Hale, Arthur K
Arthur Hale, Executive Secretary of the State Fair Association, reviews his career, recalls early parks in Dallas, discusses the operation of the State Fair, and recalls the failure of the Grand Old Texas project, a predecessor of Six Flags Over Texas. He then speaks of West Texas athletics, concentrating on baseball in Lubbock.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Arthur K. Hale
Additional Parties Recorded:
Date: June 15, 1973; July 19; 1976
Location: Dallas, Texas
Interviewer: Harry Jebsen, Robert Newton, Steven Gamble
Length: 2 hours, 5 minutes (total)
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1: Recollection of Dallas in the early 1900s,
Early life, education examined,
Opening of State Fair Music Hall recalled,
Dallas’ Cotton Bowl Stadium discussed,
Work with baseball remembered,
Return to Dallas, work with State Fair recalled,
Payment of bonds cited,
Recollection of early Dallas parks,
Progress of Dallas parks reviewed.
Tape 1, Side 2: Parks’ accommodation to semi-pro baseball,
Dramatic productions recalled,
Mention of park scandals,
Observations on effect of state centennial,
Uses of Fair revenue explored,
Increasing role of Parks Department in maintaining fairgrounds cited,
Legal difficulty in Fair’s acquisition of contiguous areas examined,
Response to criticism of Fair,
Grand Old Texas project described,
Stage designer Peter Wolfe cited,
Reasons for failure of Grand Old Texas project given,
Criticism of Fair management answered.
Tape 2, Side 1: Public misunderstandings about the Fair reviewed,
Grand Old Texas project further discussed,
SMU-Indiana game in the Cotton Bowl recalled.
Tape 2, Side 2: Blank
Tape 3, Side 1: Association with baseball,
Texas Baseball League, Dallas Baseball Club,
Assistant farm director Chicago White Sox,
General Manager White Sox Club Longview Texas,
General Manager Lubbock Public Baseball Club,
(Lubbock Hubbers),
Championship team,
Comparison between Lubbock and Longview Texas,
Lubbock ballpark,
Lubbock support,
Relationship between White Sox and Lubbock Hubbers,
Economic situation,
Travel by bus,
Player’s salary,
General Manager’s salary,
Year-round job,
Spring training,
Trading players,
Economic situations of teams, World War II,
Community relationship with Lubbock team.
Tape 3, Side 2: Community support and relationship,
Publicity,
Broadcasting games,
Game promotions,
Fines,
Player fights,
Colorful players and umpires,
Superstitions,
Death of minor leagues,
Milton Price, president, West Texas League,
John T. King, umpire and oilman,
Prize fight between The Bear and Babe Hunt in Lubbock,
Wrestling in Lubbock,
Ticket costs.
Range Dates: Early 1900s-1976
Bulk Dates: 1920s-1940s
Access Information
Original Recording Format:
Recording Format Notes:
Transcript:
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