October 5 in San Antonio history…

1857
The mail from San Antonio arrives in San Diego in 26 and a half days via the Overland Mail Line owned by James Birch, breaking the previous record of 30 days.

1946
The first of a fleet of 50 air-conditioned buses was received today and will go into service on some of’ the heavier traffic routes this week, according to Laurence Wingerter, vice-president and general manager of the Transit company.

1954
Jazz impresario Norman Granz brings his “Jazz at the Philharmonic” tour to the Municipal Auditorium.  Performers include:  Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, The Oscar Peterson Trio (Oscar Peterson, Herb Ellis, Ray Brown), Buddy Rich, Louie Bellson, Flip Phillips, Buddy DeFranco, Illinois Jacquet, Ben Webster, Roy Eldridge and Bill Harris.

September 9 in San Antonio history…

1900
Today’s San Antonio Light edition totally understates the effect of the massive hurricane damage to Galveston. The Daily Express gets closer but with telegraph and telephone lines down, it’s difficult to ascertain the full extent of the destruction.

1916
After being officially known as “Camp Cecil A. Lyon” for a single week, the encampment of state troops on the Fort Sam Houston reservation is again “Camp Wilson” and will retain that name as long as it exists.

2004
The bottling house at the Pearl Brewery burns to the ground.  The three-alarm fire, well under way by the time a security guard spotted it at 2 a.m., took with it a 107-year old, 40,000-square-foot structure with an arched doorway and windows and the mission-style arch of the Alamo.  It took 85 firefighters more than 90 minutes to bring the massive fire under control. The plant’s golden-domed brew house also was damaged.

February 14 in San Antonio history…

1896
Lovers of that delicious dish, chili con carne, may be slightly nauseated to learn that vendors of this delicacy on the plaza get their water from the ditch that runs in front of San Fernando Cathedral.

1916
Second lieutenant and future President Dwight D. Eisenhower, stationed at Ft. Sam Houston,  proposes to Mamie Doud.  She accepts.

1965
The San Antonio Express begins an Old Photo contest (right) to commemorate their 100th anniversary.  The grand prize is $50.00 (nearly $450.00 in today’s money.)

November 3 in San Antonio history…

1866
The first gas lights are turned on in the plazas.

1916
Charlie Chaplin is featured at the Strand Theater in his newest comedy “A Revue of 1916.”  This vaudeville theater, at 113 W. Houston Street, will later become a movie theater renamed the Prince Theater.

1959
The San Antonio Light reports, “If you feel like splurging a little for a Christmas tree this year, there are artificial trees made of glittering stainless metal to be found at the Frost Bros. gift shop.  The fashion store’s Murray Berkowitz says:  ‘There are 200 detachable branches with 70,000 sparking needles on each tree.  You can store the trees and use them from year to year.’ He also notes that by using small colored spotlights, you can achieve some dazzling effects.”

October 14 in San Antonio history…

1916
The University of Texas defeats Oklahoma A&M, 14-6, in a game played at League Park here in San Antonio.

1956
Elvis Presley with his band, Scotty Moore, Bill Black and D.J. Fontana,  played two shows at the Bexar County Coliseum to thousands of swooning, screaming, mainly female, fans.  It was the third appearance for Elvis in San Antonio in 1956. (photo from the Institute of Texan Cultures San Antonio Light Collection.)

1990
As part of a $183,000 project to provide 140 air conditioning window units to for the school district, the Edgewood High School becomes the last Bexar County school district to be fully air conditioned.

October 13 in San Antonio history…

1916
The University of Texas defeats Oklahoma A&M, 14-6, in a game played at League Park here in San Antonio.

1971
A live rock concert, “Rex Foster with Don and Merrily” is broadcast from the KLRN studios and simulcast on radio stations KEXL in San Antonio and KHFI in Austin.  It is the first time that the stereo radio and television technique has been used in two cities at once.

1975
The Ace in the Hole band, featuring singer George Strait, plays their first concert – just up the road at Cheatham Street Warehouse in San Marcos.

September 25 in San Antonio history…

1922
Radio station WOAI (“World Of Agricultural Information”) transmits its first radio broadcast. It is the third radio station in San Antonio.

1960
“The Flintstones” premieres on ABC television affiliate KONO-TV Channel 12 at 7 p.m.  The primetime cartoon was created in color but broadcast in black & white until the third season. They are also sponsored by Winston cigarettes!

1965
Atheist Madelyn Murray O’Hair, noted for her 1963 Supreme Court case banning prayer in schools, is arrested in San Antonio after a flight from Mexico City.  She is taken into custody and jailed under 11 warrants from Baltimore charging her with aggravated assault on policemen.  She was arrested at the Greyhound bus terminal after police missed her at the airport.

September 24 in San Antonio history…

1916
Jack Burke, manager of the Grand Opera House, announces that he has secured the state rights for Tom May’s Electro-Wonder scoreboard and folks that do not go east to watch the World Series will be afforded the opportunity to see each game played at the Grand Opera House on the latest improved scoreboard (right).

1917
To assist federal and local authorities protecting soldiers, the city council passed an ordinance prohibiting the use of autos for immoral purposes and offered a large reward for the arrest and conviction of anyone caught selling liquor to soldiers.

1999
The 100th Fighter Squadron of the Tuskeegee Airmen is reactivated at Randolph Air Force Base as the 100th Flying Training Squadron, flying Beeccraft T-6 Texan II, Raytheon T-1 Jayhawk and Northrop T-38C Talon trainers.

February 14 in San Antonio history…

1896
Lovers of that delicious dish, chili con carne, may be slightly nauseated to learn that vendors of this delicacy on the plaza get their water from the ditch that runs in front of San Fernando Cathedral.

1916
Second lieutenant and future President Dwight D. Eisenhower, stationed at Ft. Sam Houston,  proposes to Mamie Doud.  She accepts.

1982
The Irish now-supergroup U2 (right) makes their first appearance in San Antonio, playing at Cardi’s – a briefly renamed Randy’s Rodeo, promoting their current album “October.”  Tickets were $4. (Photo by Al Rendon)

February 1 in San Antonio history…

1916
Harry Houdini escapes from a straitjacket while suspended upside-down above the intersections of Crockett and Navarro streets downtown.

1928
The Milam Cafeteria opens in the Milam Building at the intersection of Soledad and Travis streets.

1932
Classes begin at the brand new Thomas Jefferson High School (right).