OK, it was in Pasadena, but anyone remember the Red Bluff Drive-In Theater? Drive-in porno for the win.
This thread is awesome. Bringing back so many memories. I'm 39. I think my very first memories must be of the YMCA in SW Houston. We lived at the end of a cul-de-sac in Maplewood West and a fence divided our back yard from the Y. We'd cross through a hole in the fence and play out there every day. There was a big cement tube that one of us would sit in while the others rocked it back and forth until it turned over. That was fun. And speargrass fights out there too. And doodlebugs. And that grass that would close up if you touched it. Are you talking about Marini's Empanadas? It was owned by my 8th grade girlfriend's parents. We met while working together at the Baskin-Robbins across the street from the porno theater/toy store on University. And then we went to St. Vincent De Paul together. I had totally forgotten about Neal's Italian Ices. I used to love that place. Loved Kiddie Wonderland too. Especially the picture of Batman riding a rocket ship. And the de Schmog album by the same name was pretty cool too.
The precursor to Chuck E. Cheese thing reminds me of Pipe Organ Pizza. They had animatronic stuffed animals that played songs and there was a big pipe organ there. Games too.
My high school gf sang backup for that with other HSPVA kids. CBFC: you probably know her - she used to sing with Dahveed Garza
Panjo's Pizza was the best. Shakey's and Mr. Gatti's hold great memories for me too. Also, pizza bagels at the JCC in that basement restaurant. I loved the JCC. And bagel dogs at The River Oaks Theater where I worked in high school. Now I'm thinking about my meat eating, fast food eating days. Anybody remember Hamburgers By Gourmet? Their bacon cheeseburger was the best burger I ever had. And in the late 70s/early 80s, Jack in the Box had the best fast food french fries (nay, the best fries period). Their fries suck now. And playing video games at Poor Man's Country Club in The Village. And Chancellor's Racquet Club. I wonder if that's still there. I spent a lot of time there as a kid, playing racquetball and swimming in the pool. Of course no trip down memory lane is complete for me without lamenting that magic block of Lexington where all my friends' bands used to live. Or The Axiom/Catal Huyuk, Emo's, The Royal Jelly Club, The Pik N Pak, Laveau's, Epstein's Bar and the days when the pool table was downstairs at Rudyards and bands played in the front room. Also Commerce St. Arts Warehouse, Zocalo and The Atomic Cafe. I have great, fond memories of Windsor Village Elementary where I went to school. I'd love to go back there and walk around. In fact, this whole thread is really making me want to take a tour of all my old childhood hangouts.
And Westbury Square! My mother used to sell townhouses next door and I used to hang out there after school. That place was like magic. One time, my mother had a new tenant - Ken Kennard of The Oilers - babysit me. I remember he gave me Chiclets and when I was done chewing the gum, I saved it in a sandwich bag in case it might be worth something some day. I also used to deliver Earl Campbell's newspaper in elementary school. In 1997 I staged a play in the abandoned courtyard at Westbury Square. That was very weird.
I'm convinced you had to have bumped into my dad back in the day. He tells that story every now and then. That combined with his time in and around the "Cellar" and the Allen's Landing scene... For me... I can recall a time when heading out on Southwest FRWY passing Sharpstown meant you had basically left Houston, and the next major thing you saw was the Original TI building (by day) or the lights on the Imperial Sugar building (by night)... SIDE NOTES: We'd go to the Summit for Rockets games, drive up to visit grandma off North Main, grab some Shipley's at the corner of Walton (best shop in Houston!)... then head back home past the Summit and revel at how fast it had emptied out. I remember seeing Magic at the Galleria one year... like the year we beat them I think... The Galleria was other-worldly with it's skating rink... and three levels! And when the third phase opened it was a big deal... And heading out the Gulf FRWY it seemed like the Carousel at GulfGate ( I believe we saw STAR WARS in that little theater across the bridge -or was it Almeada Mall?) was the last thing, besides the Charlie Thomas dealership on the corner, until about Dickinson... and GAY Pointiac... Slowly we watched it all fill-in from Houston southward to the island. Heading North, It seemed like forever to get to Spring, or Humble... Greenspoint was the latest shopping buzz... and there were rumors of a Kingwood and Woodlands in developement... Stinkin' 1960 Games People Play was way out there too... I remember when everything went bust in like '87-'88 and we'd drive to the Woodlands old theater 8 that was like two 8 screeners at opposite ends of a long shopping center... they had already made them dollar screens... it seemed so far out... I remember we had to take the "old 288" or HWY 35 into to Houston from Brazoria County... we would either cut through Angleton, Alcoa, etc or go through Alvin, Pearland... It used to amaze me, and still does really, how we could go in basically opposite directions from home and still end up in Houston! When "new 288" got finalized, but wasn't open officially, we snuck a few trips in before it was legal... It sure made the trip faster! Okay... this was sometime after my initial memories, around the mid-80's at this point, but anyone remember these? I know they where in more areas than just Houston... It gets me to see the prices, and how comparable technology in today's market have similar price points... <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ofONvwndVdg&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ofONvwndVdg&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> I love these threads. SO many childhood memories brought back. So many memories that I remember my dad speaking of as well... I have been, fortunately, to most of the older restaurants (well, that were here post '74 when we moved to Texas - I was 2) that were mentioned in this thread... I can remember several. Anyone remember Cattle Rustlers' across from the AstroWorld complex? They often featured all you could eat steaks. We once sat in the same room as the teams playing in the Bluebonnet Bowl the night before the game... Coogs and somebody... early '80's? '79? Not sure... I love that city. I will forever consider myself a Houstonian at heart, having only lived in the city limits maybe 4 years of my life, but growing up watched Houston TV... Going literally ALL OVER the city and surrounding areas for 3 1/2 decades over all... I am sad that now when I get to come back home, I seem to only have time to drive through on 45 south to 288 south.... I miss roaming all over town... from Navigation, to Fuqua, to Alabama, to "the Pierce Elevated" and all point in between and around. I used to be afraid of no place. I would drive everywhere with just me and a date, or me and a buddy on a car stereo excursion, or sometimes alone... I got a job delivering and picking up welding and building supplies in Houston because I knew it so well... I miss it. I used to know it like the back of my hand. I'm glad that I grew up just minutes away from the 'Dome... from the original Fingers furniture store with the old home plate from Colt Stadium (in it's original location!!) in the sports museum with Moses' shoe and Earl tear-away jersey... and Nolan's stuff... I miss it. I miss those days. BTW- I didn't ever get into the rodeo scene personally, but I always enjoyed the 'Dome's HLS&R, with the Astrohall, and the "new" Astrorena... I saw many concerts that way (some more notable than others, and in no sort of order): Hank Williams, Jr. KC and the Sunshine Band Kool and the Gang (I think.. or was that just after every 'Stros win? ) Anne Murray Ronnie Milsap Chicago Patti Labelle Color Me Badd Clint Black Statler Bros. Oak Ridge Boys Petra Was there the day of Selena, didn't go back in still kicking myself over it Pat Green (seems like) Kansas (or something like them... too young to remember, did they play the Rodeo?) Little Joe y Familia And I know there were more... I just don't remember them. I wonder if there is an official history online so I could look it up? Houston... so many memories.
Yes and no, Deckard, I can remember picking them, I can remember putting them in a peanut butter sandwich (I can't remember why we ate them in a sandwich, some people I think made a tea) I had the weirdest experience on mushrooms- ate too many, I kinda drove my wife and another couple to a concert to see Shawn Phillips, I remember all the traffic lights were dancing. I don't remember leaving the concert but I woke up parked on top of the large ship channel bridge parked in the right hand lane. I didn't know what city we were in although I lived about 10 miles away. I don't know why a cop didn't find us and arrest us? But it was about 4 am and we just started the car and drove to the house- I guess it was a good concert. I miss alot, wish I could remember more.
Walking distance from my house. I wish someone would replicate it. I don't understand why someone hasn't done something with the part that's left. All that is in there is a cigar store.
I was born here. Pretty much every memory I have is of Houston. But earliest? Hmm... I was always a suburban kid. I could tell you all sorts of things about Spring and Sugar Land. But I DO remember moving into some apartments next to Buffalo Bayou just after my parents split when I was 4. Most of us slept in the same room.
LOL, I remember Chancellor's. That was one of the first health clubs in Houston. My Dad signed me up for racquetball camp there for a couple of summers. I became quite the raquetball badass. Once I got good enough to beat him, he decided to put me back in basketball camp. - Houston Wrestling. Used to watch it every Sunday morning at 9am. The theme song was like a rock version of the Nutcracker Suite. My Dad used to tell me that the wrestlers would go beat up fans during commercial breaks, so I never wanted to see it in person. Tony Atlas was my favorite wrestler. - 90.1 KPFT talk shows. They didn't have a 7-second delay or even a call screener, so we used to tape ourselves prank calling them. They had talk shows on all the time and they would literally just answer the phone cold on the air. For dumbass 13-year olds like us, that meant it was OPEN SEASON. I actually still have the cassette tape of all of our calls. - Riding my bike to school. Do kids still walk to school? I don't know if I'd let my kid walk to school in this day and age. When I was in elementary school, we didn't have busses. That was only for the rich suburban schools and Cunningham....well, wasn't.
My dad sang with a big band for a long time...voice nearly identical to Sinatra..seriously. He used to play events at the JCC all the time and bring me along. Nice facility. Gourmet was awesome!!! They used to be on the Katy Freeway near Bunker Hill...that was taken over by Charlie's Hamburgers. I think now all the Charlie's are gone, too. That happened pretty recently...the original location in Addicks has been gone for at least about 5 years now...and the one at the old Gourmet location at Bunker Hill is gone. Finished a trial yesterday...let me know when you have time to grab a beer and watch the Rox.
Can someone help me remember the name of this place? it was like a little kid amusment park over near where target is now. It had horses and stuff you could ride. There was hardly ever anybody there and 1 employee would usually follow you around to turn on every ride. It was kind of a dump but I loved going there as a kid. its torn down now
Westbury Square, eh? I knew that area quite well. My grandmother actually introduced the first montessori school in Texas there with "The Little Red School House."
