LMG

What did the carhops do in those contests? Did they race to see who could bring and set up the food tray the fastest without spilling it? I've never heard of Prince's. But I've known Pig Stands. There were at least three in Beaumont. I read that it was a Texas chain, but that now most, if not all of the restaurants, have been experiencing serious financial difficulties. I read a case about a creditor closing one down, then going inside to get whatever money was in the cash register.

I guess the only thing that we have today that will come close to the carhop drive-ins is Sonic Drive-In.

What a cool car.Just like most of the ladies that worked at Princes.

POINT conceded. You and whoever it was that posted about mods really made me think more about it. You really explained it so precisely. My dad loved mods alot,but paitences was not his best suit.He was always so busy,and his time was always so limited[ENFORCED BY HIM] total workalcholic his idea of relaxing was reading ARCITHECTURAL Digest. I SWEAR,I like to joke around but on this I'M not.MY house from the street has curb appeal but not any architetural details that you would write home about. Somebody mentioned facades where you are surprised after entering a home. I totally have redone the inside of house,and have 2 outside patio areas that are so cool. Totally native plants and trees,my back yard looks like a park.I need to focus more on commonalities rather than differences in architecture. I already paid this house house in JAN.I'm in the process right now to buy another one,I JUST haven't found it yet. I'm focusing now on exterior details,I WILL have no problem changing the interior. DANG,I love it. IT'S kinda stressful sometimes because I want everything to be a certain way.I don't do it for a living,although I HAVE redone several peoples homes here in McALLEN. I don't really get into the furnishings or anything. THATis a very personal thing,and my tastes are so ecletic.I love picking out tiles and paint.

This sounds like excellent info. and just the kind of thing I am looking for. Can anyone concur with this or add to this if they know another way? All help is appreciated.

[/quote

Wow,you guys sound like me.I received info from allstate that stated all kinds of waivers about the limited amounts that would be paid for flood damage.Here in McAllen we are a little farther than the coast than you guys.The good news is that my home is on high ground and my driveway is major sloped.However,we have to be prepared in case something really bad does happen.I took out an additional flood ins.policy just in case.Not with Allstate though

It was either Moby or Stevens and Pruett.

Pasadena, where the air is greena !

I lived on Old Galveston Rd during the mid seventies.Goodyear and Petrotex were not very far away.The city of Houston had a pollution control number that you could call and report them when It was really bad.

For me, I kid you not, two and a half years ago, I just wanted a house in Houston (not the burbs) with a lot of glass and I knew about what I wanted to pay for it. It was that desire that led me into the whole world of modern and Houston's moderns specifically. I didn't know any architects names, but liked the idea of owning a house with a well known architect behind it. After that, I discovered several very innovative Houston based architects from about 50 years ago, as well as architects around the US from that era that really fascinated me. One of them happened to be the architect of my favorite building when I was a kid, Pennzoil Place. Then I found out that some of the Houston architects knew and learned from Philip Johnson and it really became fascinating for me. I realized that they don't make 'em like this any more. A lot of the houses I am most interested were custom houses, but I also like the ones like in Memorial Bend that were often "on spec" ranch houses with a lot of modern flair to them, or modern for the masses like you find in California's Eichler. Houses of this era used space efficicently. Today's homes don't do it as well, or they are ugly and all the same in my opinion.

There's a bit of nostalgia and sense of history to it, and there's also a desire to get back to a craftsmanship that you don't see in houses these days. I know my house is well built. Friends of mine live in new houses. They are not all that bad, but not great either. I like to visit them, and they are new and lower maintenance than my house. But with my house there's really a feeling of accomplishment. You would get that feeling from restoring a craftsman too, but the craftsman wouldn't have the glass walls and links to Mies van der Rohe, Philip Johnson, Howard Barnstone, Hugo Neuhaus, Harwood Taylor, and Anderson Todd that my house has and that the Memorial Bend houses have too. Now if you can go to the Farnsworth House, the Glass House, the de Menil House, the Gordon House, the Frame House, the Owsley House, and even the Caudill House in Memorial Bend and they don't move you, then I guess we just don't have the same sense of style and we can agree to disagree.

The houses Michael is documenting are important, especially because there are so many moderns or at least modern influenced ranches in a small area, and they are extremely threatened as far as I'm concerned. Maybe a lot of people won't ever "get it" and it will get worse for the neighborhood and then the houses will be gone. Of course this is also his neighborhood and all the more reason to take pride in the homes.

I lived in an 1870 house for several years with my parents. I actually think my mom would have disliked my house, but she'd love that I'm happy in it and that I have a sense of pride in my home and its decor. My dad would love that the architect got his masters at A&M and he'd enjoy sitting on my strange and less than comfortable (to him) sofa to watch the bamboo grow from inside.

One more thing, a lot of modern houses like are intentionally deceptive from the facade. They are private from the front and their flash is often on the back of the house. I have a great sense of anticipation when going into a mod for the first time, just wondering what is going to present itself.

Jason

I think this plan has been in the works for quite some time now, and that they finally have the money. The Scott St. bridge over Brays Bayou was built around 1980, unlike other bridges it is not going to be torn down and replaced, it was already built long enough to accomodate the new Brays. It seems as if most bridges over Brays Bayou built since the 1980s (excluding the 288 main lane bridges) were built with this project in mind.

Well,this surely is good news.THE plan for I-45 has been going on since I was a kid.LOL Seriously it has. We are going to think positive though.You kids are are our future. I want to thank you guys that have put up with my rambling,and overbearing personality at times. That is just my nature. Neither of my sons share my interest in architecture. And alot of my friends just aren't interested by it either.That's why I really appreciate this site.

Everyone has different preferences. I"m not sure there is a new fascination but rather it is new to you and it just isn't your style. I can tell you that i still have people ask about why i bought an old house vs a new one. I personally think many of the newer homes are boring.

Dude I live in a old house also.Alot of the newer homes are very boring. The mod style is not my thing you are so right about that.However,the style is not new to me at all.My dad was a architect and I was exposed to every style of homes and businesses until he passed away in March of 1991.The last time I saw my Dad alive he took me on another one of his architect tours.I'm not complaining I loved it. He was like coolest Dad ever.I'm not just saying that because he was my Dad,all my friends said the same thing. My dad liked mods also,but even when I was a kid I just really didn't care for them that much.I think it's the flat roof thing.

Brays Bayou is now undergoing a project to widen and beautify it, more trees, less concrete, still there, but less. You also gotta cut them some slack, that's late 50's/early 60's flood control infrastructure technology there, the best they had at the time.

Cool.That is really good news.And I'm always ready to cut anybody some slack.You're right alot of the drainage systems are from the 50/60s.Houston,we have a problem.Come on the money should have been spent many years ago to try to rectify this problem

Michael and sevfiv, you have inspired me. I have a lot of photos that don't make it to houstonmod.org so I'll start blogging and putting them up here:

http://modernhouston.blogspot.com/

Jason

While I really respect all the hard work you did,in all honesty the majority of these houses are so boring.Not very much imagination involved. What is this new fASCINATION with mod,I'M serious I don't get it.

I just meant that the streets in that area are much more attractive than the concrete bayou. I'm surprised people don't jog in the street more and by the bayou less. This discussion was never about safety (germs), it was about aesthetics. I don't mine Braseswood the street because of the nice trees and stuff, although the road conditions might not be great, but the bayou is just ugly and artificial looking. I just think they should have kept it more natural looking like Buffalo Bayou. I think there are even more efficient flood control methods (such as natural wetlands) than lining a waterway with concrete. Is there anything wrong with thinking that a natural waterway looks nicer than a concrete ditch??

I think there are actually nicer ways to line a waterway with concrete than Brays Bayou, but the natural look is more aesthetically pleasing to me.

Take it easy.POINT conceded you are right about the concrete.To be honest with you

Local tells all. Denver Harbor

Denver harbor has always been totally gross.My mom is 74 years old and she says is was sleazy even when she was a kid.Also,sorry if we posted something where we should not have.I would move the topic but I don't know how to do it

almeda needs some major work over there - the water runoff/retention is terrible, too. yesterday i was near 610 and almeda, and parts of the road way along 610 were impassible - further up almeda near macgregor, about half the road was underwater.

if you go further south, though, it becomes eerie farmland-ish areas (ex-oil)

Hey guys get real.Maybe you haven't lived in Houston for that long.Flooding has always been a major problem in Houston. The dept.of eng.just can't figure it out I suppose. THANK GOD for the bayous that help with the runoff. I think it is so funny that somebody posted they could'nt believe that people jogged along the bayou. What do they think a germ or something is going to pop out of the bayou and attach to them or what? From what I have seen on this site the majority of people seem to very intelligent.I have also seen alot of whiners,pull yourselves up by the boot straps.ALOT of this is so trivial compared to other peoples living conditions.WHAT do you want a master planned generic community that has a perfect place for every tree and plant? Oh wait the streets are perfect there also.

That area has always been so depressing period. Land that time forgot.

Not sure if anyone has mentioned both sides of Braeswood. N and S Braeswood that is. The pavement still looks original like from 1950's. Now that's pathetic. Seems that such a upper middle class area would have had new pavement after all these years. It is old broken bad patch up jobs and quite uneven like a mini roller coaster in some parts. Sure to knock out your car alignment if you don't maneuver in time.

Yes,you are so right.I never thought of in that way though. I guess there were so many parts of Houston that were ugly that I just got used to it. It is pathetic that a major throughfare like Braeswood is the condition it is.My son moved over there on Braeswood into a very nice apt.complex.He wanted to relocate from DT,he was living at the Rice. He jumped out of the skillet into the fire. Paying an exorbitant amount of rent. I told him when he started complaining about the area,that he should just really research alot and buy a house.{he can afford it-trust fund baby] Well,he did buy a house down here in McAllen. To end on a positive note,while there is alot of urban blight in Houston,it is also one of the most beautiful cities in the US. There are alot of places in Houston where you can forget that you live in a huge city

A relative of mine -- Michael Parks -- was in that movie. And we visited him when they were filming in the Astrodome. I met Karen Valentine and almost had a heart attack (I was 14-years-old)

Howard Hughes was actually born in Humble.

I walked onto the set of The Chase during filming on Rice Blvd. I was headed to Half Price Books at the time.

Howard Hughes Corporation is what the business is called now.They are doing alot of things in Nevada right now. Must be cousins or something,he was a only child.I know that alot of people tried to make claim on his estate.Wow,how cool to be at a filming.Costs for filming in Houston and Austin are really cheap compared to other places. You got me going on the HH thing,I will get more info for you

After watching The Aviator, I wondered if there were any lasting architectural remnants of Howard Hughes' short life in Houston? Where did the Hughes live? Is his old house still standing? What about the old Hughes Tool building? I know about his gravesite, but little else.

The house he grew up in was donated to Rice.That's where he went to college. He,did not graduate.He dropped out. Hughes Tool still operates the last I heard. He was a very interesting person.He is a prime example of that having alot of money can't make you happy.He was a very troubled soul. He was good looking,very bright and rich to boot.Retama I will get some more info for you about the current status of Hughes Tool.

THANKS alot for this info.MYdad was a architect.Our family Sunday drives consisited of going to check out the latest building going up I go to Houston alot for business and family and friends. Advance knowlege of this exhibit helps out alot.I TRY to plan business trips around alot of fun stuff.MY dad would have loved this forum

I am pretty sure that you all know about this news story all ready, I met him several times when I attended MacArthur High School. He graduated at Mac also.

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=...&id=5607864

I'ts about time that he resigned. Small world isn't it?

That happen to me in High school but they put me in tennis, they said I wasn't big enough (5-11/165 LB) and your skill is needed here. I enjoyed playing tennis until I fell off a horse and dislocated my left knee. If you like soccer make the best of it.

conditio

When I was in jr.high and high school nobody wanted me to be on their team. It was because I JUST am not good at sports at all.I really tried very hard to be able to be not an embarassment in this dept. LOL I got pass this issue with humour. I made fun of myself before others could do so. The only thing that made it more difficult was I was in premo condition. The mentality was like hey you can do this you just aren't trying hard enough

I figure this might excite some of you architect types...

NEWS RELEASE

Office of University Communication

Houston, TX 77204-5017 Fax: 713.743.8199

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 20, 2007

Contact: Marisa Ramirez

713.743.8152 (office)

713.204.9798 (cell)

mrcannon@uh.edu

EXHIBIT OF COMPLETE WORKS FROM NOTED ARCHITECT ERICH MENDELSOHN MAKES ONLY U.S. STOP AT UH DURING WORLD TOUR

Preliminary sketches, designs, photos and rare models from the man considered one of the most important German architects of the 20th century will be on view at the University of Houston Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture.

The exhibit "Erich Mendelsohn: Dynamics and Function, Realized Visions of a Cosmopolitan Architect" is touring the world and making its only U.S. stop at the college Sept. 7 through Oct. 11. The exhibit is free and open to the public.

"Because of its fluid forms, Mendelsohn's work is an important precedent to architectural trends today, made possible through advanced computing. Our college is proud and honored to host this important and timely exhibit," said Joe Mashburn, dean of the College of Architecture.

Mendelsohn, considered avant-garde in his time, is generally known for his curved exteriors and unique view of architecture. For example, the Einstein Tower (Potsdam, Germany, 1919), an astrophysical laboratory, was constructed for astronomer Erwin Finlay Freundlich to support experiments and observations to validate Albert Einstein's relativity theory. Futuristic for its time, the "organic" structure featured an elongated top, a smooth surface and curved edges

We had the dirtiest air only moments after "W" announced his run for Prez.

CyKat

Exactly.

Yes, that's my REAl last name, Peabody, but don't tell anyone, OK ? Now, if you'll excuse us, me and my boy Sherman have to go for a walk.

Wow,you guys never cease to amaze me.I remember Princes very well.Awesome burgers and fries. I don't eat fast food anymore.haven't for years. However,those cravings are still there. I know y

The source for the picture says it is, but I can't swear to it

Nope! My wife went there and has lots of pictures of the front.

I thought someone on the forum might live near this school and recognize it. I believe most, if not all, of the Jr. High (now Middle) schools from that era are still standing. There were not many back then...maybe 10-12. Only 7 high schools. Ones I can think of that existed at that time are Johnston, Lanier, Jackson, Hamilton, Deady, Pershing, Burbank, Edison, Hogg.

uh oh,are you serious? Your wife has the ability to take pics but can't remeber where she went to school?

No offense to Duet, but I could care less.

What a hateful person you are.KARMA will get you.I hope so anyway ,in my opinion people like you have no RIGHTS to even state opinions as ignorant as this.PEOPLE ARE MAJOR WORRIED about the homeless situation,they better be worried about a evil person like you also. I feel pain in my chest when I SAY things like that. I truly feel so sorry for you and your ignorance. However, I HOPE when you face your maker that your penis is shriviled like a piece of nothing .just how your posts are

The homeless seem to be getting more aggresive. Not only with they offer to watch your car while you go eat at say BW3, now they want to wash your windows with their "squeegee" and "water". Anytime I may venture into the CVS in midtown, there always seems to be a homeless person waiting outside. I even heard a woman who lived nearby in Post Midtown say that they follow her home sometimes.

Has anyone else noticed these more aggressive variety?

The washing windows things is not what you have to worry about. At least these people are willing to do something for money rather than harass you for nothing. Ii's very common in Mexico where people who have no job,and no education to get one to wash windows,or watch your vehicle while you are eating or shopping. I know that it must be annoying sometimes though. But,be thankful they are not the ones that mean you harm. The people like that are just trying to bring home tortillas and beans to their kids. Check it out on the streets,you will not find that many MEXICAN kids compared to white and black kids. SAD but true

The beaches are just as bad. All the way from Venice to Santa Monica, Malibu enforces the vagrancy laws because the rich have pull.

The city buses are always crowded with many left to fend for themselves once released or booted out of mental wards/rehabilitation centers. This includes street children. I recall seeing some as young as 10 yrs of age running in groups barefooted and ragged, sellling themselves or drugs to make it. Thank you for describing the west coast situation, you have confirmed. Hardly the sunny, glamorous LA we hear of so often. For those that doubt us you can go to the internet.

I have talked to alot of young kids on the streets of Houston. They are doing the same thing.