teach us the future, if we were to pay attention - you know, history.

Nonetheless, historians can have fun with the story-telling of history, especially if you're blessed with a fertile mind, a Big Chief tablet and No. 2 pencil; and just as especially, if you're proud of your community and your state.

And that's what Charles Chupp does, and is.

Listen...

5:47 minutes

Buy Charles Chupp's books on his website HERE

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

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Technorati Tags: Texana Review, Texas, Charles Chupp, tall tales, texas stories, Ed Blackburn

"Showbiz" by Charles Chupp

(Podcast)
Charles Chupp grew up in a small Texas town, De Leon to be exact.  And like anyone who spent any meaningful time in a small town, they know just how important the local movie house was on Saturady mornings.  Here's a thoughtful memory from Charles Chupp. It's titled "Showbiz."

Play and/or download HERE

3:38 minutes

Or click HERE to use a media player

Charles Chupp's website:

http://charleschupp.com/

Music by Rob Costlow under Creative Commons License

The Bait Is the Secret - Charles Chupp

(Podcast)
While perusing the Texana section of the Half Price Books store over on Westheimer, I happened on a book titled The Nth Reader – Neglected Texas History by Charles Chupp.

Glancing through its pages, I saw short tidbits of Texas history, and readily recognized that these were Charles Chupp’s take on any number of different Texas stories and tales.

I wouldn't even let the cashier hold the book as I gladly paid the half price.

I hadn’t even read through twenty pages before I dialed him up and told him that I wanted to get his permission to read some of his work for The Texana Review.

He said, "Sure!"

Then, he sent me a copy of his first publication titled I Got No Reason To Lie, which is a truly entertaining book.

The following is one of his tales from that book called, The Bait Is the Secret.

Play and/or download HERE 5:25 minutes Or click HERE to use a media player Charles Chupp's website: http://charleschupp.com/ Music by Rob Costlow under Creative Commons License

Texas History Tidbit: Noted ex-Marshall dies with his boots on

(Podcast)
Ben Thompson was one of those lawless bad-good guys or good-bad guys that seemed to be so much a part of the late 19th century, southwestern America, especially Texas.  His contemporaries included Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, James Butler Hickok, Buffalo Bill Cody, Bat Masterson and others.  There's no doubt that he was a tough hombre because he lived longer than most gunslingers of the period.

Here's a story based on a report from the National Police Gazette of New York of Thompson's demise in San Antonio in 1884.

(click once to activate, then Play to start)

Play and/or download HERE

7:00 minutes

Mr. Rattlesnake, Mr. Rabbit and Mr. Coyote

(Podcast)
When Mr. Rattlesnake decided to hunt one day a long, long time ago, he got himeself into a predicament.  When Mr. Rabbit happened by, he helped Mr. Rattlesnake who had snake-like things in mind.  But Mr. Coyote, wily and wise, dropped in to set things right.

(click once to activate, then Play to start)

Play and/or download HERE

15:27 minutes