LET’R RIP

Rodney “Dino” Kitchens, your fifteen minutes have begun. The “Prince of Ecstasy” who graced our October cover, you’ll recall, had been living on the edge for years, a dancing, drug-fueled dervish who bounced from Starck Club to detox to Huntsville before the age of twenty-three. As Richard West’s story ended, Rodney had finally realized that “x ” did not mark the spot for him. He’d found his way to a clear mind and a legitimate job. But in the Age of Celebrity, there is no one whose life might not become the stuff of a made-for-TV movie. Now Rodney’s become The Prince of Publicity.

We might have gotten an inkling of things to come when Rodney came to the office to answer a few more questions about his life and crimes. Glancing at the photos set to run with his story, Rodney asked. “So who’s this guv I beat out for the cover?” Told it was Jim Mattox, the attorney genera! and a candidate for governor, Rodney seemed remarkably composed, blase, almost as if. . . well, the unwary might have thought he didn’t even know who Mattox was.

Then, after the story appeared, Rodney called to give us his agent’s-ves, his agent’s- name and phone number. The agent, see, had heard that Fox 33 had called us about putting Rodney on a. talk show. Naively, we had given Fox Rodney’s phone number, which shows how little we know about how show biz works. The agent called in a huff to remind us that Rodney really wanted, media requests to be channeled through him. He also asked if we were surprised that there hadn’t been more requests for interviews on talk shows, etc. Actually we weren’t. Jim Bakker was convicted about that time, and of course the Zsa Zsa thing just dragged on and on. Competition’s fierce, Rod.

Rodney also informed us that he had bought a “little company” (with what, we didn’t ask), doing some import-export of, uh, used jeans and shoes. He wanted to pick up a few copies of the issue and thought he’d send a J. P.-that’s a junior partner-over. Turned out Rodney himself had an unexpected hole in his schedule so he was able to fit us in for some face time, a move we really thought showed class. He hasn’t forgotten the little people on the way up.

It’s taken a while, but the aftershocks of the Risqué Opium Ad We Never Even Saw Until It Was in the Magazine have now reached tiny Allen, Texas. On page 109, October, we introduced you to lovable Allen fourth-grader Dixie Gunn, whose 800-pound Limousin Croff steer did indeed win all the marbles at the State Fair’s Junior Livestock Prospect Steer Show. (Do we know how to pick ’em?) Anyway, Dixie’s proud mama headed out to buy several copies of D, only to find to her dismay that Allen’s mer-chant(s) had stowed the magazine behind the counter. As if D were just some glossy supermarket bodice-ripper! How sad that this sleek, alabaster lass sprawled in reckless abandon over golden sheets-her lush derrière just one languid shrug from glorious nakedness, her russet tresses ready to lend glory to any pillow-should distract readers for even one mad, tempestuous, pulse-pounding moment from the serious business of life. Our apologies for any problems we caused anyone.

Yellow Journalism?

In regards to your “Mad, Mad Mattox” [October], I have a few things I would like to say. First of all. let me point out that it was a good article-if you like “yellow journalism.” But, I do not. Secondly, I am sure many of your readers would like to have the opportunity to read the other side of your editors’ political opinion-the one side you’ll choose not to report.

I am fed up with the Republican-owned media in this area presenting a very effective and “no-nonsense” political leader in such a calculated manner. 1 felt your article on Mattox was blatant sophistry. But I guess a good Democratic candidate would scare me too, if I were Republican.

SUSAN PARR

Sherman



Imagine my horror to find that Brad Bailey was persuaded that Austin-my home for fifteen years-was the only city in Texas to have the bad taste to fawn over Mattox. Tell your reporter, it’s not that Austin approves of Mat-tox’s less-than-ethical activities. We are equally appalled at the thought of this poor excuse for an elected official seeking a higher office. But, here in Austin, Mattox employs two of every five “political junkies,” and those he doesn’t employ with taxpayers’ money, he holds sway over with ever-bolder threats of “negative” attorney general’s opinions.

What your reporter should have asked was how much of Mattox’s $4 million came from law firms, corporations, or associations with an important opinion request in Mattox’s office. This Austinite is joining most of the people you mentioned and “pulling the lever” for Ann Richards. I want to be able to look my nieces and nephews in the eye, in years ahead, and say Texans put an end to sleazy politics in the 1990 elections.

HUEY BAINES

AUSTIN



D -Lighted

I think the new format for D is spectacular! Your recent issue was packed with great articles, and the new “packaging” made it all just that much more appealing. Congratu-lations!

HARDEN HULL WEDEMANN

DALLAS



A Matter of Opinion



I will not renew my subscription to D Magazine! And I certainly would not give D Magazine as a gift to a friend. They probably would not be a friend for long because your writers would find a way to be rude and insulting to them. I do not wish to be associated with this kind of journalism.

Your “Dear Subscriber” letter states that D is filled with many things, two of which are investigative reporting and opinion. I have found that in the last twelve months, investigative reporting is minor and opinion is major, or perhaps your editors and writers confuse the two. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but a public statement that is intended to do nothing but damage to others is not representative of articles read for enjoyment.

CAROLYN SCHEEL

DALLAS



So Who Is A.nti-Life?

I know you do not wish to show bias in your articles, so I was very surprised to note the language of Chris Tucker in “Abortion: The Never-Ending Struggle” in October’s issue.

Pro-lifers prefer to be called as such because our objectives embrace all human life issues-the rights of every human being to the precious gift of life from conception throughout life until natural death. The labels Tucker used, perhaps inadvertently, do not adequately convey the scope of right-to-life objectives or activities.

Also, we are not all “Bible-thumpers” or fundamentalists either. Right-to-life issues are moral issues that should concern all men and women and children, regardless of religious affiliation.

CARLOS BECQUER

DALLAS



Too Tall Tales

May I give you a Texas-size “thank you” for your article in the October issue on Ed “Too Tall” Jones! What a joy to read an article on something that is truly bigger and better (as most Texans claim everything in Texas is) that represents our state. Ed Jones represents the Dallas Cowboys as they should be. I say, let’s be Texas Proud of a truly deserving athlete.

HOLLY DYER

GARLAND



Notes From Underground

Like Rodney Kitchens, a.k.a. “Dino” [“Prince of Ecstasy,” October], I was one of those post-industrial hero-cum-zeros who lived my charcoal black nights along the walls of the Starck Club. Indeed, I was yesterday’s news but tomorrow’s uncertainty. Then I discovered Ecstasy.

To make an extremely long story short, I passed out thinking I was David Byrne and woke up the next morning as Jerry Jones. I gave away my Cafe shirts and Jag shoes, and immediately restocked my wardrobe with purple, pink, or green sport shirts, cotton dockers, and everything else from the L.L. Bean catalogue. I have become a loads-a-money enterpriser, a country club conservative, a limousine liberal (on some issues), and a rock’n’roll Republican. I feel like I am running away from a nuclear explosion while being X-rayed by it, and it’s all because of accidentally meeting William Murchison while X-ing out and listening to Sammy Davis Jr. You might be calling me a D-generate, but I’ll just clench my jaw, turn up the Beach Boys, and shoot you the finger. Have a nice day.

CORDON HILGERS

DALLAS

I enjoyed reading your article on the “Prince of Ecstasy” by Richard West. My name is Sony; you mentioned me in your article. I’m a good friend of Dino, and he’s the one who told me about the article.

I couldn’t wait to read it, and, like I said, I enjoyed it very much. Except the way you described me: “Some guy with a gravity-defying, towering cockscomb floating above his skull, thanks to a whole can of Final Net hairspray.”

I sent you these pictures so you could see for yourself who you described in your article. I don’t want people to think I’m some kind of freak, walking around Dallas doing drugs.

RAYMOND “SONY” PALACIO

ARLINGTON



Oh, that N-hydroxy-3, 4-methylenedioxy-amphetamine



The Drug Analysis Section of the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences did not identify the tablets in Rodney Kitch-ens’s case as being N-hydroxy-3. 4-methyl-enedioxyamphetamine but reported them to be a derivative of that compound. After intensive effort identified them as the isopro-penyl derivative, this information was reported in a supplemental report.

In short, no mistakes were made in analysis and these were not flawed analyses. To state that this chemical is only a molecule away from being “legal” ephedrine (Suda-fed) is like saying water is only a molecule away from being sulfuric acid.

Writing good articles containing scientific information is not easy. Wasn’t there a good chance that a simple phone call would have prevented mistakes being made and the publication of a flawed article?

JOHN N. LOMONTE

SOUTHWESTERN INSTITUTE

OF FORENSIC SCIENCES

DALLAS



Sins of Omission

“The Search for Intelligent Life in Dallas” [October] is a great article. All of us are pleased to have our feelings verified that intellectual challenge and stimulation are alive and well in Dallas. Thank you for the article.

However, I must take exception to one area of the article. Although I was touched to be one of the two exceptions to the criticism of the clergy, I want you to know that the statement about the clergy was unfair. There are far more exceptions than two-in fact, I can tell you without hesitation that I know many, many local clergy who are open to, challenged by, and live the intellectual life (rabbis, ministers, priests, etc.). That part of the article was regrettable indeed-and hurts it.

RABBI SHELDON ZIMMERMAN

DALLAS



Our list of “exceptions” was not meant to be inclusive. Sorry for the misunderstanding.



D-FAMED?

We now know what D means! “D” for Dirty-“D” for Disgusting-“D” for Demeaning-“D” for Disappointing-“D” for Deceitful-“D” is for Diabolical-“D” is for Distasteful. Your article on Rick Strauss and Stonebridge Ranch [“Slick Rick,” October] represents all of the “D” words above.

By innuendo, insinuation, sleight of hand and word, you have done a hatchet job on Rick and his family without referring to the facts except in the most general of terms. Throughout the article you quote such expert witnesses as “insiders say,” “says one of his competitors,” “sources close to the deal,” “the Hearsay that whispers,” “according to a magazine source,” “real estate insiders.” Then, of course, the most expert witness, Sally Giddens the writer, used every cheap trick at her disposal to cast a shadow on this deal as some sort of master plan schemed over the years to come to fruition now.

Your Black Journalism discredits your magazine and all future articles as far as I am concerned. Please cancel my subscription.

SAM J. SUSSER

DALLAS

Though he was subjected to numerous reviews by regulatory authorities, no wrongdoing on Rick Strauss’s part has ever been alleged-including your article. But your writer used innuendos and supposed comments by “former insiders” to paint a much different picture.

I have had the privilege of investing in regulated financial institutions with Rick and his father for more than twenty years. Through good times and bad, they have provided thoughtful counsel and advice, and we have always been proud of our record of compliance with the rules and regulations that govern our industry.

I hope your unjust characterization of the Strausses is not representative of the new look of D Magazine.

RONALD G. STEINHART

Dallas