Motion pictures came to Austin on October 10, 1896, debuting at the Hancock Opera House. Since then, movies have continued to enchant, entertain, and inform the citizens of the capital of Texas. And, the places the movie houses and theaters where people saw motion pictures played just as important a role in the moviegoing experience as the movies themselves. As the city s population grew and motion picture technology changed, so too did Austin s movie houses, from the first kinetoscope parlor on Congress Avenue to the city s first four-plex, the Aquarius 4, in southeast Austin. While most of...

Tacos and barbecue command appetites today, but early Austinites indulged in peppered mangoes, roast partridge and cucumber catsup. Those are just a few of the fascinating historic recipes in this new edition of the first cookbook published in the city. Written by the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in 1891, Our Home Cookbook aimed to "cause frowns to dispel and dimple into ripples of laughter" with myriad "receipts" from the early Austin community. From dandy pudding to home remedies "worth knowing," these are hearty helpings featuring local game and diverse heritage, including German, Czech...