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NotGivinUp

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  1. Nice article about big band leader, John Martinez. Thanks for this link. Noticed that it refers to the Palladium as a "nightclub" in downtown Houston.
  2. Several weeks ago I saw a lengthy obituary for Johnny Martinez on dignitymemorial.com but the link now says the obit is no longer available. This is the only part I can find in my notes: (John Anastacio Martinez, January 6, 1915 - June 18, 2010) In 1953, Johnny and his wife, Gloria, opened the Paladium Nite Club on South Main and booked many local big bands, Latin/Tropical and Western Swing bands. Famous entertainers were booked to play the Paladium such as trumpeter Harry James, drummer Buddy Rich, Perez Prado from Cuba as well as those from Mexico like Luis Alcaraz and singer Maria Victoria. Johnny and Gloria occasionally hired a young, unknown singer- truck driver on Saturday nights named Elvis Presley to perform, as well as local young crooner, Tommy Sands. Perhaps someone else here has all of it. Below is the Martinez death notice that was published in the Houston Chronicle on June 21, 2010: JOHN ANASTACIO "JOHNNY" MARTINEZ, 95, loving and caring husband, father, grandfather, great and great- great grandfather, slipped peacefully into eternity June 18th.Johnny is survived by his loving wife of 74 years, Gloria Sepolio and four daughters: Gloria Alice Corvin (Tom), Mary Louise Perry (Tom), Carol Casas (Jesse) and Jeanette Azzarello (Jim). Johnny will be missed by his sole surviving sister, Teresa Maldonado, of Ft. Worth, as well as numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. He is also survived by his beloved grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.Visitation will be held Monday, June 21st, from 5-8 PM with rosary beginning at 7 at Heights Funeral Home, 1317 Heights Blvd. Funeral mass: Tuesday, 10 AM at Christ the King Catholic Church, 4419 N. Main St. Graveside services following at Hollywood Cemetery, I45 North and Main Street Exit. In lieu of flowers, we suggest donations to the Houston Hospice Hospital.
  3. I found this in Billboard about the live broadcast from the Texas Corral on radio station KLEE in 1950. Billboard Nov 18, 1950 Sleepy Bob Everson, KLEE, Houston, reports that Slim Williams has settled in Houston. Everson is emseeing the Houston Barn Dance, held Wednesday nights at the Texas Corral there. Harry Choates, Pete Hunter, Tommy Sands, Hank Lochlin, Jerry Jericho, Hub Sutter and Jimmy Heap are featured. I've found no further mention of broadcasts from the Texas Corral or the Paladium/Palladium Club after 1950. PJ Proby describes the Hitching Post of 1954 as a cowboy bar. It's odd they would change the name of a cowboy bar to a swanky sounding name like the Palladium Club unless they also changed the decor and provided entertainment besides C&W.
  4. 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. In the book Lone Star Swing by Duncan McLean (1998) there is a picture of a dance ticket with this information... Admit One Couple Free Corn A Poppin' Dance At Texas Corral - 8100 S.Main At O.S.T. Tune in KLEE 5:00 p.m. Week Days Corn a Poppin Show Saturday 3 o'clock With Sleepy Bob Also Texas Corral Show 8:00 and 10:30 Nightly Benny Leaders - The Western Rangers Jerry Irby - Texas Ranchers Ride the 9300 South Main or Playland Park Bus Madison 6526 Thursday JUL 14 '49
  5. tinker, I don't know what "the old days" means to you but according to the Houston Chronicle Archives 04/08/2004 the Texas Corral club didn't exist until after the end of World War II... Tony Sepolio spent the last year of WW2 in London playing every night at Piccadilly Circus for Allied solders. He then returned to Texas, hooked up with Jerry Irby and opened a club at Old Spanish Trail and South Main called the Texas Corral. In 1950 Sepolio bought the club from Irby. He changed the name to the Paladium and operated the club until 1957. The Paladium was closed when Houston Astrodome construction plans would have put the club in its stadium parking lot. According to Ballparks of Baseball concerning the Houston Astrodome... Trying to lure a major league team to the Houston area, Hofheinz built a model of a domed stadium and presented it to National League owners. On October 17, 1960 Houston was awarded a franchise. Voters then approved an $18 million bond to build the stadium. Plans were drawn for the domed stadium and construction began January 3, 1962.
  6. Thanks. Is there a listing that gives an address for the Paladium Club (originally the Texas Corral?) on S. Main or on O.S.T.? I've also seen it spelled with two l's - Palladium. BTW where was the Eagle's Hall?
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