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There was a time when Austin was more than just a mini-Houston
by Gary Ott
Midland Reporter-Telegram
The mood struck without warning. It was Saturday morning a week ago and I had a sudden desire -- really a craving -- to hear some Jerry Jeff Walker music. So off to the store I went. Once there, I headed for the "country" aisle, and there it was ... the last CD in his personal slot.
It was titled, "The Best of Jerry Jeff Walker: The Millennium Collection," and included such hits as "'Mr. Bojangles," "Old Five and Dimers Like Me," "Gettin' By," "Sangria Wine." and, of course, the all-time classic, "Up Against the Wall Redneck Mother." The titles alone brought back fond memories.
But as I rode around town listening to the songs, it was another one -- "L.A. Freeway" -- that truly jolted me back in time, back to the early 1970s. A shiver ran down my spine. It was as though I was cruising the streets of Austin with a group of friends, most of whom were students at the University of Texas.
Those of us who weren't always visited as often as we could, even if it meant crashing on someone's floor for the night. After all, Austin was the place to be. Not only was it the state capital, but it quickly was gaining a reputation as a music capital, especially after Willie Nelson moved there from Nashville. Others, including Jerry Jeff himself, soon followed. Before you knew it, everyone and their dog wanted to be a part of the Austin scene.
And the growth of the city has been nothing short of remarkable, almost doubling in population since the 1980 census. Yet, in the early 1970s it was still a charming place surrounded by the gorgeous Texas Hill Country. There were "only" about 250,000 residents and the pace of life was quite laid-back. There was almost a small town feel to it. Driving was a breeze; traffic jams were rare.
Old-fashioned honky tonks -- the legendary Broken Spoke comes to mind -- dotted the landscape. So did traditional dance halls, the most famous of which was Gruene Hall, located in nearby Gruene. Revelers would do the Texas Two-Step as the country-western band played late into the night. The beer of choice was Lone Star, with Pearl running a close second.
If you happened to be in town on a Saturday in the fall, it was all the better. There was a good chance that the Longhorns -- who had been national champions just a few years earlier in 1969 -- would be playing a Southwest Conference foe. It always was worth the time and effort to stand outside Memorial Stadium and listen as roars erupted following each Longhorn touchdown. It was a sure sign that another victory was close at hand. And spontaneous parties surely would follow later that evening.
Now comes the sad part. Austin has changed. That Iaid-back charm has been replaced by the hustle and bustle of a big city. In many ways, Austin has become a mini-Houston or a smaller version of Dallas. Just getting from one side of town to the other is so frustrating it will have any sane person cursing at no one in particular and swearing that he will soon be escaping to the country. But he won't. Instead, thousands of others soon will be joining him there. So those traffic jams will just get worse. And the city will continue to grow.
It has been suggested that Austin's past popularity -- especially in the late 1960s and early '70s -- is what has led to what many, myself included, consider its current demise. Simply put, too many people found out about its good points. They visited, liked what they saw and refused to leave.
So the population exploded. Consider these numbers: 1960, 186,000; 1970, 251,000; 1980, 345,000; 1990, 471,000; today, 700,000. And that doesn't even include the surrounding area. So, yes, Austin has changed. Some might consider that a good thing ... after all, growth often translates into progress.
But for those of us who remember the "good ol' days," we're not so sure. We long for the way things used to be, back when it was a college town and not a booming city. But you can't turn back the clock.
So the best solution is to buy yourself a Jerry Jeff Walker CD and relive the past through your memories.
It was titled, "The Best of Jerry Jeff Walker: The Millennium Collection," and included such hits as "'Mr. Bojangles," "Old Five and Dimers Like Me," "Gettin' By," "Sangria Wine." and, of course, the all-time classic, "Up Against the Wall Redneck Mother." The titles alone brought back fond memories.
But as I rode around town listening to the songs, it was another one -- "L.A. Freeway" -- that truly jolted me back in time, back to the early 1970s. A shiver ran down my spine. It was as though I was cruising the streets of Austin with a group of friends, most of whom were students at the University of Texas.
Those of us who weren't always visited as often as we could, even if it meant crashing on someone's floor for the night. After all, Austin was the place to be. Not only was it the state capital, but it quickly was gaining a reputation as a music capital, especially after Willie Nelson moved there from Nashville. Others, including Jerry Jeff himself, soon followed. Before you knew it, everyone and their dog wanted to be a part of the Austin scene.
And the growth of the city has been nothing short of remarkable, almost doubling in population since the 1980 census. Yet, in the early 1970s it was still a charming place surrounded by the gorgeous Texas Hill Country. There were "only" about 250,000 residents and the pace of life was quite laid-back. There was almost a small town feel to it. Driving was a breeze; traffic jams were rare.
Old-fashioned honky tonks -- the legendary Broken Spoke comes to mind -- dotted the landscape. So did traditional dance halls, the most famous of which was Gruene Hall, located in nearby Gruene. Revelers would do the Texas Two-Step as the country-western band played late into the night. The beer of choice was Lone Star, with Pearl running a close second.
If you happened to be in town on a Saturday in the fall, it was all the better. There was a good chance that the Longhorns -- who had been national champions just a few years earlier in 1969 -- would be playing a Southwest Conference foe. It always was worth the time and effort to stand outside Memorial Stadium and listen as roars erupted following each Longhorn touchdown. It was a sure sign that another victory was close at hand. And spontaneous parties surely would follow later that evening.
Now comes the sad part. Austin has changed. That Iaid-back charm has been replaced by the hustle and bustle of a big city. In many ways, Austin has become a mini-Houston or a smaller version of Dallas. Just getting from one side of town to the other is so frustrating it will have any sane person cursing at no one in particular and swearing that he will soon be escaping to the country. But he won't. Instead, thousands of others soon will be joining him there. So those traffic jams will just get worse. And the city will continue to grow.
It has been suggested that Austin's past popularity -- especially in the late 1960s and early '70s -- is what has led to what many, myself included, consider its current demise. Simply put, too many people found out about its good points. They visited, liked what they saw and refused to leave.
So the population exploded. Consider these numbers: 1960, 186,000; 1970, 251,000; 1980, 345,000; 1990, 471,000; today, 700,000. And that doesn't even include the surrounding area. So, yes, Austin has changed. Some might consider that a good thing ... after all, growth often translates into progress.
But for those of us who remember the "good ol' days," we're not so sure. We long for the way things used to be, back when it was a college town and not a booming city. But you can't turn back the clock.
So the best solution is to buy yourself a Jerry Jeff Walker CD and relive the past through your memories.
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| Old men and shaggy dogs: A partnership that just seems to work |
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Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of mywesttexas.com.
LMorgan wrote on Apr 21, 2008 2:24 PM:
" I have tried to log on and re-register to Mywesttexas and have been unable to do so. Feel free to email me.
LuAnn
PS. I no longer work at Warren as of Nov 2006. "
LuAnn
PS. I no longer work at Warren as of Nov 2006. "
Arthur Laham wrote on Jul 13, 2008 8:37 PM:
" i love 'Morning Joe' . The guests are great, i like the relaxed atmosphere which is helped along by mika who does a super job. I used to watch the today show at 7am . Know i get up at 6am for morning joe.....Art "
sandra wrote on Jul 13, 2008 11:05 PM:
" Icannot believe what I just read about morning joe, I have tried and tried to watch it, sorry but it is just to one sided, are you kidding, not as bad as the rest of msnbc, but this group do all they can to bolster obama, every guest is usually a democrat with a conservative thrown in the mix onece in awhile. joe has totally lost his soul to the new millions he is now being paid, he gushed over all the so far left columnist he has on, he kisses their a-- every morning, does anyone not remember during the primaries when he would say how much he loved his girlfriend hillary, she could do no wrong, and this is the congressmen that I use to love to watch on cspan, and when he was a guest of hardball and other shows sometimes, he was great, he was a passionate conservative, once he got hired by msnbc I saw him totally change, no, cannot stomach his show, his ratings says it all, they are the lowest of all morning shows, Fox beats them every time, you must lean more to the left if you like this show. "
radioactive wrote on Aug 17, 2008 7:08 AM:
" Thank you for the " Georgia On My Mind" article that appeared on my ISP homepage. I feel the same way about that other Georgia. Oh, and you have given me more respect for Texas. Maybe some day we will all learn to get along. "
amanda wrote on Nov 5, 2008 9:16 AM:
" I definitley feel we are on the brink of major economic crisis and w/the election of Obama yest. I just pray we all come out alive- "
Mama Dinka wrote on Nov 10, 2008 10:25 AM:
" You pretty much said what I've been trying to tell others (especially this next generation)for a long time.....This Austin is NOT AUSTIN at all!
Where has the laid-back, gentle, slow-paced, really cool city gone?
My uncle returned from Viet Nam to live in Austin, so I visited him often. He became good friends of many in the artistic circles of Austin - such as Gary Cartwright (Texas Monthly fame) among others, and one night Jerry Jeff showed up to celebrate his 40th(!) birthday by playing an impromptu 'concert' in my uncles' living room......You forgot to mention other great haunts like The Armadillo (World Headquarters), Hippie Hollow, and Schulz' Beer Garden.
Sadly,they are gone too, but not forgotten......thanks for the memories, Gary! "
Where has the laid-back, gentle, slow-paced, really cool city gone?
My uncle returned from Viet Nam to live in Austin, so I visited him often. He became good friends of many in the artistic circles of Austin - such as Gary Cartwright (Texas Monthly fame) among others, and one night Jerry Jeff showed up to celebrate his 40th(!) birthday by playing an impromptu 'concert' in my uncles' living room......You forgot to mention other great haunts like The Armadillo (World Headquarters), Hippie Hollow, and Schulz' Beer Garden.
Sadly,they are gone too, but not forgotten......thanks for the memories, Gary! "
Mama Dinka wrote on Feb 3, 2009 2:40 PM:
" My 45 collection started with a record from a very young up-and-coming band.....they had a 'hit' on one side, and the other side was filler.....The band?
The Beatles....
the hit song? "I Wanna Hold Your Hand"..the flip side? "My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean (Irish)"
Who knew then ----45's, albums, 8-tracks, cassettes, CD and I-pods later,---that their music would outlive them all!
Thanks for more great memories! "
The Beatles....
the hit song? "I Wanna Hold Your Hand"..the flip side? "My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean (Irish)"
Who knew then ----45's, albums, 8-tracks, cassettes, CD and I-pods later,---that their music would outlive them all!
Thanks for more great memories! "
dEFENSIVE dRIVER wrote on Feb 9, 2009 11:57 AM:
" I hate "soccer mom" drivers. They run late in the morning and risk everyones lives on the road every morning. They think they own the road, and are the worst offenders. The second worst are the snotty kid drivers, who don't care if they wreck their vehicles b/c Daddy will buy a new one. The third worst are old people. I think we can all agree on that. "
4pixies wrote on Feb 9, 2009 4:03 PM:
" YOUR ABSOLUTELY RIGHT!!!! I live in Odessa the next town over and I frequently go to Midland for one thing or another. Not only do they have horrible drivers...(some-not all) but they also have snotty stuck up people who can't even say "thank you" when someone opens a door for them. The people from Odessa are better drivers and have a better attitude. And if you Midland people get offended well it's the truth. "
fantom driver wrote on Feb 10, 2009 6:28 AM:
" everything you said iws correct. I believe that cell phone usage in a vechicle should be banned except in cases where you are on the phone with the police. As far as the eldery lady going the wrong way it might be becouse of some health issues that caused her to miss the signs. I think that there should be an age limit to how old a driver can drive. As in youth we don't have the mental copacity or skills to operate a vechicle. The same could be said when reach our golden years. our skiills in operate a vechicle deminish. "
OneSoule wrote on Feb 10, 2009 8:57 AM:
" I live in Odessa and sorry to say the drivers are just as bad here young and old. I have been driven off the road several times with big trucks not watching what they are doing. I pitty the person that does hit me because they are not paying attention. It will not be a pleasant experience. "
kp wrote on Feb 10, 2009 9:06 AM:
" I hate the people that think a STOP SIGN is a suggestion! they slide up to the stop sign and stop ONLY if they will be hit! Dont they realize that the driver side will take the impact? And you people who dont yeild on the loop ,,,I'm gonna start putting you in the ditch! wreck or not! "
Walkon wrote on Feb 10, 2009 9:38 AM:
" I'm guessing you have never been to South Korea where drivers can put on emergency lights and stop anywhere, even in the middle of the highway. No one uses turn signals, they honk. Biggest vehicle has the right of way.
South Korea where motorcycles use the sidewalk instead of the streets. South Korea has the highest pedestrian death rate in the world. Trust me, it's not that bad here. "
South Korea where motorcycles use the sidewalk instead of the streets. South Korea has the highest pedestrian death rate in the world. Trust me, it's not that bad here. "
dino wrote on Feb 10, 2009 10:59 AM:
" I agree with the article, and it seems a lot of those people didn't buy that optional accesory called a "turn signal"....what?...it's not optional, it's standard?.....well, then the salesmen need to point this accesory out!!!!! "
Jerry wrote on Feb 10, 2009 12:23 PM:
" If you think some of the Midland drivers are lousy, try visiting Odessa! "
Jeff Walker wrote on Feb 12, 2009 8:29 PM:
" EXIT TRAFFIC FOREVER! Make a fortune with the deregulation of energy! Groundfloor in west Texas, make 2009 the best year of your life.
Visit my website to see how you and everyone you know can make a fortune over the next two years saving people BIG money on their electrin/gas bills.
www.maximumenergy.energy526.com "
Visit my website to see how you and everyone you know can make a fortune over the next two years saving people BIG money on their electrin/gas bills.
www.maximumenergy.energy526.com "
Daniel V. wrote on Feb 13, 2009 9:03 AM:
" I agree about people not yielding to the off-ramp on the loop. I usually make a point to keep my speed so that I can cut you idiots off.
Also at Wal-Mart it would be nice to see more people allowing drivers trying to exit the parking lot to join their gigantic line at the stop signs.
I would say let one or two people in front of you. I can almost promise it will only cost you about 15-20 seconds of your valuable time.
(You'll still have all night to get home and start complaining about Obama. Keep crying conservative hicks, you can use your Bible to wipe away your tears as usual.)
But if you are one of the idiots who sees road construction that ends one lane of traffic and you still keep going until there is no more road then sit there with your signal trying to push yourself into my lane?
Well tough scat moron, you should have merged with the rest of us half a mile back. "
Also at Wal-Mart it would be nice to see more people allowing drivers trying to exit the parking lot to join their gigantic line at the stop signs.
I would say let one or two people in front of you. I can almost promise it will only cost you about 15-20 seconds of your valuable time.
(You'll still have all night to get home and start complaining about Obama. Keep crying conservative hicks, you can use your Bible to wipe away your tears as usual.)
But if you are one of the idiots who sees road construction that ends one lane of traffic and you still keep going until there is no more road then sit there with your signal trying to push yourself into my lane?
Well tough scat moron, you should have merged with the rest of us half a mile back. "
Travis Monday wrote on Mar 17, 2009 9:19 PM:
" "Gary, at the recommendation of John Hillman, I just read your article about high school yearbooks. I like it. I've never edited a newspaper, but I edited the school literary magazine at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene. More recently, I edited the newsletter of the San Angelo Writers' Club for a couple of years. Even though I graduated in 1970 from Plainview High, I never got the 1970 edition of "The Plain View," but I've enjoyed looking through some other editions. Thanks for a great article!" "
David wrote on Mar 23, 2009 11:22 AM:
" Reagan administtration.
Regarding the commentary on the display of public affection, I am a lot more offended by an editor that doesn't take the time to spell check. Tsk-Tsk. "
Regarding the commentary on the display of public affection, I am a lot more offended by an editor that doesn't take the time to spell check. Tsk-Tsk. "
g wrote on Mar 23, 2009 11:25 AM:
" Odessa drivers are just as bad as Midland drivers. I go over there and I'm sometimes scared to death. So Odessa is not any better.
And I hate people who sit in their cars at Wal-Mart and wait for someone to back out of a parking space close to the store, causing a traffic jam. It won't hurt you to walk a bit. People are just getting too lazy. I will park far away because it wont kill me to walk. Next time, I won't be nice and I will honk my horn. Those people are so selfish. "
And I hate people who sit in their cars at Wal-Mart and wait for someone to back out of a parking space close to the store, causing a traffic jam. It won't hurt you to walk a bit. People are just getting too lazy. I will park far away because it wont kill me to walk. Next time, I won't be nice and I will honk my horn. Those people are so selfish. "
Yes wrote on Mar 28, 2009 3:12 PM:
" It is nice to know that the local rag is up on all the things that so deeply concern our community.
Bravo MRT, Bravo! "
Bravo MRT, Bravo! "
Anonymoose wrote on Apr 6, 2009 7:59 PM:
" Gary Ott,
I think... ((about the article))...that people can be disgustingly rude...but there is nothing wrong with loving someone.. unless of course, that person doesn't know who you are...yeah...I was wrong....and I got over my crush...what was it..fifteen or twenty years ago?? I really don't think I ever apologized to you for scaring you to death...... and I am really sorry... I felt terrible about that. I think I scared myself more than I scared you. I am not crazy, nor a stalker, never was ...just got a hairbrained idea one day to write you.... Oh...to prove I'm the same person...I sent you a poem... back then... .."Gary Ott, I've Gott...a crush on you...I know....I shouldn't Ott...but I doooo." LOL...really embarrassing... especially now...all these years later...eweee...=/.. and btw...I don't live in Midland ...moved away...years ago. Just thought you might still be wondering...or maybe not..Ott...=D ...and..don't be so hard on those lovebirds... there are worse things in the world to be disgusted about... and why not write stories that pertain to the history of Midland...or do a piece on Midland Trivia....like...does anyone know where the house is that has trees planted around it in the shape of Texas? Or ... Where was the first Bob's Better Burger located? When was the first ICEE machine installed at Cabell's...and where was Cabell's located?? What year was the big flood..the names of the local Drive-in Theaters, etc. etc. You could get some great input...well... anyway...just an idea. Won't bother you for another fifteen or twenty years.... keep up the great writing! =D "
I think... ((about the article))...that people can be disgustingly rude...but there is nothing wrong with loving someone.. unless of course, that person doesn't know who you are...yeah...I was wrong....and I got over my crush...what was it..fifteen or twenty years ago?? I really don't think I ever apologized to you for scaring you to death...... and I am really sorry... I felt terrible about that. I think I scared myself more than I scared you. I am not crazy, nor a stalker, never was ...just got a hairbrained idea one day to write you.... Oh...to prove I'm the same person...I sent you a poem... back then... .."Gary Ott, I've Gott...a crush on you...I know....I shouldn't Ott...but I doooo." LOL...really embarrassing... especially now...all these years later...eweee...=/.. and btw...I don't live in Midland ...moved away...years ago. Just thought you might still be wondering...or maybe not..Ott...=D ...and..don't be so hard on those lovebirds... there are worse things in the world to be disgusted about... and why not write stories that pertain to the history of Midland...or do a piece on Midland Trivia....like...does anyone know where the house is that has trees planted around it in the shape of Texas? Or ... Where was the first Bob's Better Burger located? When was the first ICEE machine installed at Cabell's...and where was Cabell's located?? What year was the big flood..the names of the local Drive-in Theaters, etc. etc. You could get some great input...well... anyway...just an idea. Won't bother you for another fifteen or twenty years.... keep up the great writing! =D "
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Oddlander wrote on Apr 14, 2008 9:23 AM:
"