WUPgirl Posted January 30, 2008 Share Posted January 30, 2008 I believe this used to be on Richmond, or was it West Alabama? Great place to be on Tuesdays and Thursdays for beer bust night! Whatever happened to this place, anyone know? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmariar Posted January 30, 2008 Share Posted January 30, 2008 Sorry - don't know the answer to your questions, but I did see this picture on eBay: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
57Tbird Posted January 30, 2008 Share Posted January 30, 2008 I believe this used to be on Richmond, or was it West Alabama?Great place to be on Tuesdays and Thursdays for beer bust night! Whatever happened to this place, anyone know? As best I can remember, and I'm not totally, absolutely sure, but I think it was about one block east of Shepherd, between Kipling and Harold... facing onto Kipling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icepickphil Posted January 30, 2008 Share Posted January 30, 2008 When was it in business? Did they have live music? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WUPgirl Posted January 30, 2008 Author Share Posted January 30, 2008 When was it in business? Did they have live music?Yes, they had a great C&W band. We used to go there in the 70s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
readam Posted January 30, 2008 Share Posted January 30, 2008 Was it next to the big apartment complex at 1400 Richmond?? Was it an old grocery store turned dance hall? Just trying to unscramble the old brain a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WUPgirl Posted January 31, 2008 Author Share Posted January 31, 2008 Was it next to the big apartment complex at 1400 Richmond?? Was it an old grocery store turned dance hall? Just trying to unscramble the old brain a bit. Not real sure readam, but that address sounds about right. Seems like there were apartments, but not sure. No idea about whether or not it was a grocery store before. Guess I'm not much help, sorry. I do remember a *very* small bar/tavern across the street, if that's any help. Can't remember the name though, ugh .. tough getting old! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmariar Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 (edited) The club was apparently once called just Van's Ballroom - originally opened by Van Bevill, a WWII submariner, who died in 1974. Sounds like it was a popular place in the 1960's. Here's another old eBay photo: Here is another photo, taken inside the club in 1968. Someone posted on another forum: "My father used to run Van's Ballroom a jazz and blues club in Houston, Texas until 1974. Lots of musicians came through there, such as BB King, Roy Head and others. I'm interested in finding out who else may have played this venue. There were even some live albums recorded there, though the copies are lost. My father passed away when I was young, and I'm having to search the net for information on my past. If anyone has any information on the club, please pass it on. Thx in advance, Van" Didn't see anything about the location, though. Edited January 31, 2008 by tmariar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WUPgirl Posted January 31, 2008 Author Share Posted January 31, 2008 As best I can remember, and I'm not totally, absolutely sure, but I think it was about one block east of Shepherd, between Kipling and Harold... facing onto Kipling. I really had forgottten, but I'm pretty sure there were two clubs. The one you mentioned I believe was Van's Ballroom and had jazz, etc. If memory serves, it was indeed on one of the side streets not TOO far from the other, Van's Stampede Ballroom but am probably all wrong about this. The club was apparently once called just Van's Ballroom - originally opened by Van Bevill, a WWII submariner, who died in 1974. Sounds like it was a popular place in the 1960's. Here's another old eBay photo: Here is another photo, taken inside the club in 1968. Someone posted on another forum: "My father used to run Van's Ballroom a jazz and blues club in Houston, Texas until 1974. Lots of musicians came through there, such as BB King, Roy Head and others. I'm interested in finding out who else may have played this venue. There were even some live albums recorded there, though the copies are lost. My father passed away when I was young, and I'm having to search the net for information on my past. If anyone has any information on the club, please pass it on. Thx in advance, Van" Didn't see anything about the location, though. You're amazing tmariar - thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmariar Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 I really had forgottten, but I'm pretty sure there were two clubs. The one you mentioned I believe was Van's Ballroom and had jazz, etc. If memory serves, it was indeed on one of the side streets not TOO far from the other, Van's Stampede Ballroom but am probably all wrong about this.I didn't see anything showing that the two were connected, so they could well have been two separate clubs. I was thinking that the similarity in the names and logo glasses, and the timing of the closing of Van's Ballroom suggested a connection - and I could imagine a place catering to bands in the 60's turning into a country venue in the 70's - but it may just be coincidence. Here's hoping someone posts with more info for you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
readam Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 WUPgirl After talking to my wife we figured out that the old grocery store/concert hall next to 1400 Richmond Apartments was an incarnation of LaMaison. Maybe it later morphed into Van's but we're not sure now! Sand Mountain a folk venue was accross the street from the apartments as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earlydays Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 WUPgirl After talking to my wife we figured out that the old grocery store/concert hall next to 1400 Richmond Apartments was an incarnation of LaMaison. Maybe it later morphed into Van's but we're not sure now! Sand Mountain a folk venue was accross the street from the apartments as well.......my wife and I, dating at the time, used to go to both La Maison and Sand Mountain in the 60's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cowgirl Posted September 11, 2010 Share Posted September 11, 2010 I believe this used to be on Richmond, or was it West Alabama? Great place to be on Tuesdays and Thursdays for beer bust night! Whatever happened to this place, anyone know? I just found this forum. My manager Mike McCambridge used to own The Stampede Ballroom and it was on Richmond Ave. I sang there regularly with Bud and Bud the Hooper Twins, Neal Hart, Jackie Ward, Arch Yancy and others. This was in the late 60's and early 70's. I sang there 3 nights a week. It was a great place to dance and listen to some of the best Western Swing Music! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cowgirl Posted September 11, 2010 Share Posted September 11, 2010 As best I can remember, and I'm not totally, absolutely sure, but I think it was about one block east of Shepherd, between Kipling and Harold... facing onto Kipling.It used to be called The Stampede Ballroom and it was owned, at least in the late 60's by Mike McCambridge (my manager), and located on Richmond Ave. They had a lot of groups come but Bud and Bud The Hooper Twins were the house band. I started my professional career right there. Jackie Ward, Neal Hart, Gene Watson, Arch Yancy (KIKK DJ), Mickey Gilly, and others would come and set in. Great dance hall! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
57Tbird Posted September 11, 2010 Share Posted September 11, 2010 Found this ad in a 1969 Chronicle... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cowgirl Posted September 12, 2010 Share Posted September 12, 2010 Found this ad in a 1969 Chronicle... Okay! For some reason I was thinking that the Stampede Ballroom on Richmond and Van's had been the same place. Guess not. Because I was singing at the Stampede in 69. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little frau Posted September 12, 2010 Share Posted September 12, 2010 They were two different places but I remember the Stampede on Richmond as being called "Van's Stampede Ballroom". This would have been in the early 70's, maybe '71. Don't know why it would have been called that if in fact it was owned by your manager. I never went to the one on Kipling but my cousin frequently did. He also was a regular at the Swingin' Shepherd earlier in the 60's. A couple of girlfriends and I used to go to the Richmond Stampede location. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
57Tbird Posted September 12, 2010 Share Posted September 12, 2010 I went back and looked again at the same page full of ads (1969), where I found Van's and found this. I didn't remember there being so many clubs in Houston back then. There are dozens in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J W Posted September 15, 2010 Share Posted September 15, 2010 I went back and looked again at the same page full of ads (1969), where I found Van's and found this. I didn't remember there being so many clubs in Houston back then. There are dozens in there. Bud and Bud , the Hooper Twins ! They were identical twins and a real popular local act back then . They played C+W clubs all over town . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsb320 Posted September 15, 2010 Share Posted September 15, 2010 Interesting. The one on Richmond later became the (gay) Parade Disco. That's the building that now houses some Menil neon art or something like that.If the one on Kipling is where Admiral Linen is now, that also became another gay dance club called the Old Plantation or "OP".This must have happened with the uptick in Disco and the waning of CW and live music. No more boot-scootin; it was now time to bust a move. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffW Posted February 28, 2013 Share Posted February 28, 2013 Admiral Linen & Uniform still owns the building formerly called Van's Ballroom and Old Plantation. It is used to warehouse uniforms. I still work for Admiral and go in there regularly. It's fun to find reminders of the old days. Today, while running some cables in the ceiling, I found some old gold and brown wallpaper. I had to cut a piece off as a memento. :-) -Cliff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle C Posted April 20, 2013 Share Posted April 20, 2013 Vans Stampede Ball Room was located on Richmond at the corner of Richmond and Loretto one block down from Mandell. It was an old Weingardens grocery store at one time. It later became Make Mine Country Ball Room. It was a totally separate place from the Van's Ball Room just off Shepherd. Here's a bit of irony for you, I met my husband at the Stampede in 1969. If I remember correctly Phil's Cafe was still on the corner of Mandell and Richmond at the time. I know it was still there as late as 1968. It was sometime about 68 or 69 that it moved to Portsmouth between Greenbrair and Shepherd. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle C Posted April 14, 2014 Share Posted April 14, 2014 Bud and Bud , the Hooper Twins ! They were identical twins and a real popular local act back then . They played C+W clubs all over town . The Hooper twins were good friends of ours and we used to follow then to different places that would play, groupies if you will. Not really sure where this picture was made, it may have been at Magnolia Gardens but it had to be late 60's or early 70's. The two men with gray hair and the brown hats on are Bud and Bud. One at far left of picture and other on the right above the woman's head. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harleyboy2k Posted November 19, 2016 Share Posted November 19, 2016 The address in an ad above is 2028 Kipling St. I believe this might actually be the building: https://www.google.com/maps/@29.7400143,-95.4091287,3a,75y,51.22h,80.65t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sKyy2llBlY2E_vqVbjNB89A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1 There was also a "private" club inside that served mixed drinks ( remember this was before open bars in Texas ). As a happy 18 year old, it was great back in 1964 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joan dana Posted January 28, 2017 Share Posted January 28, 2017 On 1/29/2008 at 9:32 PM, WUPgirl said: I believe this used to be on Richmond, or was it West Alabama? Great place to be on Tuesdays and Thursdays for beer bust night! Whatever happened to this place, anyone know? Bobby Bland, Otis Redding and prpb Roy Head are just 3 I remember Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle C Posted February 14, 2017 Share Posted February 14, 2017 On 9/12/2010 at 10:55 AM, 57Tbird said: I went back and looked again at the same page full of ads (1969), where I found Van's and found this. I didn't remember there being so many clubs in Houston back then. There are dozens in there. Dee Vickery is now a preacher. She has a ministry near San Antonio. She reaches out to a lot of young people and really doing a lot of good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ggmsmolly Posted September 14, 2017 Share Posted September 14, 2017 Had more fun at Van's Ballroom. Memories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartiMoser Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 I'm in touch with a woman who's family owned. Apparently there was a bad fire in 1951 or 52. She couldn't remember the name & I found on a Dome Shadows Facebook group. Thx for the info. I'll encourage her to join our discussions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle C Posted October 30, 2018 Share Posted October 30, 2018 I sure miss the ole Stampede. I have a lot of good memories from there. As I said in an earlier post, I met my husband there, so it will always be a little special to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charles morris Posted October 6, 2019 Share Posted October 6, 2019 Van's Stampede on Richmond Ave was packed ever Tues and Thursday night for beer bust. One of the best c&w bands ever (Richard Morland and the Country Gents) played 6 nights a week. After he left Stan Randell and Jackie Wright played. Winchester- Dance Town-Fools Gold all had live bands before clubs went to DJ's and ruined dance clubs. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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