Childhood Memories of Houston

Houston in 1950's

Good Memories of Houston and My Childhood.
After school I would go to the Hat shop and try on every new designer hat Mom had. Then parade up and down the street and into the Lamar drug store where my girlfriend Barbara Clark had a job after school as a soda jerk. I had a crush on the Bell Hop, Mom was upset about that.

The fantastic
Metropolitian.
1950's Houston










This was Lowe's, My Mom and I

saw Gone with the wind here.
Jesse Jones, a millionaire who owned
the Houston Chronicle paid 2 million
to build the Lowe's Theater.














In the 40's these three theaters were hopping.
Well dress people attended the shows.

There were other theaters, farther down town .
The Ritz, The uptown The Iris and the Texan
They were owned by Horwitz. My Dad helped
him set up the A/C and engine rooms under ground.
There was a tunnel going under the Street from one
movie to the others. There was a penny arcade down
there a restaurant and a German Ratskeller.
I used to see all the movies free.
Had to sit next to usher and near an exit
in case of fire. Dad's orders,
you didn't question why.

Telautograph

Invented in 1900's This was the precursor to the fax machine
My Dad came to Houston in the 1930's to install
the Telautograph Machines in the Rice Hotel.
You could sign an OK for an order.

I remember it had a writing Slate,
like a small TV screen and your
writing and signiture was written
on that screen.
They started using them when
they had fires. Remember the NYC
garment district dress factories.
They could notify wher the fire was,
from floors.

I guess they are all gone or torn down now.











Looking back at Houston city planers,
sometimes the fast lane
is not the right lane.
It's a throw away world.



I danced my legs off in this place saw Fats and Chuck Berry every thing was up close and personal.


Now the kids sit at a computer.
Frankly I had more fun.
I remember the worn out ballerina shoes
and blisters , but some trophy's anyway.

In my day a teenager was always at the Princes Drive Inn.
Every one there from school most evenings.
The Hamburger was great,But Stuarts had the fries

Now I remember it was a ONESAMEAL
next to the river oaks movie. Everyone I knew was always in there.

My Husband had the Show Biz Supper club across the Street from the Shamrock Hotel, Glenn Mc Carthy owned it. He was known as King of the wildcatters

We had entertainers come in that did a show at the Shamrock
like Tony Bennett,Andy Williams. Liberace
and too many to name. They all wanted to sing and Liberace
played for the club, we were packed. Kenny Rogers was on the stand up base . He worked with the Bobbie Doyle Trio, Kirby Stone came in and stole Kenny , the rest is history.. Bootlegging was going on in those days. You couldn't buy a drink after 10pm
The Liquor stores closed at 10. NOW, if you had the bottle and bought it before 10 you could drink it.. Nuts..

My Husband opened the first Donut shop in Houston.
Those were growing days for Houston.


Posted by Yvonne @ La Petite Gallery
Comments are welcome