24zulu

Here's a good pic of Utah Carl and the Gulf Coast Playboys in Channel 13 Studios. 1958?

Left to right: Herbie Treece, Utah Carl, Clem Kujawa, Sam Reece, Wiley Barkdull, and George Champion on piano.

Hey, Nice photo Don. I was eating at Goode Company Bar-B-Q's Armadillo Palace on Kirby, and noticed a pair of huge boots in the display case along the wall. I was shocked as I looked a little closer, and recognized them as a pair of Utah Carl's black & white eagle boots, with his name on the pull straps. I know these boots, as I had a pair made just like them in Acun~a. I asked the manager about them, and he stated that Jim Goode had bought them at an auction, and confirmed that they were Utah Carl's boots. I don't know what size they were, but they were huge. Carl was 6'6" from what I was told. I loved that show so much, I taught myself to play the guitar, just so I could sing that title song!!! I'm just a wanderer of the wasteland ....

I drove by the old Shamrock location today, and was hungry, so I was thinking of a place to eat. As I cruised South main, my mouth began to water ( Just in memory ) for a pizza from Vallian's!! Man, they had the best pizza you ever ate! I believe they were at South Main & Holcomb, on the East side of the underpass. I'll never forget what a special treat it was to be able to go there. Anyone got any memories to share? I was always curious of what happened to the restaurant, and the Vallian family. Yuuuuum, Yum!

I remember going to the bottom of the Crystal Pool and entering the air dome made by a B17 plastic canopy. The canopy was chained to the bottom of the pool and air was pumped in from the bottom. The canopy trapped the air and floated about 3 feet off the bottom. I know Liability Lawyers would be break dancing to get a shot at that now!

Anyway, my question is "What is the name of the skating rink that was right next door on S. Main? ".

There were a couple of pools that had those underwater domes in that time period as I recall...may be mistaken. I only remember Gateway, but as I remember, Hotwells, out on the West side of town was another that had a big one. Loooong time ago.

Shepherd used to be called Lowell. B. A. Shepherd was the first banker in Texas. He opened a private banking operation in 1847.

West of Shepherd Dr was Boyle, Victor and Nashua. Nashua is still as is, but Boyle became Laird, and Victor became Roderick, later a part of Durham. An old map shows Nashua going north to beyond 29th. It now stops at 16th.

Durham north of 16th was not a road, so I suspect that portion was created by creating a new throughway. Nashua may have been torn up and returned to residential. This part I got from the aforementioned 1913 map of Houston, so it could be that the streets shown were planned at the time but not yet built.

Anther Heights change was Railroad St, which is now Nicholson. My grandmother lived at Waverley and 14th, and I used to love to watch the trains when they still operated along that line.

Just saw your post on Nicholson/ Railroad Street. My family lived on Nicholson since WWI, and up until we moved in 1954. It was dirt, and one way when I was a kid. We used to wave, and chase the switcher trains that came by, and they would throw us the old railroad chalk ( Huge blobbed, chunks of chalk ). We went to Heights Presbyterian Church, and ate at Sammy's Cafe on 19th. Remember ???

Bringing an old topic back to the top . . .

Here are a few old photos from the 80's at Houston International. Though these pics show all brands of older cars, these were shot during one of our semi-annual Gulf Coast Trans Am Club drag races.

My car this day was the Bucaneer Red 1975 Trans Am.

My buddies and I raced our street cars there from the early 70's through whenever the track shut down. Ah - the memories . . . and the haircuts and clothes, LOL!

I started racing there @ 1967, with my '64 Baracuda I called "Captain Cuda". It ran really hot just stock, but I souped it up as I went - and as I could afford it. That little car was pretty fast. Had some great times there. I kept one of my old ET cards, and have a photo of me with the old 'Cuda as well. I always enjoyed cruising on the hottest road in the U.S. - Texas Avenue in Baytown! That was a hot place in the late '60's, and heard the roar of many a cut out header, as well as hot babes too! Anyone remember the "Mongoose & El Rat"? Trivia question: What happened the first time the "Green Monster" fired up at the speedway? Hint: There were some cars nearby that got damaged.