Port Houston Autotel & Blue Room At 1515 McCarty Dr.

[Subdude]

Has anyone heard about this place? In the book

[Guest danax]

Any idea where that was/is? There are some real relics still festering over near the channel but I don't believe I've seen that one.

[Subdude]

It was at 1515 McCarty Drive. It's just a vacant lot now. A photo in the 1972 AIA guide shows it that was enlarged compared to this picture. Looking at this place you just know that it was nasty, although I don't think anything could top that Four Palms place on Telephone that Heights2Bastrop described.

[sevfiv]

i am looking at the '72 guide now...that's classy! hehe

[Don Julio]

The Autotel "Blue Room" was a famed live music spot in the 1940s for western swing bands. Everybody from Bob Wills on down played there. There were live broadcasts from there on stations like KATL. It did not have a seedy "whorehouse" reputation at that time. That came later.

[Heights2Bastrop]

although I don't think anything could top that Four Palms place on Telephone that Heights2Bastrop described

Although I knew about the Four Palms, I never went there. However, I did go to Vagabond many a time. It was a popular club in the middle of a motel on I-45 north of Crosstimbers. If you didn't get lucky at the Vagabond, it was because you didn't want to.

The women I encountered there were, shall we say, "very friendly". But I never met one who I thought was a professional. However, I am pretty sure there were businesswomen there at the club.

[Ashikaga]

Has anyone heard about this place? In the book “In a Narrow Grave” , Larry McMurty called this “the most extraordinary example of Mexican saloon-and-whorehouse architecture north of the border.” It was built in 1937 primarily for workers and sailors from the ship channel.

The back of this card helpfully notes that two could stay for the price of one, and even offers up a “Slogan Prayer”: “Oh Lord, please help me to keep my nose out of other people’s business.”

The car on that postcard looks like a 1930s/1940s model. The car says that the rooms are air conditioned. I didn't know that air conditioning existed back then.

[jm1fd]

The car on that postcard looks like a 1930s/1940s model. The car says that the rooms are air conditioned. I didn't know that air conditioning existed back then.

Yep...it actually existed before then. In fact, the first air conditioned building west of the Mississippi is a church in Orange Texas...back in 1912.

[Ashikaga]

Yep...it actually existed before then. In fact, the first air conditioned building west of the Mississippi is a church in Orange Texas...back in 1912.

You taught me something new. My parents live in Orange. I live just down the road in Bridge City. It might have been First Baptist Church on West Green Avenue.

[gnu]

You taught me something new. My parents live in Orange. I live just down the road in Bridge City. It might have been First Baptist Church on West Green Avenue.

One of the most impressive churches i have been in is the First Presbyterian Church in Orange.

[Ashikaga]

One of the most impressive churches i have been in is the First Presbyterian Church in Orange.

Yes, I've seen it from the street. It is impressive.

[gnu]

Yes, I've seen it from the street. It is impressive.

from wikipedia:

The First Presbyterian Church on Green Avenue uniquely captures the classic Greek Revival architecture. Completed in 1912, it was the first air-conditioned public building west of the Mississippi River and its dome is the only opalescent glass dome in the United States.

the only pic i could find of the leaded glass under the dome.

[jm1fd]

You taught me something new. My parents live in Orange. I live just down the road in Bridge City. It might have been First Baptist Church on West Green Avenue.

My great uncle was involved with the Starks for several decades...that's how I know that bit of obscure air-conditioining-iana.

[Ashikaga]

from wikipedia:

The First Presbyterian Church on Green Avenue uniquely captures the classic Greek Revival architecture. Completed in 1912, it was the first air-conditioned public building west of the Mississippi River and its dome is the only opalescent glass dome in the United States.

the only pic i could find of the leaded glass under the dome.

The fact that the old church stood up to Rita shows how well buildings were designed and constructed many years ago.

[Subdude]

This must be the first topic we've had that has covered both whorehouses and churches!

[Ashikaga]

This must be the first topic we've had that has covered both whorehouses and churches!

Well, I personally have always worshipped at the Altar of Venus at the former, but it's been many years since I've worshipped at the latter.

Both kinds of places are at Jimmy Swaggart's "church."

[Don Julio]

I'm trying to find out more about the Autotel Blue Room, one of Houston's premier venues for live music in the 1940s. It was a huge club (capacity 1000 downstairs and 1500 upstairs) located at 1515 McCarty. There is a motel at 1519 McCarty today, though it appears to be a modern construction and not a renovation of the older courts. The building that housed the Blue Room and cafe is gone.

This area of McCarty (where it terminates at Clinton Drive, directly north of the Ship Channel turning basin) was, during the '40s, heavily trafficked since it was then the 'Beaumont Highway' (Highway 90) and the main route into Houston from the east, plus there were tons of sailors, longshoremen, and workers from the ship channel converging on McCarty@Clinton every night. There were lots of 'courts' along this stretch and several music clubs, of which the Autotel was the biggest. There are still a couple left even now (for Tejano music); the Harbor Lights (which has been there since at least 1941) remains open at 2327 McCarty, though it is no longer a live music venue.

The Autotel Blue Room lasted from about 1942 to about 1957. It then became 'La Terraza' for another decade or so. A listing in the 1973 city directory has it as the 'Coronado Club.'

My questions:

Does anybody here remember McCarty Drive in the '40s or '50s, or the Autotel?

When did construction begin on I-10, and when was it completed?

When was the building at 1515 McCarty torn down?

What is a good source of information on the Ship Channel during the WWII era?

Here is a linen postcard of the 'Port Houston Autotel' circa 1942.

http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/250/autotelpostcardzo0.jpg

Here is a picture of Dickie Jones and the Skyliners at the Autotel Blue Room, 1946.

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/69/skylinersatautotelik3.jpg

[sevfiv]

Just for reference for those not familiar, here's the Port Houston Autotel thread:

http://www.houstonarchitecture.info/haif/i...?showtopic=3199

[Don Julio]

Just for reference for those not familiar, here's the Port Houston Autotel thread:

http://www.houstonarchitecture.info/haif/i...?showtopic=3199

Thanks, I forgot that this was briefly touched upon before.

Is anyone able to scan the pic that appears in the 1972 AIA Guide?

[Vertigo58]

Now those are truly rare photo's!

I wish someone would contribute more history on this area. It is just a bit east of Denver Harbor. 1-10 and N. Wayside that is.

I will ask about your questions of topic, but for the most part I believe majority of dance enthusiast's would head to downtown or Near North Side to dance the night away. I once worked very briefly at the bank at McCarty and 1-10 as a teen but this place was long gone by then (approx 1976). Ironically, I drove past here this past weekend and noticed they remodeled and renamed The Molcajete's Mexican Restaurant by there. That place still get's jam packed! It's served the area for decades too.

See Little Pearl Harbor topic and find other structure info of DH.

I would like to find out if that orchestra was a local group or just passing through Houston? In those days it was common for band's to travel all around Texas. Cool photos they are!

Edited March 31, 2008 by Vertigo58

[tmariar]

Here's a picture of the back of the postcard in the original post:

And a slightly bigger/crisper photo of the front:

You could probably find a lot of interesting material regarding the Ship Channel during WWII in this collection at the Fondren Library, if you're interested in primary research.

Edited March 31, 2008 by tmariar

[Don Julio]

I would like to find out if that orchestra was a local group or just passing through Houston? In those days it was common for band's to travel all around Texas. Cool photos they are!

Dickie Jones and the Skyliners were a Houston group. The saxophonist, George Ogg, still lives in the Heights. The rest are deceased. The were the houseband at the Autotel Blue Room in 1946-47.

[tmariar]

Text from a 1942 Autotel Blue Room ad I came across, in case it's useful to anyone:

M.J. Fletcher's Autotel Blue Room
Dine and dance every night
1700 Seating Capacity - 5 private dining rooms - Tel. W. 0107

Autotel Roof Garden
Dine and dance beneath the starts
5000 seating capacity

Autotel Cafe and Drive-In
Good food - good service
Dining room or in your car

Autotel Courts
100 modern cottages
Air-cooled

Autotel Stadium
Rodeos - races - athletic events
10,000 seating capacity

1515 McCarty, on H'way 90 (Beaumont Rd.)
Tels. W. 6-0023; W. 0107; W. 0266

Slogan Prayer: 'Oh, Lord, please help me to keep my nose out of other people's business.' - Anon.

[NenaE]

Looked that place up on the Sanborn maps (vol.12, 1217), originally, the Autotel Cts. Blue Room/ restaurant looks like it would have been located near the corner of Burman & Beaumont Rd. (Hwy 90)...oops, I meant McCarty, not Beaumont. Parking lot was to the right w/ motel courts behind it, w/ addresses facing Mendez St. (side st.), more courts located behind the blue room, addresses on Burman (unpaved st, no longer visible on Google Earth). Guess they expanded to the south, utilizing the empty area originally used as a parking lot, entrance. The rodeo area was behind the whole place, on Pearl St.

It definitely was enlarged, at one time. I'm comparing the photo and the earlier postcard. Looks to me like the Blue Room bdg. fell before 1957. I'm referencing HistoricAeriels, I don't see it, I could be mistaken.

I've seen that postcard so many times on EBay, it must have been a popular place. Too bad it fell into such decay. Nice entertainment history. Wish one of my grandmothers was around to ask about it.

Edited September 8, 2009 by NenaE

[NenaE]

I just glanced at that side road, where Mendez (address: 8104) meets McCarty, (on GoogleEarth), there is an interesting concrete "swept-up-arch-looking" thing that might be a remnant from the old structure. I think those old motel rooms by it could be the original ones, as well.

[Retama]

From what I have been told, by the mid-1950s the Autotel and Blue Room was considered a dive and police were called there often. Frank Maddow was arrested near there in 1954 or 55.

[Subdude]

Larry McMurtry called the Autotel "the most extraordinary example of Mexican saloon-and-whorehouse architecture north of the border." Indeed.

[Globeman]

My grandfather rented this ballroom in the 70's and changed the name to the "Toronado Ballroom" on 1515 McCarty could anyone upload photos of the building? Building was supposedly haunted and had brought big bands from Mexico that toured. Would mean alot to my mom who helped take tickets there as a teen

[Its_her]

I have a post card from back when it was opened. Has an artistic photo. I’m trying to figure out how to upload a pic. It was my grandmas 

[LA TERRAZZA]

My family lived at that site and address from 1957 to 1960 as a ballroom La Terrrazza Nite Club that my uncle Frank Alonzo leased. We lived upstairs and it was an incredible place with a terrace, living quarters and of course the ballroom downstairs. There was also a bandstand and many rooms in the outside terrace. The dance floor was surrounded by many rooms long closed before we moved there. It was fascinating and a great place for teens to grow up in.