Ashikaga

Here's my theory. Years ago, there were no video games, Internet, cell phones, cable TV, VCRs/DVDs, etc. So for recreation, people had to go out to places like drive-in restaurants, drive-in movie theatres, roller rinks, etc. It's just a theory.

Yes, I can vaguely remember the soda fountains at downtown places like Woolworth's and Walgreens. I can still see the crushed ice on the wet Coca-Cola glass and those upside-down cone-shaped thick glasses that they put ice cream in for a float. Yes, that with a patty-melt sandwich.

Thanks. I learn something new almost every day.

No, your reasoning sounds logical. There are reasons why businesses fold. It just so happens that drive-in theatres, roller rinks, and malt shops were the most popular recreational places for young people. They were en vogue when I was a teen, and also when my parents were. As a matter of fact, my dad met my mom in a roller rink. She's now 66 and he's 72. Naturally, the roller rink where they met no longer exists, just like the drive-in theatres that they took me with them to as a little kid.

Excellent work, TP! Yes, I live about 5 miles from the Der Wienerschnitzel in Orange. It's been a long time since I've been there. I distinctly remember going to one as a kid in Galveston back in 1960s. How can I forget it? My dad jumped all over me for spilling chili on my shirt. From then on I would always get a kraut dog whenever we would go there. I guess that one is closed since you don't have it on your list.

Is Taqueria a chain?

I guess that Monterey House went the same way that El Chico and Felix. Over here, the only El Chico in Parkdale Mall in Beaumont closed, and I think that Felix on Calder Avenue in the same city also left. The Monterey House on S. 11th Street is still open, but it's the only one in this area. According to what you have told me, the only ones now in Houston were re-named Monterey Tex-Mex Restaurants. And you make it sound as if Houston also no longer has any El Chico and Felix.

Most of those fast food hot dogs chain restaurants called "Der Wienierschnitzel" have closed. Are there still any open in Houston? They use to serve Kraut Dogs and Polish Sandwiches.

I wonder if a millionaire opened a real big roller rink next to a five-screen drive-in movie theatre somewhere in Houston if it would suceed or fold?

I just looked at the movie theatre ads in today's Chronicle. I counted the number of movies now playing at those two 30-screen theatres. They added up to less than 30. What am I missing?

I'm wanting to remember a short-lived restaurant chain called "Roy Roger's Roast Beef Sandwich". I'm picturing it somewhere around Gulfgate.

Well, do you now think that Houston will become a Chocolate, Jazz, & R&B city?

I remember as a kid back in the 1960s we would go to Galveston and remember seeing Gaido's back then. I wish that I could remember some of the old restaurants around Gulfgate. On this same category on a topic called "Tour de Telephone" Subdude posted a bunch of photos of old businesses including restaurants. I think that one of them was Gaido's. I know that he did post one of the Tel-Wink Drive-In Restaurant which is/was located near Gulfgate on Telephone Road at Winkler Drive.

Is that in the city of Houston itself, or does that figure include suburbs?

Well, I'm glad for you. I wish both of you the best. As far as my credit goes, the negative items will be deleted in the year 2012. As far as women, I've concluded that there will probably never be one in my life again. But I did say "probably". If I would affix a percentage, I would say that there is a 75% chance that there will never be a woman in my life again. I've never been legally married. My only child came from a woman whom I lived with.

Well, I admire your honesty. I'm 48 and recently I've learn to accept the truth and hard facts about the two things that I have always been a complete, total failure with: women & credit.

It has taken me a long time to learn that rural life simply isn't for me. Now I wish that we had stayed in Houston instead of moving back in 1964. I would have liked going to and being around 5A high schools, and anytime needing something just drive to a store. But it still surprises me that Houston is bigger than Dallas. I thought that Big D would have surpassed The Bayou City long ago. This may sound like a stupid question, but is Houston growing? If it is, about what rate?

Oh yes, I remember the races. During the push races, sometimes the one being pushed would lose their balance and fall over, and the other racers would trip and fall all over causing a pileup on the floor. I also remember doing the Hokey Pokey. If you shook your leg the wrong way, you'd lose your balance, fall, and bust your butt on that hard wooden floor. Someone else on this forum said that he remembers playing a game called Snap The Whip, but I don't recall ever seeing, much less participating in, that game. Do any of you remember Ladies Choice couple's skating? It's where a girl would go and ask a guy to couple skate with her.

Yes, but I didn't think of until now to ask: Are there still any roller rinks operating in Houston? Or did they die out like the drive-in movie theatres?

Everything is life has a positive and a negative aspect. If you live in an apartment, you have no lawn to mow. And if something goes wrong with the plumbing, electricity, air conditioning, etc., you simply pick up the phone and call Maintenance.

Now that we have DVDs, do you think that movie theatres will eventually die a natural death?

Yes, I understand about Netflix, Blockbuster, Hollywood, etc. Back in the late 1970s/early 1980s when the VCR came out, I believed that it would result in putting all movie theatres out of business, but I was wrong. Most drive-in theatres folded, but there are still plenty of walk-ins. I based my belief that most people don't like to have to get dressed up, hire a baby sitter, to go out to a movie. If they could watch the movie at home, they would do that. I wonder where I went wrong? I, personally, haven't been to a movie theatre since 1998. There are two reasons why I don't go to one today: 1) the high cost of admission and snacks 2) I'm getting older with physical problems; I don't want to have to go to the restroom in the middle of a movie and have to wonder what I missed. It's like someone else just said: If you're watching a movie at home on a VCR/DVD, you can pause it if Mother Nature calls (or if someone else calls on the telephone).

The thought of living in an apartment on about the 20th floor of a well-maintained building downtown doesn't sound too bad to me. Are there any?

Yes, I grew up with the one-screeners. When I was in either the fourth or the fifth grade, the Park Plaza Theatre opened in Port Arthur. It was the talk and sensation of the whole area. People would say: "That new theatre in Port Arthur has TWO screens"! I remember seeing "Bullitt" starring Steve McQueen there when it first opened. But recently the wrecking ball was administered to it. A good website to look at is "cinematour.com". On it I posted a photo of the first Village Theatre in Port Arthur. Lightning stuck it in either 1966/67 and it was rebuilt. The new one lasted until the 1980s but its roof collapsed. "CinemaTreasures.Org" is also another good website, but at this time they are not accepting any photos.