Mural by Michael McPheeters near Commerce Street in Deep Ellum. Photo by Renee Umsted.
Before the Advocate was your go-to source for neighborhood news, another monthly publication kept residents informed about the goings-on in East Dallas. The newspaper, called the East Dallas Banner, was the brainchild of Jim Ball, who ran unsuccessfully for Dallas City Council several times. In 1975, instead of mounting another campaign, he decided to work for the people as a self-taught journalist. “I never had a journalism course, never took that in school, but I want to make sure the people know what’s going on,” Ball said at the time. (More)
THE BACK STORY
Cheerleaders on strike: The NFL season has begun, and there will even be cheerleaders. Remember when Jerry Jones bought the Cowboys in 1989 and 14 Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders quit? (More)
Too Tall: Watch this charming interview between Ed “Too Tall” Jones, then a 24-year-old Dallas Cowboys rookie, and his teammate and Dallas native Harvey Martin. (Oak Cliff Advocate)
The newspaper happened to have one reporter in New York City that day, former Dallas Morning News fashion editor Tracy Achor Hayes, who was in town for New York Fashion Week. (More)
DEEP ELLUM BLUES
Cradle of rock ‘n’ roll: It all started in the Mississippi Delta, but also Oak Cliff, Texas. (Oak Cliff Advocate)
Terrestrial: Did you know that Dallas is home to the first radio station in Texas? Here’s the story of WRR, which is over 100 years old. (Texas Monthly)
