Little known Austin area trivia....
- Thread starter dallas_the_tiger
- Start date
Praise of Folly
100+ Posts
The State Fair used to be held in Hyde Park in Austin.
Even before Monroe M. Shipe developed Hyde Park as one of Austin's first suburbs, the area was well known as a center for recreation. The flat, smooth terrain made it an ideal site for racing horses, and the Capital Jockey Club racecourse, located in the southeast corner of the area, was called "the finest in the South." The state militia also took advantage of the expanse of flat land to hold drills and sham battles at its annual summer encampment which attracted thousands of spectators. In 1875 the Capital State Fair Association located the state fairgrounds adjacent to the racetrack, constructing a 3,500 seat grandstand, a large exhibition hall, stables, cisterns and wells to accommodate visitors to the fair. Initially successful, the fair began to lose money and relocated to Dallas in 1884.
Pictures and links
Hyde Park used to have a lake.
A portion of the State Fair's horseracing track is still reflected in the curved segment of 39th Street between Avenue F and Duval Street.
Even before Monroe M. Shipe developed Hyde Park as one of Austin's first suburbs, the area was well known as a center for recreation. The flat, smooth terrain made it an ideal site for racing horses, and the Capital Jockey Club racecourse, located in the southeast corner of the area, was called "the finest in the South." The state militia also took advantage of the expanse of flat land to hold drills and sham battles at its annual summer encampment which attracted thousands of spectators. In 1875 the Capital State Fair Association located the state fairgrounds adjacent to the racetrack, constructing a 3,500 seat grandstand, a large exhibition hall, stables, cisterns and wells to accommodate visitors to the fair. Initially successful, the fair began to lose money and relocated to Dallas in 1884.
Pictures and links
Hyde Park used to have a lake.
A portion of the State Fair's horseracing track is still reflected in the curved segment of 39th Street between Avenue F and Duval Street.
doylehargraves
500+ Posts
Didn't see this mentioned.... the original Antone's used to be in place that is now that convenience store on the south side of 6th, (the corner of 6th and Brazos).
Mesohorny
1,000+ Posts
UT held bonfires during Roundup weekends at the triangle where Guadalupe and N Lamar intersect. I think the last one was abt '69 or '70. It was then used as a free "People's Garden" for urban / hippie farmers. More than one plot had skunk weed among the tomatoes and peas.
KRMH-FM was cooler than KLBJ ("good karma").
Amy's Ice Cream parlor on Guad used to be The Sit 'n' Bull topless joint.
The original Mother Earth was at 10th and Lamar where the used CD store is (Cheapo?).
There were drive-in movies all over town into the '70s: The Burnet Rd (now a storage place but the sign still lives), The Longhorn (183 and Burnet Rd), one at Ben White and S. Congress, a twin-screen at Ben White and IH 35, a twin screen on Cameron Rd north of 183, one on N Lamar just south of the DPS.
the original Posse at Rio Grande and 24th (west of Cain and Abels) was a drive-thru and sold qts of Old Milwaukee three for a dollar.
Hippie Hollow used to have more naked girls than guys, especially when the 18 y.o. girls came to town for summer school.
The Stallion DID indeed have the best CFS in town, with yellow gravy.
KRMH-FM was cooler than KLBJ ("good karma").
Amy's Ice Cream parlor on Guad used to be The Sit 'n' Bull topless joint.
The original Mother Earth was at 10th and Lamar where the used CD store is (Cheapo?).
There were drive-in movies all over town into the '70s: The Burnet Rd (now a storage place but the sign still lives), The Longhorn (183 and Burnet Rd), one at Ben White and S. Congress, a twin-screen at Ben White and IH 35, a twin screen on Cameron Rd north of 183, one on N Lamar just south of the DPS.
the original Posse at Rio Grande and 24th (west of Cain and Abels) was a drive-thru and sold qts of Old Milwaukee three for a dollar.
Hippie Hollow used to have more naked girls than guys, especially when the 18 y.o. girls came to town for summer school.
The Stallion DID indeed have the best CFS in town, with yellow gravy.
Longhorn Al
500+ Posts
There was a root beer and burger stand where the armory went in. My grandmother was a carhop there in 1926. She lived off East Avenue around 26th. She'd take the trollie cars to work and would ride on the back of Harley's and old Indian motorcycles down Congress, weaving between the cars and trollies.
My dad says she also remembered that the area around South First and Barton Springs, where the Hooters and everything is, was just a big gravel pit.
My dad says she also remembered that the area around South First and Barton Springs, where the Hooters and everything is, was just a big gravel pit.
clandestine
25+ Posts
NCAAFBALLROX
1,000+ Posts
My FIL says that when he attended Travis High, there were only 3 high schools in Austin. Travis, Austin High & Johnson (I think that last one is right).
He said they used to have a big bonfire event @ near Town Lake & it was mostly stacked by high school kids (he said they did a better job than aggy ever could hope to do; it never fell over until burned).
He said they used to have a big bonfire event @ near Town Lake & it was mostly stacked by high school kids (he said they did a better job than aggy ever could hope to do; it never fell over until burned).
Longhorn Al
500+ Posts
Longhorn Al
500+ Posts
The pizza thread reminded me of something my parents told me about.
There used to be an Italian professor at UT. After class, he'd make pizzas in a little place. Everybody loved them. This must have been in the 70s or so.
Anyone have some details?
There used to be an Italian professor at UT. After class, he'd make pizzas in a little place. Everybody loved them. This must have been in the 70s or so.
Anyone have some details?
NCAAFBALLROX
1,000+ Posts
Did he make these pies on 6th & like death metal?
About a half block up from where South Congress intersected with I-35 (before the street was re-routed), there was a seedy old motel called M&M Courts. It was one of Miss Hattie's ***** houses in the early '60s. The hookers weren't much to write home about. She also ran a house over in Taylor.
She had a pretty nice home just off Oltorf between I-35 & Congress. High School kids used to paper her front yard now & then.
She had a pretty nice home just off Oltorf between I-35 & Congress. High School kids used to paper her front yard now & then.
NCAAFBALLROX
1,000+ Posts
What were her rates, Sco?
Longhorn Al
500+ Posts
That was around where my dad lived for awhile as a kid. Beverly's Bar and the 81 Tavern are still there on the west side of Congress. My dad told me about the ***** house when he was a little boy. His mom told him to stay away from it. haha
Oh, his dad also ran the 81 Tavern (or 81 Club) for awhile as well.
Oh, his dad also ran the 81 Tavern (or 81 Club) for awhile as well.
THEU
2,500+ Posts
I read the threads and was surprised not to see this tid bit.
The Clash filmed as least part of their music video for "Rock the Casbah" in Austin. The most memorable scene for me was filmed in front of the Burger King on Guadalupe just north of campus. It shows a Jew dancing around with an Arab.
The Clash filmed as least part of their music video for "Rock the Casbah" in Austin. The most memorable scene for me was filmed in front of the Burger King on Guadalupe just north of campus. It shows a Jew dancing around with an Arab.
GreasenUSA
< 25 Posts
you must have not read past the first post then
Mesohorny
1,000+ Posts
re clandestine's above pic of East Ave., here's a cool link on Austin hwy construction over the last 50 yrs w/ great old pics from all over town
www.texasfreeway.com/Austin/historic/photos/austin_historic_photos.shtml
www.texasfreeway.com/Austin/historic/photos/austin_historic_photos.shtml
texmex_horn
< 25 Posts
Here's a fact about the previously mentioned Skyline Club.
It was the location of both Hank Williams and Johnny Horton's last show.
www.texasescapes.com/ClayCoppedge/The-Eerie-Demise-of-Johnny-Horton.htm
It was the location of both Hank Williams and Johnny Horton's last show.
www.texasescapes.com/ClayCoppedge/The-Eerie-Demise-of-Johnny-Horton.htm
TomTerrific
500+ Posts
What a great thread.
I really enjoyed that.
I haven't thought about Tricky Mickey's in a long time.
Why has that office building on land that the AWH was on never seemed to be occupied?
What happened to the "Tree House" bar, and why has it been left to ruin?
Seems like expensive real estate.
I really enjoyed that.
I haven't thought about Tricky Mickey's in a long time.
Why has that office building on land that the AWH was on never seemed to be occupied?
What happened to the "Tree House" bar, and why has it been left to ruin?
Seems like expensive real estate.
dallas_the_tiger
100+ Posts
I have a question about the TXDOT offices & property over at 45th & Bull Creek. It looks like there used to be a school there, including baseball field and maybe football field? Anyone remember what school was there?
Also, it's a great piece of property and I'm wondering what's going to happen with it. I'm guessing it's state property. I doubt they'll leave it undeveloped, but it would make for a nice park.
Also, it's a great piece of property and I'm wondering what's going to happen with it. I'm guessing it's state property. I doubt they'll leave it undeveloped, but it would make for a nice park.
Sometime between '67 and '71 there was a tall, good-looking, swarthy guy who hawked sandwiches from a hamper on the sidewalk in front of the Coop. He seemed pretty exotic, may even have had an earring. He was very outgoing; lots of coeds bought sandwiches from him and gave him admiring looks. He did this for maybe a year, then disappeared.
I heard shortly thereafter, authoritatively, that he was actually a drug dealer and that he had been murdered.
I heard shortly thereafter, authoritatively, that he was actually a drug dealer and that he had been murdered.
Mesohorny
1,000+ Posts
that guy started selling sandwiches in the evenings at the old New Orleans Club on Red River (they had an outdoor stage on the hillside in back - similar to Stubb's now - which is where he sold). as best as I can recall, he wasn't a dealer but was shot in a robbery at the club. I remember he was a real nice, out-going guy.
