Gone But Not Forgotten in San Antonio! - Part I (Alamo: America, bank)

[49 Olds]

Gy2020
Thanks for all the pictures, info and links. The article on Billy Kielman was great.
Prostitution may not have been legal after WW11, but in 1956-1957 (I was 13-14) I rode in my older brothers pickup to an area I think was near Mi Tierra and the old farmers market.
He parked in front of a row of connected shacks. I stayed in the truck (too young) while he was serviced in one of the rooms. I still remember the doors opening and the women with small wash basins toss the water out onto the sidewalk and street.

Also, in 1964 I went to a large white home on E. Houston or E. Commerce to a place called Charlies Big House. It was a negro night club, but in the front room was a regulation crap table that was in full operation.

I always wondered how a couple of pasty white boys from the northside could find a whorehouse and casino in downtown San Antonio and the watch commander did not have a clue!!

[gy2020]

49 Olds, excellent post, I'm looking forward to more post like this. There was a place called the Mansion. The building is still standing. It is just south of the Holiday Inn on Durango. It was an A House, and then a funeral parlor. It was rumored to have a $10,000 gold bed. The bed was purchased at the Philadelphia Exposition in 1876.

One of the houses, the madam required the gentlemen to wear their Sunday best when they came to see her girls. She also took their money and locked it away and then she would tell the men when they had used of the amount or would give them back what was left over.

The ladies were certainly more safe in those days compared to being murdered on the streets today.

The little shacks you described were still standing in the 1980's. I took pictures of them. This was one of the locations of the C girls. 25 cents in 1911 Blue Book.

[49 Olds]

I am from the Northwest Hillcrest-Babcock area 1954……
Thomas Jefferson 1961 grad.
Some of my memories of northwest San Antonio from 1954 until ……….
If you find any errors or corrections please post so I can correct my memory.
I have spent the last few months trying to catch up on all the thousands of post.
If I repeat anything please accept it as a memory gift.

A Fast Food Chicken outlet (1954)- Hildebrand one block east of Fredricksburg road between Gus Mann Automotive and Automotive Solutions –It is now an empty small white building approx. 15 X 25. I always thought this was one of the first Churches chicken outlets. I think they had one piece of chicken and fries for 29 or 39 cents. I was only eleven so my memory is suspect.

Buccaneer Drive Inn (1958)– Fredricksburg Road west side of where Northwest Center now located. Large neon sign with a pirate or ship or both (memory dim). Car hop named Cherokee. She had lots of kids. We always made sure she received a total of 25 cents tip from the car occupants.
Gy2020- This may have been the same car hop that you knew on Bander Rd. I think you were talking about Tunies Drive In.

Georges XXX rootbeer stand (1950’s–1990’s) Fredricksburg Road and Ramona, ½ block south of Vance Jackson, across from Walgreens - Old Edison kids hangout while Jefferson kids hang out was at Buddies two blocks north. Georges’ second wife made him change the name to Georges because her church group thought the name implied porn shop. Greasy hamburgers, greasy fries and rootbeer floats. Loved them. George hosted hot rod meets on Friday nights. George died a a few years ago at age 63. He was a nice guy. Building empty.

Mouse invasion – 1957 or 1958- I remember walking, we walked everywhere, (could not drive yet) down Glenview, Crestline at Babcock and you could hear the mouse traps going off in the homes and garages.
You could also smell the wonderful meals being cooked by other families. No one had A/C and the smells spread around the neighborhoods. My family enjoyed basic southern food. The smells were of Italian, Mexican and other great foods. I can smell it righ now.

Twin Silos (1960) – West of Louis Pasteur drive, south of Fredricksburg road, where the medical complex is now located. A place for kids to drink beer and party. An acquaintance (Turk) fell off and broke his back.

Knob Hill or Rattlesnake Hill (1961)- Down a then gravel road west of and parallel to 410 south from Bandera Road. Beer parties with 100’s of kids from all schools. Sheriff patrol would raid and everyone would scramble.

Hot Dog Haven (I think that was the name) (1958) – Fredricksburg road and Club drive. Girls on roller skates brought food order. Location became a Frontier drive inn, then a hock shop.

[Willsatx]

49 olds can you tell me how things were from Fred rd and vance jackson up to where 410 is now. Would like to know the business located around there.

[gy2020]

49 Olds, What was the name of the hangout on Bandera Rd, where Cherokee worked? And do you remember going to a party when the mother and my girlfriend were out of town. We went out to a place where the twin towers you were referring to in an earlier post. Maybe further out. We caught a duck and brought it back to his house. (not posting any names here). Good party!

[*mud*]

Originally Posted by 49 Olds

I am from the Northwest Hillcrest-Babcock area 1954……
Thomas Jefferson 1961 grad.

Some of my memories of northwest San Antonio from 1954 until ……….

Olds, do you remember this place - Thompson's

This is a fold out sovenier photo booklet dated as 1947 on the back
by my dad.

None of the oldtimers here in the neighborhood can tell me anything about it.

mud

[IngramWindsorfan82]

Originally Posted by mclor85

I am kind of a youngster on these pages but I do remember a lot of San Antonio in the late 80's.

I remember Jungle Jims.

Orange Julius at Ingram Mall.

The old McDonalds that used to be next to I think Sears at Ingram Mall.

Aladins Castle at Crossroads Mall, the Toy Box, and the cool arcade near the food court.

Montgomery Ward.

Winns at Donaldson and Dickinson. I used to but Quints there.

Puffin Billy's on Fredricksburg near Balcones Heights.

Handy Andy, Albertsons, Krogers, and the old HEB on Fredericksberg and West Ave, My big brother used to work there.

Woolworths maybe at Crossroads.

Builder's Square accross from Crossroads.

The Opening of Sea World and Fiesta Texas.

When Fiesta Texas wasn't Six Flags, and the ORIGINAL Rattler.

Central Park mall.

The Old Whataburgers & Dairy Queens.

The old JC Penny's on Fredricksburg Rd. Now it's a China Harbor.
and Panchitos next door, with the little flags.

The Original Henry's Puffy Tacos, I saw Shaq there around the time he was drafted into the NBA.

When Mailbu Grand Prix used to be the coolest place ever.

Pear Apple County Fair. I was there the day they closed... : (

Pistol Pete's Pizza on Bandera and Woodlawn... with the Carousel!

Kiddie Park.

The Sky Ride at the Zoo & the Train (does that still run).

I remember going to this restraunt Wyatts on 410 and Bandera when I was very small.... does anyone else remember this place?



Oh gosh, so much more. Not much compared to some people on here. But keep the memories coming people. I love to know what things used to be like.

Yeah and Jim's Frontier Burger...at Fredericksberg!

Also the Rock-afire Explosion at Pistol Pete's on Bandera...after Showbiz Pizza became Chuck E. Cheese!

Diamond J's @ Westlakes Mall

Pizza Inn's

Grandy's

Fletcher's Corn Dogs!

[gy2020]

There used to an italian rest. located on Fred. Rd, lots of candles on the tables. great food. It was located close to Fred Rd. Drive-in, later became a day care center.
Also back in 40's and 50's there was a great rest. Called the Plantation. It was raised when they built Loop 410. It would have been right in the center of Loop 410 as it crossed Fred. Rd. You would get a 7 course meal. By the way, 49 Olds, I was in your class at Jeff, I guess you could call me 50 Chev., I inherited my parents 1950 Chrevrolet. I had it painted Colonial White and I had a green light placed in the headliner. I miss that old car.

[gy2020]

Pat Tallman went to our church, Grace Presbyterian Church across from Jefferson Village. I remember giving a party in my backyard for our church group and Pat attended. People liked our backyard because dad always had a pool table and we had this patio built in the yard with a pool table in the middle of it. Back in those days, Pat was just getting into radio.

In the late 50's and early 60's our church had a large attendance of high school youth.
Unlike today, with small attendance. Most of our neighbors have moved north.

Back in the 50's the Jefferson neighborhood was one of the prime locations to raise a family.

[49 Olds]

Willsatx- In the middle 50's I don't remember much between VJ and now 410. On the East side was the Fred. rd. drive in and a small building in the middle of the lot next door where they flew model airplanes. The Kit Kat club (now VFW) was there, Mutt Radicke auto supply and Meyer machine just past the Kit Kat. Atlantic Mills just past where Bucaneer drive in, Northside Lumber just before Balcones heights. On the west side at Vance Jackson there was a strip center with a night club. They had a great negro combo that played the song "Scotch & Soda". Stanleys Texaco and Griffs Burgers at Fred Rd and Williamsburg. I know there were a few other buildings. Things were added each year so hard to remember. My mother says Fred rd. was two lane in 1954, but I don't remember. Hope this helps.