The Garden Oaks Theatre at 3732 N. Shepherd Drive was built in the late-1940's by Interstate Circuit Inc. The theater was in an "L" shape design. It operated at least through the mid-1990's and is a church today.
Bad Boy premiered in 1949 and starred Lloyd Nolan and Audie Murphy.
From cinematreasures.org/theater/10815/
This photo which came with the original email appears to be from www.cah.utexas.edu/db/dmr/dmr_results.php
A visitor to our site, and now a friend, JT Chapin (Reagan '57), writer, journalist, and researcher, worked as an usher at the Garden Oaks for a year-and-a-half in high school. He tells me that Gordon McClendon, "the old Scotsman," who owned KILT Radio Station, among other radio stations around Texas, owned Interstate Theatres all over Houston. The Garden Oaks, like the Bellaire, had Saturday morning shows for young people.
Bad Boy premiered in 1949 and starred Lloyd Nolan and Audie Murphy.
From cinematreasures.org/theater/10815/
This photo which came with the original email appears to be from www.cah.utexas.edu/db/dmr/dmr_results.php
A visitor to our site, and now a friend, JT Chapin (Reagan '57), writer, journalist, and researcher, worked as an usher at the Garden Oaks for a year-and-a-half in high school. He tells me that Gordon McClendon, "the old Scotsman," who owned KILT Radio Station, among other radio stations around Texas, owned Interstate Theatres all over Houston. The Garden Oaks, like the Bellaire, had Saturday morning shows for young people.
The Village Theatre, in the period between its operation as an X-rated house and its demolition. To its right, the beloved World Toys and Gifts. I always enjoyed going to World Toys and Gifts in the Village and did so until well into adulthood. Rice Village has been one of Houston's oldest shopping destinations since the 1930s. It is an unplanned, high density hodge-podge of old and new retail stores. And it has had its good times and bad as can be seen in this photo.
Photo by Jim Koehn
Photo by Jim Koehn
From: www.cinemahouston.info/interstate.html and en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rice_Village
This is a beautiful watercolor by Jim Koehn of the same scene as above. It can be purchased from www.hollywoodframegallery.com/koehn/theater7.jpg.
Gaido's opened in Galveston in 1911 and is still serving excellent seafood. It incurred almost no damage from the direct hit on Galveston of Hurricane Ike in 2008.
Many of us will remember the Gaido's on South Main as a popular place to eat. The crab now on the Galveston restaurant was on the South Main restaurant first.
Many of us will remember the Gaido's on South Main as a popular place to eat. The crab now on the Galveston restaurant was on the South Main restaurant first.
A photo of a very early postcard of Gaido's on South Main. This was probably from the 1940's. From http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150343390060552&set=o.107646629279272&type=1&theater&pid=9947652&id=542550551
Note the "MA" prefix on the four-number telephone number.
An early Gaido's business card from an unknown source.
A later photo of South Main Gaido's with the giant crab and the added attraction of the outlaw armed shrimp. In this photo the building is air conditioned and enlarged. I was always impressed with the wonderful and talented waiters who could remember everything that was ordered at a table for twelve without ever writing it down. They NEVER made a mistake.
From http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=452326740551&set=o.107646629279272&type=1&theater&pid=6483949&id=542550551
The Eighth Wonder of the World
The Harris County Domed Stadium opened April 12, 1965, at 8400 Kirby Drive. It cost $35 million to build and was, of course, the first ballpark to have a roof over the playing field. The Astros were playing the Yankees in this photo in an Exhibition Game prior to the opening of the season. According to JT Chapin, the first unofficial homerun was hit by Mickey Mantle during this game, but because it was exhibition, it did not count as such. Another visitor, Wayne Webb (San Jacinto HS '63) corrected my information concerning the first official homerun. Rather than by Mejias, who had already been traded to Boston, "the first official home run was hit by Dick (Richie) Allen of the Philadelphia Phillies in a game on April 12 of that year a 2–0 Astros loss."
(See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reliant_Astrodome)
(Note: The first ASTRO to hit a homerun in the Astrodome was third baseman Bob Aspromonte. He hit it April 24, 1965 off Pittsburg Pirates right-hander Vernon Law. The Astros won 5-0. Thanks to JT Chapin for this information.)
JT's information caused me to do some more looking into the Mickey Mantle homerun. Judge Roy Hofheinz had decided to invite the Yankees to the exhibition series because he had high hopes that Mickey Mantle would hit the first homerun in the first indoor stadium on April 9, 1965 in front of 47,876 fans. Mantle did not disappoint. Although he was injured, he came through. "Leading off in the first inning for the Yankees, The Mick lined the second pitch of the game into centerfield for a single for the first hit in Astrodome history. Then, leading off in the sixth, he slammed a majestic drive deep into the centerfield stands near the 406 foot marker for a thunderous home run. As Mickey limped around the bases the crowd cheered him as if he were one of their own."
From http://www.themick.com/mmfaq1.htm
(See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reliant_Astrodome)
(Note: The first ASTRO to hit a homerun in the Astrodome was third baseman Bob Aspromonte. He hit it April 24, 1965 off Pittsburg Pirates right-hander Vernon Law. The Astros won 5-0. Thanks to JT Chapin for this information.)
JT's information caused me to do some more looking into the Mickey Mantle homerun. Judge Roy Hofheinz had decided to invite the Yankees to the exhibition series because he had high hopes that Mickey Mantle would hit the first homerun in the first indoor stadium on April 9, 1965 in front of 47,876 fans. Mantle did not disappoint. Although he was injured, he came through. "Leading off in the first inning for the Yankees, The Mick lined the second pitch of the game into centerfield for a single for the first hit in Astrodome history. Then, leading off in the sixth, he slammed a majestic drive deep into the centerfield stands near the 406 foot marker for a thunderous home run. As Mickey limped around the bases the crowd cheered him as if he were one of their own."
From http://www.themick.com/mmfaq1.htm
Mickey Mantle won Most Valuable Player Awards in 1956, 1957, and 1962.
This photo is from http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/mickey-mantle-hof.htm
This photo is from http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/mickey-mantle-hof.htm
Mickey Mantle was not the only baseball hero of our time to hit a homerun in the Astrodome, of course. In fact, one of the best power hitters in all of baseball history, "Hammerin' Hank" Aaron "hit 13 regular season home runs in the Astrodome. The first came on May 30, 1965 off of Larry Dierker and the last came April 21, 1974 off of Tom Griffin."
From http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Did_hank_aaron_hit_a_home_run_in_the_houston_astrodome
From http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Did_hank_aaron_hit_a_home_run_in_the_houston_astrodome
This picture of a 1973 brochure is from http://www.ebay.com/itm/1973-Hank-Aarons-HR-History-brochure-Astrodome-Houston-/160587785774.
The 'million dollar' Astrodome scoreboard errupted with sight and sound when an Astro homered. When an opponent homered, such as Mickey, it displayed TILT!
http://www.theswearingens.com/mick/dome.htm
http://www.theswearingens.com/mick/dome.htm
Not All Sports . . .
Elvis Presley's February 27, 1970 performance set an all-time attendance record with 43,614 spectators in the Astrodome, a record that remained unchallenged until eight years later.
From: http://www.hlsr.com/about/history.aspx
From: http://www.hlsr.com/about/history.aspx
Next to the Eighth Wonder of the World
_
When Major League Baseball
awarded the Houston area a National League franchise in 1960, the team needed a
home until a planned domed stadium could be built. They decided to construct a
temporary stadium until the domed stadium was built. A 33,000 seat, one-tier
ballpark was constructed. Named Colt Stadium, the Colt .45s played their first
game at the stadium on April 10, 1962. The final game at Colt Stadium was on September 27, 1964. This
apparently happened none too soon as this stadium was known to be the most miserable
stadium in the nation because of the extreme heat that the design allowed every
visitor to experience. In 1965, the Colt .45s were renamed the Astros and
moved across the parking lot into the Astrodome. Colt
Stadium remained standing for five years after the Colt .45s left as it served
mainly as a storage yard.
The Colt .45 Logo was evident all over town from 1962 until 1964.
From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houston_Astros
From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houston_Astros
A Program for the Colts
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?op=1&view=global&subj=107646629279272&pid=3972343&id=700084380&oid=107646629279272&fbid=397922834380
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?op=1&view=global&subj=107646629279272&pid=3972343&id=700084380&oid=107646629279272&fbid=397922834380
Before the Colts, Astros and Eighth Wonder of the World
Many from our generation will remember that before Major League Baseball ever came to town we had Minor League Baseball.
The Houston Buffalos (Buffs)
The Buffalos were Houston's minor league baseball team through 1961; the team was disbanded when the Houston Colts' franchise was formed and they joined the National League.
The Houston Buffalos (Buffs)
The Buffalos were Houston's minor league baseball team through 1961; the team was disbanded when the Houston Colts' franchise was formed and they joined the National League.
Over the years, the Buffs had more than one logo. This one from the 1950s can be found at: http://community.webshots.com/album/11941935TQTUFjHCeO?start=72
This earlier logo can be found in many places, including: http://thompsonian.info/buffs.html
Who Was Playing the First Week in September 1947
Buff Stadium on Opening Day -- this photo can be found at: http://thompsonian.info/buffs.html
The Buffs' games from 1928 until 1956 were played in Buff Stadium on the Gulf Freeway, where the Finger Furniture store stands today (I-45 south of downtown Houston). In fact the Houston Sports Museum that honors the Buffs is in that furniture store. From: http://thompsonian.info/buffs.html
The Fingers store was built on the site of Buff Stadium, home to Houston’s minor league baseball team. The original site of home plate was preserved and a museum was built around it. The Houston Sports Museum is a tribute to Houston sports, particularly baseball, and has one of the finest collections of sports memorabilia in the country.
From: http://www.fingerfurniture.com/?pg=home
From: http://www.fingerfurniture.com/?pg=home
Another aerial Opening-Day photo. During the 1950s, Buff Stadium was modernized and became Busch Stadium. This photo and the next two are from: http://blog.chron.com/bayoucityhistory/2007/10/a-look-back-at-buff-stadium/
This photo was taken May 28, 1956.
This beautiful nighttime picture was taken September 8, 1959.
A Different Kind of Entertainment
A fun place to go dancin' . . .
If one were not careful, as he or she left this famous place and looked back at it, it might look a little off-level like this picture which is from a poster advertising the travelling play Always . . . Patsy Cline. This musical play which receives excellent reviews is about Patsy's first encounter with her soon-to-be friend Louise Seeger at a Patsy Cline performance at Esquire Ballroom in 1961.
From http://www.hsmc-tx.org/userfiles/file/patsy-cline-show-POSTER.pdf
During my college days, I remember the TLCB officers sitting together and wearing brown suits. Nobody wore a suit to Esquire Ballroom except the TLCB officers. Esquire Ballroom featured many famous singers and bands and was open from 1955 until 1995. Willie Nelson tried to sell some of his songs to Larry Butler for $10.00 each in Esquire one night in 1958. Butler told Nelson that they were worth much more than that and he leant him $50.00 instead and told him to keep his songs.
From http://www.hsmc-tx.org/userfiles/file/patsy-cline-show-POSTER.pdf
During my college days, I remember the TLCB officers sitting together and wearing brown suits. Nobody wore a suit to Esquire Ballroom except the TLCB officers. Esquire Ballroom featured many famous singers and bands and was open from 1955 until 1995. Willie Nelson tried to sell some of his songs to Larry Butler for $10.00 each in Esquire one night in 1958. Butler told Nelson that they were worth much more than that and he leant him $50.00 instead and told him to keep his songs.
Quite literally in the shadow of the "Dome Stadium," was this famous night club. It opened in December of 1963 and stayed open through the 1970s. It was located on Buffalo Speedway and always had a live band.
Photo from: http://www.domeshadows.com/Dome_Shadows.php
Photo from: http://www.domeshadows.com/Dome_Shadows.php
Before our time, but of interest and in our part of town . . .
Our parents would remember The Plantation at 9101 South Main Street. In fact, my friend Vicki Graham says that her mom enjoyed going dancing there. It opened in 1940 and this 1947 Houston brochure features The Plantation on the front.
From: http://www.scribd.com/doc/53604213/You-re-in-Houston-Aug-1947
From: http://www.scribd.com/doc/53604213/You-re-in-Houston-Aug-1947
Generations of Us Are Familiar with Another Famous Dance Hall and Private Party Venue
On Galveston Bay in LaPorte, Texas is a building that was built in 1956, but that is the third one on the site since 1893. It is named the Sylvan Beach Pavilion. [This is another place that Vicki's mom liked to go dancing.] The Pavilion was damaged by Hurricane Ike in 2008, but is currently being restored.
From high school proms to wedding receptions and other events, this has been a popular place for over fifty years. And it was almost demolished after the storm blew out some of its huge windows. But a grass roots effort to save it stated that the Sylvan Beach Pavilion "celebrates community values that generations of Harris County residents have associated with the Park. Social dancing, long a mainstay of the park, is celebrated in the pavilion's design that features a 10,000 foot, 2 glass-walled ballroom with a 3,600 foot, 2 circular dance floor. Whether the ballroom is used for dancing, or for listening to a music venue, or to provide banquet seating with a breathtaking view, it is of value to the community of LaPorte and to Harris County. By obtaining national and state historical designations, the local community saved the Pavilion and it is being restored.
From: http://web.me.com/tapster2/savethepavilion/Welcome.html
From: http://web.me.com/tapster2/savethepavilion/Welcome.html
This photo from http://blog.chron.com/offcite/2010/08/a-building-worth-saving-sylvan-beach-pavilion/
will give some guidance to the architects as they plan the following: "'Hurricane-proof' windows will be installed, tile will be replaced, the dance floor will be refurbished and new fixtures installed, Reissig said. Work should begin in early 2012 and take nine months to a year to complete, he said."
http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Community-input-sought-on-Sylvan-Beach-Pavilion-2219584.php
will give some guidance to the architects as they plan the following: "'Hurricane-proof' windows will be installed, tile will be replaced, the dance floor will be refurbished and new fixtures installed, Reissig said. Work should begin in early 2012 and take nine months to a year to complete, he said."
http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Community-input-sought-on-Sylvan-Beach-Pavilion-2219584.php
This is a photo of the inside of the building showing the large circular dance floor.
From: http://web.me.com/tapster2/savethepavilion/Welcome.html
From: http://web.me.com/tapster2/savethepavilion/Welcome.html
[If you are interested in preserving historic Texas Dance Halls or in finding out where the remaining 500 or so of them are located, see http://www.texasdancehall.org/]
Skylines, Buildings and a Weather Ball
Allen Parkway Boulevard. The Gulf sign was on top of the Gulf Building from 1965 until November, 1973. It was a 53-foot high rotating sign with 4,700 square feet of display area and 7,350 lineal feet of neon tubing.
From www.texasescapes.com/Houston/Gulf-Building-Houston-Texas.htm
From www.texasescapes.com/Houston/Gulf-Building-Houston-Texas.htm
A close-up photo of the Gulf Building and its famous sign. From: blogs.chron.com/bayoucityhistory/2008/11/former_gulf_building_gets_high_honor_1.html
A 1957 photo of the Houston Skyline from:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?op=1&view=global&subj=107646629279272&pid=262970&id=1693999176&oid=107646629279272&fbid=1131225976207
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?op=1&view=global&subj=107646629279272&pid=262970&id=1693999176&oid=107646629279272&fbid=1131225976207
A visitor to the site, Bob Meyer, reminded me of the color-changing weather ball which was atop the new Texas National Bank Building when it opened October 17, 1955. Conoco shared the building with the bank and placed the 15-foot tall structure with a sign on one side saying "Texas National Bank" and on the other saying "Conoco." It was said that the weather ball could be seen from 25 miles away. Glowing red meant warmer weather; white meant that it was going to be colder; green meant no change ahead; and a blinking light meant precipitation was on its way. This ball was dismantled in 1964 and eventually placed at the entry fountain at Astroworld where it remained until 1995 when it was located in Astroworld storage. Since then, the weather ball has mysteriously disappeared and a number of people have searched for it to no avail.
Weather Ball Sources Used:
www.houstonhistory.com/decades/timeline/5l1tl.htm
rocketshot.blogspot.com/search
www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl/2000_3200457/weather-wonders-and-sweet-martins.html http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2010913481407&set=o.107646629279272&type=1&theater&pid=2210317&id=1500842745
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150166128186506&set=o.107646629279272&type=1&theater&pid=6815731&id=775891505
www.houstonhistory.com/decades/timeline/5l1tl.htm
rocketshot.blogspot.com/search
www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl/2000_3200457/weather-wonders-and-sweet-martins.html http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2010913481407&set=o.107646629279272&type=1&theater&pid=2210317&id=1500842745
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150166128186506&set=o.107646629279272&type=1&theater&pid=6815731&id=775891505
One of My Favorite Houston Photos . . .
I had forgotten that I have right here in my home a 1962 copy of George Fuermann's Houston: The Feast Years. Many of you are aware of Fuermann whose collection of Houston photos (most of which are digital and online) and essays is now with the University of Houston library. His collection includes about nine-hundred pictures of Houston subjects from the 1840s to 1900, and many more photos of Houston subjects from the 20th Century.
George Fuermann worked for the Houston Post for forty-nine years He began in 1946 as a general assignment reporter. His popular daily column, based on snippets of local history, “Post Card,” ran from 1950 to 1971. He continued as Editorial Page editor from 1971 to 1983 and as “Wine Talk” columnist from 1984 to 1995, when the Houston Post closed its doors. From 1996 to 1999, George Fuermann wrote a wine column for a publication of the Rice Epicurean Markets. He passed away in 2001.
From: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/uhsc/00027/hsc-00027.html
THIS photo is so outstanding, of course, because of the contrast in architectural styles between the two buildings. Please note that this is a close-up from a bit different angle of the photo located above this one. Besides the obvious artistic value of the photo, what I love the most about it is the visual of the open windows of the twenty-one story Texas National Bank Building giving the viewer a feeling of just how hot it must have been in those offices on the day that the photo was taken [somewhere between 1955 and 1962].
From: Fuermann, George. Houston: The Feast Years, An Illustrated Essay, Premier Printing Company, 1962.
George Fuermann worked for the Houston Post for forty-nine years He began in 1946 as a general assignment reporter. His popular daily column, based on snippets of local history, “Post Card,” ran from 1950 to 1971. He continued as Editorial Page editor from 1971 to 1983 and as “Wine Talk” columnist from 1984 to 1995, when the Houston Post closed its doors. From 1996 to 1999, George Fuermann wrote a wine column for a publication of the Rice Epicurean Markets. He passed away in 2001.
From: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/uhsc/00027/hsc-00027.html
THIS photo is so outstanding, of course, because of the contrast in architectural styles between the two buildings. Please note that this is a close-up from a bit different angle of the photo located above this one. Besides the obvious artistic value of the photo, what I love the most about it is the visual of the open windows of the twenty-one story Texas National Bank Building giving the viewer a feeling of just how hot it must have been in those offices on the day that the photo was taken [somewhere between 1955 and 1962].
From: Fuermann, George. Houston: The Feast Years, An Illustrated Essay, Premier Printing Company, 1962.
In the building below the Weather Ball this early computer was being used in 1963. [It looks as though air conditioning had been installed by the time this photo was taken.] This was the year that I graduated from high school and I could not have possibly imagined that I would be featuring this computer on a website on my own personal computer nearly fifty years later!
Picture from: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150309652740552&set=o.107646629279272&type=1&theater&pid=9580224&id=542550551
Picture from: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150309652740552&set=o.107646629279272&type=1&theater&pid=9580224&id=542550551
More Food . . .
I remember Jack's "secret sauce." The first Jack in the Box was opened in California in 1951. The chain came to Texas in 1963, including to Houston.
Those of us who had younger siblings knew about "Cadet Don" who was on Channel 13 KTRK on weekday mornings from 1959 until 1968. It was a space-themed adventure program for children, focusing on the exploits of an interstellar adventurer and the locations he visited. AND, Cadet Don showcased Milk Drop Moe! Thanks to my friend Vicki I have looked for a photo of Moe almost every day since she reminded me of him. Then, she got the "research bug" too and remembered Moe's real name and found some information on Bobby Lauhar. So, we now have a photo of the young man who was inside the Milk Drop Moe suit advertising milk on the Cadet Don show.
From: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KTRK-TV
Those of us who had younger siblings knew about "Cadet Don" who was on Channel 13 KTRK on weekday mornings from 1959 until 1968. It was a space-themed adventure program for children, focusing on the exploits of an interstellar adventurer and the locations he visited. AND, Cadet Don showcased Milk Drop Moe! Thanks to my friend Vicki I have looked for a photo of Moe almost every day since she reminded me of him. Then, she got the "research bug" too and remembered Moe's real name and found some information on Bobby Lauhar. So, we now have a photo of the young man who was inside the Milk Drop Moe suit advertising milk on the Cadet Don show.
From: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KTRK-TV
Bobby is on the left, of course, with Ernie Kovacs and Maggie Brown. As we can see, Bobby's humble beginning in Houston, Texas grew and he entered the "big time." An early neigbor of his states that " I lived next door to Bobby and his wife Jeanne while growing up in Bellaire, TX in the 1950s. Bobby began his acting career there (Houston) in TV. He used the stage name Bobby Larr and appeared daily on a variety show. I recall his commercials for a dairy company dressed as Milkdrop Moe. He was a delightful man and a good neighbor." This from: http://people.famouswhy.com/bobby_lauher/directory.html.
After Milk Drop Moe in Houston, Bobby's career blossomed . He was a comic performer best known for his television skit work with actor Ernie Kovacs for the game show television series Take A Good Look. He also appeared on the TV shows Truth or Consequences, Mickie Finn's, and in the film The Blue Knight (1973). And he was a comic writer for the Rowan and Martin team. But, sadly he died at age forty-three in 1973. From: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=6806296
[Maybe we will still find a picture of Moe in costume one of these days.]
After Milk Drop Moe in Houston, Bobby's career blossomed . He was a comic performer best known for his television skit work with actor Ernie Kovacs for the game show television series Take A Good Look. He also appeared on the TV shows Truth or Consequences, Mickie Finn's, and in the film The Blue Knight (1973). And he was a comic writer for the Rowan and Martin team. But, sadly he died at age forty-three in 1973. From: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=6806296
[Maybe we will still find a picture of Moe in costume one of these days.]
Long before Jack in the Box, 1923 to be exact, was James Coney Island. Vicki reminded me that the old downtown James Coney Island located at the corner of Main and Walker, long before the ones in the various locations around town were built, was a popular place for businessmen and for downtown shoppers. Her grandfather who worked next door ate almost daily at this eatery, which he called "The Club," that was founded by two Greek immigrant brothers named Papadakis. Before settling in Houston the brothers visited the famous New York Coney Island, where the hot dog was first introduced around 1870.
When they moved to Houston and decided to start their own hot dog venture, with just $75 in their pockets, they settled on a nickel as the asking price for their dog. The younger brother, Tom, was credited with convincing James to go into the hot dog business, but when it came time to choose a name they flipped a coin. Because James won the toss, the new restaurant took the name James Coney Island. For a salary, they decided to pay themselves $15 a week. The first James Coney Island eatery was located on the ground floor of the Beatty-West Building in downtown Houston. The Papadakis brothers developed their own wiener recipe and had buns specially baked to hold them.
Even though they served other items as well, it was the hot dogs that kept the customers coming back, whether they were menial laborers or oil barons. (Vicki's granddad mentioned this variety of the customers, in fact.) The restaurant was so packed with people that to supplement the stools, tables, and chairs, the brothers bought tablet-arm school chairs to accommodate the overflow crowd. The old wooden school desks became part of the charm of James Coney Island, and the shabbier the restaurant grew over the years the more beloved it became to Houstonians.
This photo is from: http://www.houstonpress.com/2002-07-18/restaurants/dog-days/2/
The history is from: http://www.hellohouston.com/restaurants/james_coney_island_historic_hot_dogs/202943/
and http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3480000054.html
When they moved to Houston and decided to start their own hot dog venture, with just $75 in their pockets, they settled on a nickel as the asking price for their dog. The younger brother, Tom, was credited with convincing James to go into the hot dog business, but when it came time to choose a name they flipped a coin. Because James won the toss, the new restaurant took the name James Coney Island. For a salary, they decided to pay themselves $15 a week. The first James Coney Island eatery was located on the ground floor of the Beatty-West Building in downtown Houston. The Papadakis brothers developed their own wiener recipe and had buns specially baked to hold them.
Even though they served other items as well, it was the hot dogs that kept the customers coming back, whether they were menial laborers or oil barons. (Vicki's granddad mentioned this variety of the customers, in fact.) The restaurant was so packed with people that to supplement the stools, tables, and chairs, the brothers bought tablet-arm school chairs to accommodate the overflow crowd. The old wooden school desks became part of the charm of James Coney Island, and the shabbier the restaurant grew over the years the more beloved it became to Houstonians.
This photo is from: http://www.houstonpress.com/2002-07-18/restaurants/dog-days/2/
The history is from: http://www.hellohouston.com/restaurants/james_coney_island_historic_hot_dogs/202943/
and http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3480000054.html
This is a 1946 view of Christie’s French Fried Shrimp restaurant in Houston Texas, at 6703 South Main. This picture of a linen postcard printed in 1946 shows lots of covered parking spaces which leads one to believe that this was also a drive-in restaurant with “curb service.” A visitor to this site, Sonny Gray, indeed remembers the curb service and his family’s sitting in their maroon 1940 two-door Ford sedan and enjoying a meal. He also remembers that they had to bring their own ketchup because of rationing in WWII.
From http://www.moodyscollectibles.com/postcard-news/?p=688
From http://www.moodyscollectibles.com/postcard-news/?p=688
A Classic Restaurant . . .
The historic name of this restaurant at 1927 W. Gray Ave. was Golden Girl Restaurant. It later became Captain John's Sea Foods. The deco-style building was completed in 1940.
From http://www.houstondeco.org/1940s/johns.html
From http://www.houstondeco.org/1940s/johns.html
A Bellaire Landmark . . .
From the June 26, 1963, Houston Chronicle: "Peeking through pylon — Take a peek through one of the towering pylons which mark the Bellaire Triangle shopping center, bounded by Bellaire Blvd., Chimney Rock and Richmond Road. This view is from the corner of Chimney Rock and Richmond Road., soon to be changed to Bissonnet."
From http://blogs.chron.com/bayoucityhistory/2010/01/bellaire_triangle_shopping_center.html
From http://blogs.chron.com/bayoucityhistory/2010/01/bellaire_triangle_shopping_center.html
A Medical Center Area Memory . . .
The Tidelands Motor Inn, 6500 South Main in Houston, sat for at least two decades at the corner of South Main Street and University Boulevard, an out-of-place tropical oasis with its orange and green color scheme and large palm trees. Its buildings seemed to zigzag off in all directions once you got far enough off Main Street and far enough into the property to see the layout. It stood three stories tall with an interesting tower-looking staircase on one end.
From www.examiner.com/history-in-houston/the-tidelands-motor-inn-6500-south-main-houston
From www.examiner.com/history-in-houston/the-tidelands-motor-inn-6500-south-main-houston
The three-story Tidelands, 1963
The Tidelands was more than just a motor inn, because it had a nightclub, and a swanky one at that. Its location across from Rice Institute and next to the ever-growing Texas Medical Center made it an integral part of the lounge culture that extended all the way out Main to Holcombe, where the magnificent but aging Shamrock Hilton sat in all its glory.
The Tidelands was frequented by local sports figures, Houston's "movers and shakers", politicians and celebrities such as Jonathan Winters, Brother Dave Gardner and of course, Bob Newhart. Newhart's performance of February 1960 was recorded and served to launch his entire career.
[From same source as previous picture.]
The Tidelands was more than just a motor inn, because it had a nightclub, and a swanky one at that. Its location across from Rice Institute and next to the ever-growing Texas Medical Center made it an integral part of the lounge culture that extended all the way out Main to Holcombe, where the magnificent but aging Shamrock Hilton sat in all its glory.
The Tidelands was frequented by local sports figures, Houston's "movers and shakers", politicians and celebrities such as Jonathan Winters, Brother Dave Gardner and of course, Bob Newhart. Newhart's performance of February 1960 was recorded and served to launch his entire career.
[From same source as previous picture.]
A Jump Back to the Thirties . . .
As Houston and the rest of the country recovered from theGreat Depression, art-deco style theaters of the late 1930s were built in many residential neighborhoods across the city. The 739 seat Alabama Theatre opened on November 2, 1939 screening “Man About Town,” starring Jack Benny. Note "Lights Music Fireworks Celebration" on the marquee. The showing of the first CinemaScope film made (The Robe) at the first CinemaScope screening in Houston took place at the Alabama Theater. Later remodelings included that of the lobby on two occasions, updating the undersized concession stand, and rebuilding the box office into the theatre front. Original plans for a shopping center to surround the theatre eventually took place.
From en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alabama_Theatre_%28Houston%29
and www.cinemahouston.info/alabama.shtml
From en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alabama_Theatre_%28Houston%29
and www.cinemahouston.info/alabama.shtml
Mission Turned Moderne . . .
The 1929 Heights Theatre was originally built in Mission Style, but later updated to Art Moderne in 1935.
This 1935 Photo is courtesy of Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library and was taken just before it was updated.
Today, the theatre is an events venue and is still located at 339 W. 19th Street in the historic Houston Heights.
From: http://www.houstondeco.org/1930s/heights/detail2.html
http://www.houstondeco.org/1930s/heights.html
http://www.heightstheater.net/
This 1935 Photo is courtesy of Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library and was taken just before it was updated.
Today, the theatre is an events venue and is still located at 339 W. 19th Street in the historic Houston Heights.
From: http://www.houstondeco.org/1930s/heights/detail2.html
http://www.houstondeco.org/1930s/heights.html
http://www.heightstheater.net/
My friend J.T. Chapin lessened the degrees of separation from six to two when he told me who owned the Heights Theatre in the 1940s and 1950s. It was the Wygant family. I taught with one of the two sons many years ago in Pasadena, but I had no idea that his family had owned this theatre. And I lived in the Heights from 1951 - 1955 and went to this theatre more than once. J.T. reports that the Heights got all the top movies right after they were shown downtown. What a treat for the folks who lived in the suburbs!
For a while it was an antique store as noted in this 2006 photo.
Beautiful Art Deco . . .
This 1936 photo of the Tower Theatre is from: http://www.houstondeco.org/1930s/
The Grand Opening was onValentine's Day 1936. The theater's interior has been gutted, but its façade was rehabilitated in 2010 after the marquee was damaged in Hurricane Ike.
It is located at 1201 Wesheimer Road.
From: http://www.houstondeco.org/1930s/tower.html
The upstairs lobby in 1936. Photo: Bob Bailey Studio Photographic Archive, Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin
From: http://www.houstondeco.org/1930s/tower/detail1.html
From: http://www.houstondeco.org/1930s/tower/detail1.html
And Even More Places to Eat . . .
"Savage Style Chicken" at 6515 S. Main at University in the Medical Center. This location was open from 1936 until 1973. In later years two Indian figures were added to the roof. See below:
This is a cropped photo from blogs.chron.com/bayoucityhistory/2010/06/at_home_at_bill_williams_chicken_house.html
Valian's, 1955 (Postcard Courtesy of Vito Schlabra)
Valian’s opened on South Main at Holcombe, across the street from the Shamrock Hotel, in 1955, as the first restaurant in Houston serving “pizza pie.” "Valian's was Houston in the fifties and sixties," according to our friend JT Chapin.
From bill37mccurdy.wordpress.com/2010/07/23/valians-houstons-first-pizza-pie/
Valian’s opened on South Main at Holcombe, across the street from the Shamrock Hotel, in 1955, as the first restaurant in Houston serving “pizza pie.” "Valian's was Houston in the fifties and sixties," according to our friend JT Chapin.
From bill37mccurdy.wordpress.com/2010/07/23/valians-houstons-first-pizza-pie/
I remember EXCELLENT spaghetti too. This was a popular place to eat when going out on a date.
From: www.chron.com/commons/persona.html
From: www.chron.com/commons/persona.html
Contact me at: tana@tanasreminisce.com