Consider it a FUSE recommendation: vinyl lovers and collectors should visit the Antique 78 RPM Record Shop, on the ground floor of Big Blue in downtown Wichita Falls.

We stopped in recently and spoke with owner Justin Goode, and we were wowed with the effort he’s put into his store, and his wealth of knowledge on all things vinyl. The store is called Antique 78 RPM Record Shop, but don’t misunderstand, as records go, Justin stocks nearly everything—78s, 45s, and 33 RPM records, as well as hardware and accessories.

Justin has a real jukebox loaded with records in his shop, set for Free Play, so you can just pick any song, press the corresponding buttons, and listen as the machinery clanks and whirrs inside until you hear the soothing sound of the needle hitting the groove and your song choice begins in the warm, soothing tone of days gone by. We chose some Joe Cocker during our visit.

If you know a collector with a birthday coming up, or have one on your holiday shopping list, we’d especially recommend you stop in and visit with Justin, because he knows the history of just about everything in his shop and can recommend something that’ll be a sure hit with the recipient.

If it’s not too busy, ask Justin to show you his antique hand-cranked phonograph while you’re in the shop. It’s something to see.

You can find the Antique 78 RPM Record Shop on Facebook. Pay ‘em a visit at 719 Scott Avenue in downtown Wichita Falls, Monday through Friday from 10 am to 2:30 pm.

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Wichita Falls’ After Hours Artwalk happens downtown the first Thursday of every month from April to October. The April 2025 Artwalk was fun, but the weather was less than desirable. The May edition, however, had ideal weather conditions and was a welcome relief from what one local weatherman said was the wettest April ever in Wichita Falls, so we spent the evening wandering, and here’s some of what we saw.

We first saw Luke and the Other Guys performing in downtown Wichita Falls in 2024, and when they appeared in Park Central for this edition of Artwalk in May of 2025, it was apparent that they’ve been working on their craft. The group consists of Hannah White on vocals, namesake Luke Parkonien on drums, Ben Tigrett on guitar, and Jonathan Pauls on bass. They played a great selection of classic cover tunes, and we’re looking forward to hearing more of them.

No After Hours Artwalk is complete without some food and art, and hours spent mingling, and we enjoyed all of it, especially the delicious Elote and free beverages at The Burn Shop. However, it’s no secret that the music is what really grabs our attention, and there was plenty to hear.

We caught a little bit of Decker Rumfelt’s performance at the pavilion on 8th & Ohio and we were thrilled to see another young person making music.

After Artwalk there was an event called “Afterwalk” in the loft at Iron Society Salon, which featured acoustic sets by Garry Walden [Ladybird, Mind Funeral] and Tiny Joy, and they were excellent. It was encouraging, in an era when we sometimes wonder where the next generation of musicians will come from, to see yet another new group of young people making music in a live setting.

What did you see, hear, and eat at After Hours Artwalk? Tell us about it in the comments.

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One of the most unique events we saw in Wichita Falls in 2024 was a Halloween-themed event called The Running Dead. Here at TheFUSE, we are suckers for any event with a scary Halloween theme, and The Running Dead was a perfect family-friendly event with a horror twist. Participants were encouraged to come out and run (or walk) a pre-determined course through downtown Wichita Falls, and along the way “zombies” would pop out from hiding places, providing a harmless scare. There was a deejay along the route providing a tsunami of foam, a costume contest and more. Truly a cool event.

This year, TheFUSE hears the organizers are planning an even bigger and better event, and with plenty of lead time (they were rushed last year) we can’t wait to see what they’ve come up with. However, for the event to be a success, they need sponsors. If you or your business is interested in sponsoring The Running Dead, email Amy at therunningdeadwf@gmail.com.

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Not long ago, we caught ourselves lamenting the loss of a treasured Friday night ritual, when one would stop at the video store on the way home from work, pick up a couple movies, maybe make a stop for a pizza, and your weekend was set. Streaming movies ruined that. Likewise, ubiquitous online entertainment took the punch out of Saturday morning cartoons, online shopping killed the mall, and the coin-op arcade died a slow death at the hands of in-home console and online gaming.

Fortunately, Wichita Falls is home to an outstanding example of a throwback video arcade in Marcus McGee’s Maniac’s Mansion, and who doesn’t love a good nostalgia trip?

Located at 710 8th Street, on the corner of 8th and Indiana, Maniac’s Mansion is every era of video gaming rolled into one. There’s something from every stage of video gaming, from pinball and coin-op standup video games, all the way through the home console generation to present day.

Owner Marcus McGee has been an avid gamer his whole life and said he grew up as part of the original Nintendo Entertainment System era. We asked Marcus, when he was supposed to be doing his homework, what was the video game that was his obsession? “The game I played, and still do, was on the Sega Genesis,” he said. “Streets of Rage.”

McGee told us 2025 will mark his 6th year in business in downtown Wichita Falls, and we thought the strength of his operation had a lot to do with the laidback atmosphere and the wide variety of things to do. You can play video games and pinball, sure, but there is also a shelf with a wide variety of board games, and a unique snack option—the cereal bar.

Maniac’s Mansion stocks a vast selection of breakfast cereals which you can mix and match, add one of a variety of milks, and top with a number of toppings, including our choice, whipped cream.

It’s not difficult to see why Maniac’s Mansion is likely the number one choice for birthday parties and field trips in Wichita Falls. People from 9 to 90 have a blast, and we speak from experience. We couldn’t get out of there without playing a few of our favorite games. There’s even a section of Maniac’s Mansion where the games are all set for free play, no quarters required.

Due to an unfortunate hacking incident, Maniac’s Mansion’s Facebook page went through a transition last year. If you’re have difficulty finding it, it’s here [Tag Imaginations Inc,] and represents Marcus’ arcade and also his DJ business.

Have you been to Maniac’s Mansion? Tell us about it in the comments.

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Imagine the end. Strange barrels of toxic waste leak into our society and before you know it, the undead are wandering the streets. To get from one place to another, you have to run a gauntlet of zombies hidden along your route.

That was the premise for The Running Dead, an event in which residents of Wichita Falls walked (sometimes ran) a pre-mapped route with zombies waiting in all the little hidden spots in the alleys of downtown Wichita Falls.

Some came out in workout clothes and used The Running Dead as an excuse to get some exercise, walking much of the route but running when the undead appeared to chase them. In other instances, it was families with strollers, or young people looking for a harmless Halloween scare.

This year’s Running Dead event started and finished at Stone Oven Pizza and it was such a unique and fun event, we strongly hope to see an even bigger turnout next year.

Did you run the gauntlet? What did you think? Tell us about it in the comments.

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A convenience store has opened downtown at 726 Scott Avenue, on the ground floor of The Kate apartments, in the same building (around the corner) as Highlander Public House. The store — Convenient Plus — features Hunt Brothers Pizza, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, snacks, and all the other things you’d expect from a typical convenience store.

We stopped in and spoke with the manager, Mike, and he told us they just opened on July 4th, and they plan to be open from 8 am to Midnight on Sundays, and 6 am to Midnight every other day of the week. Whether you’ve been out having a beverage, catching some live entertainment, or grabbing a bite, the extended hours and location in the center of downtown make Convenient Plus the most convenient place to pick up necessary items in the heart of the city. It’s across the street from Park Central, and within walking distance of:

• Wichita Falls Brewery

• 8th Street Coffee

• Highlander Public House

• Maniac’s Mansion

• Half-Pint Taproom

• The Iron Horse Pub

• Fully Loaded Potato

• Broken Tap

• 9th Street Studios

• The Farmer’s Market at 8th & Austin

• Casa Manana

• OG Cellars at The Holt

There’s plenty of shopping within walking distance of Convenient Plus, too, so if you’re spending your daytime hours downtown, you no longer have to leave downtown to get a bottle of something or a quick grab-and-go snack or lunch! There’s even an ATM. Convenient.

For pizza orders, you’re encouraged to call ahead. Reach Convenient Plus by phone at (940) 228-5125

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Remember the old gangster movies in which Vinnie the Nose would knock on the door at a secret hideout, and someone would peek through a little trap door? Vinnie would say “Joe sent me,” and they’d open the door and grant him admittance. Birdman’s Nest is kinda like that — a secret hideaway where you’re welcome, but you gotta know where it is and how to gain entry. Judging by social media comments to the effect of “I’ve never heard of this place,” it is the best kept secret in Wichita Falls.

We checked out Birdman’s Nest for a gig by Michael Kately of Downtown Royalty Band on a recent Friday night and it was a super-relaxing night of music under the stars. A nice breeze kept us cool (and the mosquitoes away) and everybody brought chairs and coolers with their favorite beverages. You couldn’t ask for a better night of chill entertainment.

Birdman’s Nest is a venue created by Jay Birdman and Downtown Royalty bassist Files Little, and as you might suspect, yes, it is a back yard venue. Files told us they think they might be willing to host as many as 96 people at a time.

Ask around. Talk to someone who’s been there. They’ll tell you where it is. Or if you hunt around on the Birdman’s Nest page a little, you can probably find the address listed in the events. Tell ‘em Joe sent you.

Have you been to Birdman’s Nest? Tell us about it in the comments.

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The 2nd Annual Wichita Falls Pride in the Park happened in Lucy Park today and it was a smashing success, with everything you would expect from a Pride event — food, entertainers, vendors, and every color of the rainbow on full display.

We felt very lucky that we got to meet Sara Cunningham, the national founder of Free Mom Hugs. Sara, an Oklahoma resident, has a compelling story about how she founded the organization, which now has chapters all over the country. From the organization’s website:

Free Mom Hugs was founded by Sara Cunningham, a Christian mother in conservative Oklahoma, who spent years rejecting her son Parker's sexuality, after he came out to her. Conflicted by her love for her son and her spirituality, Sara exhaustively searched faith and sexuality for answers. What she learned would transform her journey from the church to the pride parade.

As Sara became involved in the LGBTQIA+ community, the hurt, shame and injustice they frequently experience was painfully clear. Remembering that she too was once in the crowd that rejected this loving, vibrant community, Sara took action.

On Saturday, June 20, 2015, Sara wore a homemade button with the words “Free Mom Hugs” to the Oklahoma City Pride Festival. She offered hugs to anyone who made eye contact. The first hug Sara gave was to a beautiful girl who whispered, “It’s been four years since I got a hug from my mom because I’m a lesbian.” Sara embraced her and hundreds more that day, and many shared similar stories with every embrace.

That day Free Mom Hugs — a nationwide movement of love, visibility and acceptance for the LGBTQIA+ community — was born.

We’re told this year’s event surpassed the size of the first annual event last year by about triple. Here’s to another great event next year!

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Things have not been great for owners of brick-and-mortar stores in recent years, no matter the industry. With endless selection and savage price wars coming from online stores, physical retail locations face daunting competition, and it doesn’t take a lot of looking to find stores forced out of business by big box stores, online marketplaces, and custom order shops. All of that is especially true for sellers of guitars and musical instruments. The closure of Hayley Music in Wichita Falls (a planned move that was hastened by a burglary, we’re told) is a recent example of the challenges faced by musical instrument retailers.

However, there are still three retailers in our city selling quality musical instruments at fair prices, and TheFUSE spent some time visiting each of them to see what they have to offer. Whether you’re looking for your next axe to facilitate your rock & roll dreams, or a trumpet for junior’s birthday, we’d encourage you to check out one of these fine retailers.

Kelly Jackson Guitars

The namesake of Kelly Jackson Guitars is a well-known musician in Wichita Falls and frequent performer at Hook & Ladder Coffees and Wine downtown. Kelly is also a respected guitar teacher in our city, and he has his guitar store in a small space where he also gives lessons, at 909 8th St, Suite 105 — the same building as 8th Street Coffee.

Kelly immediately strikes you as an easygoing, kind person, and we had some great conversation, which is really the benefit of visiting a brick-and-mortar store, right? Yes, you can buy something and go home with it that day, but it’s the experience that sticks with you. If you visit Kelly Jackson Guitars, ask Kelly to tell you the story about his unexpected opportunity to buy a bunch of vintage 1930s and 40s guitars.

Kelly carries guitars and basses and accessories, too, so if you find yourself in a pinch, check with him before you hit Amazon. You can get to Kelly Jackson Guitars via the entrance shown above, and there’s a door from inside 8th Street Coffee, too.

Music Makers Shop

Music Makers Shop is what a music store used to be, before Guitar Center started taking over the business — a full-service music store with guitars and drums and cymbals and amps, both used and new.

Stop in to Music Makers Shop and you will likely meet Dan, the owner, who will be happy to sell you a quality starter model guitar for a fair price. We were surprised at the number of really nice looking guitars he had on his wall, many priced in the $300 or less range. He had a selection of used guitars, and even a couple of left-handed models, which usually fly right off the shelves.

Just like with our visit to Kelly Jackson Guitars, Dan had a fascinating story to tell about getting the unexpected opportunity to photograph the crew of Apollo 11 when they returned from the moon. Again, it’s the experience.

Sam Gibbs Music

Sam Gibbs Music might be the best known of the remaining music stores in Wichita Falls, with a fine selection of musical instruments, including horns and strings and grand pianos. Repair is a part of their business, as well.

We spoke with Cullen during our visit to Sam Gibbs Music and he told us about the challenges faced by both stores and consumers in the current era. There have been instances in recent years in which stores ordered instruments for a customer who prepaid, only to be greeted with a bankruptcy filing from the manufacturer, leaving the store in the middle of a messy situation — unable to get the instrument the customer had ordered and paid for.

While situations like that were thankfully rare, it’s one more reason to patronize our local retailers and go home with a quality instrument right off the showroom floor.

The next time you’re looking for an instrument (or accessories, or an emergency cable adapter) we’d urge you to check with one of these fine local retailers before you hit the internet. Let’s do what we can to lift them up and help them succeed.

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The sport known as billiards has it’s origins in ancient times, having evolved from various outdoor stick and ball games, to the indoor pastime we know today. Although many use the terms “billiards” and “pool” interchangeably, billiards is a larger term encompassing all types of cue sports, whereas pool is a more specific reference to the pocket billiards we so commonly play today.

TheFUSE spent a recent weekend in search of the best place to play a game of pool in Wichita Falls, and our main conclusion: Wichita Falls has a lot of good places to enjoy a game.

I asked around about a good place for pool and got a number of recommendations with Fast Eddy’s the most frequently mentioned. After consulting the web, we chose to visit Broad Street Billiards on night one, a Friday, and we would visit Fast Eddy’s and West End Pub and Pool on the ensuing night.

Broad Street Billiards was the most unique location, residing in the former cafeteria of what was once Austin Elementary School, and the ambience was cool and inviting. To rent a table, you grab the placard off any open pool table and take it to the bar, where they give you a cue ball and start the clock at 8 bucks an hour. Our server Savannah was exceptionally attentive and had a smile in her voice and on her face all night. We found her very pleasant.

By contrast, Fast Eddy’s and West End Pub and Pool are both in strip mall locations, but each has its charms. Fast Eddy’s seemed to be the place to go if you’re serious about pool. They had a lot of tables in their own well-lit section, and open availability on a Saturday night. Fast Eddy’s has name recognition in Wichita Falls.

To its credit, West End Pub and Pool felt like a perfected balance between a pub and a pool hall — our bartender was a rock star, handling tons of customers and servers all by herself, and there was comfortable seating near the tables, so everyone in our party could have a good view of the action without having to stand the entire time. A table at West End was only $6 an hour, but be prepared for a much younger crowd to arrive as a Saturday night progresses.

There were other, more subtle conveniences in certain places… Broad Street had coat and purse hooks under some of their tableside seating areas, and they seemed to have the most room between tables, leaving less chance that anyone takes a cue in the ass from their neighbor. The table we played was “ball return” style, preferred by many, and the cafeteria’s old stage now functions as an elevated, dedicated area for darts.

On the flipside, the exterior of Broad Street’s location is the least-inviting of the places we visited. Make sure you see the inside before you judge it.

West End’s variety of tables was impressive, with a few coin-op tables along one wall, and both 7-foot and 9-foot tables, too. And at West End, the tables were actual pocket tables, where the ball remains in the pocket when you sink it, popular with purists.

In the end, we found something to like about every place we visited. It turns out you don’t have to hunt very hard to find a great place for a cold one and a relaxing way to spend a few hours in Wichita Falls.

Have you visited any of these pool halls? There are other places to catch a quick game of pool in the Falls, of course — do you have a secret favorite spot? Let us know in the comments.

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The weather dried out in time for a Moon Market tonight, and although it started a little slow, it picked up a bit as the night wore on and the rain mostly stayed away. I decided to stroll through and see what there was to see, and I was thrilled to run into Wichita Falls’ own sweet country songstress Morgan Jezek who was there earning a little extra green and taking care of customers in her role as a licensed massage therapist.

Morgan offers Swedish, Deep Tissue, Hot Stone and Prenatal massage services at reasonable rates, and if I’m not mistaken, she was doing them for a dollar a minute at the market, which is a bargain. I’ll be tempted to get one myself next time.

See the photos I took at Morgan’s performance at Legends Roadhouse in Summer 2023 here.

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The Hotter N Hell 100 rolled into Wichita Falls again this weekend, as it does every year, and riders braved temperatures near the 110-degree mark to compete in multiple classes.

Having never experienced a HHH before, people had been telling me to get my camera ready to go get it. Instead, it came right to me. I looked out the window this morning and there they were.

Enjoy these bonus shots of the Hotter N Hell 100 riders as they went through city center, and get all the information on race results at the Hotter N Hell 100 Facebook page maintained by the Wichita Falls Bicycling Club.

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Wichita Falls’ After Hours Art Walk for June 2023 was a rousing success. Revelers benefitted from great weather this time around (May’s event was a little wet), and people came out in droves. As usual, there was a little something for everyone, beginning with the event’s namesake attraction — art.

I stopped at the booth of Wichita Falls’ own award-winning artist and designer Wendy Coker, and I was shocked when Wendy told me she’d only been painting for… I think she said eighteen months. [ed. note: fifteen months, see comments] I was completely blown away.

“You’re awful talented to be so new to it!” I told her. I recommend Wendy’s art with enthusiasm. She’s incredibly talented.

In addition to all the art, small businesses and crafters had their products on display. I stopped at the Front Porch Farms booth to look at their assortment of handmade vegan dye-free soaps and I was told “Space Man” is their most popular scent — it was a very masculine fragrance. Later, when I got home, I regretted not buying a bar. Next time, for sure.

Singer/Songwriter Clint Vines was providing entertainment (which I really enjoyed) at the Downtown Farmer’s Market pavilion, and I couldn’t help but notice guitarist Dru Gid was adding tremolo to his performance by bending the neck away from the body of his guitar, a technique you don’t see in a live setting all that often. Pretty cool. I’m gonna make a point to catch a full Clint Vines show soon.

There was another band performing in the parking lot across from the Iron Horse Pub but I didn’t catch who they were. Cool variety band, with a mixture of rock and top 40 hits from the 90s and early new millennium. The drummer caught my attention with his commanding timekeeping. *Update* The band is called Sugar Daddy

Of course, no art walk would be complete without food, and there was plenty. BBQ? Yeah, got that covered. You could smell the hardwood grilling operation they had going on the sidewalk near Half Pint from a block away.

And of course, the sights and smells started workin’ on my hunger and I had to take a break to hit up the El Norteno on Wheels Taco Truck, which has become one of my favorites. Two barbacoa and three chorizo street tacos with cilantro, please.

Art Walk is the one event that encompasses everything this newsletter is about. Art, music, food, and the outdoors. If the weather is good, I’ll be there every time. It’s a no-brainer night of entertainment and shopping and fun.

If you’re just visiting Wichita Falls and going to After Hours Art Walk for the first time, bring your camera, because the carnival-like atmosphere will charm you.

Wichita Falls Art Walk is the first Thursday of the month throughout the summer.

All photos by the author, © FallstownFUSE.com

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You can’t drive across the Ohio Bridge anymore, but hikers and bikers use it regularly, and it’s a fantastic setting for wedding and graduation photos.

Find it here.

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