The Wild West History of the Jacksboro Highway in Fort Worth Texas

From the 1940s to the 1960s

The place to be for anyone seeking a good time.

The Jacksboro Highway was once a bustling hub of activity in Cowtown USA. Stretching from the 1940s to the 1960s, this iconic highway witnessed the rise and fall of its wild west culture.

In the 1940s, the Jacksboro Highway was a beacon of hope for people seeking better opportunities in the post-World War II era. As the war ended, veterans returned home, looking for new beginnings. The highway, as a vital artery connecting Fort Worth to the rest of the country, became a lifeline for these individuals. It was a hive of activity, with roadside diners, motels, and gas stations popping up to cater to the ever-growing number of travelers.

One such veteran was Jack Stroker, a charismatic young man who served in the Pacific theater. Upon his return, he found work as a mechanic at a gas station along the highway. Jack’s talent for fixing cars made him a local legend, and his station became a popular stop for weary travelers.

During this time, the highway began to develop a reputation for its western charm. The honky-tonks and dance halls lining the highway became synonymous with the free spirit of the era. With the music of legends like Hank Williams and Patsy Cline filling the air, the Jacksboro Highway was the place to be for anyone seeking a good time.

As the 1950s rolled in, the highway continued to thrive. The post-war economic boom led to a surge in automobile ownership, and the Jacksboro Highway became a popular destination for road trips.

The Cadillac Ranch, a roadside attraction featuring ten Cadillacs buried nose-first in the ground, was born during this time. The rise of rock ’n’ roll brought with it a new generation of restless youth eager to experience the wild west.

Johnny “Rebel” Ray was a budding musician who found inspiration in the highway’s honky-tonks and dance halls. Johnny’s music, a fusion of rockabilly and country, quickly gained a following, and he became a fixture on the local music scene.

The wild west charm of the Jacksboro Highway was not without its darker side. Like any frontier town, the highway was not immune to criminal activities. The area became a hotspot for bootleggers, gamblers, and outlaws, who saw the highway as an opportunity to make a quick buck. Bonnie and Clyde were known to frequent the highway during their crime spree in the early 1930s.

Another notorious criminal was “Mad Dog” Malone, a ruthless gangster who ran a lucrative bootlegging operation along the highway. Despite his fearsome reputation, Mad Dog was eventually brought down by a team of determined law enforcement officers led by Sheriff Hank Thompson.

Jack Ruby, the man infamous for assassinating Lee Harvey Oswald, the alleged assassin of President John F. Kennedy, was a part of the wild west history of the Jacksboro Highway in Fort Worth, Texas.

During the 1940s and 1950s, Ruby owned and operated several nightclubs along the highway, including the Carousel Club and the Vegas Club. These establishments were known for their lively atmosphere, with Ruby himself often taking to the stage to perform as a stand-up comedian.

Ruby’s nightclubs were popular with both locals and travelers, and they played a significant role in the wild west culture of the Jacksboro Highway. The clubs were often frequented by criminals and outlaws, including the notorious gangster Mad Dog Malone, who was known to have a soft spot for Ruby’s establishments.

Despite his criminal connections, Ruby was also known for his philanthropy, often donating money to local charities and helping out struggling families in the area. It was this complex mix of criminality and kindness that made Ruby such a fascinating figure in the history of the Jacksboro Highway.

As the 1960s approached, the wild west spirit of the Jacksboro Highway began to give way to a new era of progress and development.

The construction of the interstate highway system, and the rise of suburbanization and urban renewal projects led to the decline of many of the roadside establishments that once thrived along the once-bustling artery.

One such establishment was the Bluebird Café, a popular diner owned by the Johnson family. Despite the changing times, the Johnsons refused to abandon their beloved café, determined to keep the spirit of the Jacksboro Highway alive.

Despite the many changes that took place during this period, the Jacksboro Highway remained a vital part of the American landscape. Its wild west charm, coupled with its rich history, made it a symbol of resilience and adaptability in the face of adversity.

Today, the highway may no longer be the bustling hub of activity it once was, but its legacy lives on through the memories of those who experienced its wild, wild west charm firsthand.

More about the Jacksboro Highway

Jack Ruby, the man infamous for assassinating Lee Harvey Oswald, the alleged assassin of President John F. Kennedy, was a part of the wild west history of the Jacksboro Highway in Fort Worth, Texas. During the 1940s and 1950s, Ruby owned and operated several nightclubs along the highway, including the Carousel Club and the Vegas Club. These establishments were known for their lively atmosphere, with Ruby himself often taking to the stage to perform as a stand-up comedian.

Ruby’s nightclubs were popular with both locals and travelers, and they played a significant role in the wild west culture of the Jacksboro Highway. The clubs were often frequented by criminals and outlaws, including the notorious gangster Mad Dog Malone, who was known to have a soft spot for Ruby’s establishments.

Despite his criminal connections, Ruby was also known for his philanthropy, often donating money to local charities and helping out struggling families in the area. It was this complex mix of criminality and kindness that made Ruby such a fascinating figure in the history of the Jacksboro Highway.

In the years following the assassination of President Kennedy, Ruby and his nightclubs became a symbol of the darker side of the wild west culture that had once thrived along the highway. While Ruby’s legacy is undoubtedly tarnished by his role in the assassination of Lee Harvey Oswald, his impact on the highway’s culture and history cannot be denied.

Candy Barr, a well-known exotic dancer, was also part of the wild west history of the Jacksboro Highway. Born Juanita Dale Slusher, Barr rose to fame in the 1950s as one of the most popular strippers in the country. Her provocative performances and fiery personality made her a favorite among the patrons of the highway’s honky-tonks and nightclubs. One club where she performed was the Skyliner Club on the Jacksboro Highway.

While the Skyliner was one of the most popular nightclubs in the area, Barr’s performances were in high demand. She also worked at several other establishments along the highway, such as the Carousel Club, the Vegas Club, and the Western Club, among others.

Barr’s connection to the Jacksboro Highway was not limited to her performances. She was romantically involved with several of the area’s most notorious criminals, including the gangster Mad Dog Malone. This association with the criminal underworld eventually led to her arrest and imprisonment on charges of marijuana possession in 1957.

Despite her legal troubles, Barr’s popularity continued to grow, and she became a symbol of the wild west spirit that defined the Jacksboro Highway, a place where criminals and outlaws shared the stage with entertainers and philanthropists.

the JFK assassination

While the wild west history of the Jacksboro Highway in Fort Worth, Texas, did not directly contribute to the JFK assassination, there are several connections between the two events. One is through Jack Ruby, who owned and operated several nightclubs along the highway, including the Carousel Club and the Vegas Club.

In addition to his nightclub empire, Ruby was known for his criminal connections. He was rumored to have ties to organized crime. It was these connections that led many to suspect that Ruby’s assassination of Lee Harvey Oswald, the alleged assassin of President Kennedy, was part of a larger conspiracy.

Candy Barr, the popular exotic dancer who worked at several establishments along the Jacksboro Highway, also had connections to the JFK assassination. Barr was romantically involved with Jack Ruby and was connected to the criminal underworld. Some have speculated that her involvement with Ruby and her knowledge of the Dallas crime scene may have played a role in the assassination.

While the connections between the Jacksboro Highway and the JFK assassination are speculative, they serve as a reminder of the wild west culture of the highway.