denver in the 60's70's (Sheridan, Center: gardens, move, warehouse)

[DanBev]

Originally Posted by TropicanaRose

Didn't Lyle Alzado die from a brain tumor not too long ago?

I'm not a big talk radio person (but the movie Talk Radio, inspired by Berg, is really good) so take my opinion for what it's worth, but it seems to me like Alan Berg really had a passion for issues, whereas most of today's talk radio folks are in it for the purpose of being abrasive.

Lyle was done in by steroids from what I understand.

[DanBev]

Originally Posted by Sockeye

Thanks for the clarification, Willow. We should be very thankful for folks like Barry and Chuck. Ah, The Rainbow Music Hall. I was there for Jerry Jeff, too. My fave was Southside Johnny in '79.
Dan Hicks and his Hot Licks-now they were talented AND entertaining! I still listen to "Where's the Money?" often.

Charlie Daniels was at the Rainbow quite often.

[DOUBLE H]

Lyle Alzado's end was as sad as could be. He admitted in an interview that he made a mistake getting into contract squabbling with Bronco management regarding re-negotiating because of the financial bath he took with that fight with Muhammad Ali. Said Alzado, I should have listened to Red", referring to head coach Red Miller.

He could have finished a Bronco but ego got in the way. Imagine Lyle still being on the D-line while John Elway was growing into the QB position. Lyle admitted it in a column written by the late Dick Connor in the Denver Post, just a couple years before he died.

[ottodog]

Originally Posted by DanBev

I do have a post on this subject and I will say that the 70's and early 80's were outstanding,no gangs,very easy to move around and a very friendly population.We enjoyed antique stores in Morrison,up and down Broadway even Federal and Alameda.I will bet the old gray mare ain't what it used to be!!!

Ahh the gold ole days.. Like my dad used to say "careful these might just be the good ole days"

[Gboost17]

Originally Posted by ExcopRon

Isn't the Drumstick restaurant now relocated on 84 th. ave , a few blocks west of I 25?.. You're right, it had some of the best chicken AND gravy in town.

Anyone remember the Smorgasborg Restaurant, around 72 nd. and Federal? It was set a ways off Federal and you had to drive around back the small mall to get to it. One of the first, all you can eat restaurants in the area.

Anyone remember KIMN's Pogo Poge? He was one of Denver's all time popular DJ's from the past. Last I heard he retired to Utah after workiing and living in Hawaii for many years. Ahhhhh.........the GREAT old days

The smorgasboard you are talking about was called "Little Banquet"...Worked there washing dishes and bussing tables. Yea, it was a pretty good place to eat!

[McGowdog]

Well if you know that neighborhood, have you ever been over to the Italian restaurant over on 64th and Lowell, by the once infamous Cheri's Pub; or how about the Trail Dust Steakhouse on the north side by Westminster Mall; Steak and Ale; Gussies, Brittany Hill, Twin Towers, the Party Place, Unique Burger, Romas, the Heaven Dragon on 120th and Colorado?

[steveindenver]

64th and Lowell has a school, houses and fields, no resteraunts?

I remember the intersection well as I witnessed a horrendous accident there last summer while coasting to the light and hoping to time it at green.

By the way for those looking for the quickest route between the Flat Irons mall and downtown Denver on a bike, take Lowell north until you hit the trail just past 69th Pl on your left; follow that until Harlan and head north.

[ExcopRon]

McGowDog

Thanks for the info on all the places you listed... I had forgotten about a few of them....................I remember Gussies as having some of the best food in town. I had heard that taxes got the best of them. Only ate once at Brittany Hill. Its a shame its sitting empty on that prime piece of land. I'd love to have a house built there; can you imagine the 360 view it must have. Anyone know if there are any plans for the building?...I remember the Steak and Ale as a very good restaurant. I assume it's still at 88 Th. and Sheridan? Are the Trail Dust Steakhouses still in business? One was at about 90 Th. and Sheridan and the other out south, off I 25. Any others in town? If so, do they still cut your ties off as you enter?

How about everyone who reads this site, (which I think is GREAT), list their top 3 restaurants around town, and why. It might give others some idea of places they may not have known, but might like to try. Being up north (Thornton), I'm not familiar with what's down south or west............(If this isn't appropriate for this site, let me know,,,I'm fairly new to it). Mine are:

1. Texas Road House...........NEVER had a bad dinner there, courtious staff, VERY casual
2. Landry's ............Great food, great ambiance..........somewhat pricie (?)
3. Las Palmas..........Very good mexican food, casual, very affordable

[McGowdog]

Originally Posted by steveindenver

64th and Lowell has a school, houses and fields, no resteraunts?

Thx 4 the Flatiron tip Steve.

OK, let's go with 6809 and Lowell Blvd (type in the 6809 Lowell in front of the Denver Colorado and tap the Search Maps button). Just east of that hidden lake on the north side of Lowell. If you don't know the place, it may have changed. I know that Cheri's Pub changed hands, but I don't know about the pizza place next to the convenient store or the really nice Italian Restaurant on the far east end of the property. They had autographed pics of every famous person you could think of in there.

Traildust south of Arapahoe is still there. New building after the old one burned down. Yes, they'll cut your tie, but you get a free drink for it too! A slide for adults and kids. Rocky Mountain Oysters, a 34 oz Porterhouse, and a good beer!

Add: Cheri's is Cliff's now, I see. Can't make out the Italian joint. Pizza joint's still there.

Add: Maddox Gas & Oil; 5586 E 72 avenue, Commerce City, Colorado

Used to be a gas station that you could get premium leaded, that's right, ethel, until the late 90s. Now all you can get is classic old Chryslers and Lincolns. DM me for his ebay username.

[rgraham68]

I live in Lakewood and have pretty much all my life, so these things are SO familiar to me! As a matter of fact, when I was little, my mom and dad managed Soda Straw on West Colfax! I would actually come out with the birthday cake holding sparklers sometimes, so if you ever had a birthday there and a little girl with blonde pigtails gave you a sparkler, that was ME! And rememeber the big barrel of root beer candy by the door? That was cool. And I do still go to Casa Bonita with my kids now. Still fun, but different. The waitresses no longer RUN AT FULL SPEED to get to your table when you raise the flag. We used to raise it just to watch them dodge chairs and stuff! And of course, Villa Italia was my second home! First 4 jobs were there! I HATED to see it go! And Roller City, of course, my Saturday night hangout! So you remember the guy, John Sofa, that worked there? NOBODY liked him, and we actually made up songs with his name in them, and would sing them when they came on! Wow... good times. What else, Round the Corner ROCKED!!! Best burger place around!! And I used to love Pop Shoppe, as well. Wondering how much those bottles brought in for you?? It was also a sad day when Celebrity Sports Center closed. I lived for the arcade there! Of course, that's where we met boys! Wow, Denver had changed, hu?? Too bad...

Originally Posted by Klaus at 15

This thread is right up my alley. (My apologies if this goes into the 80's)

For years I have wanted to create a "vintage Denver" type of web site that has images, stories, info, etc. just all around nostalgia of the city I grew up in and still reside, reflecting on the years 1950's-1990's. Look for it next year as I will rely on many contributions....

Just yesterday I was at DPL looking thru microfiche of the Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News (looking for info on CSU Rams helmet of 1964. A little hobby of mine)
Seeing some of the ads brought back some great memories:

Does anyone remember:

Soda Straw - you got a birthday cake with sparklers in it and a screaming siren would ring while they were bringing out the cake. You got to wear cool straw hats and their was no way you were going to leave this place without a new tooth cavity (the one we most frequented was on West Colfax though I know their were others at 84th and Pecos and on Colorado BLVD.

La Posada - almost everyone one remembers Casa Bonita but La Posada was my first taste of Mexican food. I think it was on about 3rd and Broadway (or Acoma or Bannock) in a big house ? Does anyone recall this place?

Round the Corner - burger restaurants where you called to order your food on a phone. Last one I remember was at the Buckingham Mall. Is that mall gone now? I haven't been out that way since early 90's.

Mister Donut - one of my first jobs was at the one at Alameda and Wadsworth in the mid 80's. I loved the old timers (regulars) that came in there. LOTS of stories about old Denver.

Pop Shoppe - All kinds of pop that you took away in red cases. If you brought back the bottles and cases they gave you a discount on your next order. I think. I bought some bottles off of ebay years ago. The store we went to was on Jewell and Sheridan right by the Handy Dan hardware store.

Drumstick also at JCRS. Remember the train that was affixed to the ceiling/wall that went all around the restaurant? Used to als go to the one out on Santa Fe but I didn't like the decor and architecture of the building as much. Also, did they have the train at this location?

Whataburger and Der Wienerschnitzel. Whataburgers are all over Texas but I haven't seen one here since the late 70's / early 80's ? Der Wienerschnitzel is just Hamburger stand now? Where were these places? I think the one Whataburger (distinct orange and white striped roof) that I recall was at Federal and Florida?

Others:

Lionel Play World (before we had Toys-R-US) at Pierce and Colfax

Yellow Front - a discount store. Very cheap

Woolco and Woolworths

Skaggs - Yosemite Sam!

LaBelle's - then it became Service Merchandise (6th and Kipling)

Pizza Inn - Sheridan and Evans. Then it was Godfathers and then Pantera? Think it has been Ristans for years now (a bar)

Montgomery Wards building on South Broadway across the street from my favorite Mile High Comics store

Stormy Rockman, weatherman for channel 9. I think that was his last name. But what a great first name!

Teletunes on channel 12 before my family had cable and MTV

Roller City West at Alameda and Pierce (I grew up in Lakewood) is where I spent many Saturday and Sunday afternoons. It has been a thrift store since 1996? Are their any roller rinks still around?

Was their a Ground Round restaurant around 10th and Wadsworth in the 1970's ? My friend and I have a disagreement as to where it was exactly located.

Does anyone remember a chain of stores called Spartans? I guess their was one around Jewell and Sheridan ?

Did Denver ever have Red Barn's or Burger Chef?

I turn 40 next June. I wish I could I have my birthday party at Celebrities Sports Center...

PS Hope these will post: Mister Donut and Hungry Farmer logos and a Drumstick postcard from the 1950's