WestUNative

Thank you for that very interesting inside glimpse of life surrounding the scene. I am sorry you misunderstood me concerning the post-mortem. I was speaking of Dr. Morse, the part time Pathologist at Sharpstown Hospital, who seems to have botched everything, under the supervision of Dr. Hill. Remember him? "Lost" the brain, brought what was left later to offical Harris County Autopsy in the trunk of his car, oops. When I worked for doctors in Spring Branch in the early 1960's, several years prior to the Hill events, this same man, Dr. Morse was the Pathologist working at Spring Branch Memorial Hospital on Long Point and part time at several other small hospitals, I believe Bellaire and Sam Houston. Through my personal witnessing and knowledge, he made some glaring and disasterous errors in his tissue evaluations, particularly involving pronouncements of malignant or benign. He was not well thought of by the doctors I knew. Thus when we heard in 1969 of his far less than professional procedures at Sharpstown Hospital when Joan Hill died, I was not surprised, but very angry to hear he was still employed in this capacity. I do not recall his first name at the moment, but I hope this information clears some things up for you.

Actually, Ship Ahoy probably came first. My parents were divorced and that was my Daddy's favorite place to take me out to eat when he visited. This would have been in late 1940's through early 1950's. Wonderful place with the little balconies, ship deck railings, high ceilings and windows. Always felt special to me and the seafood was super as well.

Thank you for the pictures! Where do you get these things? As my visits were in my pre-driving years, I don't know which location, but the Dining Room on your postcard is the one!

Oh! Sue O, I attended Camp Tejas in about 1947 and somewhere here in a much earlier post I described exactly what you just did! We loved tramping over and peering into the depths of the mansion. I guess we were all enamored. Rowing on the lake, the separate wood cabins throughout the woods, making way through the "wilderness" to get to bathroom building in middle of night. I was only 6 at the time but loved it. Do you recall the pool decorations? Mosaic tile colors, perhaps of acquatic creatures? I cannot remember, just know it had some embellishment, not just plain vanilla. Anyway the interior of the house looked like the occupants just up and left without moving their things and never came back, which I now understand is what the widow did.

Sev, I will take one of each and like, right now! Also downtown in this era was The Normandie, elegant, cool and dark with gorgeous food and the best Eclairs in the world, before or since.

Okay, I have been around a long time. On our 9th grade, Sr. Skip Day from Pershing, in 1956, a group of us hung out at Howard Johnson's there on Bellaire. During that era they had an all you could eat seafood fry every Friday night, good stuff.

Perhaps you are thinking of Mueller's Bakery in The Village? It was wonderful and only about a block south from Rice grocery store. Great to hear from a neighbor, I lived on University Blvd. in West University Place from 1941-1981, so I know it throughout at long history. Moved back in 1993, stayed til 1996 and my daughter still lives there. Any questions, will be glad to help. By the way, loved Timmy Chan's in Greenway, such elegant presentation of food. How about the tall, footed, pierced silver rice servers? Miss so many of the the great restaurants.

Really good stuff! Right by Joske's. My young daughter and I haunted the place after our Galleria shopping.

Yes, indeed! W. Howard Lee was married to Hedy Lamarr from 1953-1960. Shortly after their divorce, he married Gene Tierney in 1960. Guess he really liked the beautiful stars of the Big Screen.

Actually that is what I meant to add. After reading of her sad mental history and of the electro-shock treatments, it is very possible to likely she was unable to remember the combination lock numbers, among so many things of that ilk we are tasked to carry around in our heads. I always liked her as an actress and her beauty was undeniable.

I just noticed this thread, small antecdote to add. When she lived in River Oaks, married to Howard Lee, they rented a box for their mail at the Highland Village Post Office Station. My husband at the time was in charge of the Box Section. Gene could either never remember the combination or didn't bother to learn it, so it became a frequent occasion for her to knock on the door and have my husband retrieve and hand her the mail. I always thought it was just the pampered life of a Hollywood Star, used to folks doing everything for her.

Marmer, thanks a bunch for saving and sharing your booklet. I would dearly love scans of menus for Hobbit Hole and Ouisie's as keepsakes and to share with my family. We were recently dining at the "new" Hobbit and I was trying to explain how different the menu was way back at the original place. We did Ouisie's not just for the food, but for the great name, "Ouisie's Table and Brown Bag Traveling Company." As for the cafeteria in question, Apollopride, I remember it spelled as Jetton's.

Stop the presses, hold everything, we segued to Bryan/College Station here? We've been invaded by Aggies? Well, okay, but shame, shame, no one mentioned Rebel's? I mean, wow, I lived in a small rural area for a while and the nearest decent shopping was Bryan, so we'd always do the necessaries, then head for Rebel's for a grand steak dinner, even in middle of afternoon. Great stuff. Equal time now for Longhorns. In Austin, a place named "The Mars Bar", which was actually a restaurant in an old house a bit removed from campus. Really good food, again great steak and some divine garlic mashed potatoes.

How cool, you are the first person I've "met" born in my hospital! I think it was falling out of favor or getting ready to close by the time I came along in May 1941. There was only one other baby born there when I was. I know this because my mother used to joke (?) that when she first saw me, she told the nurses there must have been a mix up with the babies. They told her impossible, the only other kid in the Nursery was an Hispanic boy. I too was an only child, but had cousins in Southside Place, just 5 blocks down the street. I was interested in the same sort of things you were, I alone in my family. So I went singularly to Museum of Fine Arts, downtown Library, old Music Hall for matinee shows, all that jazz. I even took a bus to the old Houston Auditorium with violin in hand for auditions with Houston Youth Symphony Orchestra, that place was spooky. It seems so strange now for a 10 or 11 year old to be traipsing around the big city all alone. My Step-Father worked for Missouri-Pacific and I had a free pass, so spent a lot of travel time in trains alone as well, visiting my Father's family in Dallas and one big trip to Louisville and back by myself. I guess it instilled self-reliance and maturity, but kind of lonely too. Don't you still love the old days at the Julia Ideson? Like stepping into a movie set with all the heavy wood trim and the little separate rooms. The big, glass box was impressive when it came along mainly for its incredible collections, could find most anything there. Got the best of both, my daughter was raised with the newer one.

Oh, Alpha, thanks, no one believes me now, but not one girl ever saw me in my underwear, much less nude! We used the multiple, flouncy petticoat shield for changing into our gym suits as well. I attended Pershiing Jr. High from 1953-1956 and never took swimming. I do recall those girls who did swim were required to take nude communal showers and the rest of us twittered they must be lesbians to flaunt their nudity like that. But in the pool, they always wore bathing suits. There was a rumor that the boys swam nude and one day, a girl decided to check it out. She stealthily sidled up to the pool door only to find it locked tight, leaving our questions unanswered, but suspicions running higher. As for the controversy about silly modesty, that came into play, but seriously, most kids of that age simply were not that proud of their bodies and feared negative comparisons. I would think the guys would suffer from that especially, worried about size of equipment in front of the "big" boys.

Vertigo, you are not going to believe this, but tis true. Around 1993, my daughter, who grew up at Houston Zoological Gardens, of course, and I stopped by a flea market type old store in Leonia, Texas. That is a tiny spot south of Centerville. Incredibly there stood the little lion drinking fountain from the Houston Children's Zoo, all chipped and worn. The shop owner confirmed it had indeed come from there. My grown up girl towered over it at 5'1" and couldn't believe how little she had been when drinking from it not so long before. Remember when the Vampire Bats were the latest thing? Wow, really amazing and highly touted. Then the surprise to learn they'd been caught in Mexico and raised in a guy's garage in Bellaire, just down the street. Those tiny little devil faces lapping up the blood, which originally was outdated goods from the human blood bank, not from cow processors. And did you know, while we are trivalling, the adults never touch water? Only the newborns and they must have some. I too am sorry to see the little train go as well as the big steam engine. Three generations of us loved riding through the park with the trees almost scraping the sides - keep your arms inside and close! One last note and I'm sorry, but having spent a lifetime of enjoyment at the old zoo, I was very unhappy with my last visit a couple of years ago. Since being taken over by private sector ownership, I found surly employees, highly restrictive policies and an overall unpleasant experience resulting. There were disturbing things like teenagers on bicycles policing and yelling at patrons and once I had left and found my ride had not come, no one would allow me back in to make a phone call, even with proof I'd paid for admission. I know, but I'm a dinosaur, I have no cell phone.

Fantastic, isuredid! I have never known exactly where it was before, just grew up with the ditch. I am amazed the location was so close to us and right where Montclair Center, now Weslayan Plaza resides. Funny to think that Randall's Flagship high end store in on land where the literally dirt poor used to toil. Thanks for the welcome back, Vertigo58 and Filio, I've been busy with stuff and sadly neglected this site. Ta-da, there is my house on the map. University Blvd at Community Drive. We were the third house down from Community on the north side of University Blvd, 4226! Oh, and thank Filio for the full history of Burnett-Bayland, I find it fascinating. Went there once in the 1950's with my Aunt, a real do-gooder (57Tbird, if you read this I'm speaking of Mac's mother, Helen Lou Childers, legendary teacher), she had sponsored an orphan living at the home. We took her Christmas presents that day and sometimes she went on excursions around town with us.

Just found this thread as I was thinking about the ancient roller coaster, all wooden and rickety on the beach and wondering if anyone else remembered it. You asked for opinions about Galveston, I am so surprised to not see vast numbers of responses here. For me being a Houstonian, means spending much time in Galveston as well. From earliest childhood, the entire family - Grandmother, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins would all suffer the crowded non-air conditioned car ride down Old Galveston Road for a day at the beach. Having your picture taken on the back of a poor, long suffering donky or shetland or whatever was on hand, little bucket and shovel and scooping up shells to take home. Galveston really came into its own for my gang in our teens. West Beach was always the destination and it was heaven. No Beach Pocket Parks, no subdivisions with row upon row of beach houses, just pure nature. We'd swim and beachcomb, but come evening round up driftwood and build a big bonfire for roasting whatever we had, then sit around talking, singing, just enjoying the cool of night, moon and stars and the gentle lapping of the surf. One trip around early college age, a gang of us were there and one was an Architectural student at U of H, who challenged us to hold a house building contest. The driftwood was incredible, large pieces everywhere, some actual bleached trees. So much fun. There were many trips to water-ski in Offat's Bayou, when that became the rage, I actually went over the big ramp once. We'd ski all day, head home, change clothes and go dancing that night. Did we never tire? Anyway, the island was a constant for me when I lived in Houston and still is for my daughter and granddaughter. We did Searama in the old days, more recently the whole Moody experience, which is grand - love the 3D IMAX, their pool and the Rainforest. I am particularly happy to see the return of the pelicans, so plentiful in my childhood, then missing for a while. The Strand is fun, the Elyssa lovely, nothing beats a fine shrimp dinner on the water at Fisherman's Wharf or one of the over-the-beach places. Touring the old houses is eye-opening, you name it, I love it. Oleanders, wherever encountered, mean Galveston to me. And now, I am in for a real treat, living landlocked in North Texas as I do presently. In one short month, I am spending a week at the San Luis Resort and getting to do it all again. Well, skipping the water skiing this time.

Now I am salivating. But first, I was so regional within our fair city of old Houston, I didn't know there were ANY other Prince's beyond ours, which was at 8101 S. Main. I find it so amusing to learn that they didn't start in Houston and when they arrived were scattered all over the place. The food: Every single Friday night for dinner, my mother and step-father took us out to Prince's. Their favorite was the open Trout Sandwich, which is only 65 cents of the menu above, wow. I loved that item as well, but sometimes had the scrumtuous hamburger. But, always I ordered the Root Beer. I am a died in the wool Coca Cola devotee, but those weighed a ton glass mugs, frozen and frosty with the special ice and great root beer was not to be passed up, especially on a stifling summer night. I always found it strange that Stuart's was directly across the street, talk about competition. However, the only times we went there, we ventured inside for their excellent seafood gumbo. One more thing about carhops. They were not as portrayed in movies, gum-smacking, wise cracking broads. Very polite, big smiles and extremely good at their jobs. The info about the contest says it all.

57Tbird, weren't we all so envious of those great shoe skates, so glamorous? At home we struggled mightily with our clamp-on, metal clumsies, which frequently fell loose from our shoes and twisted an ankle or plopped you down on the sidewalk. My fam didn't take us much to Gateway Skate, but lots of kids had their birthday parties there, always a treat. The rink seems so huge and usually so crowded, a bit daunting. Big, noisy place, but fun. Knew about the pool, but never went there. We had West U., Southside and the Shamrock, didn't need to go far afield.

Here goes! I worked via the DECA program at Bellaire High School (school in AM, job after lunch) at Meyer Bros., second floor, Children's Shoe Department. This was from Fall of 1957 through May 1958. Now that pre-dates just about all of you. During school vacations, like at Christmas, I worked 12 hour days, no overtime at 50 cents per hour. Anyway, used to nip out the back door to courtyard and scoot over to Mading's for lunch/dinner. They had great deals and very good cooked to order sandwiches. There were no other stores between Meyer Bros. and Mading's. Since I was working whenever I was there, hard to reconstruct exactly what stores were original. Woolwoth's certainly, Walter Pye's I believe. I recall Lew's and some of the others, but then I continued to shop there through the 1970's, especially at Penny's and Hancock Fabrics, so timelines are a little hard to establish. Now for a tad of trivia. One day, right up the escalator which topped out directly in front of my department, came riding up all the bigwigs (the Meyer Bros. themselves and their sister) accompanyed by Miss Jane Russell. She was in a very conservative suit, but still a true knock-out. If you don't know who Jane Russell was, get over to Google now or rent a copy of "Outlaw" is there are any.

Hey, what am I, chopped liver??? As some of you have gleaned, I was born in old Methodist Hospital, downtown, long gone, in 1941. Thus the 1950's were my prime years and I loved it! For those of you extremely young ones who may doubt our memory function, just stop right there. Ask anyone and you'll get the same answer, it was the true golden age for teenagers. And I must say Houston was a great place then for it. As for the primitive side, West University was pretty well established from my first memories, but when we moved into our house on University Blvd. in 1941, my mother said she could see all the way to Bellaire Blvd. with only a house or two between. In the mid-50's, once you got beyond Prince's Drive In and Playland Park, prairie and cows all the way to Sugarland. Pre-freeways, developments were pretty sparse. Think no Galleria, to head for San Antone, we took Post Oak (regular street) to Katy Rd. Westheimer was out in the country heading westward from Post Oak. And a trip to Galveston was a slow crawl down a 2 lane road. A wee comparison to "modern life" will give you an idea. Zero crime in my neighborhood. I never saw any kind of drugs, including weed, nor knew anyone who indulged. We were really free and not because our parents weren't strict. Imagine now turning loose a pack of 14 year olds to go on their own to Galveston for the day and evening with absolutely nothing to worry about. We got our unrestricted driver's licenses at 14. A small child could ride the public bus downtown alone and be safe, I did it many times to go to library or meet mother for lunch in summer. The clothes were cool sans nudity, the cars out of this world, so much fun to have and no weltschmerz! We really did not worry at all about "the bomb," in spite of those drills under the desk at school. Eat your hearts out, those who missed it. My own daughter is forever envious, she doomed to grow up in the 70's & '80's.

Poohbear! Always great to hear of someone from the neigborhood. Although the time factors are way off, I am sure, I grew up at 4226 University and my cousins lived at 3724 Jardin in Southside. Stayed around, my daughter went to St. Mark's and West U. Elementary. After some years away, she is grown and lives on Community. Nothing quite like it. On topic, I only went to The Black Angus once, was very nice, but I didn't find the steak tasted different than any other breed served elsewhere. You are Greek? How about that incredible shish-ka-bob they served at the Greek Festival every year at the church? Now, that was superior.

No but my father would take me to Sonny looks ...for his afternoon stop before going home...How funny...I have not thought o that place in years...Anyone remember The black angus or the cellar door? Ah, The Cellar Door! The best BBQ, ever, on Bellaire Blvd. between Academy and Weslayan. I worked for 4 years in the SWBT building a literal stone's throw from the restaurant and spent as many lunchtimes as possible lapping up the excellent food. 15 years after that, I'd run by for the take-out for the family when I didn't want to cook. Their Boston Cream Pie was literally to die for, if you missed that, you missed tasting heaven. By the way, the owner had one of the largest homes in West University on Buffalo Spdwy. I was heartbroken when they closed up shop.

Don and Betty were a married couple. Technically, he owned the Record Shop and she owned the Laundromat. They were good friends of my boyfriend and fam when I was 18. Lovely people all around. Much, oh, so much later in my 50's, my husband I were searching for some old 1950's jazz recordings and went to Don's newer shop around 1997. Lo and behold there Don was, still in charge and had or could order every single thing I wanted to replace my long, lost 33 1/3's These excellent "Mom & Pop" businesses will never be matched. Mading's in the Village became Eckerd's, which now is CVS, if that location is still in existence. Yes, I recognized all the shops you mentioned and frequented most of them!