SIX FLAGS OVER TEXAS OPENED AUG 1 1961

On this day in 1961, amusement park lovers “head for the thrills” as Six Flags Over Texas, the first park in the Six Flags chain, opens. Located on 212 acres in Arlington, Texas, the park was the first to feature log flume and mine train rides and later, the first 360-degree looping roller coaster, modern parachute drop and man-made river rapids ride.

The park also pioneered the concept of all-inclusive admission price; until then, separate entrance fees and individual ride tickets were the standard.

During its opening year, a day at Six Flags cost $2.75 for an adult and $2.25 for a child. A hamburger sold for 50 cents and a soda set the buyer back a dime.

The park, which took a year and $10 million to build, was the brainchild of Texas real estate developer and oilman Angus Wynne Jr., who viewed it as a short-term way to make a buck from some vacant land before turning it into an industrial complex.

Wynne reportedly recouped his personal investment of $3.5 million within 18 months and changed his mind about the park’s temporary status. With 17.5 million visitors in its first 10 years, the park became the Lone Star State’s top for-profit tourist attraction. Today, average annual attendance at the park is over 3 million.

One of Six Flags’ unique aspects was that it wasn’t just a random collection of rides; it was developed around a theme: the history of Texas. The park’s name was a nod to the six flags that had flown over the state at various times–France, Spain, Mexico, the Confederacy, Texas, and the United States.

The park’s rides and attractions were grouped into six themed sections that represented the cultures of these governments and enabled visitors to experience everything from cowboy culture to Southern belles and pirates. Originally, the park was to be called Texas Under Six Flags, before it was decided that Texas should never be under anything.

Angus Wynne sold Six Flags in 1969 and in the coming years, the company expanded and was resold. Today, Six Flags, Inc. is the world’s largest regional theme park company and owns and operates 25 theme, water and zoological parks in North America.

SAMUEL LITTLE MAY BE MOST PROLIFIC SERIAL KILLER IN AMERICAN HISTORY

Kristv 6 Samuel Little 78 is serving a life sentence for three murders in California. He was extradited to Texas earlier this year to face charges of killing Denise Brothers in Odessa in 1994. Texas is a death penalty state.

Little, 78, has provided investigators details on a “multitude” of murders he may have committed from 1970 to 2005 in Texas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Illinois, Ohio, California, Indiana, Arizona, New Mexico, and South Carolina, according to the Wise County Sheriff’s Office. Little is currently incarcerated at the office’s jail. (not Michigan!)

One prosecutor says victims’ families may finally get some justice.

“I always feel like justice can be delayed but it doesn’t necessarily mean it can be denied,” Bobby Bland, Ector County District Attorney, said. “And in this case, there are people all over this country that haven’t had answers, haven’t had justice, but now they will. So even though it was delayed, it will not be denied.”

If convicted in all cases, the 78-year-old would be one of the most prolific serial killers in US history.

Little has a court appearance on Nov. 26. Read More

THE ZEROS TO ROCK SXSW

Legendary first wave San Diego punk band The Zeros, fronted by Javier Escovedo, will play a handful of Texas dates around Escovedo’s solo band appearance at this year’s SXSW Music Fest.

“Don’t Push Me Around” full album from 1977

Escovedo’s name should be familiar to any fan of real rock’n’roll. He is part of a musical family that includes brothers Pete (Santana, Azteca), Coke (Santana, Malo), Alejandro (The Nuns, Rank & File), Mario (The Dragons) and niece Sheila E (Prince).

Having formed The Zeros in 1976 while attending Chula Vista High School the band became hot on the Hollywood circuit and released the seminal punk single “Wimp” b/w “Don’t Push Me Around” on Bomp! Records in 1977. After enduring multiple lineup changes and relocating to San Francisco the band would eventually break up in 1981.

Javier then moved on to Austin forming critically acclaimed band The True Believers in 1982 with brother Alejandro and Jon Dee Graham. The TB’s would become a legendary live act and sign successively with Rounder Records before having their contract snapped up by EMI only to be dropped in the major label shakeup game and call it quits in 1987.

Escovedo would bounce around over the next two decades between New York, Austin and Los Angeles working with a variety of lesser-known acts before re-emerging with The Zeros in the mid-2000’s touring Europe and the States, until finally releasing (at the insistence of fans and fellow musicians) his first solo album “City Lights” in 2012.

2016 brought his second solo album “Kicked Out Of Eden” for Saustex Records. The album perfectly distills everything he loves: glam, 60’s garage and pop and the more melodic side of punk. The LP (also released on cassette by Burger Records) garnered great reviews and made several year-end best of lists.

Javier Escovedo & The City Lights

Thursday March 16th - The Saxon Pub - Austin, TX (official SXSW showcase)

The Zeros
Tuesday March 14th - The White Horse - Austin, TX
w/ Hickoids, Jon Langford & The Far Forlorn, Count Vaseline, Corrine Rose, The Guillotines

Wednesday March 15th - Under The Volcano - Houston, TX
w/ Western Star

Friday March 17th - Hitones - San Antonio, TX
w/ Joecephus & The George Jonestown Massacre, GDX

Saturday March 18th - “The New Texas Love-In” ABGB - Austin, TX
w/ Pong, Pocket FishRmen, Poor Dumb Bastards, Ian Quiet Band