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City Cast Houston

People, places, and scenes from Houston's past.

There’s something magical about Houston rodeo season. For a few weeks, Houstonians wear their best country western attire, watch concerts from a diverse range of artists, devour delicious barbecue, and venture to the Rodeo carnival. So, how did the Houston rodeo begin?

A group of men looking to preserve the cattle industry 

met for lunch at the old Texas State hotel in downtown Houston.

 Based on their meeting, the The Houston Fat Stock Show and Livestock Exposition was created in 1931. The next year, the event was held at the Democratic Convention Hall. In 1938, some of our favorite events were added, including the rodeo, horse show, and downtown parade. Gene Autry, known as America’s singing cowboy, was the first performer at the rodeo in 1942. He performed 

 across southeast Texas leading up to the rodeo. The tradition started in 1952, when trail riders traversed from Brenham, Texas to Houston. Educational scholarships are also a key part of festivities. In 1957, the show gave its first $2,000 scholarship to Houstonian Ben Dickerson. The rodeo changed its name to Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo in 1961 and also moved its events to the Astrodome five years later. 1970 was a big year for the rodeo. Elvis Presley 

performed several shows for over 200,000 Houstonians.

 While he was in Houston, he stayed at the AstroWorld Hotel for $2,500 per night.

The rodeo continued to grow in popularity. By the 1990s, the Rodeo had launched its website and reached 1 million paid attendance visitors. It also had some special guests, including President George H.W. Bush 

and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

 Today, the rodeo remains a popular attraction for Houstonians. More than 2.4 million people attended the rodeo earlier this year. Next year, the rodeo kicks off on Feb. 27 and runs until March 17.

Did You Know Elvis Performed at Houston Rodeo? 

Did You Know Elvis Performed At The Houston Rodeo? 

Houston History

In downtown Houston, some may not realize there’s an intricate underground tunnel system connecting office buildings and restaurants. The tunnel, which is about 20 feet below ground level and stretches six miles, was first constructed in the 1930s. The tunnels offer a cooler way for Houstonians to explore downtown without having to walk in the heat.

to connect two buildings owned by former governor

 Ross Sterling. The tunnels would go on to connect two movie theaters owned by Will Horwitz, who dubbed it,  “The Uptown Theater Project.” Besides movie theaters, attendees could enjoy restaurants, shops, a penny arcade, and a German wine tavern. 

After Horwitz passed away, his Texan Theater was demolished and the tunnels were abandoned for many years until the 1970s. Real estate developer Gerald Hines revived the area and the tunnel system, adding 27 buildings to downtown Houston.

Today, the tunnels remain an iconic fixture of the city and remain open Monday thru Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. You’ll find a variety of great dining options including 5411 Empanadas, Adair Downtown, Tacos A Go Go, and more. If you’re a foodie and want to go all in, 

 that takes you through the dining spots in the tunnel system. 

 that shows you all the buildings and shops throughout the tunnel.

Houston's Downtown Tunnel System

AvantGarden is a place Houstonians flock to hear moving poetry from talented artists. The weekly open mic gatherings, 

, started off small but now have a worldwide following. Let’s learn more.

 Davis’ grandfather originally moved into the house in 1915. At the front of the house, there was a scale business and a repair shop in the back. Howard Hughes, who later became a billionaire and well-known celebrity in Houston, used to play at the mansion with the Davis children. Years later in 1995, Mariana Lemesoff purchased the now vacant mansion on Westheimer and desired to make it into a performing arts venue.

Lemesoff didn’t intend for the club to start off with a gothic aesthetic, but the black walls and the name Mausoleum attracted a certain crowd. She went with it for a while, booking some goth-centric bands. Lemesoff eventually decided to change the name to Helios to expand the crowd she attracted. By 2007, the name changed to AvantGarden.

As years passed, AvantGarden became a central place for spoken word artists in Houston. 

, which was founded by Amir Safi, hosts weekly poetry slams and open mic nights every Wednesday night. The gathering has garnered attention from artists and celebrities all over the country such as Chance The Rapper and Lenny Kravitz. The venue now boasts a bar and also hosts weddings and live music performances.

? Outspoken Bean, who has performed at Avant Garden and served as the Houston Poet Laureate, shares his journey. [City Cast Houston 🎧]

AvantGarden is a place Houstonians flock to hear moving poetry from talented artists. The weekly open mic gatherings, which are hosted by Write About Now, started off small but now have a worldwide following. Let’s learn more.

How AvantGarden Became A Poetry Hotspot

The Menil and its surroundings is one of my favorite parts of the city. I walk around the sprawling green lawns regularly, admiring nearby Rothko Chapel and all the people picnicking or just lazing on the picture-perfect grass. The museum originally opened in 1987 with art from the collection of founders John De Menil and Dominique de Menil, and now contains nearly 19,000 pieces of art. Let’s learn more about this iconic museum. 

The founders of the museum, John and Dominique de Menil, originally met 

. The two, who were both born in France, married only a year later, and quickly began growing their own personal art collection. When they moved to Houston to escape World War II, their home in River Oaks became its own art oasis. They hosted spirited kitchen table dinners with famous writers, artists, and filmmakers, such as Andy Warhol and Michaelangelo Antonioni. The couple also were highly involved in Houston’s arts scene, serving as patrons to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and the Contemporary Arts Museum. They also helped organize one of the first racially integrated art shows in the country, “The De Luxe Show” in Fifth Ward.

John De Menil passed away in 1973. At the time of his death, the couple had collected 

 Dominique wanted their dream of opening a museum together to become a reality. She hired Renzo Piano, a Paris architect, to design the building. Since the museum opened in 1987, it has remained a fixture in Houston’s art scene. When you visit, guests can see art in four major areas: the art of antiquity, the art of tribal cultures, twentieth century art, and American art.

The Menil is open Wednesdays through Sundays and offers free admission everyday. When you go for a visit, check out more than 100 portraits 

. An exhibit featuring 63 drawings from Polish artist Si Lewen 

 Once you finish exploring the museum, head to 

 We have a guide for you. [City Cast Houston 🎧]

Do you have a favorite memory at The Menil? 

The Menil and its surroundings is one of my favorite parts of the city. The museum originally opened in 1987 with art from the collection of founders John De Menil and Dominique de Menil, and now contains nearly 19,000 pieces of art. Let’s learn more about this iconic museum. 

How The Menil Collection Became A Houston Icon

 is the perfect place to escape the heat and gaze at some of the finest art work in the world. Whether you’re there for happy hour, free Thursdays, a new exhibition, or to watch a movie, the museum is a well-known art oasis for Houstonians. Let’s learn more 

about the oldest art museum in the state.

Emma Richardson Cherry and a group of women established the Public School Art League in 1900, which pushed for art and culture engagement in public schools. The group also hosted art classes, lectures, and exhibitions in the Scanlan building downtown. The organization was renamed Houston Art League in 1913 and members began their push to establish a public art museum. Hermann estate trustees donated a plot of land at South Main and Montrose for the museum, which opened to the public on April 12, 1924.

At first, the museum mainly showcased local artists. It also offered classes in painting, sculpture, and other works starting in 1927. When Le Malone became the museum’s first full-time director in 1954, he started showcasing works from across the country and abroad. Ima Hogg, known as the “First Lady of Texas,” donated her mansion and collection of American paintings and decorative arts to the museum in 1957. Her donation is one of the most recognizable museum sites today, 

. James Johnson Sweeney, former director of the Guggenheim Museum in New York City, also revolutionized the museum. He was known for his dramatic installations, constructing a pool outdoors to showcase a Picasso exhibit. He also expanded the museum’s collection of modern and non-European art. In the 1970s and 1980s, the museum added the 41,000 square-foot Glassell art school and the Sculpture Garden. The museum had collected more than 20,000 works of art by the end of the 1980s.

The museum remains a place dedicated to showcasing international art with current exhibits focusing on Indian, Islamic, and South African art. Make sure to check out the 

, which houses the museum’s international collections of modern and contemporary art. Catch a film in one of 

. Finally, mark your calendar because every Thursday the museum 

Now that you've added MFAH to your list of museums, here are some 

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston is the perfect place to escape the heat and gaze at some of the finest art work in the world. Whether you’re there for happy hour, free Thursdays, a new exhibition, or to watch a movie, the museum is a well-known art oasis for Houstonians. Let’s learn more about the oldest art museum in the state.

Houston's Oldest Art Museum 

The Grammy award-winning Houston Symphony is one of the oldest performing arts institutions in the city. Ima Hogg, civic leader and art patron, 

 with a thirty-five member orchestra. Since then, a Houston Symphony concert has remained a popular music destination for all kinds of performances. So, how did it become what it is today?

The first orchestra concert kick-started excitement for a permanent orchestra organization in the city. However in 1918, the orchestra disbanded because of World War I. In 1931, the orchestra was reformed under Italian conductor Uriel Nespoli. After Nespoli’s tenure, Frank St. Leger, a British-American conductor, took over for three seasons. The orchestra still struggled because of its low budget, lack of talented musicians, and poor-quality instruments.

In 1936, new conductor Ernst Hoffmann took the orchestra in a different direction and raised its reputation nationally. During World War II, the orchestra performed concerts for nearby army camps. They also performed on NBC's national radio program “Orchestras of the Nation,” where the station’s national program director called the orchestra “one of the finest ever on the series.” As time wore on, a variety of conductors took over and raised its reputation nationally. In 1965, the 

orchestra performed for the first time at Carnegie Hall

 as part of the International Festival of Visiting Orchestras. The following year, attendance skyrocketed when the orchestra began performing at Jones Hall.

In the 1980s the orchestra almost shut down because of a severe debt, but The Houston Symphony Society and music director Sergiu Comissiona successfully brought the organization out of its deficit. During their 70th anniversary season, the symphony featured talented guest pianists, focused on playing mostly classical and romantic masters, and made nearly a quarter of a million dollars. In 1990, orchestra members took their first overseas trip to perform at the Singapore Arts Festival in Japan. Since its original performance in the 1960s, the orchestra has played 16 times at Carnegie Hall. Over the next two decades, the orchestra would endure Tropical Storm Allison, Hurricane Harvey, and the covid-19 pandemic and still manage to retain audience participation. In their latest season, 

So, what’s your favorite part about going to the Houston Symphony? 

The Houston Symphony's History

Houston Ballet is the fifth largest dance company in the country, employing over 50 dancers and boasting a multi-million dollar budget. However, before it became one of the most prestigious ballet companies in the country, it started with 

twelve student dancers practicing in a small renovated garage

An interest in bringing a ballet company to Houston began when Tatiana Semenova, a professional international dancer, brought the American Youth Ballet to perform at San Jacinto High School in 1955. Natasha Rawson, president of Houston Allied Arts Association, gathered support to sponsor Semenova in Houston. Shortly after, the Foundation for Ballet was established in July 1955. After months of practice in a renovated garage on Lovett Boulevard, Semenova held her first dance recital for her students, Esquisse de Ballet. As the years progressed, the students were able to perform in several Houston Grand Opera productions. Semenova also debuted her first big production, Enigma, at the Music Hall, now known as the Hobby Center.

In the 1960s, Nina Popova, who hailed from New York’s High School for the Arts, 

. She broadened the reach of the ballet, holding auditions for dancers in New York, Los Angeles, and Dallas. They toured across 20 different communities in Texas. Expenses for the ballet company ballooned. In 1970, the ballet needed to raise $62,000 or it would shut down. The funds came in and the ballet company continued to grow. The number of dancers at the company increased and they were able to practice in a much larger studio space totaling 17,500 square feet. The ballet company’s reputation grew even more in the 1980s and 1990s, as the company toured across the country and abroad to Europe. The 

, providing a dedicated space for ballet performers.

the ballet company will perform six world premieres

, including three Houston Ballet premieres. Next month, the new season 

kicks off with “A Midsummer’s Night Dream” and “Tutu.”

 The new season will also celebrate Stanton Welch, who has served as the artistic director for 20 years.

Have you been to a Houston Ballet performance recently? What’s one of your favorite memories at the ballet? 

The History Behind The Houston Ballet 

Charlotte Marie Baldwin Allen, a native of New York, is often referred to 

 becoming a prominent leader in the city in the 1800s alongside her husband Augustus Chapman Allen. In 1836, her husband and his brother John Kirby Allen, purchased land on Buffalo Bayou. The brothers were soon advertising the land as a “prosperous new city” called Houston.

, an American general and statesman, at Prairie and Caroline streets. Mary Austin Holley also drew the first sketches of the capitol, when the state capitol was in Houston, from the Allens’ home. John Kirby Allen died in 1838, bringing Charlotte to the forefront of business dealings. She registered her own cattle brand and also oversaw plenty of real estate development projects.

Charlotte and her husband eventually separated in 1850. He moved out of Texas, but Charlotte continued to be known as a prominent businesswoman in the city for the next forty five years. She deeded property to the city for a city hall and markethouse and also sold the capitol site, which became home to the Capitol Hotel. The same area of land would later 

 Charlotte passed away at 90-years-old in August 1895. An elementary school was named after her in 1907 — making her the first woman in Houston to have a public school named for them. 

Charlotte Marie Baldwin Allen, a native of New York, is often referred to as the “Mother of Houston,” becoming a prominent leader in the city in the 1800s alongside her husband Augustus Chapman Allen. In 1836, her husband and his brother John Kirby Allen, purchased land on Buffalo Bayou. The brothers were soon advertising the land as a “prosperous new city” called Houston.

Meet The Mother of Houston 

Meet The Mother Of Houston 

KP George made history when he was elected as Fort Bend county judge, becoming the first person of color and South Asian to hold the seat. Fort Bend, a suburb of Houston, is one of the most diverse counties in America. Since his historic election in 2018, George led the county through a pandemic, massive freeze, and other transitions. Let’s learn more about him.

George was born in India and lived in a village 

 He always dreamed of moving to the United States. In 1993, he was able to obtain a Visa and move to America. Six years later, George relocated to Fort Bend with his wife, Sheeba, and two children.

Before George became county judge, he served as a school board member for Fort Bend ISD. During the 2018 election, George beat out longtime county judge Robert Herbert, who served in the position for 15 years. During his first term, George oversaw the county through the pandemic. As the pandemic wore on, George 

 because of the COVID-19 business restrictions he placed in the county and his stance on wearing a mask to prevent illnesses. After the pandemic, he 

oversaw several COVID-19 recovery initiatives

 including an emergency grant program for small businesses and a childcare voucher program. George also sought out new business development — soliciting Amazon to build a new fulfillment center in the county.

. He wants to attract good-paying jobs to the county, help improve mental health issues, and combat human trafficking. He also plans to focus on public safety and emergency response.

Do you have a place or person I should feature for Houston History? 

KP George makes history in Fort Bend 

This Fort Bend County Judge Made History 

a small grocery store in Kerrville, Texas in 1905.

 Since then, the beloved grocery store has expanded to more than 300 stores across the state. From the tortillas, specialty drinks, barbecue sauce, to the friendly grocers — let’s learn how this grocery store became a Texas favorite.

Florence Thornton, who was married to Clarence Butt, started the grocery store as a family business in Kerrville. Thornton worked for A&P Tea Company, ordering and delivering groceries. Her time with the company paid off because Thornton began to develop her own supplies of grocery and save enough money to open her own store. In November 1905, the C.C. Butt Grocery Store, opened for business.

In the early days, the store was set up under a charge and delivery method, where customers came in and placed an order on credit. Then, an employee would deliver the groceries to their home. As a teen, Howard Butt, helped his mom around the store, which helped him learn more about the grocery business. When he returned in 1919 from a stint in the U.S. Navy, his mother let him take over the business. Soon, Butt changed the store’s delivery model to cash-and-carry, which put an end to wagon deliveries. He also yearned to expand the store beyond Kerrville, and successfully opened a new branch in Del Rio in 1926. The store’s name also would change to H.E. Butt Grocery Stores and then eventually shortened to H-E-B in 1946. Butt also managed to expand the store to Corpus Christi, Austin, and San Antonio.

H-E-B finally came to the Houston-area in 2001. I still remember my first trip to the Katy store on Mason road as a child. I thought it was massive and easily got lost exploring all the aisles. It quickly became my favorite store to visit. The Houston area now has 20 locations, including 

, a Mexican grocery store owned by H-E-B. The store’s branded products also have a cult-like following. If you’ve ever had one of their tortillas, ice creams, drinks, or other goodies — you’ll understand why.

 Then, listen to our City Cast Houston episodes 

H-E-B started as a small grocery store in Kerrville, Texas in 1905. Since then, the beloved grocery store has expanded to more than 300 stores across the state. 