Heights2Bastrop

What I saw and heard in Bastrop was definately not a nighthawk. Nighthawks are much larger.

Maybe it was a chirpmonk?

I tell you what frightened me the most is that the A/C unit was just outside the window where I heard the chirping, and I was afraid the A/C was about to carp out on me!

Chickadees are very approachable in that, once they get used to you, they will get to where they will eat out of your hand.

Of course, if they are the ones you are hearing, they may just drive you out of your mind - uh, that is if it's not too late for that!

I have a lot chickadees up there, but I know the ones I saw weren

They are birds!

I know exactly what you are talking because it drove me crazy (yeah, like that

It amazes me how you and the other guys on this forum come up with photos, maps, and other info so quickly!

Many of the old theaters are still around today, but in another form.

The Alabama is now a Bookstop.

The Tower is ??? something, but not a theater.

The Heights is an antique shop.

The Stude is a church, I think.

The Garden Oaks used to show Mexican films, but not sure what is in there now.

I don

Anybody remember Shopper's Fair? That was the very first discount store that I can remember here. There was one on Shepherd at Pinemont across from St. Pius.

Just found this on Paul Boesch's military record:

Paul Boesch served in the US ARMY during WWII and eceived many awards, including a purple heart and cluster; a silver star and cluster; a bronze star and cluster; a French Croix de Guerre with star; a Combat Infantryman's Badge; a Distinguished Unit Citation, & a distinguished citizen's award from the 121st Infantry Association.

My dad went to a wrestling match one time and was standing in a small group as Irish Danny McShane walked by. Someone yelled something not-so-nice to McShane, and he whirled around and saw Daddy and threw a punch at him thinking it was he who made the comment. The blow just grazed my dad, and he was more surprised than he was angry.

McShane and Curry were from an era that included Pepper Gomez, Killer Kowalski, Mr. Moto, Dory Funk, Junk Yard Dog. Haystacks Calhoun (or maybe it was Uncle Elmer) used to come into the ring accompanied by a couple of chicks. Not girls, but live chickens.

My grandma used to watch wrestling from the City Auditorium religiously, and I would watch it when I stayed with her. Paul Bosch still fought on occasion in the early 50s. Few people know that he was a highly decorated war hero from WWII.

I also remember an old lady who always sat in the first row used to yell at the bad guys, and would go after them with a folding chair when they were thrown out of the ring. I

It was Bull Curry. He was huge and so hairy that he had just one eyebrow that went all the way across his forehead. All the kids would flock around him, and he just loved the attention. He may have been a terror in the ring, but he was just a little kid at heart.

Many a time I walked through those doors to be greeted by a one-eyebrowed hulk of a gentle giant. Any clue who he was, Tbird?

Even though I have a clear recollection of things when I was 3 and 4 years old, my memories of the Playland races are a bit fuzzy. But there may have been underlying reasons for that. I remember the very first circus I went to, and all I remember from the event is standing on the steps of the house still crying about the poor guy who someone had shot out of a cannon.

I may have been frightened of the races, or maybe by a crash or two. I just don

Roger Ward, big Indy racer.

Billy Wade, local sensation.

You are so right, Tbird. Even as I wrote that, something didn't seem right. Thanks for the correction.

BTW, Billy's brother was my once upon a time father-in-law.

The drill team in the photo is the Reagan Red Coats. They were pretty famous in their day.

According to my research, Queen Theater was located at 613 Main Street in Downtown.

Playland Park had a small train that would take you along the Murworth side of the park. When Playland closed, the train was transferred to Hermann Park. Every time I go to Hermann I try to ask someone if that train is one of the ones still in use, but no one knows.

Playland had a funhouse, and at the entrance was an animated clown who would kinda roll with laughter. As a small kid, that freakin

There was a Globe on the northeast corner of Bellaire and Hillcroft.

I worked at that Globe in '71. Talk about some low paying tightwads.

The Cellar and Love Street were both happening when I graduated HS in

I'm not positive, but I think that the restaurant that was there was called Railhead, not Victoria Station. It was a copy of Victoria Station. I remember they had live entertainment there along with the food.

How right you are. When I read about "railcars", I immediately thought Victoria Station. The place on Richmond was indeed The Railhead. I went there a couple of times in the early 70's, but I don't remember it having rail cars.

Victoria Station was on Post Oak north of Richmond. There may have been another one around Kirby and South Main, but I'm not sure about that.

Houston will find out soon enough that no zoning laws will eventually kill the development of this city.

No zoning laws have been the rule here from day 1, and Houston is the fourth largest city in the country. Houston has too much going for it to let something as trivial as no zoning to kill development here.

As a property owner, why shouldn

Take a look at what is happening in the Heights between Durham and White Oak Bayou, south of 19th and north of 15th. The construction of new housing is actually replacing the many businesses scattered throughout that area. It

Hey, UrbaNerd! Help me out here!

I think a good visionary is someone insightful enough to offer some kind of incentive to spur growth into specific areas.

Hey, how about offering a free VCR for every apartment rental?