Longhorn Ballroom

Longhorn Ballroom

Paging through a bunch of memes on Non-Original Rants this morning and came across this non-sequitur. I spent some time in Texas (eight years maybe?) and while the state is thoroughly permeated with redneck culture, there is a lot of great music that comes out of there, music I like anyway.

Now I come across this sign and I'm thinking, yeah, let's wave a red flag in front of the bull. It'll be fun. 

Wikipedia has a page about this place. Here's some tidbits:

Originally built by O.L. Nelms, an eccentric Dallas millionaire, for his close friend, western swing bandleader Bob Wills, the venue opened in 1950 as Bob Wills' Ranch House. When Wills left In the early 50's Nelms leased the sprawling venue to notorious nightclub owner turned assassin Jack Ruby. Mr. Ruby eventually had a nervous breakdown and lost the lease, but he is credited with hosting some of the best black entertainers of the day including Count Basie, Ruth Brown, and Nat King Cole.

. . .

On January 10, 1978 it achieved brief infamy in international music circles when the Sex Pistols appeared there and during their performance taunted the audience, resulting in someone throwing a beer bottle and breaking Sid Vicious's nose, and he continued to play with blood running down his chest.

Remember Jack Ruby? He was the guy who shot Oswald, who shot JFK.