Third Coast Magazine

In October 1984 we featured a great profile by Sarah Bird of local society gossip columnist Lee Kelly. Lee, always a hoot, dished some on the celebrities she covered, as well as their desperate need to be covered. The beautiful cover shot was either Lone Star Silver or Will van Overbeek (an unfortunate crediting issue). This issue also featured a story by Pat Hathcock about a group of low-rent poker friends taking the old Aztec Eagle from Laredo to Mexico City, gambling much of the 25-hour trip each way. Was there. I have proof.

Still catching up ….
October 1983, one of my absolute favorite covers for a story documenting the changing threats to Lake Austin. Shot by Scot Hill, styled by Layne Jackson, we had quite the exasperating time coaxing just the right expression from our model (“Don’t Tap on the Glass!”). Also an amazing feature story by Ernest Sharpe, Jr on “Dealey Plaza: 20 Years Later.”

In October 1982, we featured the Austin American-Statesman’s amazing answer columnist extraordinaire, Ellie Rucker. Another lovely cover photo by Will van Overbeek. Also covering the ever-popular topics of the changing local politics of the time and high price of rent in Austin.

Way late posting some October Third Coast covers due to 50th High School Reunion activities (Yikes!). Helping publish a book about it was almost like … work!

Anyway, in our third issue, October 1981, we published a cover story about Austin’s young, fresh-faced, then-State Senator Lloyd Doggett. Cover photo by Will van Overbeek. Also articles on local TV news reporting, Esther’s Follies, and an inquiry on why so many nightclubs were failing (TLDR: it’s hard … and co***ne).

Before the month is out, here is September 1983, when we took on the Austin American-Statesman. Despite being a nicely profitable paper in a monopoly market, the AA-S was journalistically unambitious and aimed its coverage at a lowest common denominator referred to as “Joe Six Pack.” Kaye Northcott interviewed management, staffers, ex-staffers, and readers for this insightful feature, illustrated by wonderful photographs by Will van Overbeek

It’s game day! So here’s our last September cover (1986), featuring a great story by Brad Buchholz on the special friendship shared by legendary Texas football coach Darrell Royal and Texas music icon Willie Nelson. Cover illustration by Melissa Grimes.

Other articles in September 1984 included a profile of powerful downtown developer John Watson by Kaye Northcott, the difficulties of getting tenure at UT Austin by Carol Kirschenbaum, a profile of Texas French Bread founder Judy Willcott, and an Ed Ward column on the city’s lack of support and respect for the local music scene.

September 1984. Forty years ago! An issue near and dear, with personal hero and beloved Austin Music Icon Paul Ray on the cover. From Paul Ray and the Cobras to Twine Time and Paul Ray’s Jazz on K*T, he was a true pillar of the Austin music scene. A great story by Craig Hattersley captured the magic of Paul’s passion for music, both playing live, as well as spinning vinyl over the air on K*T-FM. Photos by Randal Alhadeff.

A couple pages from the September 1982 Thrillseekers article featuring photos by Steven Pumphrey. This is one of the few times we were able to put the magazine’s center spread to great use!

Also in September 1982 we had a feature on Janet Stockard, who, with her trademark hat, was the first local lawyer to extensively advertise her services. She was condemned by other lawyers until, well, you know what happened. Also a feature on happenings at the Austin Fire Department.

September 1982. A fun cover shot by Steven Pumphrey for our cover story on thrill seekers in Austin. Skydivers, hang gliders, spelunkers, climbers, and more were interviewed by young, enthusiastic writer Nick Vanderbilt (yes, of those Vanderbilts). His personality and positivity endeared him to the entire staff and everyone was crushed when he and a partner disappeared while climbing in the Canadian Rockies two years later.

Third Coast Magazine Third Coast: The Magazine of Austin

September 1982 - Sissy, Jeff Friedman, Tommy Hancock and the Supernatural Family Band.

A fun last page feature in that second issue was this contest based on the famous mural on the Varsity Theater on 24th St and the Drag. Created by Jeannette Brown and Jerome Weeks, it gave clues to identifying each feature of the amazing mural. I think most of it is still there after all these years.