4PROP
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Posts posted by 4PROP
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We have discussed Playland on other threads, and I mentioned a few times about the maniacal mechanical clown that was in a glass booth at the entrance to the Fun House. I don't think anyone ever acknowledged that they remembered that.
He scared the Bajeezus outta me!
Well thanks alot Heights. That was a memory I could of gone without. As I remember, the clown was animated and screamed a horrific laugh. My wife remembered it too as soon as I mentioned it to her.
She also recalled a creepy mechanical fortune teller in a glass booth. We couldn't remember exactly where it was in the park. Maybe in the arcade?
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I can remember going to Playland Park back in 1958 with our CYO group.
Here's Playland Park in 1957:
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DOOHH!
I'm taking the kids to see Bolt Friday night, now! Not a one of them has any idea what a drive-in even is, this will be too cool.
Thanks for the tip.
How long has it been there?
RhinoVP,
Did you ever make it to the Showboat drive in movie? I know it was pretty cold the Friday after you posted this reply. If you have, please share your experience with us and in particular how your kids liked (or didn't like) it.
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My siblings & I would walk up Stella Link to the entrance & they would let us in for free. Amazing what we used to could do as children back then. We would walk to the back rows & turn the speakers up all the way. Alot depended on the direction of the wind but we are talking backyard, 2 lane road & wide back end of the drive-in.
I loved Playland park. That rollercoaster was great! And the pony rides at KiddieLand.
Hey Carol802,
I think I can see your house from here:
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Anyone remember Meyer's Speedway? I told my husband I took drivers ed (Westbury 1969) on a racetrack and he doesn't believe me! It was great! Seems like it was down S. Main past Post Oak by the stadium we used to have our football games at.
There's a couple of videos (old film) from Meyer Speedway on YouTube. Just use Meyer Speedway as key search words. (Plenty from Playland Speedway also)
You'll also find alot of posts and photos on the Texas Speedzone (TXSZ.com) forums under Texas Racing History.
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Good memories here!
When I was little we lived in Townwood for a few years, and went here almost every weekend. It wasn't such a big deal back then, it was either there or Meyerland if you wanted to see a show. My parents not wanting to put up with a squirmy kid in a theater, normaly choose the drive-in.
As we were driving in, I would hide under a quilt in the back the old Ford station wagon we had. I never stayed well hidden, I know he saw me several times but never seemed to care.
The last movie I remember actually watching was Butch Cassidy and the Sundance kid, but know we went to see countless others. I was always too busy playing
with the neighbors kids, who we would often go to the show with.
BTW- There is still a drive-in open! It's just a few miles south of Dallas on I45, I've passed by it many times.
Regards,
Rhino
FYI; We have one in Tomball.
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I found this great website today when I googled the South Main Drive-In. There seemed to be some confustion of it's location on an old string.
The South Main was located at Stella Link and South Main with the back bordered by Willowbend. There was a dirt road that cut off to make the front right entrance & exit to the left of the screen. I grew up on Woodhaven which was the last residential street off of Stella Link before Willowbend. Our house had a back driveway on Willowbend. We watched literally thousands of movies from 1958-1971 from our upstairs picture window that was in perfect alignment to the screen. It was awsome.
You are absolutely correct in your location and description. I hope we can lay that confusion to rest.
I'll confess, I was always jealous of those living in the houses across the back of the theater and wondered what you did to hear the sound clearly. I recall the speakers around the sitting area at the concession stand were not that loud. I hope the bouncing blue VW with the fogged up windows (often near the back) row did not distract you. My steady girl (now wife of 41 years) frequented the theather in the mid sixties. We actually did see parts of the movies sometimes...har har.
My first disappointed in life was at the South Main back in the fifties. They had a kiddie train in front of the theather entrance with a sign saying Disney characters could be seen inside the tunnel. Heck, I was only 5 or so and was expecting live characters. The pictures of Mickey Mouse painted on the inside of the tunnel wall did not impress me at all.
If anyone runs across good aerial photos of this south main area up through Playland, please post info.
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I'm interested in learning more about the rather large complex of apartments that existed to the west of Stella Link/Weslayan (and north of Bellaire Blvd.) in the fifties and sixties in/around Academy. I vaguely recall living in one of these apartments when I was about three years old or so back in the mid to late 1950's, before my Mom and Dad moved down Stella Link to Westwood Park in 1958. I'm pretty certain that they were still around, albeit refurbished, in the mid 1970's. They had a unique (and wonderful) architectural style to them (possibly from the 1940's?). I've been away from Houston for many, many years now, but I recently attempted to locate these apartments using Google Maps (Satellite & Street View). It looks like they're all gone now - replaced by 'MacMansions.' Does anyone know the history of these apartments, and why (and when) they disappeared from the Houston (Bellaire) landscape?
Back in 1964, I live at 4042 Law street in an old style studio apartment at the corner of Law and Academy. it was part of a complex called Montclair Apartments and directly north of what was called and may still be the Montclair Shopping Center. (Back then: Weingardens, Western Auto, etc.) This was at the intersection of Bissonnet and Weslayan. The apartments had green shake siding, hardwood floors and for a few bucks extra you could add window unit A/C's.
At the time the complex was managed by a Mrs Overstreet. Rent was $125 per month all bills paid for our 3 bedroom studio with two A/C's. (No pets!) The pool was across Weslayan directly to the east. Best I recall, the project was leveled way back in the seventies.
I don't know if this could be the one you were referring to, but thought this might be interesting anyway. There are definately "MacMansions" there now, just slightly south of the S/W Freeway.
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Below is picture of my Grandfather "lou Turbeville". I'm told he was 3 time Southwest Champion racing in the 40's and 50's. Raced against Doc Cossey, AJ Foyt Sr. My Father at one time had several pics of him and AJ as kids in the pits.
Great topic apoftexas. You might also want to post in http://txsz.com/forums/. You would most likely get "quality" replies and feedback there. I look forward to seeing more from you on your local racing history.
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Hi. the miniature coaster you remember was not at Playland. It was at Kiddy Wonderland where the small pony ride was. My brother ran it for a while. Hope this helps.
Hi Sparky,
I second the nomination for your Oscar and look forward to your future Playland postings.
I think LeeinMT is correct in referring to the Wild Mouse at Playland. It was a steel-framed coaster built some time after the race track had closed. It was near the east end of the park not far from where the ferris wheel was located. Compared to the wooden "rollie coaster", the Wild Mouse could have been considered miniature, but it was definately not a "pee-winker" ride like the ones at Kiddie Wonderland.
Have you seen the Playland race films posted on you-tube? Some go back to the early dirt track days. Use "Playland Park Houston" in the search box.
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Does anyone remember a Wild Mouse ride at Playland Park? It would have been in the early 60's and was a miniature roller coaster that turned sharp corners just as it seemed the car was going over the edge.
My wife certainly remembers it. She HATED that ride because of those slow but sharp turns at the top. The cars ran on a double set of wheels so the car would actually tilt outward a bit with the bottom wheels riding against the bottom of the rail. This was about 25 feet up, not so miniature!
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Yes, that was a 45 put out by KNUZ around 1962. "Houston, My Home Town." I have a copy. It was one of many "my home town" discs released by radio stations in the early '60s.
Indeed, one of many. Best I recall, it goes;
Let me tell you about my hometown, largest in the Lone Star state.
I'll have to brag a little bit, but I really won't exaggerate.
Big H - O - U, S - T - O - N,
Houston, Houston, That's my hometown.
Where in the world have you ever seen, so much construction?
Where will you find a sports stadium, fully air conditioned?
And where will the tallest building be, west of the Mississippi?
Houston, Houston, That's my hometown.
Houston Oilers and the Colts, fabulous River Oaks,
Battleship Texas and Hermann Park, and such friendly folks.
It's recommended for a lifetime, or just a day;
Houston, Houston, That's my hometown.
Houston, Houston, ......That's my hometown......
.......for what that's worth.
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Thanks for the inputs. This was my first posting. I've just begun to explore all the topics and messages so there may indeed be a repetition of input.
One other odd tidbit I recall was a small house-like structure off South Main (I think) we used to frequent. We called it the "Broken Cookie Place" since that's what they sold from some local bakery.
Was this cookie shop you refer to at the corner of South Post Oak and South Main opposite the R/R tracks? I recall a small cookie shop along side a large drainage ditch was about the only thing at that intersection back around 1959. I think it appears within a 1960 aerial photo in this forum under a Meyerland (T33) plane crash topic. (Westbury area picture)
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You might want to contact: http://www.positiveimage.com/
They have an impressive collection of vintage aerial photos from all around Houston. I have seen many covering the South Main area including the drive in. The only catch is, the photos are not posted anywhere. You must visit them.
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Only my brother and me ever remember talking of this bizarre show. It was super scary, really scary!
I just remember a voice over mans voice saying WEIIIIRRRRRRDDDDD (Weird). I cant even remember what the episodes were about but the one that sticks out is when the did that guys voice there was a major scary space aliens face turning and staring at the camera! Freaky and his face looked all ripped up bloody and caved in. This was a real shocker for mid-60's kids TV, I think. I had nightmares for years about it.
I sure wish someone could do research and see what the hell this show was about and created, etc. Can you buy?
Now I may start having nightmares again after 40 yrs! Eeeekk!
I recall touring the KTRK studio somewhere around 1964 (WEIRD days). As the technician showed me some of the equipment, he reached into a projector device and pulled out the "Weird" display overlay. The face was on a card about 3" by 5". I guess I can say that was the weirdest thing I ever held in my hand. During program start, a second "motion pattern" layer was superimposed through it as they zoomed in on the "cat's eye" center of the face during the movie intro.
I loved the Weird series! It was simply the airing our favorite old "B-flick" monster movies. It was sorta like an Elvira presentation, but with no commentator. Hey, that would have been a great moonlight gig for Kitirik!
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You got the jingle right. It was also on TV, even though TV was still B&W in those days and we couldn't see the colors. I thought I was the only guy in town who remembered those words. Now, for a million dollars on Who Wants To Be a Millionaire, can you sing it?
I can't sing, but on a slightly related TV subject: I think about the "Weather Gal" from way back in the weather ball days. I don't recall her name or the station she was on. She stood behind a transparent glass weather map and used a black marker to draw (backwards to her) fronts, temps, etc. By doing so, she never obstructed the view of the map. How often do I think about her? Every time I watch the local news channel and the weather "personality" steps in front of my neighborhood's area of the radar screen. *&%$#@!
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Never thought I'd see the day they went out of business. They were another true Texas icon (Houston anyway). We always went to the Palms Center location. Had everything you could need, especially at Chrismas time. You could tell the end was near for them when the product quality of certain items was going down hill. I bought several sets of window blinds and they were all screwy within a few weeks. Bad quality. Thanks, for the memories as Bob Hope would say.
RIP Wards.
You may say, "RIP Wards", but if there is such a thing as a corporate heaven, I personally don't think Wards made it.
From a customer's point of view, I might go along with "true Texas icon", but here's another point of view: My son worked for Wards as an Electronics Avenue manager. Now I am not a parent that will claim my child can do no wrong, but I will stand by the fact that he is an upright, honest and respected professional.
Never would I have believed a company could treat employees the way MW literally abused him. He was constantly under pressure, degraded with extremely offensive language and his employment continuously threaten based on number of service contracts pushed. It was no surprise to me the "Monkey" went out of business. Professionalism and ethics didn't seem to be at the core of their business operations.
Although there seemed to be many rotten apples in Wards upper management chain, regretfully there were many good, honest, hard-working people that lost gainful employment when they closed their doors. From what I observed, all I can say to their management style is, what goes around, comes around. I feel confident and certainly hope that most displaced MW employees found themselves much better off elsewhere. I am happy to report that Wards' closing turned out to be a good move for my son.
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Back in the early 1960s, my dad received his instrument rating at an airport on the side of what was then Houston International Airport. I remember him telling me that back then he went and played golf at Ellington AFB. I think he also said something about an airport in Pearland.
I was about to ask the stupid question: "Has any airplane ever landed at an abandoned airport"? But when I think of that airline plane in Kentucky that tried to take off on the wrong runway, that might not have been such a stupid question after all.
FYI: Additional information on wrong airport landings.
http://www.thirdamendment.com/wrongway.html
I had my own close call experience with a wrong airport. I was flying a light Cessna between Victoria and College Station inbound for Easterwood when I started to call the tower about 8 miles out with my intentions and to report the airport in sight. Thankfully, I hesitated just to recheck my bearings only to realize it was Texas World Speedway in the distance. I quickly scanned to the left, spotted the actual airport and proceeded to contact them. I often wondered if they would have cleared me for approach and landing, turn four.
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I remember this motel from the mid-late 50's. It was just up South Main, on the east side, from the South Main Drive-in theater, which was on the west side. It came before, and was not related to the Holiday Inn chain we know today. It was a small, independently owned operation built in the 40's. I recall there was some type of settlement made between the Holiday Inn chain, as it grew, and this motel owner to change the name of his place. I think he ended up changing its name to the Holiday House.
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10015 South Main
Mitchell Inn
Extant
On the same subject, I wonder whose sign came first... the Mitchell Inn or the Holiday Inn. They do look similar.
The Mitchell inn was severely ravaged by a fairly significant tornado back around 1965 or 1966. It seems I recall further damage across the street. I think it may have been (of course) a trailer park. That same night, some roofs were blown off buildings at the (then new) Madison High School just off Orem Road.
Can anyone add details (or pictures) on this event.
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I think he is talking about Sam Houston airport, which was bordered by South Main. Note in the picture on this link the B-24 in the upper right corner.
http://houstonfreeways.com/images/sam_hous...ew_complete.jpg
This airport was discusses previously on HAIF:
http://www.houstonarchitecture.info/haif/i...?showtopic=7454
Well, seeing is believing! We indeed had "bombers in our backyard". Thanks for linking to the picture. I recall seeing it before, but didn't notice the B-24 to which I have no excuse! I guess with those big fat tires, the Liberator didn't always need concrete below it. Any idea what publication this picture was taken from?
Great topic!
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Exactly, that's what I suspect these planes were...just waiting to be handed off to collectors, sold for scrap, etc.
I didn't see these firsthand...I think my Dad did though. He may have the class of planes confused...not sure...but, I'll forward the info on to him about the planes being at Sam Houston Airfield...
There were some PBY Catalinas kept out at Clover (now Pearland Regional) during the fifties. They were in really rough shape, but managed to fly in and out of there. I shot some 8mm of them from our C182 as we taxied out one time. We T-hangared just down from them. I saw no bullet holes in them but they were otherwise really battered and bruised! I couldn't imagine they were still airworthy.
During one flight within 100 miles or so of Houston I observed a number of decommissioned B-36 "Flying Cigars" parked in storage at an airfield somewhere. Although I'm thinking it was towards Louisiana, it must have been Kelly AFB in San Antonio. Any additional information out there on where that may have been?
Houston Municiple (now Hobby), aside from Ellington was the closest thing to South Main that had concrete load bearing runways back then. I would think the stored WWII aircraft must have been rolled in on rail cars since Sam Houston was right along side the tracks. (My dad's first flight lesson was in a J-3 at Sam Houston in 1946.)
I sure hope additional feedback comes in on this story. Being a native Houstonian (from Bellaire) I am certainly fascinated by the thought of "bombers in our backyard".
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I agree. I lived in Bellaire from 1948-83, then again from 1992-2000. Post-WWII Bellaire was never a blue-collar town in the way we think of Pasadena, and not a former farming village like Katy or Pearland. It was more like Spring Branch, a town that became a suburb out on the edge of Houston, which Houston then engulfed.
The death warrant for the cottages came in 1977 when the COB govt updated property appraisals for the 1st time since the early 50s. That decision coincided with the rampant inflation of the late 70s/early 80s and led to spectacular property value and tax increases.
I lived in a 3300sf house on 1/2 acre and the property appraisal went from $9K to $75K. By 1982 it was $145K. Total taxes went from ~$165/yr to ~$2500/yr. That % of tax $$ change made life impossible for many fixed income residents, most of whom were the retired white collar 50s/60s workers like my parents. Why not take the ridiculous profit and live the rest of your life with more $$ than you ever thought you would have?
The big lots where I lived were the 1st to be sold for teardowns. In 83 we were the 2nd family on our street to sell, the new owners put up a Mcmansion. Now there are only 2 original houses left on that block.
The process has continued unabated for 25 yrs.
Here is a typical "then and now" photo taken from 4341 Oleander. The vintage shot was from 1953.
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Does anyone remember this? I was in the 6th grade at Horn Elementary in September of 1959. They told us to go straight home, but would not tell us why.
I knew that Kolter Elementary was named after one of the teachers who died. A few years ago I worked with a lady who was the substitute that took over Jeanne Kolter's classroom after her death.
You will need to scroll down to read the part about Poe School.
Additional source for Ed Gooding's story at:
http://www.maxmcrae.com/major_fires/poeElem.htm
I was in 4th grade at Fondren at the time which was a small country school way out in the middle of no where back then. We were all affected by this terrible event and took our fire drill bells very seriously after that.
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Yes, over the years I have wondered and hoped to ask others if they recall this day. I vaguely remember drawing the poster of this incident but after all it was over 30 years ago. So maybe I'm not as bonkers as I might think. Yes, there have been others (accidents) similar to this but this one really stood out in a big way. The media coverage lasted for a good while.
More info here:
http://www.maxmcrae.com/major_fires/ammonia.htm
I remember the environmental impact. The vegetation in the entire area was dead for some time. I don't recall if the grass was replanted or eventually grew back on its own.
Humble Oil Company Skyscraper History At 800 Bell St.
in Historic Houston
Posted
Thanks for sharing this unique photo. I took my girl friend (now wife of 40+yrs) up there around this time. I recall the pay telescope jammed "on" so we got lots of free viewing time. Hey! Ten cents was a lot of money back then to a teeny-bopper.
The photo is a little fuzzy, but in the south view I can make out the South Main drive in theater screen as well as the Playland Park roller coaster. Best I can tell, the demolition of the race track grandstands had already taken place at the east end of the coaster. The large structure in the upper right must be the HL&P plant, but I may need a second opinion on that.