Westbury69

Someone mentioned Foote's cafeteria. We moved to Westbury in 1963 and went to Foote's after church on Sunday. All you can eat (but only one meat dish) for $1.

Well, this thread's been dead a while but here goes. Went to Westbury 66-69. It was a good place with a good spirit. Anyone remember the day dozens of guys got sent home for hair being too long? It even made the local newscast on one of the TV stations. I remember all the guys sitting in rows on the gym floor and the coaches walking up and down the rows picking out the ones to be sent home. I was sweating it, but didn't get sent. Kinda disappointed, though. Then there was the jukebox that was allowed in the cafeteria courtyard area. That was radical. I remember being absolutely blown away by Sunshine of Your Love that was played over and over. Never had heard guitar like that. Coach Reagan (or O'Reagan?) came in one day and did the usual "It's team A against B" only he said this was going to be a competion in archery and the team with the most guys left standing would win - as in a contact sport. So try not to get shot. This was going to weed out the pansies (or some such term. Funny stuff. I also remember getting paddle swat from him. That was some serious hurt. The best was dodge ball in the gym. All-out war. Sure was tough always losing to Bellaire in football.

I also went to Johnston 63-66 and we absolutely did swim nude. I had moved from a very small Tennessee town and found this to be "big city weird." Guys would try to "goose" each other. I hated it. The reason for it that I heard was that guys would leave wet swim trunks in the gym lockers and that would really be a mess. As it was I remember using the same gym clothes all week. After playing football or whatever outside in Houston weather they absolutely were soaked and reeked by Friday. It just wasn't cool to take home your gym bag every day. I also had Coach Macy for behind the wheel driver's ed - in his red '66 Mustang GT convertible. People cannot believe we got to do that! When we came upon roadwork he would coach us not to hit the "Indians."

Thanks for all the memories and updates. I moved to McKnight St. near Hillcroft where Bellfort ended in 1963 (7th grade). Graduated Westbury high in '69. Westbury Square was a great hang-out. The Electric Paisley was my favorite. (I still have a pair of purple lens "Lennon" glasses I bought there.) The rock candy at Rumpleheimers was also a big hit, along with the decor - marble top tables, etc. The '60 aerial view was amazing. I was in a bowling league at Post Oak lanes. Went to Johnston. Our family bought Chevy's from MacRobert (before it was Foyt) Chevrolet. (Not yet built in the picture.) I remember the Jack-in-the-Box at Bellfort and Chimney Rock. Remember Jack Cola? It was their cheap verson of Coke. For spite and to send a message we would drive up and order Coke and they would reply, "We serve Jack Cola." So we would say never mind and speed off. Someone way back was trying to name the music teacher at Johnston. Yes it was Mr. Munson (Leslie, I think). He then went to Westbury. I think I went to the dentist across the street from the Weingarten's shopping center (on Chimney Rock). Left for college in the fall of '69. Parents moved to Sugar Land in '71. Haven't been back since around '75.

I moved to Houston in August of 1963 (age 12) and vaguely remember Playland Park was still in existence, but run down and soon gone. BTW, I was at the April 9, 1965 Astrodome opening game and still have my ticket stub.

I worked in the shoe department of the old JC Penney in high school and made the transition to the new building - must have been around 1970-71. I remember the department manager saying that the shoe department was one of the top ten in volume for all Penney's in the US. As I remember Palais Royale then moved into the old Penny's spot. Penney's had an automotive building across the street and I bought their tires for the family car with my store discount. Lew's records was a favorite. As I remember it was in a little cut-through passageway, not on the main perimeter. I think they gave tokens with a purchase and you could save them up for a free record. I still have all my 45's . Remember the women's topless swimsuit from the mid-60's? One of the stores had one on display on a mannequin in a window that was papered over with peep holes for the adults to look in. My first date was to a movie at the General Cinema. I got glasses & contacts at TSO. Haven't been back since about 1975.