December 5 in San Antonio history…

1949
More than 41,000 people attend the new open house at Frost Bros. to see the new four floor Travis Street addition, which doubles the store’s floor space.  Mayor White cuts the ribbon with sequin-covered scissors.

1983
U. S. Represenative Tom Loeffler and Hunter Harrison, special counsel to the Secretary of Education, come to San Antonio for ceremonies recognizing Winston Churchill High School as an exemplary school.

1990
Ground is broken on the Alamodome, located on the former Alamo Iron Works site and adjacent property, on the east side of Interstate 37 and across from the HemisFair Park area.

November 2 in San Antonio history…

1949
Lt. Gen. Leslie Groves, head of the Manhattan Project to develop the atomic bomb, gives a speech entitled, “The Future of Atomic Energy” at San Pedro Playhouse.

1976
The Eagles bring their Hotel California tour to Convention Center Arena.
J. D. Souther opens.

1987
Richard Marx comes to the Alamo City for the first time and plays a concert at Sneakers.  At the time of the show, his second single “Should’ve Known Better” is climbing the charts at #14.

2000
Dan Cook announces that he is stepping down as sports anchor on KENS Channel 5.  His last broadcast will be November 30.

October 19 in San Antonio history…

1949
Bexar County’s brand new coliseum is “open for business” with a two-day performance of the Ringling Brothers – Barnum & Bailey Circus beginning today (right).

1975
Flamboyant fashion critic, Mr. Blackwell, famous for his annual “worst-dressed list,” is the celebrity guest at UTSA’s “Fashion Extravaganza” benefit.

1981
The Hertzberg Clock, which has stood at the corner of St. Mary’s and Houston streets for 71 years, is donated to the San Antonio Conservation Society, by Maxine Bordelon and Jennita Poston, daughters of Max and Nell Goodman, who purchased the clock in 1910 from Eli Hertzberg.

August 3 in San Antonio history…

1883
The first issue of the San Antonio Light is published. (Originally published starting in 1881 as The Evening Light.)

1949
Seven rural school districts, the Blanco Road Common School District #6, Seay Common School District #7, Olmos Common School District #9, Lookout Valley Common School District #10, Serna Common School District #11, Salado Valley Common School District #10.5, and Coker Common School District #50 consolidate to form the North East Rural High School District.  This will become North East ISD in 1955.

1974
The Happy Jazz Band and the Landing move from the Nix Building to the river level of the Stockman Restaurant.

June 24 in San Antonio history…

1930
Maj. William C. Ocker, “the Father of Instrument Flying,” flies 900 miles from San Antonio to Scotts Field, Illinois in an enclosed cockpit, without reference to outside visual cues.  He calls the flight “an unofficial test.”

1939
Mayor Maverick today has obtained from Aubrey Williams, NYA director, a commitment for $100,00 of NYA funds for restoration of the Villita Street Spanish Village.

1949
Trinity Baptist Church is founded.

May 31 in San Antonio history…

1949
The Board of Trustees of the Public Library passes the motion that “The San Antonio Public Library shall be open to all people equally, irrespective of race or creed.”

San Antonio Light advertisement

1954
Frank Huntress, publisher of the San Antonio Express newspaper, announces that the Express Publishing Company has applied to the Federal Communications Commission to purchase KGBS television station channel 5.  (The sale would be completed in November 1954 and the call letters would be changed to KENS for Express-News Station.)

1968
Randy’s Rodeo holds its grand opening featuring Johnny Bush.  Legendary acts such as Rush, U2 and the Sex Pistols would all play their first San Antonio gigs at Randy’s.

May 19 in San Antonio history…

1899
Labor leader Eugene V. Debs speaks at Beethoven Hall.

1949
Studer’s Photo Company is purchased by a newly formed corporation to be known as Studer’s Incorporated, for a price reported to be around $250,000.  Studer’s has been run by Mrs. Ada Studer, the widow of founder Ben Studer, since his sudden death in April of 1948.

Photo courtesy of Feeding The Pig Antiques and Historical Photo Galleries.

1975
Nearly two months before the release of their second eponymous LP, Anglo-American band Fleetwood Mac, featuring new members Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks (right), play a concert in Municipal Auditorium.

March 10 in San Antonio history…

1949
The Alameda Theater on Houston Street (right) holds its grand opening.

1985
A week-long series of Irish themed events kicks off with a convoy of green-bedecked barges spewing green dye into the San Antonio River.  The special guest is Thomas Crotty, Lord Mayor of Kilkenny, Ireland.

1990
Appraisers from the South Texas Chapter of the International Society of Appraisers offer their expertise at the Witte Museum.  The public is invited to bring in artifacts and antiques to find out their worth for a charge of $4 per object for museum members and $5 for non-members.

January 31 in San Antonio history…

1921
A unique feature of San Antonio’s newest drugstore, Sommers No. 1, at Losoya and Houston streets, is the narrow mezzanine that extends around the entire building and contains glass-front cases in which supplies are stored.

1949
The lowest temperature ever in San Antonio is recorded on this day.  The mercury plunges to a brutally cold 0 degrees Fahrenheit and the city shivers under a 4.7 inch snowfall.

1975
Hondo Crouch, the mayor and “Clown Prince of Luckenbach,” becomes mayor of the Paseo del Rio to kick off the third annual KKYX Great Country River Festival.

December 11 in San Antonio history…

1926
The Olmos Dam (right) is dedicated and opened to traffic.

1949
WOAI-TV Channel 4 is dedicated today. The station began broadcasting regular programming at 4:45 that afternoon and signed off at 9:00 pm. The feature program is the SMU-Notre Dame game from Dec. 3.  The program was condensed to 40 minutes by eliminating huddles and time between plays.

1995
HEB grocery store breaks ground on their first store outside the U.S., in Monterrey, Mexico.