Prudential Building At 1100 Holcombe Blvd.

[nmainguy]

quote=pineda,Tuesday, November 30th, 2004 @ 2:51pm]

"I square danced on the Don Mahoney and Jeana Claire Show!"

LOL, anyone remember Cadet Don and Kitterick on KTRK (Ch. 13)?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Don't quite know how to seque from the Prudential to Don Mahoney but here goes.

Apparently Heights2Bastrop, pineda and myself have retained a few brain cells. I was on KiTiRiK's birthday carosel...get it KTRK? I remember cadet don too and seymore. Did you know Annette O'Toole got her start on Don Mahoney and Jean Claire's show? I always thought that Bunny Orsack aka Kitirik in the cat outfit was cool-skin tight one piece with fishnet stockings and black spiked heels...kinda sexey but I new I was gay when i developed a huge crusch on Cadet Don

Click here http://img381.imageshack.us/img381/4931/ki...cadetdon6ui.png

for a pic of the 2 of them together...[keep your paws off my man you mangy cat!!!]

[Ashikaga]

Do any of you out there "own a piece of the Rock?"

[gnu]

here is another old postcard of the prudential building with a different view show the "piece of the rock" sign on top.

[Ashikaga]

here is another old postcard of the prudential building with a different view show the "piece of the rock" sign on top.

This is the view that I remember of that building of back when I lived in Houston during the early 1960s. I can remember being at some amusement park and seeing "the rock" neon logo from the rides.

[NenaE]

I never knew that the Prudential Bldg. was the "first tall office building constructed outside downtown Houston". Sat on a 27 1/2 acre site, 18 stories. I can still picture the huge turquoise pool, looking down from an elevated office window, at night, many years ago...quote is from the book I'm reading right now...Ephemeral City, Cite Looks at Houston

[20sGirl]

Unfortunately, they filled that pool in so it's just a plain old patio now. I was in that building last night and it's not so bad inside. Yeah, it's old but there are some really nice curved wood walls in the lobby. It also has a circular open balcony overlooking the first floor. The big mural is very ugly IMO but I understand why people want to save it. There is lots of marble on the walls in the upper floors. I'm assuming they would salvage the marble at least? And the windows actually have the capability of being opened. (MDA locks them so you can;t open them though).

The elevators look like they were once very nice but someone has put this horrible carpet on the walls. It looks like the elevator interior might have been wood before it was covered up by the ugly teal carpet. I'm wondering if the elevator floor was uncarpeted at one time too.

All in all, it's an old building but it could be nice if someone was willing to fix it up. I guess it's cheaper to just tear it down though. I can tell you, the new construction at MDACC looks very nice in the public spaces. But the offices are small, cheap and cramped. The office space is better in the Main Building- you have more room. I need to go back and take some pictures so I can remember this building. It's probably coming down once that new admin building is done on Fannin in 2011 or 2012 so there's still time.

[sevfiv]

Please take interior pictures if you can - and yeah, it's definitely cheaper for them to tear it down once they tell everyone it's a "sick" building

[20sGirl]

Please take interior pictures if you can - and yeah, it's definitely cheaper for them to tear it down once they tell everyone it's a "sick" building

Yeah. If it's a "sick" building, why are they making people work there for another 3-4 years. Wouldn't they be in a hurry to evacuate that building before the lawsuits start rolling in? Sick, my ass.

[gnu]

btw...found this in the google LIFE pics. It is a nice July 1952 picture overlooking the Shamrock Hotel pool. The Prudential Building is in the background with its large gibraltar logo.

http://tbn0.google.com/hosted/images/c?q=1...404d650f0_large

[Fringe]

I have a lot of memories about that building. UnoCal used to occupy a floor or two there in the 50's and 60's. My Dad worked there and I sometimes swam in the pool. Then in the 90's UTHSC had it's administrative offices there and I worked there for a couple of years. It was like stepping back into time. After UTHSC left MD Anderson took over. I can tell you that neither one of those institutions take very good care of their facilities so it probably is in real bad shape right now. I would hate to see it torn down for nostalgic reasons but I would understand someone not wanting to refurbish it.

[NenaE]

I have a lot of memories about that building. UnoCal used to occupy a floor or two there in the 50's and 60's. My Dad worked there and I sometimes swam in the pool. Then in the 90's UTHSC had it's administrative offices there and I worked there for a couple of years. It was like stepping back into time. After UTHSC left MD Anderson took over. I can tell you that neither one of those institutions take very good care of their facilities so it probably is in real bad shape right now. I would hate to see it torn down for nostalgic reasons but I would understand someone not wanting to refurbish it.

My dad worked for Unocal, as well (mentioned somewhere else, on HAIF). Remember going up there with him, one night...to see the pool from up high. It was in the 60's. I was young, but can remember how beautifully lit up it was.

[Fringe]

My dad worked for Unocal, as well (mentioned somewhere else, on HAIF). Remember going up there with him, one night...to see the pool from up high. It was in the 60's. I was young, but can remember how beautifully lit up it was.

If your dad worked for them a long time then I'm sure our dads knew each other. One of my childhood memories was spending time with the Unocal operator (I believe her name was LaVada or something like that). This was back in the day when they had huge switchboards and the operator was constantly plugging wires in and out to connect different parties. It was fascinating to watch. Kept me entertained for hours.

Edited November 26, 2008 by LunaticFringe

[NenaE]

If your dad worked for them a long time then I'm sure our dads knew each other. One of my childhood memories was spending time with the Unocal operator (I believe her name was LaVada or something like that). This was back in the day when they had huge switchboards and the operator was constantly plugging wires in and out to connect different parties. It was fascinating to watch. Kept me entertained for hours.

My dad "escorted" Unocal thru three bldg locations (that I know of), the Prudential Bldg., the Hwy 59 & 610 loop location (close to the Post), and the newest bldg in Sugarland, that stairstep one. So they probably did know each other, .

[Fringe]

My dad "escorted" Unocal thru three bldg locations (that I know of), the Prudential Bldg., the Hwy 59 & 610 loop location (close to the Post), and the newest bldg in Sugarland, that stairstep one. So they probably did know each other, .

Cool. My Dad retired right when they moved to Sugar Land. Only went there once. He was an engineer. Designed the Cerveza platform which at the time (20 years ago) was the deepest well in the Gulf and was one of UnoCals most productive wells.

[NenaE]

Cool. My Dad retired right when they moved to Sugar Land. Only went there once. He was an engineer. Designed the Cerveza platform which at the time (20 years ago) was the deepest well in the Gulf and was one of UnoCals most productive wells.

Wow, that's quite an accomplishment...Bravo, to your dad. When I would ask my dad what he did, he said he "explained to them how their money was spent", using figures with lots of zeros. HaHa..of course, it is an oil company. My dad also retired after so many yrs at the Sugarland office.

Guess the Prudential Bldg. is sitting idly by...til it's doomday...really hope this doesn't happen. Living in this city is pure torture, sometimes.

Edited December 27, 2008 by NenaE

[Highrise Tower]

I've never actually seen the swimming pool of the Prudential Building.

Found a photograph this week. Amazing!!

Photo dated 1975.

[Dave W]

I remember that diving tower. Our next door neighbor worked for Prudential and I was invited to swim there a few times in the 50s.

[Highrise Tower]

I was looking for an architect for a particular building when I came across this demolition photo of the old Prudential Building located at 1100 Holcombe Blvd.

I've personally never seen this photo! Thought I would share with HAIF.

[Subdude]

Cool photo, but also depressing.