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Don Julio

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Everything posted by Don Julio

  1. Don Julio
    The Paladium was owned by Johnny Martinez. Tony Sepolio was the booking agent. It probably closed in 1957. Don't know when it was torn down, but there was no demand for huge ballrooms after 1957 (except the Pan American club).
  2. Don Julio
    They weren't dated when they were wearing them.
  3. Don Julio
    The Champion Sisters are George Champion's daughters. George and Bennie were Houston artists. They never "made it big" nationally. Which is meaningless, anyway.
  4. Don Julio
    Come to think of it, I did talk to someone who knew him, and described him as "a big, tall fellow." But he doesn't appear to be much taller than the rest of the band in the photo. Oh well. Anybody remember the pianist, George Champion? He played a lot with Bennie Hess as well.
  5. Don Julio
    Great story. Looking at the picture, I doubt Carl was 6'6".
  6. Don Julio
    Here's a good pic of Utah Carl and the Gulf Coast Playboys in Channel 13 Studios. 1958? Left to right: Herbie Treece, Utah Carl, Clem Kujawa, Sam Reece, Wiley Barkdull, and George Champion on piano.
  7. Don Julio
    That's great...caged go-go girls was very 1966, so it had to be around that time. So far you're the only soul in Houston to actually remember Lou's Ricksha Lounge, a "semi-hippy hangout," according to Blues Unlimited magazine.
  8. Don Julio
    So did your mom go to 105 1/5 Main during it's "western" incarnation, or earlier? Never heard of the Acapulco, but Eloy Perez was very well known locally.
  9. Don Julio
    There was a place located in the 100 block of Main for many years known as "105 1/2 Main." In the 1940s it was called Main Street Dance Hall. Around 1950 it became R.D. Hendon's Western Jamboree Dance Hall. (I'm not aware of a "108 Club.") The End o' Main was, as you say, at the opposite end of South Main. It was around for many, many years but I've never seen any documentation or photos of it.
  10. Don Julio
    I double-checked on this today, and "Udemi Lane" is correct. Here is the 1962 Houston city directory: UDEMI LN (from a dead end south 2 blks to Westheimer Rd., 2 west of Kitty) 2426 Manuel Udemi 2509 The Key Club - private 2510 Tomy (sic) Udemi The 1964 city directory is the same except "Jester Lounge" has replaced the Key Club. So I'm guessing that "Udemi Lane," with just three lots, was the start of Midlane north of Westheimer. Except nobody noticed that it was called Udemi Lane. In a related note, "The Bird Lounge" was on 2305 S. Shepherd. It was called "The Little Jazz Bird" in the 1962 city directory, and just "The Bird" in '64. I've confirmed that it was inspired by Charlie "Bird" Parker and obviously was a jazz oriented club, not a "folk" club like I initially speculated. It was replaced by "Lu's Ricksha Lounge" by the 1966 city directory. Lightnin' Hopkins played both incarnations.
  11. Don Julio
    Here's Leon Payne at Magnolia Gardens in 1950: Biff Collie and Little Tommy Sands at Magnolia Gardens, 1950: The Raley Brothers at Magnolia Gardens, 1950:
  12. Don Julio
    There is a good photo of Utah Carl and a few of his songs featured on the reissue "Complete D Singles Volume 1": http://www.bear-family.de/cd-dvd-series/co...ook.html?lang=1
  13. Don Julio
    I have some Magnolia Gardens photos; I'll scan them and post them here in the next day or so.
  14. Don Julio
    Yes, I was just quoting the city directory with its "Udemi Ln," but noticed that this street is not listed on current Houston maps. Your explanation makes more sense.
  15. Don Julio
    There's an album from 1964 entitled "Lightnin' Hopkins Live at the Bird Lounge, Houston, Texas." This must have been a short lived club. I've never heard any oldtimers ever mention "The Bird Lounge." The Jester was better known and around for a few years, say 1961-1965. As far as I know, nothing's ever been written about this place. Lou's Ricksha Lounge was supposedly connected to the Bird, or maybe a later incarnation. All three places were supposed to have been on Shepherd Drive, around Westheimer up to West Gray. Somebody, please fill in some details. Anything...
  16. Don Julio
    Ha ha...you are THERE! A must for your home phonograph
  17. Don Julio
    Harry James also played at the Paladium Club on South Main @ OST in about 1954. It was owned by local musician, Johnny Martinez. Everybody played there, even Elvis what's-his-name. It could seat 2,000 people.
  18. Don Julio
    I'd love to find any period photos of the OUTSIDE/entrances of some of Houston's musical night spots of decades past: The Paladium Club (aka Jerry Irby's Texas Corral) on South Main Dokey's Hall Club Ebony on Dowling Cook's Hoedown Club on Capitol The End o' Main Dance Hall on South Main Western Jamboree Club - 105 1/2 Main Sixth and Studewood Dine & Dance Roseland Ballroom on Franklin Aragon Ballroom on Main The Brass Rail - downtown Any place on West Dallas or the 4th Ward Wonder Tavern in Pearland Harbor Lights on McCarty (vintage, not recent) to name a few. About the only clubs that exteriors do exist for are: The Jimmy Menutis Club, the Eldorado Ballroom, and the Club Matinee.
  19. Don Julio
    Cool, count me in.
  20. Don Julio
    Does anyone here have a copy that I scan, or know where I can find a copy? Please PM me if you do.
  21. Don Julio
    I live down the street from the Parador. Unfortunately I'm not rich or important enough to attend any of the 'gala events' frequently going down there, but I have admired it from afar for years. One can easily imagine that, during the era it was built, Alameda was lined with Mediterranean style buildings like this. Needless to say, nearly all are gone now. The only downside is the other three sides of the intersection are incredibly depressing (a gas station that's been boarded up for years, a stove warehouse that's been closed forever, and a loan shark/check cashing joint. Talk about destroying the ambiance of the Parador. I just can't believe some real estate visionary can't jump in and make better use of all three blocks.
  22. Don Julio
    Does anyone have any info or a photograph of the Southern College of Fine Arts? It was located in a three-story mansion on Lovett Boulevard (torn down years ago of course). A lot of local musicians such as Bob Dunn went there in the 1940s on the G.I. Bill. Supposedly it was connected to St. Thomas University. I'm not aware of any existing photograph. I'd also like to know when it opened and closed.
  23. Don Julio
    Thanks for this tip. I have sent an email to MFA. I hope everyone else does the same.
  24. Don Julio
    Riverside is my home and no, it's not for sale. (Since I rent and don't own. ) Seriously, I've been looking for that documentary but can't find it. Anybody on here know where I can score a copy?
  25. Don Julio
    SOLD! I'm so there!
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