Historic Houston Images

[Duce]

If you have photos of these places and/or memorabilia from them, please post.

Shamrock Hotel

Kiddie Wonderland

Peppermint Park

Sea Arama

The Pig

The old baseball stadium where fingers is now (forgot the name)

[Sunstar]

Man, the Pig. I haven't thought of that place in years. That was cool establishment. The building on Richmond is still vacant.

[Subdude]

Entrance to Buff Stadium (4000 Harby at Milby):

Night game at Buff Stadium:

Overhead view:

Shamrock Hotel, the most famous building in Houston:

Again:

Shamrock pool and "lanai":

[banking214]

If you have photos of these places and/or memorabilia from them, please post.

Shamrock Hotel

Kiddie Wonderland

Peppermint Park

Sea Arama

The Pig

The old baseball stadium where fingers is now (forgot the name)

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The Pig, that brings back some memories. Mike, the doorman that used to work out fron was pretty cool.

In regard to pictures, does anyone know where to begin searching for pictures of homes? I am trying to find a pic of the home I grew up in. Built in the 50s and previous owners don't have a clue where to find one either. Would the HCAD have one on file?

[banking214]

Banking214 - I'm new to Houston, so I'm not familiar with these places you've asked for pictures about. Could you take a second and explain what they are/were? Thanks, I appreciate it.

Glen

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Actually, not sure if I replied correctly. I was just wondering where I might find a picture of the home I grew up in (long shot, I know). I am sure there has to be a starting place. Someone else posted about trying to find the other mentioned places. I actually have one of Peppermint Park somewhere at my parents house. It was located at 610 North/290 Merge as I recall.

[BayouCityGirl]

Shamrock Hotel. My grandfather (who was a PR) opened up the Shamrock on opening night with all the greats of their time!!

So it kinda has special meaning to me.

"Peppermint place" I only remember an indoor carasouel!

Entrance to Buff Stadium (4000 Harby at Milby):

Night game at Buff Stadium:

Overhead view:

Shamrock Hotel, the most famous building in Houston:

Again:

Shamrock pool and "lanai":

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[gwilson]

Peppermint Park, that was the indoor amusement park @ 59 and the Beltway right (before the beltway was there).

Man I went there a few times as a kid. Then it turned into an auto shop. It is still there, but not what it used to be.

[Artgirl]

Peppermint Park, that was the indoor amusement park @ 59 and the Beltway right (before the beltway was there).

Man I went there a few times as a kid.  Then it turned into an auto shop.  It is still there, but not what it used to be.

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I also went there as a kid. My husband thinks it's just a figmant of my imagination. I am so glad that others remember it. I would love to see photos of it.

[Hunter]

There is a memorial for the old Baseball park in the fingers store that sits about where the orginal first base Diamond use to be. It is free for all but you will have to go during business hours.

[pineda]

I doubt www.hcad.org would be of any help there. After a listing closes, the photos usually disappear from the site pretty quick. If I were you, I might try knocking on some doors in the old 'hood. Some old-timers might be of great help to you, especially if they lived directly across the street from you. When you take pictures of kids in the front yard, you will inevitably end up with shots of other homes in the pictures. It's a long shot, but worth a try.

[banking214]

I also went there as a kid. My husband thinks it's just a figmant of my imagination. I am so glad that others remember it. I would love to see photos of it.

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The location at the belway and 59 is actually the 2nd location. When it originally opened it was off 610 North and 290 merge. Think they moved in the early eigties to the beltway location. I still have interior pictures of it. Always remember the birthday parties.

[banking214]

I doubt www.hcad.org would be of any help there. After a listing closes, the photos usually disappear from the site pretty quick. If I were you, I might try knocking on some doors in the old 'hood. Some old-timers might be of great help to you, especially if they lived directly across the street from you. When you take pictures of kids in the front yard, you will inevitably end up with shots of other homes in the pictures. It's a long shot, but worth a try.

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Thanks for the information. Unfortuantely, most of the old timers moved out and the homes went with them. Out of the 30 homes, only 12 original homes survive. The others have been torn down and the typical McMansion has taken there place.

[pineda]

Photos of Sea-Arama visit in 1973

[gwilson]

Sea-Arama was the aquarium in Galveston right?

My figment of my imagination memory was a theme park I thought in sugarland.

Hana-Barbera Land. I dont know if it actually exsisted or not, but oh well.

[Heights2Bastrop]

You didn't by chance mean "Playland Park", did you? That was Houston's primere amusment park for years. It was at South Main at Murworth. Playland shut down around the early to mid '60s.

[pineda]

Wasn't Splashtown known as Hanna Barbera Land once upon a time?

[Trophy Property]

Wasn't Splashtown known as Hanna Barbera Land once upon a time?

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Wow, I totally remember Hanna Barbara Land. I have no clue where it was since I was just a kid, but I remember all the commercials.

I also sorta remember Perpermint Palace as well. I thought that was out 45 (not sure if it was north or south, I just remember 45).

Does anyone remember the old restaruant at 6400 Richmond that used to be train cars. I think it was a cheesy steakhouse. What was that place called?

I also remember a Circus themed restuarant on Westhiemer right there by or in the same location at Texadelphia and Papadeax.

Another awesome restuarant that I remember was Bud Bigelow's Steakhouse on Westheimer and Stoney Brook (where Molina's currently is) My parents used to take use there at least once a month.

Anyone else remember those restuarants.

[skwatra]

Sea-Arama was the aquarium in Galveston right?

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i always wondered what sea-arama was, my dad had a bumper sticker on his '80 mustang...

[debmartin]

"Another awesome restuarant that I remember was Bud Bigelow's Steakhouse on Westheimer and Stoney Brook (where Molina's currently is) My parents used to take use there at least once a month. " (quote, trophy property)

i cannot remember bud bigelow's but i thought there was a place at that location (molina's) called boston sea party a long time ago. my parents took us there and it was some kind of grand "all you can eat" seafood buffet.

deb martin

[Heights2Bastrop]

Does anyone remember the old restaruant at 6400 Richmond that used to be train cars. I think it was a cheesy steakhouse. What was that place called?

I believe that was Victoria Station. Their specialty was prime rib.

[musicman]

You didn't by chance mean "Playland Park", did you?  That was Houston's primere amusment park for years. It was at South Main at Murworth. Playland shut down around the early to mid '60s.

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This also brings to mind Kiddie Wonderland.

[marmer]

In reply to various bits:

Yes, what is now Splashtown was originally opened as Hanna Barbera Land. I never went while it was HB land but they must have had to do some serious remodeling to make it into a water park.

The all-you-can-eat seafood restaurant on Westheimer was Boston Sea Party.

Yes, the train cars were Victorias Station. There was one on South Main which later became Antones.

Anyone remember Pipe Organ Pizza?

Marty

[marmer]

Oh, and the last time I was in San Antonio there was a kiddie park on Broadway on the edge of Breckinridge Park, similar to the ones described here. OLD rides incl. a carousel from 1918.

Marty

[Trophy Property]

In reply to various bits:

The all-you-can-eat seafood restaurant on Westheimer was Boston Sea Party.

Yes, the train cars were Victorias Station.  There was one on South Main which later became Antones.

Anyone remember Pipe Organ Pizza?

Marty

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Victoria Station. That is right. The one on Main turned into a Droubis after Antones failed there.

I remember Boston Sea Part and that was in fact where Molinas was. There was resturant called Bud Bigelows in that general area. I will aske my parents. They ought to remember.

Never hear of Pipe Organ Pizza. We used to hit Godfather's next to the Weingarten grocery storey at Westhiemer and Hillcroft.

[Heights2Bastrop]

Don't remember Pipe Organ Pizza, but Village Inn Pizza was a hot spot. It was on Westheimer near Chimney Rock if I recall correctly. They had entertainment, and one of the most popular performers was Dean Scott. He was known for his Wolfman Jack impressions, and that was before anyone knew who the Wolfman was.

Scott also performed often at a popular place on Market Square.

[marc]

In reply to various bits:

Yes, what is now Splashtown was originally opened as Hanna Barbera Land.  I never went while it was HB land but they must have had to do some serious remodeling to make it into a water park.

The all-you-can-eat seafood restaurant on Westheimer was Boston Sea Party.

Yes, the train cars were Victorias Station.  There was one on South Main which later became Antones.

Anyone remember Pipe Organ Pizza?

Marty

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Yes, I haven't thought of that place in years.......

my elementary class used to go there..........when i was, i think, in about 3rd-4th grade........i remember, they played the Star Wars theme all the time......

What about Peppermint Park?

m.

[rps324]

Thanks for the information. Unfortuantely, most of the old timers moved out and the homes went with them. Out of the 30 homes, only 12 original homes survive. The others have been torn down and the typical McMansion has taken there place.

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If you can track down old owners of the house, they might have some. The only other source might be old ads from when the house was new on film at the library.

[musicman]

What about Peppermint Park?

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it was off of south man....i'm thinking near braeswood. it was on the right as you headed south. i remember there was a horse track that had multiple circles each inside the other. in each circle there was a horse. the further out you went the faster the horses went. there were also a lot of various rides. it stayed open a long time...at least into the 80's maybe early 90's but by then it was run down.

[musicman]

it was off of south man....i'm thinking near braeswood or kirby.  it was on the right as you headed south.  i remember there was a horse track that had multiple circles each inside the other.  in each circle there was a horse.  the further out you went the faster the horses went.  there were also a lot of various rides.  it stayed open a long time...at least into the 80's maybe early 90's but by then it was run down.

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oops my bad, this is kiddie wonderland, not peppermint park.

My mom and dad just reminded me that the orginal peppermint park was at 610 and 45s (across from the old Carrousel Hotel) at Reivelle. It then moved to the southwest side somewhere. This is where i remember it at. I did find a 1959 reference about a mouse ride at the park.

This link also came up about playland park...some of which sounds like kiddie wonderland.

http://www.playle.com/phorum/read.php?f=6&i=44&t=15

Here's one good posting from there (but i'm thinking this is Kiddie wonderland when the ponies are mentioned)

From the other forum.......No, I believe that one was Peppermint Park on the Northeast corner of Main and Kirby.

I took some pictures of Peppermint Park a couple of years ago after hearing it would be closing the following day. The parks main features were live pony rides (which were actually just miniature ponys on a circular walk). It was run by a rumpled old guy with missing teeth who smelled of tobacco. There were also multicolored 40s/50s pedal cars on a driving track (not bumper cars); little row boats connected like spokes of a wheel under shallow, dyed blue water; and of course a fancy Merry-Go-Round with individually-decorated horses and a double swan love seat.

I also went by after it closed and all that was left was a field of decaying rubble, several of the little pedal cars rusting away due to exposure, and at least one of the row boats rotting in the sun. Considering how collectable these are and how very close to the street they were, I found it surprising no one had tried to save them. I took a few pictures of each then scurried away as I had attracted the attention of some vagrants who had already made it their "home".

Playland Park, a much bigger amusement park, was on the East side of South Main when Main was a sparsely developed boulevard and rather rural in feel. The park was on a large plot of land with fields on each side and in back. Its neighbors along Main were a few motels with great neon signs, a favorite one the head of an Indian. The entrance to Playland had big towers with multicolor neon bars around the top. My sisters and I thought from a distance that they looked much like brightly-colored toothbrushes guarding the entrance.

Playland also had a stock car racetrack next to it where A.J. Foyt started racing. When riding the wooden roller coaster in the park you could sometimes hear the race cars roaring by. The park also had at least one of the, now collectable, "Fortune Teller Machines" with a life-sized, motorized gypsy fortune teller that seemed very lifelike. It had one of those "Test Your Strength" with a sledge hammer machines with a big bell at the top. Another memorable feature was the "Hall of Mirrors" fun house which was a maze of regular and wavy (convex/concave) mirrors mixed among the openings. It was very easy to get lost in there for a long, long time. The other features me and my sisters were not allowed to go into so I don't have a good grasp of what they were. I do recall the park had a building with a circus like barker urging park visitors to come inside and see some sort of amazing person. And it had a typical row wooden booths with various games-of-skill and large sawdust-filled stuffed animal prizes on display.

To my knowledge no postcards were ever made that pictured Playland Park because, I have been told, the owner strictly refused to allow any authorized photographs to be taken of the park.

Hey anyone remember the old Carrousel Hotel at Reveille and 610?

[Subdude]

I don't remember the Carrousel, but I do have an old postcard of it. Great mid-century period architecture. The office/restaurant pavillion had one of those googie-type zig-zag roofs. The Carrousel was known for being the defendent in an important civil rights lawsuit in the 1960s. All that's left are the foundations.

[musicman]

I don't remember the Carrousel, but I do have an old postcard of it.  Great mid-century period architecture.  The office/restaurant pavillion had one of those googie-type zig-zag roofs.  The Carrousel was known for being the defendent in an important civil rights lawsuit in the 1960s.  All that's left are the foundations.

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see if you can scan it in, i'd like to see it.

A lady in Pecan Park used to be a nasa photographer. she has some great pictures including JFK and Jackie riding up 45s from Clear Lake on Nov 21, 1963 with the Carrousel in the background. Since nasa originated in the Gulfgate/Office City area, she said that astronauts used to eat lunch at Gulfgate and walk around the Mall. Many of these Nasa buildings are still in existence along Office City

[Subdude]

see if you can scan it in, i'd like to see it. 

A lady in Pecan Park used to be a nasa photographer.  she has some great pictures including JFK and Jackie riding up 45s from Clear Lake on Nov 21, 1963 with the Carrousel in the background.  Since nasa originated in the Gulfgate/Office City area, she said that astronauts used to eat lunch at Gulfgate and walk around the Mall.  Many of these Nasa buildings are still in existence along Office City

Sorry I don't have a scanner. One day..

What is "Office City"? Is that those low-rise offices along I-45 a little north of Gulfgate?

Didn't that railcar restaurant at Main and OST have effects where they kind of shook like a real train, or was that just me shaking?

[musicman]

Sorry I don't have a scanner.  One day..

What is "Office City"?  Is that those low-rise offices along I-45 a little north of Gulfgate? 

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yes it is the street behind them, parallel to 45.

[Heights2Bastrop]

Didn't that railcar restaurant at Main and OST have effects where they kind of shook like a real train, or was that just me shaking?

Sounds like a case of the DTs to me.

[Montrose1100]

Anybody remember Bush Gardens? By the Budwieser plant...?

[musicman]

Anyone have photos of the monorail they had at Hobby Airport? i've seen some before but can't find any on the net.

[Heights2Bastrop]

I don

[tomv]

There have been three monorails in Houston. South Main and OST, South Main and Fondren, and Hobby Airport. There's a picture of one of them at Monorails.org

[tomv]

Hey while we're doing transportation nostalgia does anyone remember our moving sidewalk?

It was downtown next to the old Sam Houston Coliseum which was where Hobby Center is now. There was a parking lot on the other side of Buffalo Bayou from the Coliseum. If you parked there you walked through an enclosed walkway over the bayou to get to the Coliseum.

At one point, I think the early 60's, they built a "moving sidewalk" inside the walkway to get people across the bayou faster (Moving sidewalks are sometimes called people movers - you see them now most often in airports). I used to go to events down there as a kid and remember seeing the conveyor belt but I don't ever remember it actually working. They must have had technical problems, I'm not sure.

Anyway the bridge stayed there for years after they took out the conveyor belt. I guess the moving sidewalk was ahead of it's time, kinda like the monorails.

Trivia note: Before starting ZZ Top, Billy Gibbons had a local band called the Moving Sidewalks. They had a popular song called "Need Me". He named the band after the moving sidewalk in Downtown Houston. Apparently he and many others back in the 60's were enthralled by this futuristic transportation device.

[Montrose1100]

Theres a monorail in IAH

[Guest danax]

Trivia note:  Before starting ZZ Top, Billy Gibbons had a local band called the Moving Sidewalks.  They had a popular song called "Need Me".  He named the band after the moving sidewalk in  Downtown Houston.  Apparently he and many others back in the 60's were enthralled by this futuristic transportation device.

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Additional trivia: Moving Sidewalks toured with Jimi Hendrix in '68 I believe. When Hendrix was on The Dick Cavett Show that year, Cavett asked him who his favorite guitar player was and he told him Billy Gibbons.

[Cocaworm]

I am only 22 so I don't remember some of the things you all are talking about. But the monorail looks really cool.

I found this site by looking for pictures of Peppermint Park. Something my family thinks I made up. Now I know I didn't

I went there sometime in the late 80's (had to of, to remember it so well.) The way you all discribed it, is worse then I remembered it. But given it's time, and things they have now, I suppose it was like in indoor county fair that went on non stop. I wanted to find photos of it, so if any of you find them please let me know right away. Thanks.

[luvarch]

Sea-Arama was the aquarium in Galveston right?

My figment of my imagination memory was a theme park I thought in sugarland.

Hana-Barbera Land.  I dont know if it actually exsisted or not, but oh well.

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I remember Hanna Barbara Land it is currently Splashtown. They still have some of the stuff that used to be there like the fake trees. I know because I grew up over there off 45 North. I hope this helps you. If there are pictures, please post them.

[luvarch]

I also went there as a kid. My husband thinks it's just a figmant of my imagination. I am so glad that others remember it. I would love to see photos of it.

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If it is the correct place, I used to have dreams about going there and thought it was a figment of my imagination. I went in the early eighties... Please help clarify, if this true. I would be really interested in seeing pictures of this place because I thought it was just a dream.

[torvald]

Wow,  I totally remember Hanna Barbara Land.  I have no clue where it was since I was just a kid, but I remember all the commercials.   

Does anyone remember the old restaruant at 6400 Richmond that used to be train cars.

Anyone else remember those restuarants.

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for the longest time i would remember this really cool ice cream place where the servers would have white hats with a stripe around it, sing happy birthday and bring a banana split with sparklers stuck in the ends. i remembered it seeming overwhelming & fancy. it may have been the galleria? i was super, super young and when i mentioned it my grandmother she was pretty surprised that i remembered. ferrels, i think.

i did a google search and after a while found this site, lots of different sorts of ferrell's out there:

http://www.farrellsusa.com/pics/Farcandyarea8.02.jpg.jpg

anyone have a houston link or info on how long it was there, when it closed, etc?

[debmartin]

i had my 12th birthday party at farrells in northwest mall. i remember it was a really cool place and they would bring out a trough of a banana split, enough for 10 people to eat! if anyone could eat one alone they would get some kind of prize and all the employees would run out and yell and scream and make noise, but i never saw it happen.

i seem to recall a scene in bill & ted's excellent adventure where they took napoleon to a place like that and he won a prize for being a "piggy" while he hogged up the whole dish. i don't know when farrells went out or how many locations they had, but i do have fond memories of the place as my friends and i went there often. the employees wore some kind of uniforms that were white with red stripes, with soda fountain hats and they played some kind of nickelodeon music with a player piano i think. my parents were not really into the whole photo thing so i do not have any pics, but if anyone else does i'd love to see them.

deb martin

[EastEnd Susan]

If you have photos of these places and/or memorabilia from them, please post.

Shamrock Hotel

Kiddie Wonderland

Peppermint Park

Sea Arama

The Pig

The old baseball stadium where fingers is now (forgot the name)

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I had all my birthday parties at Peppermint Park until I was 11. I have some 8 mm film of the place which I had put on VCR format about 20 years ago. It shows the little roller coaster, The helicopter ride, the boats, the carrousel and the ticket booth. And yes, it was located at 610 and 45 before 610 was there. I guess that car dealership sits where it used to be. Right by the Carrousel Hotel.

[tick]

I'm looking for interior pictures of the Majestic Theater in Houston. I interested in pictures showing the Grand drape.

[zaphod]

im pretty sure that thing at the aiport is a rubber tired automated guideway system and not a monorail or light rail.

and farrells is restarting and there is a new one one in santa clara,california

[belmontdrew]

EMAIL ME AT BELMONTDREW@HOTMAIL.COM

I HAVE TONS OF OLD HOUSTON PICS I CAN EMAIL YOU!!! HUNDREDS OF OLD ASTROWORLD, ONE KIDDIELAND, SOME FROM HANNA BARBERALAND, MORE FROM SEA ARAMA, EVERY OLD MOVIE THEATRE, 60'S/70'S ASTRODOMAIN, ETC.

If you have photos of these places and/or memorabilia from them, please post.

Shamrock Hotel

Kiddie Wonderland

Peppermint Park

Sea Arama

The Pig

The old baseball stadium where fingers is now (forgot the name)

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