denver in the 60's70's (Evans, Vail: attorney, price, airport)

[tyrbo52]

Originally Posted by DOUBLE H

drb85650! Haven't checked on this thread lately. When you mentioned Starr Yelland, it reminded me of KLZ (now called KMGH) #1 news team throughout much of the '70's; Bob Palmer on news, Warren Chandler on weather, and Starr Yelland on sports. Palmer passed away earlier this year; he was, IMHO, the best newsman Denver ever had. I believe Carl Akers passed in the late '90's, he was a big figure in Denver television and radio as well!

Gary Cruz is now the weekend sports newscaster here in Phoenix.

Originally Posted by DOUBLE H

The Saab and Fiat dealership was called Grand Prix Imports. I remember that place well as two high school buddies of mine ran the parts department there. Right next to that building was the old Griff's Hamburgers. Also the record store you might be thinking of was Budget Tapes and Records. Then when vinyl was the dominant music format Budget had over a dozen stores in the Denver area. Speaking of Englewood Speedway (actually Englewood), they finally knocked down the drive in theaters recently.

Originally Posted by DOUBLE H

drb85650. I goofed! For some reason I was focused on Alameda as that particular Budget store was on the corner of Alameda and Sheridan. A possibility would be Recycle Records on west Colfax but that was in a strip mall close to Casa Bonita restaurant. Sheridan is close to there but I don't think it's that one either. I think that store started business in 1979 or so. I'll do some diggin' and see what I can find!

I was the manager of that store and the adjacent head shop from early 80's through early 90's. Alameda and Sheridan. The owner did open it sometime in the late 70's. It closed sometime around 2000 I believe.

I remember almost all of the places mentioned, having grown up in Littleton since I was 5 in '62. I've lived in just about every suburb of Denver. I left in '93 and lived in Fort Collins for another 12 years before going to the southwest. (Phoenix).

[DOUBLE H]

Dave Evenson owned the Budget stores on So. Broadway and So. Colorado Blvd. I had friends who lived near Villa Italia and I would buy an 8 track or two in that store as well. BTW, GREAT call on the Moonrakers and Soul Survivors! Have all 4 singles on Tower and the one LP on UNI for the Moonrakers; don't know what happened to the 45's on Dot but" Can't Stand To Be In Love" and" Hung Up On Losing"were great songs by the Soul Survivors!

[Airstreamer]

I've enjoyed reading this post over the past few months. I first became interested in the post after reading about the Yum Yum Tree. This was the place our family frequented when relatives were in town.

After reading the recent posts, I remembered the Tommy Wong fried shrimp tempura. They were about 4 or 5 inches long. I remember the cook hitting the shrimp with a meat tenderizer to stretch it out. I always seemed to favor the Chinese food. Coming from a large family I was able to sample almost everything they had to offer.

Remember all the waterbed shops during the 70's. It seemed like every corner had one.

Haven't seen anything posted about Chubbies off 38th & Pecos. I'm sure their still around. Or the Fuji Inn off Broadway & 1st.

How about the woodsies and keggers at Stanley Lake and Genesee Park.

Does anyone remember the greasy spoon across the street from the old Denver Post building. They served a small hamburger with chili as the special sauce. Pretty good burger at the time.

Soap Box Derbies racing down city streets in Denver, Golden and Boulder.

Sigman meat company off Lamar st. I used to clean out the grease trap and repair wooden pallets when I was a kid. We were paid $5 an hour to clean out the trap. It was the worst job in the world, but $5 an hour back in the early 70's was a lot of money to a 14 and 15 year old kid.

Spent many Sunday evenings at the Lakeside Speedway. Notable drivers I remember. Rick Carelli, Jack Graham, Rich Carpenter, Russ Grimm, Fritz and Don Wilson, Starr, Joe James Jr., and Terry Daniels. I have many memories of the after race fights in the pits. It seemed like that was a big part of the entertainment.

Arapahoe East skiing. I believe it cost .25 for a token to ride the puma lift.

[BlueWillowPlate]

Originally Posted by Airstreamer

How about the woodsies and keggers at Stanley Lake and Genesee Park.

.

[DOUBLE H]

I got in on a couple of those myself! Had some good ones also at Daniels Park, near Sedalia.

[ExcopRon]

Airstreamer................the greasy spoons you mentioned, could they possibly be the old Sams?,,,,,,,,,,,,,each had a number assigned......when just a youngster, my Dad would take me to the professional wrestling matches downtown ( at the Auditorium arena)...and afterwards we would always go to Sam's # 3............and it was always 2 hamburgers ( paper thin naturally...Lol) a drink and a bowl of chili for a buck plus change..........

Anyone remember when the roller coaster at Lakeside flew off the track and into the lake? Not sure how many drowned

Also the Riviara Motel on E. Colfax............i had heard that wresting promoter Gene Reed owned it and that's where all the big time wrestlers stayed when in town.

I remember when there literally were 4 gas stations on every corner. and EACH one had attendants who put the gas in and checked your oil and cleaned your windows. And how great it was to give him 3 dollars and actually get change back. ( 23.9 cents a gallon )

Used to go to neaby store and get my Parents packs of cigarettes... 27 cents.............a bottle of your favorite pop was 10 cents a bottle

I remember when my brother was a clerk at the King Soopers at the old Park Hill Shopping
Center at 33 rd and Dahlia st. .............a rule of thumb at the time was a bag of groceries ran about 10 to 15 dollars a bag on average.......now a few gallons of milk can run as high

We used to go MOONLIGHT bowling,,,,,,,,,,,is that even around anymore?????

Anyone remember:

The name of the restaurant on Yale Ave between Holly st and Monaco Parkway, a big white structure. set back from Yale Ave and all they served was Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, rolls and a vegatable..all seved family style?

"Salt Water Dumas" on Smith Rd ? It was a very exclusive restaurant for its time.

The "Hungry Dutchman" and if so, where was it located?.......i cant remember

The Battle of the Bands held at either the Coloseum or The Auditorium arena that would run from noon till midnight........several stages set up and non stop music by local bands, with one or 2 well known acts thrown in?

Leo's Place at 16 th and Braodway........owned by Leo Goto...............high class restaurant

Lloyds Furs................originally in the 15oo blk Broadway........owner, Dick Kaye, a prominant businessman who used to buy air time to run movies......he would be the only sponsor of comercials during the movies

Also to the one who inquied about Sid King, owner of the strip joint on Colfax and Marion st, ( the Crazy Horse) ............Upon closing his business and in later years, he ran the tiny shoe stand off Hampden and I 25. Last I heard he had passed away. He loved police officers and when on the dept I would go and see him in his one man stand....Always a nice man

Last, but not least,,,,,,THANKS to everyone who sent replies to my previous messages on here ..........( my first time on here )....they are all appreciated

[drb85650]

20 pages!!!!! I started this thread in May, just wanted a few old memories settled, and now so much that I'd forgotten is brought back to mind.
Moving away in Feb/86 I have only returned twice, both times for less than half a day. Thanks for rekindling great times and memories.
And to the post re;"cute guys from Kennedy".....hey I was one....years ago, class of '70.
I always wanted to meet a upper class girl from GW.

I recall then exMayor McNichols telling my boss and I that the reason he didn't seek reelection after the blizzard of '83? was a threat from the Post/News of exposing alot of bs on him. True???

To the excop....were you around when we used to street race "legally" between 10pm and midnight at 39th street and Peoria? Just a long paved street in a field then.
Watching planes land on havana...yep.
Any car nuts recall Golden Restoration?
What ever happened to Burt Chevrolet? And does anybody know what happened to his car collection?

[DOUBLE H]

Drb! Whazzup? Burt Chevrolet is still on south Broadway. You wouldn't believe all the car dealerships south of Burt on that side of the street. Sheesh! Not sure where the car collection is, it's somewhere close to where they are at, though.

I heard that story on McNichols as well, don't know if it was true. The Blizzard of '82 without a doubt cost him the re-election.

[ExcopRon]

DRB85650.................yes, i remember 39 th and Peoria.........the good old days

I too had heard the speculation about McNichols when on the dept.........i spent many nights sitting in a OLD police car that we parked in the rear of his house around 7 th and Eudora. At the time his security force was just one officer sitting all night in that car, regardless of the weather. One thing was NOT permitted was to walk around the house. We never did understand that policy. Plus when we HAD to use the restroom, if we couldn.t wait to be replaced, we ALL used to urinate behind his garage, shielded by tall trees. You can imagbe how that was during the summer. I never knew exactly why we had to sit there when they didnt want us walking around. There were many COLD FREEZING nights in that car. For the most part, the officer would fall asleep out of boredom and was awakend when the paper guy would throw us a newspaper, always hitting our windshield. If we could only have had him bring us a cup of coffee and a donut............LOL LOL............Once the Mayor was picked up for work, we were allowed to go back to the station. But in his defense, he was truly a nice man and most guys on the dept liked working usder his administration and dreaded when Pena was elected

DRB85650, you mentioned about Peoria being in a field. I remmeber when my now ex and i were just drving around town in my 1966 Chevelle Supersport, the time just flew and before long we were at the "T" intersention of Hampden and So Coloradxo Blvd......Past there, there was vertually NOTHING and i mean nothing, and look at it now. And i remember Bobby Vinton on the radio singing "BLUE VELVET" as we hit that intersetion

My older Brother and his wife bought their first house in Arvada. When we used to go out there it was like taking a road trip, Seemed soooooooooooo far out in the country. Now we are willing to drive much further for just dinner.

Anyone remember when Mohammed Ali came to Denver just before his fight with Sonny Liston?.. Liston, a resident of Denver , living near 35 th and Monaco Parkway. Ali went to Liston's home and taunted him, in Liston's front yard............. naturally with a media frenzy.........what great hype for their upcomming fight

I remember Mohammed Ali fighting Lyle Alzado at the old Broncos Stadium..... outdoors with Alzado losing, natually

Anyone recall the Black Panther Party in denver. Their leader, Lauren Watson was ALWAYS in the paper. I used to hang out at a garage about 35 th and Franklin St., the ONLY white kid in the area........I used to get the ""LOOK" from him all the time.

To the one asking about the BBQ place on 35 th ave near Franklin St.....it was owned and ran by Daddy Bruce Randolph. He was known for having dinners for the less fortunate on holidays........Hundreds and Hundreds would participate.. He was later honored with the Street named after him. He has since passed away.

Anyone remember the hot dog stand on the corner of Five Points it was a one man stand, barely big enough for one person to stand.......It had the BEST hot links and sauce, placed on one slice of bread. He had pig ears too but i was never brave enough to try them. Then right across the steet was a chicken restaurant with the BIGGEST chickeNs i'd ever seen.......But they were great with the batter used to deep fry them. Nothing like what you get nowadays. My wife and friends would drive down from 84 th and Wadsworth jUSt to get it. It was like a fly in a bowl of buttermilk as we were the ONLY whites down there. But NEVER had A PROBLEM.

Anyone know if the the old Rossonian is still on the Five Points...years ago it was a very popular club, briinging in many of the then famous jazz entertainers from all over the country.

And how about professional fighter Ron Lyle. A Denver resident, he fought all the big names as well. He was always in trouble with the law and used to live on the corner of 35 th and Hudson. He would sit on his porch and just glare at us as we patolled his neighborhood. His career was backed by denver businessman Bill Daniels, the man who brought cable to the Denver area. His HUGE brown home, (takes up ONE block) on the diagonal from Alameda to Colorado Blvd was donated to the city for the use of the mayor ( not sure if the present mayor uses it).. Reportedly Daniels had one room with 80 TV sets, set to differant cable chanels. He too has passed away

I hope you all dont get bored with my memories...As with most of you, me reading YOUR memories trigger mine, some that i had completely forgotten......for that, all i can say is "THANK YOU" to each and everyone of you.....I wish we had some of those days back again.

[drb85650]

Originally Posted by ExcopRon

DRB85650.................yes, i remember 39 th and Peoria.........the good old days
71-72, I recall unmarked Plymouth Satellite cruisers sitting at the far end of the "strip", they'd vascar you and tell you what they got for your top speed. A couple of times they'd pull up to the line, burn the tires a bit, then idle away just for fun.
We could always tell when a Plymouth Police car was coming up on us at night in those years...the round park lights were the same between them and Roadrunners/GTX's...but the cop cars were faded white from use.
Racing from 16th street up over the viaduct? Driving the sisters 65 GTO one night, picked up a race at the end of 16th with a GTX, usually just a fancy Roadrunner and some wannabe. We take off, he stays beside me thru 1st, hit 2nd and he's gone! Top the viaduct, there he sits, halfway across waiting for me.....pull up beside him, then I see the "HEMI" insignia. Asked me if I wanted to go again....yeah right.

Cruising the Scotchman on I-70 and Federal? Picking up races there. Sitting there one night, hear obviously unmuffled exhaust and hear comes a guy in a '37 or so Ford coupe, big tunnel ram sticking up, no hood, no lights...roars down Federal from I-70, past the Scotchman and rips around a corner into the dark. Just couldn't wait I guess.


I too had heard the speculation about McNichols when on the dept.........i spent many nights sitting in a OLD police car that we parked in the rear of his house around 7 th and Eudora. At the time his security force was just one officer sitting all night in that car, regardless of the weather. One thing was NOT permitted was to walk around the house. We never did understand that policy. Plus when we HAD to use the restroom, if we couldn.t wait to be replaced, we ALL used to urinate behind his garage, shielded by tall trees. You can imagbe how that was during the summer. I never knew exactly why we had to sit there when they didnt want us walking around. There were many COLD FREEZING nights in that car. For the most part, the officer would fall asleep out of boredom and was awakend when the paper guy would throw us a newspaper, always hitting our windshield. If we could only have had him bring us a cup of coffee and a donut............LOL LOL............Once the Mayor was picked up for work, we were allowed to go back to the station. But in his defense, he was truly a nice man and most guys on the dept liked working usder his administration and dreaded when Pena was elected

Yes, Pena....just before his election, the city sold for cheap a property near Santa Fe and Speer area to a nonprofit org. Immediatly after his election, he nixed the deal and "donated" the property to a union that had supported him.

DRB85650, you mentioned about Peoria being in a field. I remmeber when my now ex and i were just drving around town in my 1966 Chevelle Supersport, the time just flew and before long we were at the "T" intersention of Hampden and So Coloradxo Blvd......Past there, there was vertually NOTHING and i mean nothing, and look at it now. And i remember Bobby Vinton on the radio singing "BLUE VELVET" as we hit that
intersetion

Our first home in Denver was on Sheridan and Lakeridge Road(2600 south), we had a horse in stables near the federal center, would ride from the stables to our house across the wide open fields. Kennedy High was a working pig farm, Hampden ended at Wadsworth? and Morrison was truly a country town, 2 lane road to it. And once you got past Heritage Square, not very many "mountain cabins" until you reached Idaho Springs, all via 2 lane roads thru canyons.
My older Brother and his wife bought their first house in Arvada. When we used to go out there it was like taking a road trip, Seemed soooooooooooo far out in the country. Now we are willing to drive much further for just dinner.
Rented a house in 79 at the foot of Ward Hill. Boonies it seemed.

Anyone remember when Mohammed Ali came to Denver just before his fight with Sonny Liston?.. Liston, a resident of Denver , living near 35 th and Monaco Parkway. Ali went to Liston's home and taunted him, in Liston's front yard............. naturally with a media frenzy.........what great hype for their upcomming fight
Remember it well
I remember Mohammed Ali fighting Lyle Alzado at the old Broncos Stadium..... outdoors with Alzado losing, natually
Yep, that too. Saw Lyle first game back in Denver, with the Browns as I recall? Seemed sad, embarassed.

Anyone recall the Black Panther Party in denver. Their leader, Lauren Watson was ALWAYS in the paper. I used to hang out at a garage about 35 th and Franklin St., the ONLY white kid in the area........I used to get the ""LOOK" from him all the time.
yeah, and the La Raza HQ off Santa Fe somewhere near Zekes Grocery. Made the mistake of getting a fresh sandwich once, pulled over to eat in the shade, right across from their hq. They glared at a skinny white kid in a bug for some time. I wasn't brave or beligerrant, just oblivious!

To the one asking about the BBQ place on 35 th ave near Franklin St.....it was owned and ran by Daddy Bruce Randolph. He was known for having dinners for the less fortunate on holidays........Hundreds and Hundreds would participate.. He was later honored with the Street named after him. He has since passed away.
Great place, remember all the pics of Broncos on the walls, mismatched tables, chairs. Terrific BBq for not being in the south.

Anyone remember the hot dog stand on the corner of Five Points it was a one man stand, barely big enough for one person to stand.......It had the BEST hot links and sauce, placed on one slice of bread. He had pig ears too but i was never brave enough to try them. Then right across the steet was a chicken restaurant with the BIGGEST chickeNs i'd ever seen.......But they were great with the batter used to deep fry them. Nothing like what you get nowadays. My wife and friends would drive down from 84 th and Wadsworth jUSt to get it. It was like a fly in a bowl of buttermilk as we were the ONLY whites down there. But NEVER had A PROBLEM.
Don't recall that one, but I do remember a black and white striped hamburger joint on east colfax, cheap burgers, lots of diced onions.

Anyone know if the the old Rossonian is still on the Five Points...years ago it was a very popular club, briinging in many of the then famous jazz entertainers from all over the country.

And how about professional fighter Ron Lyle. A Denver resident, he fought all the big names as well. He was always in trouble with the law and used to live on the corner of 35 th and Hudson. He would sit on his porch and just glare at us as we patolled his neighborhood. His career was backed by denver businessman Bill Daniels, the man who brought cable to the Denver area. His HUGE brown home, (takes up ONE block) on the diagonal from Alameda to Colorado Blvd was donated to the city for the use of the mayor ( not sure if the present mayor uses it).. Reportedly Daniels had one room with 80 TV sets, set to differant cable chanels. He too has passed away
Yeah, Ron Lyle. Saw him driving a Caddy once, big impression on a kid. And Bill Daniels, he visited the church I attended a time or two, made a big donation, pulled some strings with Cherry Creek for the facility to be built.

I hope you all dont get bored with my memories...As with most of you, me reading YOUR memories trigger mine, some that i had completely forgotten......for that, all i can say is "THANK YOU" to each and everyone of you.....I wish we had some of those days back again.

Asked this before on CDF, do you recall a La Raza or Hispanic activist named Danny Salazar? made the Post Sunday section around '84-85 with a story about his life.
And I recall Elvis coming to town, giving away Caddys. Gave one to a reporter, another to a detective? that got in trouble for accepting it.
What wasn't reported was that he(Elvis)was trying to negotiate a deal to perform a concert of gospel music at the big church on Hampden by Colorado Blvd. It was nixed because of concerns about the crowd, controlling it, and the effects on the neighborhood. They did have other concerts there, BJ Thomas, Sandy Patty, and I recall the Oakridge Boys back when they were merely a gospel quartet, loading up their own luggage into a worn out tour bus.