Sin Alley

[icepickphil]

Does anyone have any stories or memories to tell about this part of westside Houston which was known as "Sin Alley" or "Sin City" in the 1960s? It was an area of apartment complexes on Mid Lane just inside the Loop. The area was known for the wild and/or "alternative" lifestyles of it's residents. At one time in the 60s it was infamous with westside residents.

[TJones]

REEEHEEEEAAAAALLLLLLLAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYY !!!

Shagadelic Baby, YEAH !

Edited February 23, 2006 by TJones

[MidtownCoog]

I'd like to know. I get my hair cut in one of those old places.

Cool little strip with a Euro feel to it. Just needs a little TLC.

[Heights2Bastrop]

I wish I still had the Saturday (possibly summer of

[TJones]

I remember going to the "Regal Beagle" back in the 70's. I would meet my friends Chrissie, Janet, and Jack there all the time. They all lived together in a 2 bedroom apartment back then. The apartment complex was pretty strict on the rules I remember. Jack had to pretend to be "Gay" because he wasn't married to either one of the girls. It was a swingin' time back then. I remember the apartment manager didn't really believe that Jack was "Gay" and would always try to catch him with a girl , but he would always make snide remarks about Jack. Use to really piss me off. Chrissie was soooooooo hot, she would wear these short shorts and skin tight tank tops with no bra, OMG !

Edited February 23, 2006 by TJones

[Ashikaga]

I remember going to the "Regal Beagle" back in the 70's. I would meet my friends Chrissie, Janet, and Jack there all the time. They all lived together in a 2 bedroom apartment back then. The apartment complex was pretty strict on the rules I remember. Jack had to pretend to be "Gay" because he wasn't married to either one of the girls. It was a swingin' time back then. I remember the apartment manager didn't really believe that Jack was "Gay" and would always try to catch him with a girl , but he would always make snide remarks about Jack. Use to really piss me off. Chrissie was soooooooo hot, she would wear these short shorts and skin tight tank tops with no bra, OMG !

Speaking of sin, I decided to go all the way and indulge in the three big sins of drinking, smoking, and gambling all in one place at the same time. I stopped at a liquor store and bought a bottle of whiskey, a pack of cigarettes, and a lottery ticket. You should try that sometime. You come out feeling like you've released a lot of inner steam that's built up inside of you for a long time.

[Gary]

I remember going to the "Regal Beagle" back in the 70's. I would meet my friends Chrissie, Janet, and Jack there all the time. They all lived together in a 2 bedroom apartment back then. The apartment complex was pretty strict on the rules I remember. Jack had to pretend to be "Gay" because he wasn't married to either one of the girls. It was a swingin' time back then. I remember the apartment manager didn't really believe that Jack was "Gay" and would always try to catch him with a girl , but he would always make snide remarks about Jack. Use to really piss me off. Chrissie was soooooooo hot, she would wear these short shorts and skin tight tank tops with no bra, OMG !

[nmainguy]

I remember going to the "Regal Beagle" back in the 70's. I would meet my friends Chrissie, Janet, and Jack there all the time. They all lived together in a 2 bedroom apartment back then. The apartment complex was pretty strict on the rules I remember. Jack had to pretend to be "Gay" because he wasn't married to either one of the girls. It was a swingin' time back then. I remember the apartment manager didn't really believe that Jack was "Gay" and would always try to catch him with a girl , but he would always make snide remarks about Jack. Use to really piss me off. Chrissie was soooooooo hot, she would wear these short shorts and skin tight tank tops with no bra, OMG !

Jack may or may not have been gay but did you ever wonder what Chrissie and Janet were doing in their bedroom when the lights went out? Did ya, Teej????

Talk about Sin Alley!

[Ashikaga]

Jack may or may not have been gay but did you ever wonder what Chrissie and Janet were doing in their bedroom when the lights went out? Did ya, Teej????

Talk about Sin Alley!

My neighbor says that gin will make you sin.

[MidtownCoog]

Sin Alley sound like Snooze Alley.

boring

[Heights2Bastrop]

Sin Alley sound like Snooze Alley.

It was the times, Coog. We're talking Mid (pun intended) to late 60's, and things were very different then. I worked at Gulf Oil downtown ('68) and really liked a girl there. But, she was still married, and even though she had filed for divorce and was living at home with her parents, we would have been shunned for going out together. And we're talking Houston and not some small town.

However, things really changed quickly after that. I think it was because "The Pill" became readily available. By '71 when I got out of the Navy, things were wide open, especially as to "sexual freedom". And man, did I love that!

[torvald]

Does anyone have any stories or memories to tell about this part of westside Houston which was known as "Sin Alley" or "Sin City" in the 1960s? It was an area of apartment complexes on Mid Lane just inside the Loop. The area was known for the wild and/or "alternative" lifestyles of it's residents. At one time in the 60s it was infamous with westside residents.

i thought sin alley was the street area behind the kroger

on montrose...

no kidding, though... seems to be getting worse. it was

bad before just seems to be many more folks in that area

than before --- and no i don't partake but i do ride my bike

through there to get to work and there are definitely more

people than before.

there’s this little quadrant between the kroger, the copy.com,

behind that brick guild shop and stops at everyone's favorite

here at HAIF: tremont tower (houston's favorite landmark).

Edited March 8, 2006 by torvald

[MidtownCoog]

thought sin alley was the street area behind the kroger

on montrose...

That's where the street kids have amateur boxing matches in the street.

[dbigtex56]

i thought sin alley was the street area behind the kroger

on montrose...

no kidding, though... seems to be getting worse. it was

bad before just seems to be many more folks in that area

than before --- and no i don't partake but i do ride my bike

through there to get to work and there are definitely more

people than before.

there’s this little quadrant between the kroger, the copy.com,

behind that brick guild shop and stops at everyone's favorite

here at HAIF: tremont tower (houston's favorite landmark).

Thank Covenant House.

Back on topic - there were several apartment complexes in near-southwest Houston which fit the description of "Sin Alley" in the mid-to-late 70s, such as the coke-fueled Chateau D'jion (with its notorious former resident... )

[icepickphil]

Where was the coke-fueled Chateau D'jion located? And who was the former resident you speak of?

The goings on at what I've always heard described as "Sin Alley" in the 60s (Mid Lane) are no doubt tame to nowadays or even the 1970s. The events there were notorious enough though to give the area it's name and reputation. Maybe it was a place where nice River Oaks and Tanglewood kids smoked their first reefer...

Slightly off topic but Montrose was mentioned earlier in this thread and I'm wondering if anyone can comment on any 'beatnik' presense in that neighborhood or West U. during the 50's and/or early 1960s.

[Heights2Bastrop]

Wasn't Art Wren's Silver Dollar a beatnik place?

Uh, maybe not.

[MidtownCoog]

The Rock-n-Roll (or whatever) is still there on the RR tracks. My parents used to go there in the 60s.

Not exactly on Sin Alley, but pretty darn close.

[west20th]

Where was the coke-fueled Chateau D'jion located? And who was the former resident you speak of?

Richmond near Sage. It's still there. The former resident was our illustrious president. George W.

[icepickphil]

The Silver Dollar that was on Montrose in the 70s? Gay yes, beatnik no.....at least not in the 70s...am I right?

What's up with/who was Art Wren?

Wasn't Art Wren's Silver Dollar a beatnik place?

Uh, maybe not.

[nmainguy]

Where was the coke-fueled Chateau D'jion located? And who was the former resident you speak of?

That would be George Bush, the alchoholic and supposed former coke head.

Edited March 9, 2006 by nmainguy

[jwphillips2]

Mid Lane is only three blocks long between Westheimer and San Felipe. It was between The Deputy drive-in and Byron's Barbecue. There were about 15 buildings with 10 or 15 apartments each unit. 10 or so guys would sign onto a single lease so that they would always have a place to party (rent was cheap then) and everyone would help keep it clean. Lots of airline pilots and stews. If your party got boring you could always go next door to borrow a cup of sugar. Lots of partyers in the pools. I always thought they would change the name to Sin Alley, but in retrospect, they didn't have to.

[MidtownCoog]

Those old apartments are fading fast and being replaced by Mc Junk. I think some of them are pretty cool looking and are still there.

What about those shops on Mid Lane? I get my hair cut there now. Were those bars at one time? It's a neat little arragement of shops with its own unique vibe.

[57Tbird]

This was also the subject of a previous topic

[Guest danax]

This was also the subject of a previous topic

You're quick, '57.

Topics merged

[jwphillips2]

You're quick, '57.

Topics merged

Thanks, Guys.

I swear that I do a search on the previous topics before I do a post, so I really don't intend to repeat. And btw, I don't mind edit append. Thanks again.

[Retama]

My high school government teacher who went to Rice used to tell me about Sin Alley.

He talked about seeing a nude volley ball game in one of the swimming pools late one night.

I kinda doubt that, though.

[brucesw]

My high school government teacher who went to Rice used to tell me about Sin Alley.

He talked about seeing a nude volley ball game in one of the swimming pools late one night.

I kinda doubt that, though.

I don't. I saw a nude and fully aroused young man of about 20 standing on the corner of Mid Lane and Bettis late one Friday night in 1975 (I know the year because of the car I was driving). I was going to visit a friend in an apartment nearby. Traffic was very heavy and people didn't seem to be paying him any mind and we never heard a siren. By that time, supposedly, Sin Alley had moved west. My dentist's office is in that office complex and I think about that everytime I go to the dentist.

In the 50s from what I was told it was centered around Westheimer and Mandell - swingers and wife-swapping were the rage.

Mid Lane runs between Richmond and San Felipe, btw.

[Vertigo58]

I don't. I saw a nude and fully aroused young man of about 20 standing on the corner of Mid Lane and Bettis late one Friday night in 1975

Too bad you didnt have some donuts handy, you could have tossed them at him and see if you get one, like horse shoes. Is it called ring toss?

[Fringe]

I lived on Mid Lane and Alabama in the mid 70's. I didn't even know all that was going on right down the street. And no, brucesw, that was not me standing on that corner. At least I don't think so. My memory of those years is a little flawed.

[Disastro]

I don't. I saw a nude and fully aroused young man of about 20 standing on the corner of Mid Lane and Bettis late one Friday night in 1975 (I know the year because of the car I was driving). I was going to visit a friend in an apartment nearby. Traffic was very heavy and people didn't seem to be paying him any mind and we never heard a siren. By that time, supposedly, Sin Alley had moved west. My dentist's office is in that office complex and I think about that everytime I go to the dentist.

In the 50s from what I was told it was centered around Westheimer and Mandell - swingers and wife-swapping were the rage.

Mid Lane runs between Richmond and San Felipe, btw.

ROTFLMAO!!!! That comment about the ring toss was freakin' HILARIOUS, Vert!

Ok, in all seriousness...I HOPE that wasn't a sleazy part of town in 1963 -- cos I was a newborn baby and my parents lived in an apt complex on Mid Lane back then!

But, somehow, I don't think my conservative parents were the wild swinger type...

Edited October 6, 2007 by Disastro

[FilioScotia]

I HOPE that wasn't a sleazy part of town in 1963 -- cos I was a newborn baby and my parents lived in an apt complex on Mid Lane back then! But, somehow, I don't think my conservative parents were the wild swinger type...

It wasn't a sleazy area. Quite the opposite in fact. The apartments on Midlane, Briarglen and Bancroft are just across those north-south RR tracks from River Oaks, so it's always been a somewhat upscale area, with rents priced high enough to keep out the riff-raff. Those apartments were filled with young urban professionals long before the word "Yuppie" was even coined, and they liked to party.

Your mom and dad may not have been "wild swinger" types, but I can tell you that a lot of their neighbors were. Enough of them to give that whole area the nickname of "Sin Alley".

Edited October 8, 2007 by FilioScotia

[FilioScotia]

I HOPE that wasn't a sleazy part of town in 1963 -- cos I was a newborn baby and my parents lived in an apt complex on Mid Lane back then! But, somehow, I don't think my conservative parents were the wild swinger type...

It wasn't a sleazy area. Quite the opposite in fact. The apartments on Mid Lane, Briarglen, Bancroft and Bettis are just across those north-south RR tracks from River Oaks, so it's always been a somewhat upscale area, with rents priced high enough to keep out the riff-raff.

Those apartments were filled with young urban professionals long before the word "Yuppie" was even coined, and they liked to party. I went to some of the parties in the early and mid sixties, and I learned right away that it was best to go alone and unattached because there was a very good chance I wouldn't leave alone if I played my cards right.

Your mom and dad may not have been "wild swinger" types, but I can tell you that a lot of their neighbors were. Enough to give that whole area the nickname of "Sin Alley".

Edited October 8, 2007 by FilioScotia

[brucesw]

Slightly off topic but Montrose was mentioned earlier in this thread and I'm wondering if anyone can comment on any 'beatnik' presense in that neighborhood or West U. during the 50's and/or early 1960s.

I lived in an apartment in Montrose in the summer of 63 while working on the north side at a freight office. My landlord was the one who told me that 'Swinger's Alley' had centered on Mandell and Westheimer, just 4 blocks from where I was staying. He also said just east of there had been a coffee house, or perhaps 2, that was/were the center of Beat in Houston. I've been trying to clear up my memories about this but not having much luck. The name Enchanted Cup comes to mind but that sounds more fairy-talish that Beat. It was either where the parking lot for DaMarco is now or just across Westheimer from there, I can't remember - and there might have been a coffee house in both locations or Los Troncos may have already been established on that point where Da Marco is now.

Art Wren's was where Katz's Deli is now and was a 24 hour greasy spoon that even by 63 had developed into a precursor of the House of Pies on Kirby.

When I came back to town in 1970 to stay, Wren's had a reputation as a hang-out for bikers -- Banditos and Hell's Angels. After Wren's closed the place was vacant for a couple of years then Tila's moved in. After Tila shuttered, the place was vacant again for a while before Katz's opened; then Tila's re-appeared on Shepherd.

I never went to either Wren's, Tila's or Katz's so I'm 3 for 3.

[OldHouseLover]

Wasn't Art Wren's Silver Dollar a beatnik place?

Uh, maybe not.

Famous beatnik place in town was the Purple Onion on Fannin.

Edited October 24, 2007 by OldHouseLover

[Subdude]

Famous beatnik place in town was the Purple Onion on Fannin.

Where on Fannin was that?

[icepickphil]

Was the Beat scene in Houston in the early 60s fairly large? Was it centered around Montrose?

I lived in an apartment in Montrose in the summer of 63 while working on the north side at a freight office. My landlord was the one who told me that 'Swinger's Alley' had centered on Mandell and Westheimer, just 4 blocks from where I was staying. He also said just east of there had been a coffee house, or perhaps 2, that was/were the center of Beat in Houston. I've been trying to clear up my memories about this but not having much luck. The name Enchanted Cup comes to mind but that sounds more fairy-talish that Beat. It was either where the parking lot for DaMarco is now or just across Westheimer from there, I can't remember - and there might have been a coffee house in both locations or Los Troncos may have already been established on that point where Da Marco is now.

Art Wren's was where Katz's Deli is now and was a 24 hour greasy spoon that even by 63 had developed into a precursor of the House of Pies on Kirby.

When I came back to town in 1970 to stay, Wren's had a reputation as a hang-out for bikers -- Banditos and Hell's Angels. After Wren's closed the place was vacant for a couple of years then Tila's moved in. After Tila shuttered, the place was vacant again for a while before Katz's opened; then Tila's re-appeared on Shepherd.

I never went to either Wren's, Tila's or Katz's so I'm 3 for 3.

[jwphillips2]

Art Wren's was one of the few pick-up places for non-hetero lifestyle at the time. They also had an organist.

[FilioScotia]

Art Wren's was one of the few pick-up places for non-hetero lifestyle at the time. They also had an organist.

Every memory I have of Art Wren's is that it was a gay hangout. It was a great late-night eatery on that end of town, popular with gays and straights. When Art Wren's closed, the House of Pies on Kirby suddenly became the big 24 hour hangout.

Now. Since we're on the subject of gay hangouts, who remembers Simpson's Diner on Main?

[J W]

Every memory I have of Art Wren's is that it was a gay hangout. It was a great late-night eatery on that end of town, popular with gays and straights. When Art Wren's closed, the House of Pies on Kirby suddenly became the big 24 hour hangout.

Now. Since we're on the subject of gay hangouts, who remembers Simpson's Diner on Main?

Being only a sheltered kid from the suburbs in the Sixties , I do remember both Art Wrens and Simpsons always being mentioned in the context of gay, homophobic jokes of the times . You know, people who had never been close to either place would accuse others of going there.

[FilioScotia]

Being only a sheltered kid from the suburbs in the Sixties , I do remember both Art Wrens and Simpsons always being mentioned in the context of gay, homophobic jokes of the times . You know, people who had never been close to either place would accuse others of going there.

Art Wren's was popular because of its location -- in the heart of Montrose. Even though it was clearly popular with gays, I and my friends would often stop off there on the way home from some event in the middle of the night, and we never felt uncomfortable or out of place. The food and service were great, and everybody seemed to live and let live, and "get along".

Simpson's Diner was another story, because of its location. It was on Main Street in downtown Houston, and nobody but cruising gays went there, as I learned the one and ONLY time a friend and I stopped there for coffee and burgers late one night in the early sixties when I was in college.

This was before I knew anything about Simpson's reputation. We hadn't been there two minutes when a couple of guys started hitting on us. That's when I noticed that the place was full of guy "couples". Not a female in sight. My friend and I took our burgers to go, excused ourselves and never went back.

Edited October 27, 2007 by FilioScotia

[Subdude]

Old topic about Simpson's with picture:

Main Street Diner

[brucesw]

There was a gay bar right around the corner or perhaps a block or so away; the Exile I think it was called. I had never heard that Simpson's was all gay before but I never went. I remember being a little surprised that there was a gay bar that close to downtown -- I don't know why, for sure, but this was the early 70s and things have changed quite a bit. Wouldn't be surprised if there were one right downtown or a gay establishment in the tunnels, today.

Responding to the last post on the linked thread: That District 7 Grill in the retro-diner on Pierce seems to be doing very well but I think the menu bears little resemblance to a diner menu. I'd guess everything on the block where Simpson's sat is gone.

Edited October 29, 2007 by brucesw

[brucesw]

Was the Beat scene in Houston in the early 60s fairly large? Was it centered around Montrose?

I don't know - wish someone would weigh in with more info as I'd like to know more, too. Kerouac and Burroughs have both been mentioned in threads here on HAIF in connection with Houston.

Here for one and here for another.

Edited October 29, 2007 by brucesw

[brucesw]

Famous beatnik place in town was the Purple Onion on Fannin.

And a very famous Beat place in SF; I remember hearing about that in the 50s. Maybe it was a chain? (just kidding)

[Fringe]

I had a girlfriend in high school that insisted we go out to eat at Simpsons Diner just to see if it's reputation lived up to it's name. It didn't. It was actually kind of boring. All we saw were other couples and a few homeless people in there just like you would any other eating establishment downtown. This was around 68 or 69 so maybe the gays had moved on to someplace else less conspicuous.

[Vertigo58]

Does anyone have any stories or memories to tell about this part of westside Houston which was known as "Sin Alley" or "Sin City" in the 1960s? It was an area of apartment complexes on Mid Lane just inside the Loop. The area was known for the wild and/or "alternative" lifestyles of it's residents. At one time in the 60s it was infamous with westside residents.

This is hilarious! I met a girl the other day that said her parents lived smack in this area during this time. She stated it was called "Sin Alley" so the bells went off! I told her it was funny she mentioned it as I had seen it on this forum months earlier.

It must have been one swinging, groovy hangout! Farout!

[MidtownCoog]

Another grop of apartments on Sin Alley recently were demolised. I think there is only one complex left.

[FilioScotia]

Sometime around 1966/67 my buddy George and I discovered the party scene out Westheimer. The favored apartment complexes were Three Fountains, Cummins and Timmons Lane , but the wildest was Sin Alley

Remember the Jester? It was a popular folk-music club at the corner of West Lane and Westheimer, just a block or so south of those apartments on MidLane, Briarglen and Bancroft known collectively and famously as Sin Alley. A lot of the babes that lived there hung out at the Jester. Ah yes. Those were the days.

Anybody know whatever happened to Mack Webster, the guy who owned and managed the Jester?

The Jester was a fun place to hang out. People like Jerry Jeff Walker and Guy Clark did a lot of their first singing in public at that place. Every now and then some famous singers and folk groups would come to town for a big show, and Webster would persuade them to come to the Jester after their paying show and sing for beer.

Edited March 12, 2008 by FilioScotia

[Vertigo58]

Good memory! and Montclairs? Now that's real nostalgia.

[tmariar]

Remember the Jester? It was a popular folk-music club at the corner of West Lane and Westheimer, just a block or so south of those apartments on MidLane, Briarglen and Bancroft known collectively and famously as Sin Alley. A lot of the babes that lived there hung out at the Jester. Ah yes. Those were the days.

Anybody know whatever happened to Mack Webster, the guy who owned and managed the Jester?

The Jester was a fun place to hang out. People like Jerry Jeff Walker and Guy Clark did a lot of their first singing in public at that place. Every now and then some famous singers and folk groups would come to town for a big show, and Webster would persuade them to come to the Jester after their paying show and sing for beer.