Talk:Did you grow up in Houston?

From MemoryArchive

I grew up in Houston in the 50's and 60'...Our home was in Southeast Houston, a big weekend for us was the Ranger Drive-In...my sister worked there...always delivered our burgers and fries on roller skates..she also was in the Houston Roller Derby...had me on roller skates myself by the age of 2! The highlight of our weekend was going to Peppermint Park. Yes, we made all the local children shows on our birthdays..such as Kiterick,Bozo, and Captain Don, where he had a vast pot of pennies and we could pick up all we could hold in our little hands..I remember grabbing all I could muster while my little brother picked up one penny! There was the pony rides I think on Wayside Drive, where I road my first pony...My love for horses has never wavered.

Re: Did you grow up in Houston?

Thank you for sharing some wonderful memories in your article, John B!

I grew up in Houston during the late 50's and early to mid 60's. We lived in Westwood Park off Stella Link in <then> Southwest Houston and later in Spring Branch before moving to Central Texas in 1967. I started Kindergarten at Shearn Elementary School on Stella Link in 1959.

I remember shopping at Newberrys Department Store at Gulfgate and riding in my parent's car down 'OST' from Southwest Houston to get there.

In addition to the theaters you mentioned, I also remember the 'Delman'; although, I believe it was south of Downtown.

In addition to Playland Park, with its large roller coaster, I also remember 'Wee Wild West' which catered to the younger kids and was located near the present day Galleria (off Westheimer, if I'm not mistaken).

I can't believe someone else actually remembers the Vinegar smell from that old (and I mean very old) Speas plant out off of Washington near Memorial Park. I'm certain the old plant is long, long gone now, though.

I do recall three Drive In's that I frequented with my family - the South Main Drive In (near where I lived in Westwood Park), and a couple on Post Oak Rd (one near - or roughly across from - the old Pin Oak Stables) and one much farther north, near the Spring Branch area. God, the mosquitoes used to eat me up at those places!

Also, I can add a couple of old telephone exchanges to your list: MO - Mohawk (where I lived in Southwest Houston) and JA - Jackson (my father had this telephone exhange in a business he owned near Bissonet & Kirby).

Thanks for the memories,

Jeff C