Portsburgh or Pittsland (Portland: construction, military, retirement)

[squarian]

Maybe someone can convince the Heinz Local History Center to devote some space. Photos of the old adult bookstores, quotes from prominent patrons, maybe a manikin replica of a dolly bird. Or a scaled-down authentic replica of the Cricket's stage and brass pole so the kiddies can try it out.

[eccotecc]

squarian,

A user posted a thread wanting to know why downtown closed so early. We may have the definitive answer right here.

[Herodotus]

Originally Posted by eccotecc

HaHaHa,

You guys are bringing back some memories. I remember taking the streetcar into town. I believe it was the 58 Greenfield. After it crossed Smithfield St, it would head on down Wood or Forbes to market square. Just as it crossed Smithfield there was a joint with pictures of women dressed in provocative attire. I was too young to know what the place was, but it did look interesting. That joint was just a block away from Kaufmann's. Those were the days.

The Casino. 340 Diamond St. (Forbes)

[eccotecc]

Herodotus,

LOL,

Your memory must be better than mine or it made a bigger impression on you than it did me. Thinking back, wasn't there 2 similar establishments within close proximity to each other. I think they were close to the old Warner theater.

[I_Like_Spam]

Originally Posted by Herodotus

The Casino. 340 Diamond St. (Forbes)

Not on the 58 loop.

The 58 went down 3rd Avenue and up 4th.

[eccotecc]

Geesh Spam,

I know for sure we came down second ave and past what used to be chinatown. Then I believe it turned onto grant st to forbes, left on wood street and then out 3rd or 4th to grant again and back to greenfield along 2nd ave. That was a long time ago so I'm not real sure. I do remember going past the old dollar savings bank because I loved to see the lions guarding the bank.

[I_Like_Spam]

The 58 came down 2nd to Ross St., left on 3rd past the Chinatown Inn all the way to Stanwix, right on Stanwix right on 4th up to Ross St. and back out 2nd Avenue.

This is from both Touring Pittsburgh by Trolley-a pictorial review of the early sixties, as well as the 1955 Bloom's Street Guide of Pittsburgh.


The Dollar Bank is on 4th Avenue near Smithfield and is on the 58 route as well as the Chinatown Inn.

Instead of the casino, I wouldn't be suprised if the women you saw as a kid were instead drag queens, there were a couple of alternative bars on 4th Avenue in the 20th Century.

[eccotecc]

Spam,

I thought they were strip joints. I do remember them being down from Kaufmann's. I'm sure you're right. Like I said it was long ago.

Spam,

I just reread your post. You indicated early 60's. I would say the street cars had stopped running by then and they went to buses. The routes could have been changed. They were always doing that. The time frame I'm thinking of would be around 1955.

Spam,

I know for sure it was Forbes because we would stand in front of Kaufmann's to catch the bus. I remember because I enjoyed seeing the mechanical Christmas displays in the windows. Does your resource allow you to check to make sure it was the 58 greenfield and not another number? I'm not real sure of the number but think it was the 58. This was like 55+ years ago.

[sparrowmint]

Originally Posted by h_curtis

There is always going to be panhandlers. I get stopped by one each time I go to the Waterworks in FC.

You must have bad luck. I'm at the Waterworks very, very often, I've never seen, let alone been approached by any panhandlers, thankfully. Of course, I never see panhandlers in general in my travels (but I never go downtown or to hip areas), as opposed to seeing them on a daily basis everywhere in Portland, at every off-ramp, intersection, on the streets, etc.

[I_Like_Spam]

Originally Posted by eccotecc

Spam,

I just reread your post. You indicated early 60's. I would say the street cars had stopped running by then and they went to buses. The routes could have been changed. They were always doing that. The time frame I'm thinking of would be around 1955.

The 58 was discontinued as a streetcar on Independence Day, 1964.

Pittsburgh Railways OnLine - History Page 4



It is certainly possible that 3rd Avenue might have been getting worked on and the 58 could have been rerouted off its regular route to Diamond St. at the time of the trip you remembered. But the 2 landmarks you do remember are still around, Chinatown Inn is still on 3rd and Dollar Bank is still on 4th.