Diane

I LIVED IN BROOKHAVEN SUBD ON HOLMES ROAD & THEN IN THE AREA JUST NEXT TO PALM CENTER SO WAS IN THERE FREQUENTLY. THERE WAS A BAKER'S SHOE STORE, A RECORD SHOP, HOUSTON SHOE HOSPITAL, WALTER PYE'S, J.C. PENNEY'S, LEWIS & COKER GROCERY STORE, A SMALL GIFT SHOP, THREE SISTERS DRESS SHOP (I BELIEVE THAT WAS THE NAME), ZALE'S JEWELERS & A DRY CLEANERS. I'M SURE THERE WERE MORE BUT THAT'S ALL I CAN RECALL. ACROSS THE STREET WAS A USED CAR LOT, A "DOLLAR WAVE" BEAUTY SALON & MONTGOMERY WARD'S.

Thanks for posting this picture of the old OST. I was in the audience there at least once a week for either the Friday night feature or the Saturday morning "Fun Club." Mr. Foster, the manager, ran a "tight ship" & would patrol the aisles with his flashlight making sure that we behaved ourselves. On Sat mornings they would often have local "stars" show up to give autographs to the kids. I remember one morning when wrestling star, Ray Gunkel & country star, Jerry Jericho, were there but none of the kids, except me, seemed to know who Jerry was. We didn't have a TV yet, at that time, but I was a big c/w music fan & listened to the KNUZ c/w shows religiously. The kids in Ray Gunkel's line stretched all around the lobby but Jerry Jericho's line only had one fan.....me. I remember feeling sorry for him & tried to make conversation but was too shy to be very convincing. As our group got older, the Friday night feature became more appealing & we didn't particularly care what was on the screen, we just went to "see & be seen." It was even better if your current "interest" was there & sometimes, Mr. Foster would open the balcony seats for "hand holding", if we were lucky. Such innocence in the fifties. Thanks for the memories!

In the 1950s, I used to listen to KNUZ Radio. They had daily programs featuring Biff Colley, his wife, Marge Colley, Laura Lee McBride, Paul Berlin & another disc jockey whose name I can't remember. Seems like it was Larry "something." On the c/w progams, (the first 3), they advertised a dance hall that was way out South Main. I'm trying to remember the last name of that Larry ? & also the name of the dance hall. Bob Wills & Hank Thompson played there often but I was too young, at that time, to go! Darn!

Was that rink, out by the U of H, a roller rink or ice rink?

Sounds like a wonderful idea but probably wouldn't be that lucrative. It would take a bundle to keep that place cool enough for an ice-skating rink, I would think.

There was a large roller skating rink, in the 50s, close to Crystal Pool on South Main. That was the place to be seen on a Saturday night!

Remember Molina's "Mexico City" restaurant? I think the original location was on Fannin or Main - delicious food & perfect atmosphere. I would love to find one of the old menus because for many years, it was a "family tradition" in our family to go there on Christmas Eve. Great pics! I have many good memories of Valian's too.

How about "Gorgeous George" who came into the ring throwing gold hair pins from his flowing blond hair. Then there was Ray Gunkel & Cyclone Anaya. Now that was REAL show biz!

I remember going to the grand opening of the "Trail Drive Inn Theater" & Gene Autry was there. Since he was a 3rd cousin to my Dad, I was anxious to meet "my hero" which was quite impressive for a 10 yr old. We talked briefly with Gene as he was leaving the theater & it was obvious that he wasn't interested in meeting us & didn't remember my Dad. So much for "hero worship." I remember though that someone asked him why he didn't bring his horse, "Champion" & his reply was that Champ was currently dating one of Bing Crosby's mares & wasn't interested in going along on the trip to Houston. Personally, I didn't think that Gene was either!

I don't remember exactly where it was located but I loved going to the old Polar Wave Ice Palace for ice skating back in the '50s. My Mother had also skated there in her earlier years so I know it wasn't a new rink at that time. After it closed, they made ice skating available periodically in the old Houston Coliseum Downtown.