"Galveston" and the Spanish-American War (1 Viewer)

[PolarBear]

I recently read that the song Galveston (1969) written by Jimmy Webb and made famous by Glen Campbell was according to Webb meant to be about a soldier from Texas during the Spanish American War of 1898. Webb said that Galveston was at its peak as a city at that time.

Galveston
J. Webb

Galveston, oh Galveston, I still hear your sea winds blowin'
I still see her dark eyes glowin'
She was 21 when I left Galveston

Galveston, oh Galveston, I still hear your sea waves crashing
While I watch the cannons flashing
I clean my gun and dream of Galveston

I still see her standing by the water
Standing there lookin' out to sea
And is she waiting there for me?
On the beach where we used to run

Galveston, oh Galveston, I am so afraid of dying
Before I dry the tears she's crying
Before I watch your sea birds flying in the sun
At Galveston, at Galveston

 

[Nooooo9]

That's interesting. I had always assumed that is was applicable to the Vietnam war going on when the song came out.

 

[binder001]

That's interesting. I agree that everyone I ever knew thought the song refers to a soldier in Viet Nam. It was on our minds at the time and whether Webb meant for it to be Spanish-American War or not he was undoubtedly influenced by the war in the headlines.

The Spanish-American War period would have been right before the big hurricane almost wiped Galveston off the map. Funny enough that city managed to get rebuilt without a major media event and blaming a US president for a city being built where it was vulnerable to the weather

 

[mikemiller1955]

Randy...I did not know that...I just assumed it was a love song...and I live on Galveston Island...

for anyone interested in the history of Galveston...I have a fabulous book to recommend...

Galveston has the most unique history you could ever imagine...

from the:
Karankawa Indians...
Cabeza de Vaca...
Jean Lafitte...
Cotton is King...
The Wall Street of the South...
Slave trading...
Civil War...
Prohibition...
The 1900 Storm...
the Mafia...
Illegal Gambling/Bootlegging...
The Balinese Room...

to the last page with a great story about my father being shot by an ex-Mafia figure...

this book is a must read for anyone wanting to understand Galveston and it's quirky population...

I copied the last two pages...it's about my Dad being shot by a 89 year old Mafia figure in 1993 from the infamous Maceo family that actually muscled and scared Al Capone out of their territory...

my father survived the shooting...but always used his wound as an excuse to "get strokes" when we played golf...claiming it ruined his swing...

I hope you will take the time to read these two pages I posted...

Randy...do yourself a favor...buy this book...it is a fascinating read...Galveston is so rich in history, crime and wealth...

 

[mikemiller1955]

on another note...

on my father's shooting...

this was the cover story for a popular state magazine publication called...

"Texas Monthly"...

it was entitled...

"One Last Shot"...

and tells the story in great detail...

maybe you can find it in their archives on line...

as it was also published on the front page of the Wall Street Journal years ago as a case where the significance was that my father received a $600,000.00 settlement for the shooting through Mr. Maceo's home owner's insurance policy...kind of ground breaking and unique...

 

[lancer]

Absolutely fascinating, Mike. What a great family history to have for the future generations, although I can understand why your father wasn't amused at the time. Must have been quite terrifying, in fact. Looks like a great read. Thanks for posting this bit of your family past. -- Al

 

[mikemiller1955]

Al...

if you can imagine getting a phone call while you're at work that your father has been shot...

it was a crazy chapter in our family history...

but that is what Galveston has...

the book is a fantastic read...even if you don't live or come from here...

I found this old newspaper clipping from the front page of the Galveston Daily News...

that's my aunt with my father in the gurney...

 

[mikemiller1955]

After he shot my father...
behind the closed door of his office...
89 year old Mr. Maceo...
calmly told my father's hysterical screaming secretaries before exiting...
in broken English...

"I shotta you boss"...

and that's a true story...

 

[binder001]

For a while there was an excellent Perfusion educational meeting at Galveston each fall (at Hotel Galvez). I got to go there a couple times in the 90's and my wife and I enjoyed the heck out of Galveston. I still think of it fondly, good food, neat sea shore, nice people, realtively easy to get around. When we talk about going to the Gulf coast I think of Galveston.

Gary B

 

[mikemiller1955]

For a while there was an excellent Perfusion educational meeting at Galveston each fall (at Hotel Galvez). I got to go there a couple times in the 90's and my wife and I enjoyed the heck out of Galveston. I still think of it fondly, good food, neat sea shore, nice people, realtively easy to get around. When we talk about going to the Gulf coast I think of Galveston.

Gary B

Gary...I owned the restaurant right next door to the Galvez Hotel on the Seawall...their conventions were a business boom for my place...you probably ate at my place...it was right next door...the restaurant with the big shark on the roof...if you ate there...I hope we treated you right...

Miller's Landing Restaurant...the Galvez Hotel was to the left of this picture...right across the street...

ps...the new owner painted it this ugly color...when I owned it..it was brown...

 

[REVWARBUFF]

Thanks Mike for sharing a little of your family history.

 

[jazzeum]

That's some fascinating history Mike. Are you still in the restaurant business?

I remember about 18 years ago we had just finished selling off our housewares division and a few of the firm's lawyers asked my boss, who had been in the restaurant business (he had been the General Counsel of Ogden Foods at one point) and they asked him about opening a restaurant down in Greenwich Village. He asked them if they had money to burn because most likely they would lose their money. They quickly changed their minds

 

[mikemiller1955]

That's some fascinating history Mike. Are you still in the restaurant business?

I remember about 18 years ago we had just finished selling off our housewares division and a few of the firm's lawyers asked my boss, who had been in the restaurant business (he had been the General Counsel of Ogden Foods at one point) and they asked him about opening a restaurant down in Greenwich Village. He asked them if they had money to burn because most likely they would lose their money. They quickly changed their minds

Brad...no...I retired when I was 47...but I started early...I opened the restaurant fresh out of SMU...I was 21 years old...I don't recommend it as a career move...dealing with the public is difficult...I have read that 83% of all new restaurants fail...I worked very hard...but I was very lucky...Labor Day...4th of July...Memorial Day...almost any observed holiday...I jealously watched out the window of the restaurant facing the beach...seeing all my friends surfing and girls in bikinis...I feel my youth was a little stolen from me due to long hours inside that building...but I am enjoying a young retirement...I was very lucky in business...

 

[jazzeum]

Sounds like you did it the right way because "youth is wasted on the young."

 

[The Lt.]

Sharing some of your family history via our phone chats this adds to some of the tales you shared with me about your dad. Thanks for sharing this with us Michael............Joe

 

[wds0855]

Very exiciting history in your family Mike, thanks for sharing.
Hope your enjoying your retirement.

Walt

 

[mikemiller1955]

Thank you Joe...thank you Walt...