Ep. 87- Texans You Should Know:  Kenneth Threadgill

Ep. 87- Texans You Should Know: Kenneth Threadgill

Author: Ken Wise May 31, 2020 Duration: 20:41

Austin is famous for its music scene.  Willie, Waylon, Jerry Jeff and so many others helped Austin become weird.  But before any of them there was Kenneth Threadgill.  A preacher’s son, Threadgill loved music.  He especially loved Jimmie Rogers and his yodel.  Threadgill opened a tavern that provided musicians a place to play, and college kids a place to listen.  Kenneth Threadgill and his hootenanies gave many Austin musicians their start, and launched one hippie girl to superstardom.  Hear about the earliest days of the Austin music scene and get to know one of its pioneers, Kenneth Threadgill. 


There’s a particular feeling you get standing on a wide stretch of prairie or walking through a quiet courthouse square that seems to hold a century of stories. Wise About Texas is about uncovering those stories, layer by layer, with the kind of depth and context that makes the past feel immediate. Hosted by Ken Wise, each episode goes beyond the well-trodden tales of the Alamo and cowboy legends to explore the people, places, and pivotal moments that truly shaped this unique state. You’ll hear about forgotten communities, surprising cultural intersections, and the everyday lives that built Texas from the ground up. This isn’t just a dry recitation of dates; it’s a thoughtful exploration that connects history to the landscape you can visit today. Whether you’re a lifelong resident, a curious newcomer, or someone planning a trip with a desire to understand what you’re seeing, this podcast serves as an engaging guide. Tune in for narratives that are meticulously researched yet told with a conversational ease, making each chapter of Texas history accessible and genuinely compelling. The aim is to leave you not just better informed, but with a richer sense of the spirit and complexity that defines the Lone Star State.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 163

Wise About Texas
Podcast Episodes
Ep. 101: The San Jacinto Battle Flag [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:01
The victorious Texians only carried one flag into the Battle of San Jacinto. It was a gift from the citizens of Newport, Kentucky to Sidney Sherman. After the revolution, the flag was sent back to Kentucky. But after sev…
EP. 100:  The San Jacinto Monument(s) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:08
The San Jacinto monument stands 567 feet over a battleground upon which a ragtag army changed the trajectory of world history. A few hundred Texians surprised the President of Mexico and his army in an afternoon attack o…
Ep. 99: A Letter From Goliad [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:04
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Ep. 98:  Writing Texas History with James L. Haley [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:23
James L. Haley is one of Texas’ finest writers. He has written a preeminent biography of Sam Houston, an award winning narrative history of Texas called Passionate Nation as well as several works of fiction, also very hi…
Ep. 97:  Victory or Death-The Travis Letter [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:14
From February 23, 1836 through its fall on March 6, the Mexican army lay siege to the Alamo. William Barrret Travis wrote several letters during the siege but one stands above all others. On February 24, 1836, Travis dis…
EP. 96:  The All-Woman Supreme Court [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:24
In 1925, there were only a few women lawyers in Texas. But women still couldn’t serve as jurors and nobody dreamed there would ever be a female judge. Then a real estate lawsuit came to the Texas Supreme Court involving…
EP. 95:  Texas Towns:  Welcome to Provident City! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:32
In the early 20th century, Texas had room to grow. Like the empresarios of the early 1800’s, real estate drove efforts to settle new Texans. But not all developers were honest. Promises of historically productive land, r…
EP. 94:  The Texas Rangers–East Texas Troubles [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:54
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Ep. 93:  The Free State of Van Zandt [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:01
Texans love their freedom. At the door of a hat, we’ll declare independence and the fight is on! For years, folks have referred to Van Zandt County as the “free state of Van Zandt.” How did this come about? Was it taxes,…
Ep. 92:  I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:07
Texas one of only 17 states that has a pledge of allegiance to its flag. But some would say Texas is the only state that deserves it. Hear a quick take on the Texas pledge of allegiance in this episode of Wise About Texa…