Texas Oil History - An Oral History of Oil Discovery and Life in the Panhandle Oil Fields

"The Longest Two Weeks"
Gulf Production Company sent George H. Pratt, Jr. to the Texas Panhandle in 1919 to "have a look around." He obtained a lease for Gulf on the Four Sixes Ranch from Capt. S. B. Burnett. In April 1921, the first commercial oil well blew in kicking off the Great Panhandle Oil Field. His "two weeks" lasted over 42 years with Gulf in the Texas Panhandle.
In 1971 Pratt was asked to dedicate a Texas Historical Marker commemorating the event. This video was developed from a 50-year old analog audio tape of him rehearsing his speech. Supplemented with historical photographs from his collection and other sources, this presentation is a look at oil discovery and life in the early 20th century.
Check my KZbin page for many other videos like this:
/ @radiotexas

[@ebrahiemmurphy6506]

Your Grandad tells his story well. Very interesting. Thanks for sharing.

[@revolutionunderground]

2:38 The EE Finklea newspaper ad (left) is Cyd Charisse's father.

[@Radiotexas]

Indeed he was! Cyd graduated from Amarillo High School (as did I). Good catch!! Thanks for your comment.

[@W4AX]

Jay, you have a fantastic family legacy and truly are a Texan through and through. I always enjoy your videos. You are a master story teller.

[@GACBRAIN]

As a lower Panhandle native, found this a very interesting picture of the early days of oil boomtowns and related life. You're so fortunate this audio was saved!

[@Radiotexas]

For some reason this video has not received very many views. Wish I knew a magic solution. But thank you so much for watching and your kind comment.

[@frankschultz4170]

Takes me back to the [real] olden days when my petroleum geologist father used to take me out to the San Juan Basin to sit on wells in the '40s and early '50s. Saw some cable tool rigs working - they really jumped around. A typical outstanding informative & entertaining Miller video.

[@jjakep]

Jay and Andrew, You both did a grand job on this. I enjoyed it very much. I still have a copy of Dado's speech. As a young landman, I spent a short time in the Canadian river area as well. Unfortunately I found no oil. This was excellent! Thanks so much.

[@WaynesGarageTexas]

Great video! Love the dedication in the closing credits! What a great family legacy. Audio was great, excellent photos to accompany the story.

[@MajorSwivet]

Awesome job, Jay! I have not listened to that tape in 30 years or so. Love the pics, great visualization.

[@neilscully6597]

Fantastic, I love to here aural history like this, so glad it has surplus ived

[@andrewclark1451]

Wonderful history-- and what an amazing Pratt family story-- thanks so much for putting this together, Jay.

[@wklinger79]

Excellent job as usual. I was curious if your grandfather or anybody else in your family had any dealings with T. Boone Pickens Mesa Petroleum? My dad was involved in an investment back in the early mid-70's. Was just curious if there's a connection somehow.

[@hiflyer1168]

My father was in the oil field service business. His number one customer in the early sixties was Boone. I grew up in Borger. What a grand time that was when things were still blowing and going.