South Lamar in Austin in Travis County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Broken Spoke

Photographed by Richard Denney, April 19, 2023

1. Broken Spoke Marker

Inscription. In 1964, Austin native James M. White (1939-2021) opened a new dance hall and restaurant south of the city limits at a former lumberyard on South Lamar. It was designed in the style of a traditional honky tonk, and patrons danced to jukebox records and live bands on weekends. The Broken Spoke was so popular that White enlarged the facility with a dance hall and stage. White hired local bands from all over the Austin area, and soon country music legends like Bob Wills, Ernest Tubb, Tex Ritter and Kitty Wells played here. Performances by continuing generations of musicians and appearances in movies, songs, music videos and travel articles helped to make the Broken Spoke a cultural treasure.

Erected 2021 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 23384.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Entertainment. A significant historical year for this entry is 1964.

Location. 30° 14.453′ N, 97° 47.112′ W. Marker is in Austin, Texas, in Travis County. It is in South Lamar. It can be reached from South Lamar Boulevard. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3201 S Lamar Blvd, Austin TX 78704, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Texas.

It is also in the American South.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Millbrook (Roy-Hardin House) (approx. 1.3 miles away); Green Pastures (approx. 1.4 miles away); Mary Street Stone House (approx. 1½ miles away);

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Becker School (approx. 1.7 miles away); Approximate Site Reached by the Espinosa-Olivares-Aguirre Expedition (approx. 1.7 miles away); Dawson Stone House (approx. 1.7 miles away); Rocky Cliff (approx. 1.7 miles away); Fort Magruder, C.S.A (approx. 1.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Austin.

More about this marker. Marker is affixed to the building, next to the entrance.

Photographed by Richard Denney, April 19, 2023

2. Broken Spoke Marker

Marker visible next to entrance door.

Interior photo of dance floor, facing stage image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Richard Denney, April 19, 2023

3. Interior photo of dance floor, facing stage

Credits. This page was last revised on April 20, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 19, 2023, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas. This page has been viewed 1,183 times since then and 67 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 19, 2023, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.