entertainers – Texas History Notebook

“Lonesome Dove” – the Miniseries

The miniseries filmed in 1988 was the first release of a series of video projects of the four “Lonesome Dove” related books written by author Larry McMurtry. In February of that year, press releases announced that filming would soon begin on the screenplay based on McMurtry’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel that came out in 1985.

The Del Rio News-Herald in its issue of February 2, 1988 noted that locations would include the Moody family’s Rancho Rio Grande outside Del Rio and the Alamo Village in Brackettville. The miniseries was set to air for an estimated eight hours over several days. The article stated that the screenplay was written by Texan Bill Wittliff.

Tales of the Texas Rangers

“Tales of the Texas Rangers” refers to two programs which aired in media during the 1950s. The first was a radio program and the second was a television series.

The radio program: It was conceived as a weekly half-hour program to broadcast fictionalized stories pertaining to the former law enforcement agency. It was set in the 1880s and used scripts in a style that might be reminiscent of shows like “Dragnet.” Stacy Keach, father of actor Stacy Keach, Jr., was producer and director. Joel Murcott was the head writer of the series.

Don Williams, Country Vocalist

Donald Ray Williams was born in Floydada, Texas May 27, 1939 to James Andrew Williams and Loveta Mae Lambert Williams. His grandfather on the Williams side was Emory Rains Williams who was also the grandson of Emory Rains, namesake of Rains County. Don’s father was a carpenter and the family moved from time to time. Don was the youngest of three sons of James and Loveta Mae. By the time Don reached high school age, the parents had either separated or divorced. James remained in West Texas. Don was living with his mother in Portland, Texas where he graduated from Gregory-Portland High School in 1958.

Ricky Nelson

Eric Hillard “Ricky” Nelson was born on May 8, 1940 in Teaneck, New Jersey to Oswald George “Ozzie” Nelson and Peggy Louise “Harriet” Snyder Nelson. Ricky was their youngest child, about four years younger than his brother David Oswald Nelson. Ricky and six other individuals died in an aircraft accident near DeKalb, Texas on December 31, 1985. The aircraft was on its way to Dallas for a performance which had been scheduled for that evening.

Brad Johnson, Actor

Brad William Johnson (1959 – 2022) was an American actor. His parents were Grove Johnson and Virginia Scala Johnson. Brad was born to the couple on October 24, 1959 while the family was living in Tucson, Arizona. It has been suggested that he graduated from high school in Dallas but most likely, he graduated in Grants Pass, Oregon. Online genealogy sources note that he was in the school yearbooks when he was in the 11th and 12th grade. Also, he appears to have attended but did not graduate from college.