Cactus Pryor
Encyclopedia
Richard "Cactus" Pryor (January 7, 1923 – August 30, 2011) was an American broadcaster. He received his nickname after the old Cactus Theater on Congress Avenue in Austin, Texas
, which was run by his father, "Skinny" Pryor.
His son, Don Pryor, works on the News Team at Austin Radio News Station 590 KLBJ, working as a Mid-Day sky-watch traffic broadcaster, and occasionally filled in for his father when he was unavailable for his segments. Another of Cactus's son, Paul Pryor, once worked in Austin radio as well.
Pryor was first heard on Lady Bird Johnson
's radio station 590 KLBJ, though his face became as well known as his voice once he moved to television broadcasting on Austin television station KTBC
.
In addition to his work in radio and television, Pryor also appeared in two movies, Hellfighters
and The Green Berets
with John Wayne
. He is the author of a 1995 collection of some 40 essays entitled Playback. At KTBC, Pryor served as programming manager and hosted a variety of shows. He conducted interviews with celebrities such as Arthur Godfrey
and Dan Blocker
and narrated behind-the-scenes programs about KTBC.
As part of his involvement with the Headliners Club of Austin journalists, Pryor starred in satires of television news. He provided the voiceover for the 1960 KTBC film “Target Austin”, which presents the scenario of a nuclear missile strike on Austin.
In 1950, Pryor had a novelty hit on the country music charts with the number 7 "Cry of the Dying Duck in a Thunder-Storm", a parody of Tennessee Ernie Ford
's "The Cry of the Wild Goose".
He regaled audiences on Austin
radio with a daily 2-minute trip down memory lane, reminiscing about places and people from his past well into the 2000s. He was a self-described liberal, but acknowledged that his children do not share his beliefs. He claimed to have been one of the first people to have heard of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy
, having been at the ranch of then-vice president Lyndon Baines Johnson at the time.
Pryor had for several years been a radio spokesman for the Austin-based Tex-Mex restaurant chain Serrano's. In these ads, he is often called "Nopalito
," which loosely means little cactus, after the Spanish word nopal. His broadcasting sign-off consisted of a series of nonsense words, "thermostrockermortimer". The spelling and meaning of such are up to speculation. Cactus stated that, "The phrase is in the Bible; if you don't find it, keep reading."
In 2007, Pryor told his radio audience that he was battling Alzheimer's disease. He died on August 30, 2011 in Austin, Texas
, aged 88, weeks after breaking his leg in a fall.
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, which was run by his father, "Skinny" Pryor.
His son, Don Pryor, works on the News Team at Austin Radio News Station 590 KLBJ, working as a Mid-Day sky-watch traffic broadcaster, and occasionally filled in for his father when he was unavailable for his segments. Another of Cactus's son, Paul Pryor, once worked in Austin radio as well.
Pryor was first heard on Lady Bird Johnson
Lady Bird Johnson
Claudia Alta "Lady Bird" Taylor Johnson was First Lady of the United States from 1963 to 1969 during the presidency of her husband Lyndon B. Johnson. Throughout her life, she was an advocate for beautification of the nation's cities and highways and conservation of natural resources and made that...
's radio station 590 KLBJ, though his face became as well known as his voice once he moved to television broadcasting on Austin television station KTBC
KTBC
KTBC, channel 7, is the Fox owned-and-operated television station in Austin, Texas. Studios are located in downtown Austin at the corner of 10th and Brazos Streets , and its transmitter is located in the city....
.
In addition to his work in radio and television, Pryor also appeared in two movies, Hellfighters
Hellfighters (film)
Hellfighters is a 1968 American film starring John Wayne, Katharine Ross, Bruce Cabot, Jim Hutton, Jay C. Flippen and Vera Miles. The movie, directed by Andrew V. McLaglen, is about a group of oil well firefighters, based loosely on the life of Red Adair...
and The Green Berets
The Green Berets (film)
The Green Berets is a 1968 war film featuring John Wayne, George Takei, David Janssen, Jim Hutton and Aldo Ray, nominally based on the eponymous 1965 book by Robin Moore, though the screenplay has little relation to the book....
with John Wayne
John Wayne
Marion Mitchell Morrison , better known by his stage name John Wayne, was an American film actor, director and producer. He epitomized rugged masculinity and became an enduring American icon. He is famous for his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height...
. He is the author of a 1995 collection of some 40 essays entitled Playback. At KTBC, Pryor served as programming manager and hosted a variety of shows. He conducted interviews with celebrities such as Arthur Godfrey
Arthur Godfrey
Arthur Morton Godfrey was an American radio and television broadcaster and entertainer who was sometimes introduced by his nickname, The Old Redhead...
and Dan Blocker
Dan Blocker
Dan Blocker was an American actor best remembered for his role as Eric "Hoss" Cartwright in the NBC western television series Bonanza.-Early life:...
and narrated behind-the-scenes programs about KTBC.
As part of his involvement with the Headliners Club of Austin journalists, Pryor starred in satires of television news. He provided the voiceover for the 1960 KTBC film “Target Austin”, which presents the scenario of a nuclear missile strike on Austin.
In 1950, Pryor had a novelty hit on the country music charts with the number 7 "Cry of the Dying Duck in a Thunder-Storm", a parody of Tennessee Ernie Ford
Tennessee Ernie Ford
Ernest Jennings Ford , better known as Tennessee Ernie Ford, was an American recording artist and television host who enjoyed success in the country and Western, pop, and gospel musical genres...
's "The Cry of the Wild Goose".
He regaled audiences on Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
radio with a daily 2-minute trip down memory lane, reminiscing about places and people from his past well into the 2000s. He was a self-described liberal, but acknowledged that his children do not share his beliefs. He claimed to have been one of the first people to have heard of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
, having been at the ranch of then-vice president Lyndon Baines Johnson at the time.
Pryor had for several years been a radio spokesman for the Austin-based Tex-Mex restaurant chain Serrano's. In these ads, he is often called "Nopalito
Nopalito
Nopalitos is a dish made with diced nopales. They are sold fresh, bottled, or canned and less often dried. They have a light, slightly tart flavor, and a crisp, mucilaginous texture. Nopalitos are often eaten with eggs as a breakfast and in salads and soups as lunch and dinner meals.Nopalitos are...
," which loosely means little cactus, after the Spanish word nopal. His broadcasting sign-off consisted of a series of nonsense words, "thermostrockermortimer". The spelling and meaning of such are up to speculation. Cactus stated that, "The phrase is in the Bible; if you don't find it, keep reading."
In 2007, Pryor told his radio audience that he was battling Alzheimer's disease. He died on August 30, 2011 in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, aged 88, weeks after breaking his leg in a fall.
External links
- Pieces of the Past, collection of archival footage related to Austin television history, from the Texas Archive of the Moving Image