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'1'2XAS
~Ot.X~lil
FES'rtVAL
.....
Sept. 7-8-9-1 0, 1972
San Antonio, Texas
a preliminary report
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS
INSTITUTE OF TEXAN CULTURES
PRELIMINARY REPORT
" ... Texas Folklife Festival as a Mini-Vacation"
suggested the San Antonio News, August 17, 1972.
"It is appropriate that Texas be the first to offer
a folk Festival of such scope," opined an editorial in
The Dallas Morning News on September 8.
" . No portion of HemisFair Plaza has been so
lively since the late days of HemisFair '68," wrote 'l'om
Nickell in the San Antonio Express, September 8.
"If you don't like something at the Texas Folklife
Festival at the Institute of Texan Cultures, then you
just don't like the human race," wrote Ron White,
September 8, in the San Antonio News.
In hundreds of pictures and in thousands of such
words as these, the state's newspapers, magazines, radio
and television stations described the first Texas Folklife
Festival staged by The University of Texas Institute of
Texan Cultures on the Institute's thirteen and one-half
acre grounds in e~rly September. The festival added still
another dim~nsion to Institute services to its state.
Using the astounding diversity of Texans, it presented a
panorama of talent unlike any ever before assembled for
one event. (For listing of partie ipants, see Appendix).
From the beginning the festival was planned as a personi­fication
of the general theme displayed on the Institute's
main .exhibit floor, and in its publications--the array
of cultural diversity in the state's population of 11.2
million persons. This best could be demonstrated by
bringing together traditional and indigenous means used
by various kinds of Texans to have fun--their music,
dancing, foods and games; the contests, arts, crafts,
and skills brought from other couhtries, or developed
here.
Advance reaction across the state testified to the
basic soundness of the idea. The festival was a statement
by Texans of who . they are, and Texas citizens and their
institutions adopted the event as their own, permitting
the Institute to act as a catalyst. It was Texas celebrat­ing
itself. As a result, the Institute staff got virtually
every assistance requested as it developed the show.
At the conclusion of the four-day celebration, which
one writer called "an old-fashioned family reunion,"
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Folk life
Festival
swinging
\ ~ .,_.,
I;J\ Prn• U tM~Ict-t'N
(J"·· 1,·, o• tv. hr.~· 'Tr'CC•
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f': t'l':•l'F.f'tittv lil!t!'rl.tlu' f •j"<t
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,t,f> ..
.1\j;fU\SllfH'fT' t:.ao;' l'l'''" fi4'tMM~
npr>II>Mlffl ~<:M Ml·~l p,.ta t•- uOdt't ll 'i;'io
,,..-11 ... ( 1"<41~~·-....-"~'Ul}bnfoY,I:UI
a ,.tnfiM1tU: f<r 11 .,"'" ~ lfJ lflllilppolnt
Festival
Site
.Readied
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f'• '"T
l;_'<'~ '
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fnfl\t:(l f ;;/
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But~ol~lliltthetfld.i\. . 1~
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tf!W' 1llllt'e teomltiora. .m if tbf> ldti1-'lll ~·
~boptfu!)y.mwitltbeirpral:'tfn>
It, But Sells It
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Olrmebanc· - tba.l mi'lUUI n-.niab p!.tml. ··
Sbtdtf~Ntd"'tbrlofdelt'flt.J.fllh~
en thfo "Wtrtth ~anct'Onfilll'nt is lt Panna
Matll l«.n. 'lbPn> ate c.eh 1~1$
ANtctunc fmm c::a-pu. ctuist\ w O.llal- .tnd
~11~ i:1 ·~ lrbh t'OIQil)' II Rt1u¥*o - th.til'~t
'1ptllt0 R·F.·t~I.Q bur~'('() Rdv
riol.:wn'tT~tba l wtliiJ!'Ie•rd
JA:<'k Kl"t~!Wdr ~ ~-
~ mo ~ funa from fk;aro 1<'1
\n11~ llllld ~If: t$U All .\1:5-ll.l.:\n
l.ort.il~ rut~ Of (:0Vl1lt, lill!'nl" iU'f' Sp-'n
btt •nd Mt-Xiean !nil~ a.r-..11 fMtl• C'tft'­tnlln
t~~ m TMu 1btte ~ $1.ttl ~It"'' di
~ lmmlc:rwtton tram 'ipait:t t-, ~ ("'olf'PUS
Qrisuarn."
tlt lUldJ'IWII 10 Pf"'-~ htr "llfl ~ rl~
fur;,. tb& Tll':u.s l'dk ur(' F~l• ;ol h<til " wn~
~ '(iU.I'po;!M - ~.C.llliJl.t .rflt>!;..,,~ ttl t.fl Jl\!'1
ntte tL:h:it:~•u m;,.tt'drtt 19ti8 tt~ • ~u ~ tf'
aliJtK' ~at tNt- lifB~~'"".t tfRo -~.
an"
'"""' I.W11U1t' p!l~imf .4 ~ • ""'* (j(
~ M fftt \'itrtfOU:. t"'"'-.N ~l'M~ Itt 'two
IU.iiJf'
Attendance Soars To 63,565
T~ ~til tht .~'&l tolklifll' ··~~
"alf<IU't':t~a!lwrt.lipet<tah:nn•. tr~n1
.... ro"u~~.- n.r M'"" t<lf'l.li~ i\ttldav
ht;;bt
'~Mr~ th•· C<t!P.C l'>•~ > tnt J1f,,t l""-"
<tav l~"ttr•.-~1 ~loj .U~IfY' t(t tP.. l'\-~11 1~·
ta!MldJ,4U~··It.l'tld.uf'.'t-..-.."~­WbM
bk"" tf lhf! M'f'm .:o)l,ll(! bu "\lf'" ol:j)
.. nmu;al luu~l Barr SUlt'd
.\t' \0<1: kPI·"'· ~II'"~" -W'fl"l{lfr.tlt' tf\.- 1"11·
H:-r '4!)' of Tl'.-..U: S)'lil"'i'l'l ~nd 'lit' pbn N"• ..
~t~n~kf'{fill! fl'$i~~•IAtt:uW~a<tlflm:..
paid admissions totaled 63,565; a larger attendance figure
would be more accurate. Many were admitted free the first
two nights of operation to enjoy the entertainment after
some of the 34 food booths ran low on food. Additionally,
around 2,000 participants and staff entertained, demon­strated
skills, served foods, or worked in Dther program
areas.
THE FESTIVAL TEAM
The staff of the Institute of Texan Cultures developed
the festival concept largely from experience gained by key
staff members during HemisFair '68 in San Antonio, and
in Washington D. C. the same year. At that time the Insti­tute
was invited to co-sponsor with the Smithsonian
Institution the National Folklife Festival. With support
from the Sid Richardson Foundation, ITC took a group of
125 Texans to Washington. in July to put on the major
portion of that year's show. The success of this venture
stimulated interest on the part of both the Institute and
participants in doing an all-Texas show at home. Over the
next four years preparations were made for a larger state
festival of similar hue. 0. T. Baker, who managed the
Washington show and who is the exhibits director of the
Institute, was named manager of the Texas Folklife Festival,
and during this period visited practically every regional
festival in the country, to study methods and to gather
ideas. Texas is the first state known to s~onsor a state­wide
folklife festival .
Three Texas foundations came forward with $35,000
in funding for essential services, which made it possible
to move ahead with the plans. These were the Moody
Foundation of Galveston ($25,000), Houston Endowment
($5,000) and the Ewing-Halsell Foundation of San Antonio
($5,000). At the same time hundreds of individuals
responded to request s for help, as did fraternal, ethnic,
social, religious, professional, commercial and industrial
organizations which provided goods, services, and equipment.
Nine member hotels of the San Antonio Hotel Associa­tion
provided 682 room nights of lodging for out-of-town
participants, worth $13,330.00. This was vital to the
success of the venture. The H. B. Zachry Company, general
contractors, provided a team of highly skilled project
managers, electricians, and other workmen to fill needs
beyond the capacity of Institute personnel in construction
of physical facilities on the Institute grounds. The
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Throngs of Texas ft,olks Find l.A)ts of lJie at Festirol
~~~~tved
stl11ol
University of Texas Medical School in San Antonio
provided physicians in shifts to staff the first aid
station. These were assisted by American Red Cross
volunteers. (Full list of contributors in Appendix).
Participants, who performed or otherwise dealt with
the public, came from about 100 Texas cities and communi­ties,
and numbered around 2,000. They made and sold
so~rdough biScuits~ sang, played, whittled, danced, cooked
Japanese and Lebanese shishkabobs, made East Texas sweet
potato pie, cooked syrup, and tempted myriad other tastes
of Texas fun for the entertainment of the visitors. All
participants or their sponsors donated time and talent
to the Festival. The hotels provided lodging and the
Institute their food while they worked at the Festival.
The Port Arthur Chamber of Commerce selected the Festival
as its activity of the year, and set as· the goal, "Taking
Over the Festival at San Antonio."
Generous treatment from Texas news media provided
a rolling barrage of information to the public before,
during, and after the Festival. The greatest and most
sustained play came from the San Antonio news media, but
as best as can be determined, virtually every daily news­paper,
many · weeklies and ' most television and radio stations
in the state saw the news value of the celebration, and
told readers, viewers and listeners about it. Magazine
writers gathered material · for future articles, and out-of­state
coverage included space in Th~ New York Times.
The San Antonio LiS~ paced the state in the newspaper
field with an impressive total column inches of space
devoted to the Fe~~ ival over a period of several weeks.
Full color photographs accompanied some of the Light's
stories . Spot coverage by both print and electronic
media was outstanding. Much of the press response can
be attributed to work done by Jim Battersby, vice president
of Discover Texas Association, who was employed as con­sultant
to direct the year-long informational effort.
Twenty-nine television stations in Texas provided
public service time for one-minute promotional spot
announcements produced by the Glenn Advertising Agency
of San Antonio, all at no charge to the Institute. The
San Antonio Broadcasters Association adopted the festival
as its public service promotion project of the month
preceding the opening. This work was sparked by Mrs. Larry
White of radio station KONO of San Antonio.
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Page l<n Tllu!Wy, Soptembef 14, !972
The l!acho Post + + F~itisburr. ltllf ·
RESULTS AND FUTURE PLANS
Early September heat and conges tion notwithstanding,
the public reaction to the first Texas Folklife Festival
was almost uniformly favorable, often highly enthusiastic.
Visitors on the grounds accepted the Festival as a success,
and widely assumed that it would be repeated; however,
no such announcement has yet been made. It was an all­Texas
family style event with no visibl~ division between
young and old, or among Texans of various skin colors or
ethnic backgrounds . Food vendors left happy, as most
sold out daily .· Most ~ntertainers and similar participants
were well satisfied with the arrangements. Ease and
informality, · coupled with a comprehensive presentation of
Texas talent providing traditional and indigenous amuse­ment
and instruct~on, was the guideline for the show.
Income from ticket sales ($i admission for adults
and 50 cents admission for children), plus fifteen per cent
of food, art and craft sales, provided the Institute with
sufficient funds to take care of operational expenses.
The "seed money" provided by foundations was fully recovered
to finance similar festivals in the future.
Physically, the Institute is prepared for future
Festivals. Crews constructed several dozen semi-permanent
structures which may be used for several years as booths
and shelters. The Institute veranda provided a vast
sheltered area for exhibitors, and for visitors· seeking
shelter from heat or rain. The veranda also is a place
to rest, as it has continuous bench seating space encircl­ing
the main building. The vast main floor of the Institute,
housing a multi-media presentation of the history of Texas
told through individual histories grouped in ethnic
clusters, provided an exciting, air conditioned sanctuary
for visitors. Main floor attendance, good the year round,
experienced its greatest total since HemisFair '68.
The Institute berm (an elongated hill around the building)
provided space for amphitheater seating for stage per­formances
below, and children discovered an unforeseen
use for it. The berm's grassy slopes were a natural slide
for the entertainment of children who could get their
hands on a good piece of cardboard. Quite a few adults
couldn't resist the temptation to join the fun.
If the Texas Folklife Festival continues and grows
as indicated by the first year's results, Institute
officials probably will have to find more space. Con-
( 4 )
__:3:.0:::. ..--- c THE NEW YORK TIMES, MONDA. Y, SEPTEMBER 11, 1972
Varied Texas Cultures Disprove Stereotypes of State at an Ethnic Eat-in
By l\IARTIN WALDRON
~.&l U 'th~ ~cili 'Y "rlt TlmtJ
SAN ANTONIO, Tex., Sept.
9-A WJ, skinny woman
eating a Gem1an sausage on
a stick stood eying a big iron
washpot that was giving otf
rich smells of cooking beef.
HWhat's in it?'" she asked
a sweat!ng cowboy who was
stirring up a fire under \!le
pot of stew.
"Anything that grows in·
slde or outside a cow," he
saicL "Hearts, lungs, livers.
brains/'
"Is it good?" she persisted.
"Well, ma'am, personally
l wouldn't eat none of it but
I'd sure like to sell tt," he
reolled.
1'0kay, I'll take a bowl,"
she said. She handed her
half-eaten sausage to the
man with her, saving, "Hold
this a minute," ·while she
fished a.round in her purse
for 50 cents worth of
cou~n~iew was one of the
featured dishes at a four·day
eating and dancing festival
staged in Son Antonio this
week by a division of the
University of Texas.
Allaying a 1\lytn
"We .are trying to allay the
Texas myth and have some
fun." aid I{_ Henderson
Shuffler, cxecutl•,cc director
of the Instltutu of Texas Cul·
tures The institute is !lather­ing
a lllstory ol t!1e Impact
ol varlou.s ethnic groups on
tbe development of the Lone
Star Sctatc.
Many A.mencan •• includinz
Texas Americans, tend to
vie\\ most T~.xan• as being
either wea!tby1 r!ght·wlng oil·
l'tl(!ll witn reauy ;~eccss to till>
White Houro, or bowlegged
cattle barons who herd cows
in c aaillac convertibles nd
send their daugiltcrs tey Swiss
f!nislling schools. c·r pocr
Mexicans who <lip a<:reoss the
Rio Grande at night te do
menial job&
.. All this " 'IVrf>ng,' said
M.r. Shuffler Y.bo added that
theN' ""'" . at lea<c ZG sepa•
· rata ethnic group& ~n Texas,
ranging from th~ Alabama
Conshattns, thP srate'' only
reservation tndlans. •o every
shade of Europ""-" culture
.and some ASian
Most of thesB gr,oups sold
theit food spe~.alties t 1M
san Ant<~n•o ed\ihttloo. whtcll
was 1\cld <m the ~itt' of the
1968 HemisFair
· Cl\juns fr0n1 Or!tllg!l and
Port Arthur i.o east T~xas
sold boUed crawfish aod
&hrlmp gumbtJ to be <!aten to
a Cajun vcr.tun of country
music.
Lebancs<> <lffer~d bnage
the Jllh'Y«t
Yoko Hunter wOTe a kimono wbUe tending to tbe kebabs
rolls, shish kebab and dark·
eyed dancers,
The Coushattas sold buf­falo
je.rky and did traditional
dances. There was some
question, however, as Ia
wnose traditional dan.ces.
"Tb.e .Presbyterian mission·
aries did s~ a good job on
the Coushattas that they for·
got their dances," Mr. Shuf·
tier said. "Wben they wanted
to learn them for the tourist
trade they had to import
some Kiowas to teach them,
so the Coushattas dance the
traditional dances of the Kio­was,
although you better not
say that in tbe hearing of a
Coushatta. n
German Texans snld sau­sage
and apple strudel. And
there was Irish stew, chicken
terriyaki, nalcsniki (a Polish
crepe filled. wlth fruit) chU~
tama!as, quesadillas (hot tor­tillas
filled With jackhammer
cheese and onions) wate ....
melon, plneawle and com on
the cob. The cowboys cooked
barbeque, beans, coffee and
the. ste\J: containing .. an t ~
t h•ng that grows inside a
cow," which, they told ques·
Uoners, is known only as "son
of a bitch" st.ev.
A group from east Texas
nrfered baked o.possum and
sweet potatoes under a sign
reading "Eat More Possumt
but qnyone with a lla.nkering
for it was doomed to dls:J,p·
polntment The group H>und
that it is against state l~ to
sell wild animals
Negroe$ sola soul foo<l -
batbccued· pork ribs, fried
chicken . black-eyed peas,
boJied pig's feet, turnip greens·
and corn bread.
In addition to rl~n~ing and
eating, participants at the
Texas fol'<. festival displayed
the remaining te.lllnants of
pioneer skills.
Making Shingles
"See that "·oman there
malting corn-L-ob dolls?" asked
Mr Shuffler "HH husband
1S a depa ent head ,...:,
TcJu~> .&M. And th3t ma"
p!llying the bull fiddle in tl1 ~t
countr:;• band over there is
head of th<> .£ngh,;h depar, ­meru
at Stephen I<"' Al,'lolin
Umv.etsity Every mcm.~e:- c ..
that hand hn~ a Ph D "
W B Keel of G1lmer was
making sllingles for tne roof
of ,, log abln being eructed
on tho festi · l .round• "The
orwegians taugh the early
TeT.ans how to square off · a
log cabin;· Mr. Shuffler said.
"There is a big concentra­tion
of Danes at Dannebanl!
-that means Danish plains, •
he continued. "The oldest
Polish settlement on the
North American eontinent is
at Panna Maris. There are
Czech farms stretching from
Corpus Christi to Dallas,
and there is an Irish colony
at Refupo--that' s spelled
R·~>-f·u·g·t·o but pronounced
Refurio. I never understood
that until I heard Jack Ken­nedy
pronou11ce Cuber.
"There are Italian fanns
from Hearn to Navasota, and
castroville has an Alsatian­Lemtine
culture. Of course-,
there are Sp>nlsn and Mexi·
can influences an<! rnany
German towns i.n Texas.
There is still some dlr<!<:t im·
migration from Spain to the
Corpus Chri-sti area .. "
Enter Hondo Crouch
In addition to providing
food and fun. tbe Texas folk
fes tival had a serious purpo""
- calling attention to the
Institute of Texas Cu!ture·s,
created in 1968 to "take a
rt.'!l.llstic look at this strange
animal - the Texan," as the
director put lt.
The institute Is pubbshmg
a series of bocks on th~ van·
ous ethnic groups in the
state.
"Hello,'' Mr. Shuffler said,
interrupting himself to speak
to a man who was wearing
soft leather cowboy bootS,
faded denim trousers, a
leather vest, a stained hat
and white whiskers.
''Thls is 'Hondo croueh,
Mr. Snuffier said. "He ana­his
partn.er have bought a
gbost town, Lukenbacb, and
'Hondo is the M:ayor. }!ondo,
Wbere's your tequila?"
"I'm naked. l'm sony to
$ay," said Mr. Ctoucb, f.eeling
around in his pockets "Ell·
cuse me,'' be. said, his eyes
lighting up at the sight of a
passing woman. ''There's that
lady I was dancing with last
:night:•
"As I was saying," said
Mr. Shuffler, leadmg the way
toward a one-man band -
Bongo Joe, a San Antonio
Negro wearlhg a h11ge button
realflng. · "KI.ss me. I'm 1ewisb"
- "wllat we're trying to do
here is show that Texans
are just like everybody else."
gestion in some areas wa s excessive.
The success of the first Texas Folklife Festival
lay not in the crowd it drew, the money it made, or
the increased attention it created for the Institute;
it was in the great statement it made in behalf of
Texas. The multi-cultural heritage of the state is a
blessing, not a burden. Texans take pride in their
diversity as an unique people united by a common homeland
and history.
(5)
EXPRESSandNEWS
EDITORIALS
(~h o oolltorlolaloolow roproaont tho wlowa o nol opinion• of tho h pron. Tho
.. nool celurnn1, cartoona, a rtlclot onol lotion to tho otl ~or on thia ,. .. ropr- nt
tho po,..nal wiewl ef tho outhora. Thoy rnoy aeroo or they may conflict with tho
wiow• ef tho hpr111. Thoy oro pr01entool in on effort te off11 wariotl wiewpoinll
of tho ilau11 of tho doy.)
FRANK A . BEN!,ACA' JR.
PubliJirtr
·--~--~---.. ·---·---·-·-
_S_A, TURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1972 _______ _ -~= ....= .. .. ~, . ......
1'ry It­You'll
Like It
Texas' great variety is on display
in the fun-filled Texas Folklife Festi·
val at the Institute of Texan Cultures.
V i s i t o r scan have a great time
while sampling food, entertainment,
g a m e s, contests and art and craft
work from the many ethnic groups
which he I p e d build the state. More
than 1 ,000 persons from 84 towns and
cities are participating in the big fies­ta.
Turn out and join in the fun, and
learn about the diversity of Texans
while you are at it.
II"/ LLIA .\! B. BELLOf'r'
.~ltma£11'£ Edit~r
PAGE 8-A
Y'Ail Come!
S
;
t. AN ANTONIO, the fiesta
city, will take on a new international
look when the Institute of Texan Cui·
tures stages the Texas Folklife Festi·
\'al sept em b, r i -10 at Hemisrair
Plaza.
The colorful four-day spectacular
will draw more than l,(l()(l participants
from 8-1 Texas ctttes and towns and will
represent a smnr~asborri of fPStl\· :1ls
from every area of the state.
The 13% acres of the Institute have.
undergone a new look with six stages
erected, colorful exhibit booths set up
and huge camouflage nets put up 10
shade festi val .\·tsttors.
Visitors to the ftrsl -of-a-kmd festtval
should ha,·e. ctnd proboibl~' will h:ne. a
nr-roilrmg 11m"'.
2'/w Newt, oldeat buainesa in.,titution in Tc.ra.~. tva.t e11tr..blishcd in 18•2
while Tezaa waa a R.tJpublic
Ja.ph M. ne.Jey H. Ben Decherd
PNtNet!t Ch•lt•r.,.n of tho lo•nf
James M. Moroney Jr. William C. Smellaae
•oclltlvo Vlc .. Protlclellt Vice·Prosidenl
JUcha.rd D. BJum 1nd Secretory
Vlc .. Pretl41cnf Sol Katz
Jack B. Krueger Vice-Prealclent
Vlco-PreaWent •n41 Robert T. Richardson
laoc•fiYI ldlt.w Tr•••uror
Dick West
Nftori.J DlreciOI'
F'RIDAY. SEPTEMBER~. 1972
Texas Heritage
The many modes and cultures of
Texans are being displayed this
week by the University of Texas In·
stltute of Texan Cultures at San An·
tonio's HemisFair grounds. Bright
and aromatic samplings of foods,
music, dances, arts and crafts, along
with games and contests are being
offered at a Texas Folklife Festival.
Irish Mulligan stew is served in
proximity to frijoles of Mexico and
pierogi z miesem, a Polish dish of
dough and meat. A traditional Jew•
ish festival booth stands near a Japa·
nese pavilion. An ox team snakes
logs for workers to use In building a
2-room, dog-trot cabin in the fashion
of early settlers. Small girls are
shown how to make rag and corncob
dolls and young boys learn the art of
carving a slippery elm whistle.
The festival is a rich blend of ear•
ly Texas. Henderson Shuffler, the in­stitute's
executive director, said it is
the country's first statewide folk fes·
tlv?l. The event stems from a presen•
tation made by the institute and Tex·
as ethnic groups at the Smithsonian
Institution in Washington in 1968. 0.
T. Baker is festival manager.
It is appropria-te that Texas be
the first to offer a folk festival of
such scope. The state's history is a
tapestry woven of many cultures:
Italians who farmed river bottom
lands around Calvert and Navasota,
Germans who settled at New Braun­fels
and Fredericksburg, Norwegian~
of Bosque County, Poles who estab­lished
North America's first Polish
settlement at Panna Maria, Japanese
who showed farmers how to grow
rice near Houston and Beaumont and
vegetables in the Rio Grande Valley,
Mexicans, English, Lebanese,
Chinese, Alsatians and others.
Researchers say 26 ethnic groups
composed the pioneer force that
built the state. Ours is an extraordi­nary,
rich heritage-one which
should be reco!!:nized by such a festi­val.
-----------------
SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-Tuesday, Sept. 12, 1972 Page 6-B
lou Antonio <frprtss
EDITORIALS
(The editorioltl:lelow represent the v1ew1 and opinions of the Expren . The
tigned colwmnt, cartoons, arhdes and letlr" to the edttor on thit page reprnent
the perwnal vi-ews. of the authon. They may agrf'e or they may confiKt w1th the
view1 of the E1preu. They are preMnted in an eHort to offer vart.d v.ewpo•nh
of th• issu•s of th• day.)
F olklife Festival
A Big Success
The Folklife Festival was sold out,
which is the mark of success for a
first-time effort.
The festival, sponsored by the In­stitute
of Texan Cultures, was a sam­pier
of fun-time as observed by at
least 26 ethnic groups who live in Tex­as
. The food stalls just couldn't keep
up with the consumer-patrons. The op­erators
underestimated the a t t r a c­tiveness
in San Antonio of folk festi­vals
.
San Antonians have become accus­tomed
to them at the Nights in Old
San Antonio each April. The Conserva­tion
Society has learned to cope with
crowds and the visiting festival people
got a look at the kinds of crowds they
will have here when the festival be­comes
a fixed annual event here
Institute Director Henderson Shuf­fler
and Festival Dirctor 0. T. Baker
did a remarkable job of squeezing into
a relatively-small package the Texas­sized
sampler. Next The start was so
strong that next year's copy can bet­ter
cope with festival-happy Texans.
I
I
I
- - -------------.-----------
San'~light
, FIRST IN TEXAS COMMUNITY SERVICE
FRANK A. RFN.VACK JR.
Puhlislur
FRIDAY, SEPT. 29, 1972
WILLIAM B. BEIJLAMY
l..tanaging Editor
PAGE 4 -E
Do It Again
THE first Texas Folklife Festival.
which was staged in San Antoruo by the
Institute of Texas Cultures, made a hit
\\ith the public th<H surpassed all ex­pectation
This i!' n0t news, but ,.,.e ar~:> bring­ing
it up in the hope that the festival
will become an annual treat . instf.>ad of
a historical fo0tnote
What happened in San Antonio was
truly a statewide C£>1ebrat ll)n To quote
R Henderson Shuffler, executive direc­tor
of the Institute : "Texans from all
over. from the small towns and the CI­ties
pitched in to make the show a
great one The variety of foods, mustc,
dancing ~ames and crafts was truly
Texan"
Every racial. national, and cultural
heritage of the Texas population was
represented in one way or another. Mr.
Shuffler adds, "and . in the full four
days, insofar as we ran determine,
there was not a s i n g 1 e unpleasant­ne65
."
Great credit is due to the Moody
FoW1dation of Galveston, wh1ch had
sufficient faith in the experiment to
contribute the bulk of the underwriting
cash, and to Houston Endowment and
the Ewing-Halsell Foundation of San
Antonio which covered the balance.
Individuals, <rganizations, and msti­t
u t i o n s contributed goods, services,
and personnel. The Li~ht was happy to
publicize the show. Let's do it again.
I
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I
APPENDIX A: CONTRIBUTORS OF GOODS AND SERVICES
While still incomple te, this list illustrates the
generous and widespread aid given by organizations and
individuals from throughout the State.
San Antonio Fire Department
San Antonio Police Department
San Antonio Independent School District
Bexar County Metropolitan Health District
Bexar Gounty Hospital District
University of Texas Medical School at San Antonio
Texas Tourist Development Agency
Texas State Historical Survey Committee
Bexar County Commissioner's Court
City of San Antonio:
Hemisfair Plaza
City Recreation Department
Convention and Visitor's Bureau
Public Library System
Red Cross
Glenn Advertising Agency~ San Antonio
Pat Tallman, San Antonio
Mrs. Larry White, San Antonio
San Antonio Broadcasters Association
Travel and Information Division, Texas Highway Department
Lester Theis, Wetmore
Walte~ McAllister, Jr., San Antonio
Albert West III, San Antonio
Joseph Schulze, Corpus Christi
Matthews Ranch, Albany
State Comptroller's Office
Supreme Lodge, Slavonic Benevolent Order of the State
of Texas
K.L.R . N.
Isamu Taniguchi, Austin
Corpus Christi Musician's Union
Texas Jazz Festival, Corpus Christi
San Antonio City Public Service Board
Eastman Kodak
San Antonio Transit System
Pearsall Chamber of Commerce
American Airlines
Braniff Airlines
Continental Trailways
Eastern Airlines
Greyho~nd Lines - West
Southwest Airlines
(1)
Consulate 'General of Japan, Houston
Mexican Government Tourist Bureau
Central Power and 'Light Co. of Corpus Christi
Dallas . Chamber of Commerce
El Paso Chamber of Commerce
Central Park Mall, San Antonio
Medical Arts Building, San Antonio
Texas State Building and Construction Trades Council
Texas Tourist Council
Y-0 Ranch, Mountain Home
Square House Museum, Panhandle
Walter B. Scott; Goliad
Jim Warren, Pleasanton
Dr. Ben Lee Par~er, Pleasanton
Elgin Parker, San Antonio
Charles A. Sij, Aspermont
Walcott Ranch, Encinal
Woodville Chamber of Commerce
Southland Paper Mills, Lufkin
Joe A. Birkner, B~y City
N. W. Neihast, Burton
Abner Sheffield, Woodville
Roy Pate, Woodville
Lonn Taylor, Winedale Inn
N. B. Ballard, Baytown
W. T. Carter Family, Houston
Gilmer Yamboree
Port Arthur Chamber of Commerce
Luckey Ranch, San Antonio
Rio Grande· Valley Sugar Grower's Association
San Antonio Bricklayers and Tile Setters Union No. 2
San Antonio Building and Trades Council
Region One, Education Service Center, Edinburg
Larry Cook, San Antonio
Mrs. Frances Parker, Bay City
Arnold Griffin, Devine
Jack Thomson, San Antonio
Czech Polka Festival, Ennis
Crockett Hotel, San Antonio
El Tropicano Motor Hotel, San Antonio
Gunter Hotel, San Antonio
Hilton Palacio del Rio Hotel, San Antonio
Travelodge-Courthouse Square, San Antonio
La Mansion Motor Hotel, San Antonio
La Quinta Motor Inn-Convention Center, San Antonio
Menger Hotel, San Antonio
St. Anthony Hotel, San Antonio
South Texas Health Education Center
H. B. Zachry Co.
(2)
Toastmistresses International:
Aerial Artemis
Aerospace
Clock Tower
Cloverleaf
Mortarboard
Texann
San Antonio Toastmistress Club
Yellow Rose
Loquacious Ladies
Elmore and Son, Moving and Storage
Towne ·Services of San Antonio
Belknap Van and Storage Co.
Greyhound Van Lines, Inc.
International Ha~vester Farm Equipment
Electric Carrier Corporation
Handy Andy Stores, San Antonio
Texas Education Agency:
Division of Instructional Media
Education Program Division, Texas Small Schools
Project
Education Service Center,
Educgtion Service Center,
Education Service Center,
Education Service Center,
Catholic Diocese of San Angelo
Lubbock Public Schools
Region 20
Region
Region
Region
One
Two
13
Austin Independent School District
Northside Independent School District
Corpus Christi Independent School District
Northside School, Hearne
Laredo Indepepdent School District
Southwest Texas State University
East Texas State University, Commerce
Victor Comptometer Corporation, San Antonio
Ambassadors:
Mrs. D. H. Crowell, Bandera
Donald Duncan, Georgetown
Mr. and Mrs: Don Hicks, Bandera
Vic Mathias, Austin
Thomas B. Sammons, Jr., McAllen
W. E. (Bill) Salter, Kerrville
Happy Shahan, Brackettville
Carl Herb Skoog, Jr., New Braunfels
Glenn Bercot, Harlingen
J. W. Milburn, Big Bend National Park
Joseph Faust, New Braunfels
(3)
Ambassadors (Continued):
Truett Latimer, Austin
Dr. Ben L. Parker, Pleasanton
Sam A. Maglitto, Bay City
Mrs. Alice K. Gerfers, Boerne
J. Travis Lilly, Devine
George E. Haynes, Houston
Jack R. Maguire, Austin
N. B. Ballard, Baytown
Roger N. Conger, Waco
Nick A. Morris, Temple
Morris S. Ridgway, Pearsall
Tom Purdom, New Braunfels
S. R. Malone, Devine
Joe E. Briscoe, Devine
J. L. Young, Devine
Walter E. Buckner, San Marcos
Lonn Taylor, Winedale Inn, Round Top
Alfred H. Koebig, Seguin
R. R. Morrison, Daingerfield
Mrs. Ralph Randel, Panhandle
Edward J. Kadlecek, Jr., New Braunfels
Charles H. Moss, Llano
Al Trent, Kerrville
Homer Bryce, Henderson
Robert H. Thonhoff, , Fashing
Mr. and Mrs. Adolf Stieler, Comfort
D. Edward Moore, Galveston
Mrs. R. P. Smith, Jr., Fredericksburg
W. W. (Bill) Zwerschke, Port Lavaca
Charles L. Suehs, Castroville
Joe Dial, Placedo
(4)
.J
APPENDIX B: COMMENTS FROM LETTERS ...
" ... The house-raising falls into a category by itself-
I think this was the single most effective exhibit, from
the point of view of actually teaching visitors something ...
"Incidentally, the children playing on the -berms ... gave
a beautiful, festive atmosphere to the pl~ce and also
gave the children an energy outlet while their parents
looked at exhibits." ·
Lonn Taylor, Director
Winedale Inn
Round Top, Texas
" for the Yamboree to pass up your invitation would
be like the precinct chairman declining dinner at the
White House ... "
Mrs. Ray H. Greene
The Gilmer Mirror
Gilmer, Texas
"(IJ.'he Festival) sounds like an exciting and informative
time for all educators in the state, and we would like
to be able to share this time in San Antonio."
(Mrs.) Janelle Sullivan
Seminole High School Library
Seminole, Texas
"This type of festival should accomplish much in creating
interest in the cultural diversity of Texas and in
encouraging active participation in the preservation of
the State's heritage."
Don Irwin, Program Director
Fine Arts Division of
Program Development
Texas Education Agency
Austin, Texas
"This is a rare learning and fun opportunity ... for the
first time in Texas the total ethnic and cultural diversity
of Texans can be seen at one time and location."
Joseph B. Money, Director
Instructional Services
Region One Education Service
Center
Edinburg, Texas
( 1)
"Enthusiasm was obvious on the faces of not only those
in attendance, but was also shown by booth personnel
and the many and varied entertainers."
Sixtus J. Piwlik
Randolph AFB, Texas
"It looks as if we will be learning about our history as
well as enjoying a new kind of experience."
Julyette Marshall
Office of the Mayor
Houston, Texas
"One can easily see how successful the Folklife Festival
was this year and will be more so in the years to come."
Herbert Wilson
Vice President and General
Manager - Gunter Hotel
San Antonio, Texas
"Congratulations upon a very successful Festival. It
was a tremendous credit to you, the Institute, and the
State .of Texas."
Harold R. Dooley
Executive Director
Region One, Education Service
Center - Edinburg, Texas
"I can't imagine that there is any doubt in your mind
about the success of your great Folklife Festival .•..
"My only regret is that I didn't find a piece of cardboard
and join the throng indulging in the greatest unscheduled
event of the Festival - sliding down the grass on the slopes
of the earthworks which surround the Institute."
Tom H. Taylor, Director
Travel & Information Division
Texas Highway Department
Austin, Texas
"It seems to me that a good spirit of cooperation among
participants went a long way toward smoothing out inevitable
snags. As an observer, the festival seemed to be an
unqualified success; as. a visitor, I enjoyed every minute
of it."
Charles Sandage
Arkansas Dept. of Parks
and Tourism
Little Rock, Arkansas
(2)
APPENDIX C: PARTICIPANTS
More than 2,000 people participated as entertainers,
craftsmen, artists and preparers of ethnic foods. We
list only the organizations where they worked as a group.
Stage Managers:
Dr. Lawrence Franks, · Austin- Program Coordinator
Willie Champion (El Curro), San Antonio
Don Mach, Pleasanton
Truett Latimer, Austin) Texas Historical Survey Committee
Bob Watson, Austin )
Phil Davis, Austin, Texas Tourist Development Agency
Consultants:
Dr. F. E. Abernethy, Nacogdoches
Dr. Bill C. Malone, New Orleans, La.
Frontier Children's Toyland:
Dr. and Mrs. Milton Nance, College Station
Jim Nance
Miss Pamela Puryear, Navasota
Mrs. Spencer Buchanan, College Station
Longhorn Corral:
Dr. Ben Lee Parker, Pleasanton
Elgin Parker, San Antonio
Jim Warren, Pleasanton
Cattle Drive Corral - Texas Trails Chuck Wagon, Albany:
Clifford Teinert, Albany
Tom Perini, Buffalo Gap
Richard Bolt, Albany
Sonona Teinert, Albany
Sylvia Atwell, Albany
Bill Cauble, Albany
Bob Echols, Albany
Doug Feilder, Albany
Treby Feilder, Albany
Wayne McCowan, Albany
Buddy Rodgers, Albany
Storytellers:
Hondo Crouch, Fredericksburg
Jim Williams, Panhandle
Hand-Crank Telephones:
Mr. and Mrs. Joe Searcy, Aspermont
Mr. and Mrs. Bryan Crouch, Grand Prairie
(1)
Grist Mill and Steam Whistles:
Mr. and Mrs. R. K. Wimberley, Austin
Tim Wimberley
Mr. and Mrs. John Little, Austin
Pioneer Log House. Raising:
Arnold Griffin, Chairman, Devine
Jack Jones )
Arthur Killough )
Bruce Roark )
Imon McCain )
Roberta Griffin ) All of Devine
Renee McDonald )
Harlan M6Donald )
Dale Conrad )
Oxen:
Jethro Holmes, Woodville
J. W. Broom, Woodville
Muleskinner:
Travis Kuykendall, Pearsall
Froe Axe and Pole:
W. B. Keel, Gilmer
Ronnie Keel, Gilmer
Broad Ax:
Jim Snyder, Nacogdoches
John Daniel, Nacogdoches
Chimney Builder:
Cecil Overstreet, Kountze
Rope Maker:
Bill Brett, Hull
Storyteller:
Delbert Teutsch, Nacogdoches
Lime from Oyster Shells:
Joe A. Birkner, Bay City
Blacksmiths:
Sherrill Stroud, Chairman, Devine
Art Berry, Von Ormy
Charles Godden, Devine
Sheep Shearing:
W. H. Lindig, Bandera
(2)
Corn Shucking and Shelling :
Glen Bragg , Hondo
Medina County 4-H Clubs
Dollar Pitch:
Jack Thomson, San Antonio
Herbs:
Dewey Compton, Houston
Horse Shoe Pitching:
Joseph Minnich, San Antonio
Pioneer Cane Mill:
Jerry Young, Devine
Clarence Weimers, Yancey
Syrup Sopping a nd · Bi f> cuit Baking Booth:
Mrs. Bruce Perry, College Station, Chairman
Mrs. John Ramge, College Station
Mrs. Jack Mcintyre, Bryan
Mrs. Arn6ld Griffin, Devine
Ruth Griffin, Devine
Susie Perry, Bryan
Dr. Bruce Perry, Bryan
Pioneer Lye and Soap Making:
Mrs. Dorothy Buchanan, Bryan
Mrs. Evelyn Johnson, Mesquite
Mrs . John Porter, Mesquite
Peanut Vendors:
David Haynes
Jana Hall ·
Debra Watson
Taia Weichl ein
Susan Coulter
Sharon Jones
Anglo - Entertainers:
)
)
)
)
)
) All, San Antonio
Mr. and Mrs. Norman Solomon, Boyd
Dr. Horace Allison and Family, Carthage
East Texas String Ensemble, Nacogdoches
Tom Nall
Charles Gardner
Stanley Alexander
Dr~ F. E. Abernethy
Mark Lowry and Mrs. Charles Lowry, Houston
Jodi Brinegar and the Backwoods Volunteer Band,
San Antonio
(3)
I I
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II
I
Anglo- Entertainers (Continued):
San Antonio Square Dance Association
Ed Wright, President
Connie Huse, Weatherford
Mel Tillotson's Band
Masters of Ceremony:
Happy Shahan, Brackettville
Bob Murphy, Nacogdoches
Henry Guerra, San Antonio
Cactus Pryor, Austin
Belgians:
George De Winne, San Antonio
Mrs. Mary Persyn, San Antonio
Mrs. Matilda Stevens, San Antonio
Mrs. Marie Dauwe, San Antonio
Mrs. Hortense Broekhove, San Antonio
Mrs. Bertha Van Den Hende, San Antonio
Chinese:
R. C. Wong, Austin
Mrs. V. C. Smart, Austin
Czech:
--- -------·--------......
SPJST Lodge 47 Seaton ·Star Hall Beseda Dancers, Temple
Dallas Czech Concert Orchestra
Baca Dulcimer Band, Houston
Sokol Gym Team, Ennis
Ed J. Kadlecek, Jr., New Braunfels
French-Cajun:
Cajun Festival and Texas Championship Crawfish
Races, Port Arthur
German:
New Braunfels Smokehouse, New Brunfels (Wurstfest)
Kendall County Fair Association Woman's Auxiliary,
Boerne
Cameron German Folk Dancers, Cameron
Felix Pehl's Oompah Band, Boerne
Easter Fires Pageant, Fredericksburg
Brass Bunny Band, Fredericksburg
Newton Peschel, New Ulm
Mrs. Newton Peschel, New Ulm
Greek:
St. Sophia's Greek Orthodox Church, San Antonio
(4)
~===~~·· ---
Indian:
Rocky Stallings, San Antonio
Alabama-Coushatta Indians, Livingston
Tigua Indians, Ysleta
Mr. and Mrs. Felix Spencer, Dallas
Bud, Tim and Nocona Breen, Brackettville
Indian Village:
Jack Markey
Robert (Bobbo) Morris
Alex DePena
Mark Roel
Don Wood
John Brisbin
Deborah Littleton
Donna Balen
Cathy Caldwell
Karen Ellerson
Mason Collins
Vincent Orosco
Belinda Briones
Irish:
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
) All, San Antonio
)
)
)
Harp and Shamrock Society of Texas, San Antonio
Houston Irish Folk Dancers, Houston
Irish Pipe~ and Drums, Houston
Italian:
Christopher Columbus Italian Society, San Antonio
Japanese:
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Kawahata and daughters-­Ann,
Gail, Elsie and Joyce Kawahata, Hidalgo
Mr . . and Mrs. Sydney Sako, San Antonio
Miss Naomi Sako, San Antonio
Mrs. Hisako Medrano )
Mrs. Wakako Sensiba )
Mrs. Hiroko Whittleman )
Mrs. Teruya Colver )
Yoko Hunter )
Mrs. Yayoi Beard ) All, San Antonio
Glenn Sensiba )
Miss Irene Stephan )
Mrs. Kuniko Stephan )
Thomas Sako )
( 5)
Jewish:
San Antonio Jewish Community Center
National Confer ence of Christians and Jews
Lebanese:
San Antonio Ameleb Club
Mexican- Spanish:
Albert (Beto) Garcia's Texas Jazz Band, Corpus
Christi
Ben Valdez Mariachis
Jim De Leon, Victoria
Mrs. Jim De Leon, Victoria
Oscar Carvajal, Jr., San Antonio
Ballet Ninos de San Antonio
Los Fl~menco i de San Antonio
Ballet Folklorico de San Antonio
Negro:
Lighthouse Church of God in Christ, San Antonio
Bongo Joe (Mr. George A. Coleman)
Miss Amelonee Whitaker, Nacogdoches
Miss Marva Mallory, Nacogdoches
Robert Shaw, Austin
Polish Activities:
Mrs. Charles W. Grace, San Antonio
Mrs. Jo Ann Witek, San Antonio
Polish · National Alliance Dancers, Houston
Polish National Alliance Council
Polish Folk Dancers, San Antonio
Sam Kotara, Karnes City
Anthony Kowalik, Jr., San Antonio
Polish Maypole Dancers, San Antonio
Mrs. Gilbert Kissling, San Antonio
Panna Maria Historical Society
Ursula Bestecka, New York
Scots:
San Antonio Scottish Society
Houston Scottish Folk Dancers
Mrs. Frances Parker, Bay City
Houston Highlander Bagpipe Band
Phillip Young, Bellaire
Alamo City Highlander Pipe Band
Wendish:
Texas Wends, Bridge City
(6)
Festivals:
Miami Champion Cow Callers
Chilympiad, San Marcos
Fort Griffin Fandangle, Albany
29'Club of the Fox Hunt Follies, Center
San Antonio Conservation Society's Night In
Old San Antonio
Galveston Shrimp Festival
State Domino Tournament, Hallettsville
Luling Watermelon Thump
Gilmer Yamboree
Arts and Crafts:
Mr. and Mrs. V. H. "Blackie" Chapple, Jacksonville
Mrs. Leona Davis, Elgin
Mrs. Foster Burke, Elgin
Anne Dodson, Buda
Charles Dodson, Buda
Mr. and Mrs. Donald Hastings, Palestine
Mrs. Winnie M. ' Lay, San Antonio
Paris Lay, San Antonio
Bob Magers, Boerne
Joe McMordie, Austin
Jenny McMordie, Austin
Mrs. Gladys Noll, Ingleside
George Noll, Ingleside
Mrs. Emma M. Oetting-er, San Antonio
Mrs. Ruby M. Seguin, San Antonio
Jeanette Oettinger, San Antonio
D.Parson, Taylor
Harry M. Schneider, San Antonio
Miss Karen Sears, Snyder
Ernest Sears, Snyder
Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Thomas, La Feria
Mr. and Mrs. E. C. Harvey, Hidalgo
Sonny Timme, Victoria
Eileen Clary, Victoria
( 7)
Arts and Crafts (Continued):
Mrs. Estelle Rose Turner, Spring Branch
Sgt . and Mrs. Bill Turner, Spring Branch
Mrs. Kadi Wills, Austin
James A. Wills, Austin
Catherine King, San Antonio
Hal King, San Antonio
Elizabeth Morrison
Genny Bexar
Martini Stephens
Jo Ann Wells
Danny Brucks
Lawrence Packabush
)
)
)
)
)
) All, San Antonio
(8)
san~~~ -------- - -- 7.C
MooO:•Y· Soplombt< ~. \911 ---- - - ___ ......... ----·-- ---·------
S.l\55 & SAGACfTV! Th• !me Antho·
11y't~ restaurant wru. t~ settin~ for that
"""'tlrt~ bo<tc<l bv MYI!I'ti•lng & -.!at •
r.etii\1!' Sei'\'!Oe • Dodo Skltts 4 mt>
'51thtn Who tmuw~ wl at \ltf'i public t:tstr
l~. rottunt ,(lo; U~ Cf\annr1 4 ShoW ft>a·
Sunday, Aug. 27, l ~72
TALK OF TEXAS
lly JACK M,ciUIRE