Don Julio

The Houston Chronicle only says that Tony Sepolio wasn't the operator of the Paladium after 1957. I haven't found the date the club closed.

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).

Wow, thanks for posting.

Even before my time but did you notice how not ALL the clothes look terribly dated?

They weren't dated when they were wearing them.

I agree, the photo is deceiving. Maybe the camera angle, who knows. You're way over my head with George Champion. I heard of the Champion Sisters, but never heard their music. Were George and Bennie local before they, "Made it"?

The Champion Sisters are George Champion's daughters.

George and Bennie were Houston artists. They never "made it big" nationally. Which is meaningless, anyway.

Hey Don, Check out this link, http://governor.state.tx.us/music/tour/pioneers I had to look, and refresh my memory, but in this article it states that Utah Carl was 6'6" tall, and gives his full history. I called an old-timer ( Don't want to say his name without his permission ) who has lived in Alvin, Texas all his life, who knew Utah Carl. He confirmed that he was a tall man, with very big features. He chuckled, and stated that he never measured him, but did stand next to him mnay times. He stated that he would judge him to be about that tall, as he is 6'2" tall, and he stated that Utah Carl was a good bit taller than him, and was really wide, with big hands, and feet. I always wondered what happened to Carl Jr. and why there is very little info about Utah Carl. Interesting trivia!

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.

Great story.

Looking at the picture, I doubt Carl was 6'6".

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.

You hit a nerve when you mentioned Lou's Rickshaw. I hung about that place when I was living nearby and have quite a few memories of the place. The house band was hispanic rockers and the go-go girls were in the cage up in front near the sidewalk. One of the musicians was named speed-o...one night I sat in (guitar) I think some fast chicken place is on the corner where Lou's place used to be.

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.

Got it right again Don Julio!

I typed in wrong & mom confirmed it was called the 105 club not 108.

Here is more night club trivia:

Who can confirm the name of a dance club called The Acapulco that was located on the left side of Washington Ave as you headed WEST? A band leader named Eloy Perez played there quite often late 1940's to early 1950's. Was either called Acapulco or THE Acapulco. Had a tropical theme inside which was quite popular in the time.

The great thing is if I really need to I can dig for pictures of this band. Its the club I wonder about.

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.

Now here is some real past former Houston Dance hall trivia:

I was told or it was confirmed that there was once a fun dance hall located right at beginning of Main street. It was called the "108 Club" circa mid to late 1940's.

There was also another very popular on complete opposite called "The End of Main Dance Hall or Club" named because well, it was at where Main st ended perhaps past now Med Center area is.

Please help solve the mystery and even better a photo of one or both of these swinging places! Mom says they used to go to these places but no one had a camera or whatever.

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.

The only thing in your posting that I'm questioning is the name "Udemi Lane." I'm not surprised to learn that Lightnin' Hopkins played a club on the west side. The sixties were a time of change in a lot of ways.

However, I've lived in Houston most of my life, and I ran around over most of the city during the 50s and 60s and I have never heard of Udemi Lane. I've Google searched the name and the only place in Texas with a street with that name is in Cleveland Texas. Can you tell me where the "Udemi Lane" in Houston was located?

I can say with no fear of contradiction that the Jester Lounge where I spent a lot of time in the mid and late 60s was on Westheimer at Midlane, several blocks east of the West Loop. Midlane is a short street that runs north from Westheimer through that big complex of apartments to San Felipe. The area known in the 50s and 60s as "Sin Alley", because of its big population of young urban singles who really knew how to party. The Jester was torn down and plowed under a long time ago, and there's a very big apartment complex on the site where the Jester once stood.

I can't help but observe that the last six letters of Udemi Lane almost spell out Midlane. And if you Google search the address 2509 Midlane, you get the corner of Midlane and Westheimer. Precisely where the old Jester once stood.

Even the old City Directory got street names wrong from time to time.

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.

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:

I was searching on Google for my grandfather, Utah Carl Beach and came across your posts. It is great to see that he still has fans that are talking about him. Unfortunately, I was a bit young to remember his performances, but I remember many great nights sitting around his house or my great aunt and uncle's house listening to them play and telling great stories. My mom, Sandra and uncle, Carl Jr. have many great stories of their own.

I wish I could find more information about him, but I'm afraid most of it is probably in the film and article archives of the local tv stations and newspapers. I have seen some of his outfits, boots, his guitar and some of his vinyl 45s, but would really like to see some footage of him on tv.

Anyway, thanks for posting. I enjoyed reading your comments.

Frank

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

I drove down there as well. Looks like Hurricane Ike, Tropical Storm Allison and the floods of the 1990s have pretty much wrecked the area. Nothing left of what I remember Magnolia Gardens looking like.

I'd love to see some photos if anyone can dig some out.

I have some Magnolia Gardens photos; I'll scan them and post them here in the next day or so.

the last six letters of Udemi Lane almost spell out Midlane. And if you Google search the address 2509 Midlane, you get the corner of Midlane and Westheimer. Precisely where the old Jester once stood.

Even the old City Directory got street names wrong from time to time.

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.

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...

Ha ha...you are THERE!

A must for your home phonograph

I asked mom again about where they saw Harry James play and she said the old City Auditorium! He was wearing a white dinner type jacket that was then very popular and now again popular. $ was hard to come around in those times so when you saved enough you really appreciated what all the rage was all about!

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.

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.

Anyone from the messageboard planning to go check out the screening at MFAH this Sunday? Might be a nice opportunity for an unofficial HAIF meet, or at least a HAIF: Washington Terrace/Riverside Terrace/Riverside area members meet.

Cool, count me in.

Does anyone here have a copy that I scan, or know where I can find a copy? Please PM me if you do.

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.

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.

Jon Schwartz is actually compiling a list of those interested in purchasing the series.

You can contact the Museum of Fine Arts at this link and they will forward your name to him.

The link is film@mfah.org just tell them you are interested in purchasing the film and they will send you a reply within 24 hours acknowledging your placement on the list.

For those of you who remember seeing the film, with that famous cover shot of the older lady standing in front of a modern home with the no sale sign, that home is currently on the market for $328,000 it is on Roseneath and very little has changed since that picture was taken decades ago.

Thanks for this tip. I have sent an email to MFA. I hope everyone else does the same.

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?

[notsuoh was and still is a visual art piece ... a sculpture using real estate , architecture and community as its medium...it went very underground for three years and definitely there is work to be done to regain its authenticity as a social sculpture for artists to chew the fat and network and create.

Downtown historically is the center of houston however for many the beltway @ westheimer is..so it is a concept of an urban center ... the address always was a metaphor for the idea of centeredness 314 Main...3.14 is the value of pi and pi is the relationship of the center to the circumfrence and in the mirror with a couple of gin and tonics 314 backwards spells PIE and notsuoh is houston. Sure the place was a dump but next to the lowest of lows were rick lowe paintings and ike morgans and mark floods and aaron parazettes and dean rucks ... and the place never seemed to be a consumer of culture but a creator...at times it was a cliche of the myth of the bohemian artists staying up late, playing chess smoking cigarettes and being to sensitive or obnoxious. it was overly tolerant of humanity be it homeless, insane, yuppie or emotionally deficient...but the place is real and in one month since the reopening there have been poetry readings on wednesdays and experimental mondays with the lousiest of lounge and eatern european accordion music and pink cloud creating frequencies that made a feeling somewhere between nausea and sea sickness and nights of thai gonging and wednesdays with the free radicals playing jazz and a punk band from tokyo...it is a workshop in progress and yes some of the chaos is locked away on the second floor inacessible to the public and the women's room has lots of tile instead of forty paintings leaning against the wall ....notsuoh is back with a liquor liscence and cappucino and still one of the best mixes of humans you can find

SOLD! I'm so there!