Third Coast Magazine

In October 1982, we featured the Austin American-Statesman’s amazing answer columnist extraordinaire, Ellie Rucker. Another lovely cover photo by Will van Overbeek. Also covering the ever-popular topics of the changing local politics of the time and high price of rent in Austin.

Way late posting some October Third Coast covers due to 50th High School Reunion activities (Yikes!). Helping publish a book about it was almost like … work!

Anyway, in our third issue, October 1981, we published a cover story about Austin’s young, fresh-faced, then-State Senator Lloyd Doggett. Cover photo by Will van Overbeek. Also articles on local TV news reporting, Esther’s Follies, and an inquiry on why so many nightclubs were failing (TLDR: it’s hard … and co***ne).

Before the month is out, here is September 1983, when we took on the Austin American-Statesman. Despite being a nicely profitable paper in a monopoly market, the AA-S was journalistically unambitious and aimed its coverage at a lowest common denominator referred to as “Joe Six Pack.” Kaye Northcott interviewed management, staffers, ex-staffers, and readers for this insightful feature, illustrated by wonderful photographs by Will van Overbeek

A couple pages from the September 1982 Thrillseekers article featuring photos by Steven Pumphrey. This is one of the few times we were able to put the magazine’s center spread to great use!

Also in September 1982 we had a feature on Janet Stockard, who, with her trademark hat, was the first local lawyer to extensively advertise her services. She was condemned by other lawyers until, well, you know what happened. Also a feature on happenings at the Austin Fire Department.

September 1982. A fun cover shot by Steven Pumphrey for our cover story on thrill seekers in Austin. Skydivers, hang gliders, spelunkers, climbers, and more were interviewed by young, enthusiastic writer Nick Vanderbilt (yes, of those Vanderbilts). His personality and positivity endeared him to the entire staff and everyone was crushed when he and a partner disappeared while climbing in the Canadian Rockies two years later.

Third Coast Magazine Third Coast: The Magazine of Austin