The Texana Review - Podcasts

"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

Sam Bass and Shelton's Saddle

(Podcast)
Shelton Story was a young cowboy trying to get ahead in north Teaxs about the time the notorious Sam Bass was robbing banks, trains and stage coaches.  He was delivering some beef to customers of a friend of his near Denton in 1877 or 1878 when he came eyeball-to-eyeball with Sam Bass himself.  Here's his story...

(click once to activate, then Play to start)

Play and/or download HERE

14:24 minutes

Music performed by Nick Rawson

Old Rip Lives On

(Podcast)      
Have you ever heard of Old Rip?  If you're a Texan, you may have ... then again, you may haven't.  Old Rip's a famous Texan.  He even took a trip to the White House to see the President of the United States.  He also took a national tour.  So, who is Old Rip?  Well, have a quick listen and find out.

(click once to activate, then Play to start)

Play and/or download HERE

05:41 minutes

Music by Nick Rawson

Photo courtesy of Wesley Treat and Texas Twisted.

 

Technorati Tags: Texana Review,Ed Blackburn,Texas,tall tales

Texas History Tidbit: The Mile-Long Shot

(Podcast)
Not many people, including Texans, know about the Battle of Adobe Walls.  Actually there were two battles at Adobe Walls.  The first one included the famous Kit Carson; but the most famous was the second one.

At that battle, there were a few white men - buffalo hunters - and a woman, the wife of one of the men, and a large group of Indians intent on a last hurrah as the white man took over the land.

At the battle, a fellow by the name of Billy Dixon became legendary for a rifle shot that's come to be known as "the mile-long shot."

(click once to activate, then Play to start)

Play and/or download HERE

08:23 minutes

Music by Max Avery Lichtenstein - "Tarnation: End Credits"

Bigfoot Wallace & the Hickory Nuts

(Podcast)
Bigfoot Wallace was a Texas frontiersman, a Texas Ranger and an Indian fighter.  He's known as a hero, a legend and a storyteller. 

The roots of this story are vague at best, but it's believed that it originally came from Bigfoot himself.

I heard it for the first time as a small boy, when at summer camp back in the 1950s.  I've heard it again several times since then.  Anyway, I decided to tell it as I remember it. 

So, here it is, to the best of my recollection .... Bigfoot Wallace & the Hickory Nuts.

(click once to activate, then Play to start)

Play and/or download HERE

20:28 minutes