LETTERS

Brew-ha-ha

Your article on beer and beer tasting (“The Blind Truth”) demonstrated the usual vulgarity and lack of taste which have haunted honest American beer drinkers since prohibition.

The whole premise of the taste-fest was distorted by the omission of the three great beers which are available in Dallas: Rignes (Norway), Harp (Ireland), and Watney’s Red Barrel (England). Anyone with wit, sense, and a carefully developed paunch would have put these at Spot No. 1.

There will be great differences in imported beers. The Carlsberg Light that you list as No. 7 might be No. 1 or No. 19 depending on how old it is. There are three ways to test age: taste, the rust of an old cap around the upper neck once the top is removed, and – best of all – the Murk Test.

This latter is done the following way: Pluck a bottle of beer from its box, unopened. Wipe away any moisture which has collected on the outside. Carefully tilt the bottle a full 90° – holding it up to the light all the while. If there is a stirring of dust and sediment from the bottom, it means that the beer is old and deteriorated, and should not be purchased.

We are fortunate to be able to purchase brews like Rignes, Harp, and Watney’s. What is tragic is that some of the greatest beers – brewed five hundred miles from here, are prohibited by some nitwit in the Pure Food and Drug bureaucracy from importation. Corona beer (Mexico) is imported into the United States in a swillish imitation of the real thing. The Real Thing, Corona Extra, is available only over the border – and ranks in my diadem of brewing divinity along with Gosser beer of Austria and the nectar I sipped one torrid evening in Hamza-El-Fin, Morocco, as the sun turned blood-red to die on the weaker pillar of Hercules and the crystalline green bottle caught the last glow and my heart in some god brewer’s net which is now, sadly, lost in the muddle of too many draughts, too many miles away.

Lorenzo W. Milam



A Seat in the Bleachers

I just had another frustrating experience buying “blind” tickets: I had no idea when I bought them which seats were available for x dollars and no idea when I got there what seats they had for that price category.

How about publishing a “Spectator’s Handbook of Where the Seats Are”? This could be folded after removal from your magazine, which I really like, and carried in purse or glove compartment, and should show the letter-and-number seat layout of the Dallas area auditorium, including at least everything from the Super Bowl to the dinner theaters.

An added line for “good view – facial”, another for “good view – full stage,” and a shaded area for “well balanced acoustics” wouldn’t hurt, either.

A “Sitter’s Bible” would have saved me the other night from tickets I hated.

Mrs. Myriam Vern Woods

100 Ideas Rides Again

Your article on improving Dallas is one I hope will have some impact on the way things turn out to be.

It did pique me to read the tired suggestion that the Dallas Symphony Orchestra needs a new conductor again. I think we should be grateful to have a man of Louis Lane’s deep experience. Not only are his musical credentials impeccable, but he has ample charisma, as his transcendent performance of Elgar’s Enigma Variations of last year attests.

Furthermore, can the D.S.O. afford another political war over who should or should not conduct? Let’s give Louis a fair chance.

Peter A. Mood



This is an alternative to the L. B. Houston “Zoo” (idea #50 in the March issue).

Why not cash in on the unspoiled, natural beauty of L. B. Houston Park by spotlighting its native, peculiarly Texan, flora and fauna. An interconnecting system of foot paths could provide access to areas frequented by beaver, wood ducks, opossums and raccoons. Ancient river bottom trees such as cottonwoods, bur oaks and American elms would offer a chance to see how the banks of the Trinity looked before it became Texas’ second most polluted stream.

Such a place would offer a delightful change of pace from carefully manicured city parks or commercially developed theme parks. By the way, the L. B. Houston nature area on the picturesque Elm Fork of the Trinity River already exists, the trail system is in and ready for foot traffic.

Walter R. Davis II

Curator of Exhibits

Dallas Museum of Natural History



Radio Free Dallas

I have just looked through your latest issue and have some comments concerning Dallas broadcasting – a subject you seem to be quite interested in. As a former disc jockey I know something about the business and I don’t feel you’re running the straight story about some items.

I have heard that CBS cancelled KRLD, despite what their general manager says, and in fact had already signed with WFAA before KRLD even knew it was being cancelled. I also have heard that ABC also cancelled KRLD – that’s why the station is still negotiating to re-sign with that network. The way I see it, KRLD is putting on a PR campaign with this “local stars” bit to avoid the embarrassment of admitting it was cancelled, apparently because it didn’t live up to its contract.

Also, WRR has no ratings because it’s boring. When they say “we’re all talk,” they ain’t kidding. For Dallas to be the 9th radio market in the country, it is very disappointing and very un-professional radiowise.

Alan Scott

Crow’s Downtown

The April issue of D brought your extremely interesting and informative article, “Trammell Crow is Building a New Downtown.” You took a myriad of facts about complicated, visionary projects and men, romanced your phrases and paced the action until it read to me like an exciting novel.

I congratulate you, but your continuity, props and scenic effects assistant let you down. The “fully developed model” on the lower half of page 43 is obviously an architect’s rendering and would Trammell Crow really conceive of a fully developed “new downtown” consisting of just five buildings?

Now maybe if they were five World Trade Centers at their eventual 20 story height – that might just work!

Overton Shelmire



An Unkind Cut

It is quite a thrill to be among the “Best” within the type of quality readership D inevitably attracts.

However, in being singled out as the “Best” Cakery there were some errors that could prove quite detrimental to the business following we have built up over the years. Our cakes start at $7.50 for a 9″ x 13″, not the higher price quoted. We open at 10 a.m. and close at 5:30 p.m. except on Thursdays when we are open until 8:30 p.m., not the earlier hour.

Also, we do a large business with flower cakes, from special types to whole gardens of flowers. And while upon occasion we attempt to copy a photograph, we no longer do the portrait work for which my deceased husband, Mel Curts, became so well known among residents and innumerable visiting celebrities.

You can see how misinformation on pricing, hours and types of cake designs could be misleading, I am sure. We certainly do not want our customers or your readers to have occasion to be disappointed.

Florence Curts

The Cakery



After reading “Best Bests” in your April issue, 1 stopped by the Lone Star Donut Shop, 5736 E. Mockingbird Lane, and I had a very interesting experience there.

I told the lady waiting on me that I had read about their having the best donut maker and said that they should have your article on display.

In reply she said that Mr. Ingram of the Lone Star Donut Company had been against having the story in the magazine because the “boy is just 18 years old and he is a Negro!” I was disgusted, and embarrassed.

It is amazing to realize such prejudice is still rampant. Too bad you gave such nice publicity to people like that. I hope to sample some of your other “Best Bests” and hope the others were more willing to be featured.

Mrs. H. S. Halebian