brucesw

Re: Quintana, right at the mouth of the old Brazos, across from Surfiside, where Stephen F. Austin's first colonists sailed in. AIR, some people tried to ride out Carla in a shed there and didn't make it. The canal was the Intracoastal Waterway.

This was at Surfside but there were 2 bridges south of Freeport, one for Bryan Beach and one for Quintana. Quintana was just about the most remote place there was and there was a bar there. I can remember when all three bridges were one-way. When the bridges had to open for barge traffic on the canal, which always had priority, the wait could be quite lengthy. When the bridge was just one way, traffic on the beach was allowed off before anyone was allowed to cross in the other direction. The Surfside bridge was just down from the entrance to Dow Plant A and is now dead-end. You went out Gulf Blvd. in Velasco to get there. The two bridges south of Freeport were accessed by going out the same road past the Port of Freeport as you use now; they were replaced by one two-way bridge eventually but it's only been in the last 15 years or so that a span replaced that.

I never heard of anyone driving off into the canal and not being found but there were (urban) legends of the bridge tenders drinking heavily to while the time away, especially south of town where hours might pass without any traffic, and failing to take all the steps necessary to safely allow auto traffic over the bridges before raising the crossarms, leading to some plunging into the canal.

Just a couple hundred yards or less from the Surfside bridge in the direction of the old river was what I think we called the Freeport or Velasco light.

It still stood in my childhood but I never saw it in operation because we never went to the beach at night. The turret and Fresnel lens from the light are on display at the Brazoria Co. Historical Museum in Angleton along with a history.

These pictures are from James Creighton's A Narrative History of Brazoria Co. but I believe they, and more like them, can be found on the BCHM website. Pictures there are small, so I chose to scan the book.

KNUZ-TV signed on at 7pm on Thursday October 23, 1953. The opening program was a one hour introductory show followed by a live telecast of a Lamar High School vs. Milby High School football game which experienced many difficulties.

It was a short-lived debut. The station was off the air until the following Monday while engineers remounted the antenna atop the KUHT antenna and worked on the technical problems experienced during the remote.

On Monday the schedule included:

4-4:45pm - Paul

The Beacon - now that rings a bell. On the Brazoria Co. Historical Museum website there are some pics of the Angleton Theater, opened in 1935. The tag says it was on S. Mulberry but of course Mullberry runs east/west (Hwy 35). I found a building on Velasco, right around the corner, which resembles the pictures. I'll upload it when I get time. I do not remember the Angleton but 'Beacon' rings a bell. We would have passed right by that every time we went to Houston.

Yes there was a Velasco theater, on Ave B in the 100 or 200 block. I went there only once, to see Days of Wine and Roses just after it was released. It was a small place, dark red brick building, as I recall, not seedy but not in good shape. Threre were only a handful of other people in the auditorium that night; at least there were no parking problems. Just about all of that in those 2 blocks has been razed. There is a pic on the BCHM site purporting to be the back of the Velasco after a snowfall but I can't even tell if it's looking at the theater or out the back door.

I agree the date 1970 seems rather early for the closing of the Showboat but I have no way of knowing. Perhaps it was known as something else in its seedier days?

While browsing the BCHM site looking for old pictures I came across this, identified as the Ora Theater in Freeport:

The listing says it was Freeport's first movie theater and opened in 1949 - bull! No way Freeport didn't have a theater until 1949 (plus the claim of the owner of the Showboat that it opened in 40/41). In fact the BCHM has another pic on line of a much earlier theater, although it may not have been a movie theater. The movie on the marquee was released in 1947 I think. The thing is, I don't remember this at all. I went looking for it my last trip there and found this:

This is in the 200 block of E. Park. All the businesses along there were closed and only one had a street address so I can't pin it down more than that. I was on Park street many times -- we sometimes shopped at the Tobey Hardware on the corner, Griff's Men's Wear across the street; the Facts was located in the 300 block (as was a Pontiac dealership) and the photographer who took many photos for school annuals had a studio there, but I just don't remember this at all so I have no idea of the actual dates. Looks like it might have been a nightclub in another incarnation.

I did not remember the Black school was named Lanier. I've tried to think of another Black school in the area but can't come up with one. The Black population of Bpt was quite small, actually. I wouldn't be surprised if there were more Hispanics than Blacks back then. I didn't know it had been the BCC campus.

We shopped at Krause's; I went to hi school with the son of the owner of Willenberg's Pharmacy -- can't remember his name right now. Everybody talks about Grant's and Woolworth's on HAIF. Fie! Nothing will ever beat Ben Franklin's for me -- of course I knew Ernie Rea who owned the LJ Ben Franklin.

Midtown Coog - do you perhaps mean the Episcopal Church at the corner of Oyster Creek Drive and Circle Way? Behind the Methodist Church would be Hwy 332 and across from that a newer portion of town where I can't think of any mods. There are mods along Circle Way and OCD as I recall.

Also, what's the pronunciation of Antonelli? We always understood it was pronounced as a 3 syllable word, hence the Aunt Nelly above. Was it pronounced as a 4 syllable word, i.e., was the 'o' elided or not?

Forgotten Freeport --- I came across this first photo while perusing my old high school annual.

That's the 100 block of W. 2nd, I think. Anyone who's been to Freeport in recent years realizes how astonishing that photo is. In 1960, Freeport was still the commercial and retail hub of Brazosport and may have still had more residents than Lake Jackson but now that has completely reversed. You can drive that stretch of downtown Freeport during the middle of the day now and not see a single car or person. Everything on the left side of the street has been razed (to make way for Intermedics, I suppose, which later abandoned Freeport for a campus north of Angleton, then got bought out by a competitor in 1999 and shut down). Everything on the right hand side of the street is closed and boarded up, as I recall from my last visit. There are still 3 businesses in the next block, though.

The Showboat theater, 219 W. 2nd Street, Freeport. The man looking at me taking the picture turned out to be the owner; he came over to talk to me and told me the Showboat opened ca. 1940-41 and closed in 1970. He said they're getting ready to put a jewelry store in there -- I didn't ask if Lee's Credit Jewelers is moving from the corner. It's sad to see the marquee and sign gone; I hope they don't remove the ticket booth. I have looked extensively for a picture from the 50s or 60s but haven't found one.

I went to the Showboat only a handful of times. We had our own theater in my hometown, Lake Jackson, the Lake. I remember thinking the first time I went there it was quite luxurious compared to the Lake, which was rather spartan. I saw Bwana Devil there, the first 3-D movie, and, fittingly enough, Showboat. By the time I was old enough to go to movies on my own with my friends, we mostly went to the two drive-ins in the area, the Surf and Tradewind (or Tradewinds). The former was where the movies featuring Bridget Bardot, Gina Lollabrigida and Sophia Loren played, anyway.

Marmer - is the pharmacy the one on the corner of Oak and Broad next to the former Wright Chevy-Olds-GMC (Bat-Wing Mowers in it's last incarnation) - I seem to remember that, a lawyer's office now, I think. Used to be a grocery across from that which was a local operation. I have a photo of another old movie house I'll post soon.

I was away from the area for most of the 60s except for the first 2 summers when I came home and worked summer jobs; from 63-70, I was in Austin. I remember some harrumphing and snorting in the halls of BHS when the first talk of integrating the schools there began, even a couple of teachers who were quick to add they'd obey the law, though. I imagine there were others who had stronger feelings but kept them to themselves but I never heard of any incidents. I remember reading of the first sit-ins in Houston but never anything about Brazosport that I can remember.

Lanier - was that the one on the old Angleton-Velasco road, now called FM 523? It was pretty contemporary with BHS as I recall, but I never went inside. I can't even remember if that was just a hi school or where all Blacks went to school. I remember reading once about the first Black family to move into Lake Jackson but I don't remember when it was or any particulars. I just wasn't that involved at all with Brazosport for the whole decade.

The company went into bankruptcy last year after struggling for several years and selling off some units. The one in Seguin was an attempt to re-invigorate the brand, I think. There should be an article on the closures in the San Antonion Business Journal on-line -- the company was based in SA at the time.

The first Pig Stand opened in Dallas in 1921, the first Houston location in 1922 but I don't know if it was the one on Washington. I believe HCAD dates that one only to 1960. The early ones would have been curbside. They were the first drive-ins. Carhops (the first ones were all male) would run to the curb and hop on the running board of your car to take your order - that's where the term 'carhop' came from. There's a history on line, or used to be; I've lost my link.

Besides inventing drive-ins, Pig Stand was credited with inventing onion rings and Texas toast, iirc. I thought the CFS was pretty good for what it was; I thought the signature pig sandwich was awful.

Okay I know the bowling alley; I thought you were talking about one across from BHS which I had totally forgotten. My parents were regulars at those lanes in the 50s, Wed or Thur night as I recall. I only went a couple of times.

Next time I'm in Fpt I'll get some pics of the houses. I have meant to in the past but usually have so many errands to run when I go down there I run out of time or forget. I didn't know they'd torn down parts of LJJH - I'll have to go by and look.

Agreed on the separate threads; I gave it some more thought. I have quite a bit of stuff I've been wanting to put somewhere in hopes of generating some interest and discussion (since I don't know of a similar forum for Brazoria Co.) but not enough to do my own website.

Here's part of the Colegrove article on The River Inn for others interested. Episodes was published as a limited edition book and was so popular the Facts publisher negotiated for the rights to serialize it in the paper. So as to not risk breaking the spine of the book, this is from the paper:

The article goes on to mention Antonelli would put up extra shade covers and barrels filled with iced watermelons in season. Early 'drive-ins' were practically curbside. I can remember pulling up to the curb on 2nd and getting out and standing under the flaps; Mr. Antonelli would come out from the back, take a mug out of a cooler, put it under the tap and fill it to the brim as described. Sometimes we got Root Beer floats but I don't remember ever having any of the other food items. It was a real treat.

I found this is Creighton's A Narrative History of Brazoria County. I didn't remember reading that Dow had built a replica of the plantation house. I wonder what one has to do to see it?

My parents both came to the area to work at Dow. My father was actually here pre-war then returned to his home of North Carolina after Navy service. He moved back to Velasco again in the early 50s. He met my mother at the bowling alley in Freeport just east of 288; they both were avid bowlers. I still have vague memories of going to that bowling alley as a very very small child. When I was an infant, my father got his name in The Brazosport Facts for bowling 290-something.

Apparently the sale and development of Dow Park (which funded the historical museum) was a cause for major controversy in the community. There was even a brief article about it in Texas Monthly at the time.

marmer

I had forgotten all about the bowling alley. It was much closer to 288 than Weingarten's/Penney's wasn't it? I'm not sure it was even there when I was at BHS.

I didn't find out about the sale of the park till many years later. A shame it's not open to the public but hopefully it's being kept up. I'll have some pics to post -- great memories of Dow company picnics and church and civic club functions. I had to spend a lot of time in LJ and the area closing my Dad's estate - I have the impression Lake Jacksonites (and Brazosportians - ?) are about as dedicated to preserving their heritage as Houstonians.

I couldn't find the first part of this clipping. When I find it, I'll come back and post it. I believe it had a picture of the stand in rather sad shape at it's orginal location on 2nd. I could post the article from Bill Colegrove's Episodes which I have both in book form and the serialized newspaper articles, for the benefit of those who don't have the book or a relative who knows the story.

They shoulda put 'Antonelli's River Inn' on it.

I've always thought this was kind of cheesy - I want to be able to climb on board and look in the wheelhouse. In fact, I was never sure it had been a real shrimp boat, maybe just a mock up. An acquaintance from hi school got into shrimping for some reason. As he said one time, if you want to make a small fortune in shrimping, start with a large one. But he loved it. I don't know much about the Mystery. I'm not sure if it was there in my time or just where it was. Was it above the Cherry Street Bridge (EDIT: this should be Velasco St. bridge)? If so, must've been there in my time. I'm not sure just when that bridge was built but I don't think you could get a shrimp boat under it. I wasn't that interested in Freeport then --- Jr. Hi rivals and all that. It galled us to have to be bussed to hi school in Freeport.

Marmer - re: your mention of the DeSoto Firedome -- I think that Rambler place in Velasco (I'll always refer to that part of Freeport as Velasco) had also been a Chrysler-Plymouth dealer earlier; I have memories of going with a friend to look at the '55 Plymouths, which I thought were cool looking.

Please do post what you think appropriate from Cite; I used to pick that up from time to time but do all my book shopping on-line now. I'll look around for back issues - which one was it?

Do you think we need separate threads for the towns? I have more on Freeport, Lake Jackson, and a little on Angleton at this time. I'll post some stuff on BHS on that thread.

Speaking of boats on the Old River (seguewaying nicely from topic to topic) - does anyone remember the boat that was being built by a Facts reporter or photographer who planned to go around the world? He was considered kind of a wacko in town; the boat was painted a horrid lime green. I don't think anyone ever thought he'd ever actually set out but he did; I saw one report from him - he had made it as far as Corpus - but never heard anything else.

My aunt wrote a book about that place. I can't remember the name of her book right now.

Never knew it was in another location. I was born in 1969 so I just get all this info second hand ;-)

Oh YES! Keg root beer in a frosted mug. I was so glad they saved that place. On 2nd across from where On The River is now, I think. That was a real treat when I was a kid - root beer at 'Aunt Nelly's.' I have an old Facts clipping I'll scan and post.

Ca. the early 1950s there was a 'Brown Derby' on 288 where Gulf Blvd. intersects, may have been called a Dairy Queen. We went there about once a week as a family. Everyone got a brown derby and we sat in the car and licked 'em.

Wow, again before my time. But I can believe it was a jungle. I certainly remember motorcycle riding around Shy Pond. Talk about a jungle!

Wow, I didn't know any of that at all, and I'm a car and history nut. The Schwinn dealership in my time was Woodrum-Duensing Hardware. My parents bought their 1962 Rambler at a Rambler dealership in Angleton and had it serviced at an American Motors dealer right on the edge of Freeport. That dealer remained until the late '70s; the building is still extant -- I think it's a construction rental place.

Sounds like the Weingarten/Woolworth center went in after you were gone. Just to be sure, I'm talking about right across from Restwood Cemetery. The book I'm talking about may be the Chronicles. I don't have it here right now. Green cloth cover, fairly substantial. I'll look at home tonight.

Re: Brazosport High School.

Yes, they disabled that picture now that the school has changed so much. But yes, I was talking about the BHS you graduated from. It looked like that, with the tall folded plate breezeway and the open-air mall. Sad to see it go. The old Freeport HS, later Freeport Intermediate, on ?Second? downtown across from the Baptist church, was torn down about a year ago after local preservation attempts failed. Curiously, the first Freeport School, next to the river, is still extant, being used as a warehouse.

Google Earth still has the old BHS shown. Pretty much everything east of the auditorium (the courtyard and the classroom wings) has been replaced by that blue-roofed postmodern McSchool. It has a nice food court, gotta give it that. And they have several well-maintained display cases of memorabilia and pictures of every graduating class.

marmer

Shy Pond - that rings a bell, but I can't place it. Southern Oaks Drive was called Big John Drive when we built there and the short street parallel to Willow was Little John Drive, after John T. Suggs, owner and developer of the subdivision. EDIT: Sugg's company was Southern Materials as I recall, said to be the richest man in Brazosport.

The Packard dealership was closer to Oak than the hardware store; can't remember if they abutted. I remember the Rambler place in Freeport/Velasco - quonset hut type building as I recall. We looked at the Rambler wagon there; I really wanted one of those - I thought they were so 'cute' - and of course the Metropolitan out of curiosity. We did buy a 59 Hillman Minx there as best I recall. That would have been the first foreign car dealership in Brazosport. That was a cool little runabout. 5 speed on the floor, red leather upholstery, we had it air conditioned, 4 door sedan on a wheel base about the size of a Beetle. My brother liked to push it like a Porsche and speed shift; that car got a lot of hard use in the few years we owned it. That same year, we bought a Mercedes at Mosehart-Keller on Shepherd in Houston, the first Benz dealership here I think. Dad had always bought Olds from Wright's (Freeport, Angleton, West Columbia) but the 58 98 was an absolutely piece of garbage and he swore off American cars for years (except for Chevy pickups).

Yes, that's the Weingarten's, now HEB (last I was there). Yes, that's the Chronicles book; I hadn't looked at that for some time and was thinking that was another Bill Colegrove work so I didn't flash on your reference. A lot better pics in it than Colegrove's book about Dow, which has some LJ pics. Have you ever checked out the pics on line at the Brazoria County Historical Museum site? Kind of difficult to navigate and find what you want and not that much about LJ, but fascinating stuff, especially of old Velasco.

Have you heard of Sugar, Planters, Slaves and Convicts by Joan Few? It's about the archeological digs at the Jackson plantation. I wanted to go to her lecture at BCHM but was ill that day; got the book from amazon.com but they probably have it at the museum. Haven't read it yet. Looks like I'm going to be up all night this weekend scanning and posting.

Sorry to hear that about Freeport High; I had seen the notices they wanted to make it into a cultural center or something but hadn't heard they gave up. Of course the old Freeport Hospital on Broad @ Oak where I was born is long gone. Poor old Freeport! Has anybody ever documented those Dow houses on 2nd -- the stucco ones?, probably designed by Alden B. Dow, too. My Dad worked on those as a carpenter working for Austin Construction Co., how he first became aware of the Brazosport area. There were also the Dow apartments on Broad and the Dow Hotel in the east end, the swankiest accomodations and eatery in the area; these were built for the influx of Dow execs.

Thanks for starting this thread; this is going to be so cool. Not that I don't enjoy reading every word you post but there are quite a few HAIFers with LJ/Bpt connections and I hope they'll join in.

Now that we're on the subject of eating establishment, I've started remember cafeterias.<<northbeaumont

Anyone remember Albrittons? They had a few locations around town. My roomate tells me she used to go to the one on Stella Link as a kid and they had a lady playing an organ or piano or something there plus a kind of conveyor belt that brought some things around to you. Anyone ever hear of that? This would be back in the early to mid 60's I think.

There have been discussions of Albritton's on HAIF before, maybe even a thread devoted to them. Try the search feature and I'm sure you'll find something, possibly even pictures. I think the last one was on Waugh between W. Gray and W. Dallas.

I seem to recall that Luby's sold some of their cafeterias fairly early on, and part of the agreement was that Luby's-owned cafeterias could not bear that name where non-Luby's owned cafeterias existed. This is the reason for the "Romana Cafeterias", which were identical to Luby's (even down to the little girl on the logo).

Interesting. The website history says they didn't enter the Houston market until 1965.

I don't remember the Kopper Kettle or Suzanne from Subdude's post cards but here's another one I do remember, from the Chron Dining Guide (partial):

"L-C Cafeteria - .. A seating capacity of ... ons, the L-C Cafeteria ...ged by Jerry Karisty ...said to be the largest ... ial cafeteria in the ... located with entrances ... at Walker and Travis ... er it is open for break .... nch and dinner. Featur- ...widest variety of foods. ... specializes in Kentucky ... icken, a lunch for less .... cents and a ribeye .... for $1.35. The cafeteria ... its own pastry shop .... tries served there and ... e-out trade.. There is .... of room for banquets ... ies. Continuous service ... :30 to 8:30 pm daily .... Sunday."

I remember going there once, ca. 1963, when I was on my own in Houston for the first time. Seems to me there were 2 long serving lines.

Anyone been to Cleburne Cafeteria on Bissonet? I've never been there but have heard for years it's excellent. I don't think it's a chain of restaurants so maybe you can't compare it to the others mentioned here.

Cleburne is good but portions are humongous. To me part of the reason for going to a cafeteria is to get a variety of items. An entree, 1 side, at the very most 2, a bread and beverage and that's already too much for me. Doggie bags are readily dispensed, however. I can't even look at their desserts. Pricey for a cafeteria, too. I prefer Harry's on Tuam - smaller portions, more modest prices, good food, better people watching.

Cleburne is one of Houston's oldest restaurants, dating to 1941 downtown on Cleburne at Fannin. There's a history and link to a NY Times write-up on the website:

http://www.cleburnecafeteria.com/

Here's the history of Luby's from the website: http://www.lubys.com/06aboutusHistory.asp

Looks like they have about 33 locations in the Houston area.

The first cafeterias in Houston from this company were called Romano's. Here's a clipping (partial) from a 1961 Chronicle Dining Guide that may explain why:

"...the entire family en .... ing Luby's, loated at .... Gray and S. Shepherd...a complete line of en .... nd fresh, tasty vegeta ... the menu everyday .... are another speciality at .... where the diner has .... han 20 varieties from .... he can make his choice. ...er dinner treats try the .... is the desserts prepared fresh .... or Luby's cafeteria cus .... The diner has a choice ... cakes and a number ... er dinner treats here. ...afeteria is open ... h Saturday from 11am ... :30pm and from 4:30 ... ntil 8:30 pm for the din .... de. Sunday the cafete .... ains continuous serv ... m 11am until 8pm."

I don't remember a Luby's on W. Gray @ Shepherd; that is the only location given for a Luby's in the guide. Was there a locally based Luby's before the group from San Antonio came in?

There was a Wyatt's in Sharpstown Mall.

The Piccadilly on W. Bellfort does a booming business.

Does anyone remember Ari's Grenouille and Los Troncos on Westheimer, West of Montrose?

They were good places to go to in the 60's.......I believe Ari's survived for quite awhile, but Los Troncos burned down at some point.

Los Troncos - where Westheimer and California meet, where Da Marco is now:

Ari's was in this old residence @ Westheimer @ Mandell:

I lived just down the street in the early 70s and ate at Ari's many times; I learned to love escargot but never tried the frog legs. I read somewhere that Ari's owner had run a French restaurant at HemisFair 68 in San Antonio, wanted to stay in the US so moved to Houston and opened the restaurant ca. 1969. It was sometimes said to have been Houston's first sidewalk cafe (there were umbrella covered tables and chairs practically out to the curb) but I doubt that was a valid claim. I never ate at Los Troncos. Both were still there when I moved out of the neighborhood ca. 1974.

By the late 70s, Ari's had moved out on Memorial near Dairy Ashford. I ate there just once, ca. 1980. It had little of the charm of the original and I had lost interest in French cuisine and never went back.

A Houston Post clipping:

The 4 Bill Williams: S. Main @ Holcombe, OST @ MacGregor, just north of Richmond on 59, and .......?

Does anyone remember the name of the "upscale" Chinese place on Post Oak north of Westheimer (not Hunan). Uncle Tai's maybe?

The name rings a faint bell. I do think it had 'uncle' in the name. Szechuan as I remember it. Only went once, ca. 1979, on the company dollar.

The Beaconsfield on main were built as either condos or apartments originally.

According to HCAD the Beaconsfield was completed in 1911, shortly after Carter's Folly. At 7 stories it probably was taller than any other residence at that time, so, a high-rise?

The Carter building was the tallest building in town, completed in December, 1910, at 17 stories. The next tallest was only 12, I think.

Neils Esperson was a resident of the Beaconsfield when he died in December, 1922.

Also, there was a hamburger joint (mid 60's - - way back when) on South Post Oak just north of Anderson and south of W Fuqua. They had mini-hamburgers like White Castle, but I think they were round. Bun, meat and onion..............they were very good. Can't remember the name.

In the mid-to-late 70s and maybe into the early 80s there was a place on Shepherd one block north of what was still the Alabama theater at that time called My-T-Bite or My-T-Byte that served the mini-burgers. Damn good ones, too. Maybe the same as the one on S. Post Oak? They also had a location at one time on Bissonnet @ Beechnut which is now an El Pupusodromo.

The place on Shepherd was originally a Toddle House and then an egg roll place (now closed but the building is still there).

I haven't had a good slider in Houston since My-T-Byte went out of business.

Thanks for the reference bachanon; I'll have to get a copy of that.

For the OP, what's the budget? $5-10? Hard to find much below $5.

Kelley's - 5 locations, only one in the city limits is I-45 @ Park Place, the exit to Hobby. Daily lunch special (meat and 3) $6.49, dinner $6.99. Food is pretty bland and veggies overcooked to my taste but you'll leave full or with a doggie bag. Great, humorous review in the Press a couple of months ago. CFS is one of the best in town. I've seen a 350 lb. man unable to finish one of the Texas sized baked potatoes stuffed with chicken breast strips @ $6.99.

Dot Diner - part of the Pappas group; I-45 @ Woodridge, just inside S. Loop 610; lunch meat & 3 $7.99, dinner $8.99. You'll be full. Very good food for the price.

Indian buffets (ayce) - in the Village - Shiva, lunch $8.50, Bombay Brasserie, $10.50

Middle Eastern - DiMassi's - in the Village and Richmond @ Post Oak, plus other locations, lots to choose from, $10 including beverage.

Vietnamese sandwich shops - banh mi usually starting around $2: Les Givral on Milam, 'original' Givral's in the decrepid shopping center one block away (hold your nose until you get inside the restaurant and you'll be okay); Thiem Hung on Leeland or Pease, just east of 59, downtown.

NY Pizzeria - Beechnut across from Meyerland Center, Holcombe @ Greenbrier and other locations - lunch special is reasonable; slice of pie (from a 28" pie) starts at $3.50.

Kroger Signature stores - W. Bellfort @ S. Post Oak, below Meyerland, and many locations around town; ready made sandwiches starting @ $2.99; soup and salad bar; ready to bake pizzas for less than $10.

Antone's - our local poboy place, original owner's last location in the Village @ Dunstan and Kelvin, I think. Franchise locations all over town, poboys also available at Kroger's and other grocery stores. About a dozen varieties of poboys, all less than $5.

James Coney Island - in Meyerland Center and all over town; dogs, chili pie, chili. Easy to get out for less than $10.

My latest fave, Himalaya, Pakistani restaurant @ Hillcroft @ SW Fwy (SW corner) - lunch special, $6.50 - 7.50. huge amount of food, sampler plate sometimes includes 3 entrees; quirky little place but very good food. Excellent nan. Compared to the food the beverages are way overpriced.

Across Hillcroft is Sabri Nihari, another Pakistani place, with a $7.99 ayce lunch buffet. Food's not as good, but the nan is glazed with ghee (clarified butter) and is addictive.

sdmarc you're living in one of the best eating cities in the country -- we don't have the reputation, but it's true. Get out and enjoy. Several of the above have websites with menus; you can look all of them up on b4-u-eat.com for more reviews and maps.

Great photos, danax. Thanks.

Pardon me if I've missed them but are there any photos of the buiding in its prime as a Sears store, 1929 to 1935?

My grandpa saved them. I wonder if Suniland on 2817 Main is still around. It was a Furniture store.

Suniland sold out to Louis Shanks of Austin a number of years ago; I think the Main street store had already closed by then and the main store was on Fondren just south of Westheimer.

Thanks for your response about Night Hawk.

I think you're right - it may have been at the Atchafalaya/Landry's location on Westheimer.

I believe that The Frisco Shop in Austin is closing soon, too. I remember somebody mentioning that to me the last time I ate there a few months ago. Really a shame.

Yes I think that Atchafalaya did become a Landry's; I had forgotten about that.

Sad news about the Frisco. It's been several years since I ate there. Will have to try to get out to Austin soon for a Frisco burger and a Top Chop't steak -- used to love those (and the frozen Top Chop't steaks don't compare).

This is a great thread....bringing back a lot of memories.

I was wondering if someone could shed some light on this...

A couple of my friends and I were discussing the old Night Hawk restaurants - there were several in Austin that have closed in the past decade or so.

One friend, though, claims that there was once one in Houston. He thinks it may have been located on the corner of Fondren and Westheimer, where there is now a bank of some sort.

Does this ring a bell?

Yes there was a Nighthawk here and it was on Westheimer around that intersection or further out near Gessner; I'm not sure of the exact location. It was only briefly in the 70s. I think it became one of the original Atchafalaya River Cafes when the blackened seafood craze hit. There was also a Nighthawk in SA.

The only thing left of Harry Akins' old Nighthawk restaurants is the Frisco Shop on Burnet Rd. in Austin which is like a time warp and the frozen entrees at the grocery store.

Old Filling Station - Harrisburg at Lockwood

I thought you'd be getting around to that one. HCAD says 1975 but that must refer to the body shop attached on the left.

Filling station on Navigation

I never knew what these cards were for. Postcards? The original is 5x8.

Great stuff isuredid, bringing back many memories, at least partially. Some dates would help.

I keep looking for a mention of a macrobiotic restaurant that was at Grant and either Missouri or Hyde Park as I remember, probably short-lived, may have been gone by early 1971. I can't remember the name. My boss loved it and we went often.

I used to have a giant color poster of the KAUM eagle advert. I also liked that Quicksilver ad "a pillow concert". Was it bring your own pillow?

KAUM was a very good station around '72...a competitor of KLOL "Mother's Family".

Which color? There were several. These are some of the bumper stickers:

Then there was the short-lived Air Corps: