Border Radio Quacks, Yodelers, Pitchmen, Psychics, and Other Amazing Broadcasters of the American Airwaves By Gene Fowler and Bill Crawford Texas Monthly Press 1987 282 Pages ISBN:  0-87719-066-6

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You could hear almost anything on border radio-cures for cancer, a promise of sexual rejuvenation, a ticket to salvation, fortune-telling, your favorite country singing star, or "outlawed" rock and roll music offered by the notorious Wolfman Jack. Border Radio is the fascinating, colorful story of the powerful radio stations just across the Mexican border that commanded a nationwide audience from the 1930s through the 1960s. Their signals were beamed to the United States with more than 500,000 watts, and they could be heard on AM stations all across the country and even in South America, Japan, and Germany. Primarily owned by American broadcasting wildcatters, these stations influenced American culture for generations. Border stations were among the first to popularize hillbilly, country-western, Mexican ranchera, and rock and roll music. Many famous recording stars and personalities reached their first audience by performing or having their music played on these powerful border stations-the Carter Family. Johnny Horton, Bob Wills, and Wolfman Jack. Border stations offered their listeners a solution to almost any ailment, physical or spiritual, that could possibly befall mankind. Crazy Water Crystals helped "a sluggish system," and Kolorbak eliminated the gray hair that would "cheat you out of your job and cause you a lot of worry." Perhaps the most famous pitch of all was the goat-gland transplant surgery promoted by Dr. J.R. Brinkley from his XERA radio station in Villa Acuna. Thousands of men flocked to his hospital in Del Rio to hopes of re vitalizing a diminished sex drive. "A man is only as old as his glands." exhorted Dr. Brinkley to his many listeners. Border broadcasters pioneered direct sales advertising and helped prove the power of radio as an effective political tool. The border blasters were among the first to provide preachers with farreaching aerial pulpits, helping to build the foundation of today's electronic church. Border Radio is a unique chronicle of an important segment of American broadcasting history. About the Authors Gene Fowler is a playwright, actor, and Cultural historian. His plays include The Rio Grande Gland Rush, Desperado Estates, Eureka Rapture, and Big El's Best Friend. He contributed material to the long-running show In the West, and also performed in it. His interest in Southwestern media goes back to the day of his birth in 1950, when his photograph appeared on his father's Dallas-based television variety show Coffee Time. Bill Crawford is a video producer, writer, and a former radio announcer. He produced several programs for cable television, including the award-winning omedy children's show The Joe Show, and The International Fishing Show. Harvard educated, he served his broadcasting apprenticeship at an "easy listening" station in Midland, Texas. Crawford produced the music video, "Gomer Pyle is God," as well as news clips for MTV. He grew up in New York. Both authors reside in Austin, Texas.