Gone but not forgotten in San Antonio! (Austin, Fredericksburg: employers, history)

[majormadmax]

We were out and about today, and the wife wanted to stop by Toy Zone on the northern frontage rood of 1604 just west of 281. I took the opportunity to check out a place I have always wanted to investigate, what appears to have been a small Japanese-like garden between North 1604 and Proton Road (see first map). I hiked from the 1604 end of it all the way to Proton Road, and saw that there was much more to it then what I recall seeing from the frontage road. As you get closer to Proton Road, there is quite the park built there; but it is neglected and even a shopping cart tossed in the water.

This seems like it was a really cool place, but the construction around it has squeezed what's left of this park. Does anyone know the history behind this place?

These are thumbnails, click on any of them for the full-sized photo. The first five are from MS Live Search, the rest I took this afternoon.

















Cheers! M2

[gy2020]

Never heard of it M2. Maybe they ran out of money before the park was finished. It is obvious, from the development around it that it won't remain too long. Some developer is going to get a hold of it and turn it into a parking lot or a high rise.

Good pics!!!!!

[majormadmax]

It kinda reminded me of a place we stumbled across when I was in Bosnia. We called it the 'Temple of Doom' and I will see if I can find a pic of it. This was a great little park and I would really be interested in hearing the history behind it. As it is right next to the Drury Inn there, it would've been a great idea to rennovate/finish it for the guests there.

Cheers! M2

[940]

Originally Posted by TexaCo Mom

Came across this thread last night...read until midnight and started fresh again this morning! After reading the first 1000 posts and realizing there were another 2000+ to read (I could be here for days) just wanted to say thanks to 940 for starting the thread. It's brought back a flood of memories!

BTW, I'm another JMHS alum, class of '79.

Hey there fellow JMHS alum...glad you're enjoying the thread...I must admit that I'm surprised this thread still has a life of its own even after a year and a half! Guess that just goes to show that many folks have terrific memories of growing up in SA...some memories that they'll never forget.

I don't post on here as much as I did before but I do enjoy reading all the old recollections! Take care!

[googie2525]

Originally Posted by Primo

If I remember correctly in the early 80's on KENS there was a Saturday night "Creature Feature"..and during the commercials they had a locally produced "host" which was the Grim Reaper that made corny horror jokes. The Grim Reaper was rumored to be the weather man (not albert flores). Anyone remember this?

Ha, I remember the Grim Reaper! He hosted a special 3-D showing of, I believe, Creature from the Black Lagoon (or was it Gorilla at Large?). Anyway, you had to buy the 3D glasses at some local store (HEB?)...well, the 3D effect was the worst, but I remember being pretty hyped up because the Grim Reaper promised to reveal his "real" face (which, like you say, was rumored to be the TV stations' weatherman), of course when he removed his cloak it was a monster mask of some sort (A gorilla? The Creature from the Black Lagoon? I can't recall which)! - BUMMER!

Man, I miss those creature feature shows; of course that was the only way to see rare weird z-grade horror flicks at the time, staying up all night to watch Elvira, etc. I remember frantically scouring the TV guide every Sunday afternoon to see what upcoming Friday and Saturday night horror films were going to play, and ALWAYS being bummed when "Squirm," "Pigs" or "Frankenstein's Castle of Freaks" played for the ten-millionth time (although I still LOVE Squirm, I think I saw it fifty plus times as a kid )!

[Cookiemeister]

Just taking a break from painting and wanted to alert those of you that are thinking about dining at Tip Top any time soon better arrive very early. There was a long line out the door at 5:30 yesterday (Sat). Must be because of the Food Network show featuring the Tip Top... wish I would have seen that show. Did anybody see it... was it good?

[TexaCo Mom]

Originally Posted by Cookiemeister

Just taking a break from painting and wanted to alert those of you that are thinking about dining at Tip Top any time soon better arrive very early. There was a long line out the door at 5:30 yesterday (Sat). Must be because of the Food Network show featuring the Tip Top... wish I would have seen that show. Did anybody see it... was it good?

I missed it too, but checked the Food Network site and it's scheduled to re-air again soon on these dates/times.

Jun 27, 2008 9:00 PM ET/PT
Jun 27, 2008 12:00 AM ET/PT
Jun 30, 2008 1:00 PM ET/PT
Jul 21, 2008 10:30 PM ET/PT
Jul 21, 2008 1:30 AM ET/PT
Aug 01, 2008 9:30 PM ET/PT
Aug 01, 2008 12:30 AM ET/PT

[Bowie]

Originally Posted by Cookiemeister

Did anybody see it... was it good?

I saw it. I was disappointed because the menu items they chose to focus on were mostly things that don't interest me (chicken-fried steak and enchiladas). I've been there and found plenty of things on the menu that I did like.

[Primo]

It is amazing what you will find on the internet! I remember he was a nerdy white guy.

E-gor's Chamber of TV Horror Hosts — List of Names starting with G
THE GRIM REAPER (Bob Crowley)

Nightmare Theater Saturday night from 10:30 pm - 12:30 am KENS-TV, Channel 5 (San Antonio, Texas) ? 1980 or 1981 - ? 1981 (live, "for a couple dozen weeks") ? 1981 - July 1982 (pre-recorded, with guest performers) July 1982 (one-shot special 3-D presentation of Revenge of the Creature)
NOTES:

• While working in the lab late one night (trolling the Web for obscure tidbits of horror hostory), I, E-gor, googled the following tantalizing quote from a fellow named Bob Crowley, posted on the Jim Rose Remembers Radio site:

  I also got my own show, dressed up as the Grim Reaper, hosted the Saturday night horror movie at KENS TV for 3 years as 3rd string weatherman...

  Of course I wrote to Mr. Crowley immediately, begging for details! Amazingly, he responded very quickly just a bit later that night!:

  Hello George. Thank you for inquiring. My character was the Grim Reaper. He was Death with a low self esteem. He made wisecracks about death and was always the patsy of the gags played by guests.
  
  I was the host of Nightmare Theater for two 'runs' and a final special. Nightmare Theater began in 1980 or '81. It ran from 10:30pm to 12:30am, Saturday nights.
  
  It was at KENS-TV, when they were still in their downtown studios. The first run lasted a couple dozen weeks. It was presented live.
  
  The second run in 1981 was pre-recorded and included a number of 'guest' performers.
  
  The final run was a 3-D presentation of Revenge of the Creature which aired in July of 1982. That program earned a 48 share, 24 rating.
  
  There are two articles about the program in the San Antonio Express News, by entertainment columnist Jeanne Jackle. One was about the 3-D broadcast, and ran in July '82.
  
  The program set consisted of a blue chroma-key wall. The opening background was a picture of an Irish graveyard a camera crew member had brought back from his vacation. We used a "squeezoom" to expand the keyed image {of the Reaper} to make it look like he was walking up from the path. We caught freeze-frame images of the movie, and played against them in comedy bits at the commercial breaks. We pulled props and sets from the 25-year collection in the back storage area, and did parodies of people, places and things.
  
  Guests that I recall include Frank Rodarte, Tom Scheppke, Rudy Harst, Debbie Miller, Sherrie Sorenson, Joey McGilivary, Kevin Arnold, Joe Bochard, Chip Colley, Alex Abravanel, and others. Kidd Kraddick and Hector Reyes appeared in a promotional announcement for the 3-D movie.
  
  One time we ran the entire series of "Abbott and Costello Meet..." and another time we ran the original classic Dracula, Frankenstein, Wolf Man, Mummy, etc. One season was mostly Peter Cushing / Christopher Lee efforts, which I can't recall at all.
  
  And, as you compile hosts, you should contact Joe Sears and Jaston Williams. They are better known as Greater Tuna, but before they wrote "Tuna" they did 5 Star Shock Theater on Friday nights on KENS. I believe it was 1978 or 1979.
  
  Bob Crowley

[majormadmax]

Originally Posted by majormadmax

We were out and about today, and the wife wanted to stop by Toy Zone on the northern frontage rood of 1604 just west of 281. I took the opportunity to check out a place I have always wanted to investigate, what appears to have been a small Japanese-like garden between North 1604 and Proton Road (see first map). I hiked from the 1604 end of it all the way to Proton Road, and saw that there was much more to it then what I recall seeing from the frontage road. As you get closer to Proton Road, there is quite the park built there; but it is neglected and even a shopping cart tossed in the water.

This seems like it was a really cool place, but the construction around it has squeezed what's left of this park. Does anyone know the history behind this place?

These are thumbnails, click on any of them for the full-sized photo. The first five are from MS Live Search, the rest I took this afternoon.

















Cheers! M2

Wow, no one knows what this place is? Maybe I need to start a separate thread on it...

Cheers! M2