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09/02/09 09:50 PM #194     Leah Favella I have to comment on good ole Dr. Cramer..A marine dentist and he cause alot of psch pain to my family...he would fill then a couple of years later take out the filling and put another one in...pain pain...All three of us as adults were horrified when Dentist came up..Good ole Doc Cramer !!

09/02/09 09:52 PM #195     Leah Favella Jennie you have a incredible memory....I remember Friday Nite at Tradewinds....Do any of you remember my dances at the Firehouse on 34th..I still can't remember how the firemen let me rent the place..I was 16...

09/03/09 10:05 AM #196     Donna McAnally (Dillon) Hey Jennie! I went to the Tradewinds on Friday nights also! I wore my "poodle skirt" and tried to look sophisicated. Ha! Sure had fun back then, didn't we?

09/03/09 11:58 AM #197     Jennie Anderson (Dylan) Leah, I TOTALLY forgot about the fillings being removed, drilled out, every few years. How crazy was that? He had a perpetual business like a cemetery, always and forever having clients! I did go to the Firehouse a few times when I was 16, but more when my parents square danced there and made me go with them. I had so many square dance skirts when I was 10 -12 years old and dosied-doed in those circles. Spell check doesn't have word help for the "d-d" word. Anybody else have to square dance? What do you remember about those dances at the Firehouse? Did we go outside and sneak cigarettes or drink? I'm drawing a blank. Remember going to the Livestock Show by the bus from Sears, dressed in our fancy boots and cowgirl clothes? Leah, you, Janne and I had the best time chasing "boys"down there, at the Coliseum. Donna, POODLE SKIRTS! How cute I looked in those with my VERY long, much skinnier legs poking out from underneath it! I want to get one this winter for my little granddaughters. What about those cute little saddle oxfords with the little buckles on the back...I loved those shoes, and later my Weejuns b/c I did not have to wear socks with them!

09/05/09 07:50 AM #198     Stephen Ray Puckett I remember going to the Fat Stock Show and Rodeo, going every year. My biggest thrill, as I recall, was seeing The Cisco Kid and Pancho, some of my TV heroes at the time. Per http://wikibin.org/articles/previous-performers-at-the-houston-livestock-show-and-rodeo.html they were there in 1954. As I recall, our Waltrip band marched in the parade, dodging as best we could the many horse-apples in the street. The Shrine Circus was also a lot of fun. I used to think the trapeze girls were the most beautiful girls in the universe - until one time when I saw them up close.

09/07/09 11:18 PM #199     Talley Hudson Jennie, back to some of your questions/comments. I took dance lessons from Eleanor Eason. Her studio was just down the street from where I lived. I remember walking down there alone (even as a very small child) and stopping in the bar next door to buy pretzels. Can you imagine doing that today? Anyway, I took ballet a couple of different times and tap once. I could only shuffle-ball-change with one foot, so I would sort of go in circles. Thus, the end of a great tap career! And then, of course, the obligatory ballroom dance class as a sixth-grader. I wonder how many of the boys just hated being there. And going to Tradwinds was an every Friday night occurence. Suzie's mother was always kind enough to pick us up. I could sort of get around the floor but could never skate backwards like Jacquie. So I spent a lot of time in the snack shop listening to "Runaway" and all the other hits of the times. I grew up across the street from the Garden Oaks Theater. Remember the midnight movies? Friends would come over and after the movie, we'd run home (3 a.m.?), all scared from the creepy movie, and pile into my bedroom. Again, can you imagine anyone letting their kids run home alone at 3 a.m. today? Suzie and I (and maybe Pat Bissonnet?) all tried out for Larry Kane, but none of us made the cut. We had such high hopes. I'm jealous that your brother actually did it. Oh, and I took the baton lessons at the American Legion Hall, too. I remember very little except marching in a parade in my little white boots. But, once again, another career gone bad. Just wasn't that good of a twirler! Everything you said brings up memories. My 4th birthday party was at Happyland. I racked my brain the other day trying to remember what I did on my 60th birthday, but I can remember my 4th. What does that tell you! Keep the memories coming. Can anyone from Garden Oaks remember all of our May Pole dances??

09/08/09 04:28 PM #200     Jennie Anderson (Dylan) Talley, that was the funniest message I have ever read. You have a gift with words! Can you believe how safe it was, or at least how safe our parents thought it was, for us to be allowed to "go buy pretzels at the bar" or walk home from the movie late at night? We used to play kick-the-can in my neighborhood, on Cheshire, between Oak Forest and Ella until late at night on the weekends. We would hide all over the place and never thought of being afraid. I remember when they were building new houses in Ella Lee Forest, my girlfriend's and I would go over and play house in the empty new houses, with workmen all over the neighborhood. My Mom would say, "Just be back before dinner". It's lucky we ever came back. Fudd's is tonight and I'm sure new memories will be stirred. These memories should be saved for us to read again when we're 90!

09/09/09 01:50 PM #201     Janne Semeyn (Boone) Talley, I am so impressed that you remember your birthday party at Happyland Kiddie Park on Shepard. We have to stretch our memories really far back for that. My parents build Happyland probably when I was a toddler and it such fun to go to. There was a merry-go-round, a very small ferris wheel, an airplane ride, a boat ride, shetland ponies that would walk or trot on two different paths, and a few other rides. I got motion sickness very easily and almost all the rides went around in circles. Bummer! Sometimes I was called upon to ride with a child who was afraid to ride by themselves. I can remember that I couldn't wait until I got into second grade because that was when my parents would allow me to sell ride tickets at the concession stand. Can you imagine buying tickets from a 7 year old?? Well, my parents sold the park before I reached that milestone and it still haunts me that I never got to sell my first ticket! If any of you have memories of Happyland I would love to hear them. Does anyone remember Kitirik, the "mascot" of KTRK. She dressed in a cat costume and had a Saturday morning show on TV. I got to be in the audience once. The cameraman did a close up of my sister, but of course not me! It's a good thing we didn't have the capability of recording TV shows back then or I would have had to suffer through repeated showings of that morning.

09/12/09 12:08 AM #202     Talley Hudson I read in my local paper today (Seattle Times) that Bellevue (WA) High School (where my sons went) is playing Katy High School Saturday night. They billed it as "Friday Night Lights" in Texas (which happens to be one of my favorite TV shows). I recall Waltrip playing Katy sometime when we were still there. How strange that now it's moved to a national venue. I am divided as to how I will root. I am a true Washingtonian, but at a Texas at heart. Guess I can't lose, can I?

09/14/09 11:29 AM #203     Jennie Anderson (Dylan) Robby, I'm riding 10 miles every other day. I'm just over a stomach flu, so I'm fighting that weakness aftermath. I hope our ride is still on for Sunday. I'm not the fastest, but I love to ride. I just love that freedom and energy from doing it! Are we riding a paved trail, doing a Houston historical ride, or what? I think an hour or an hour in a half will be what I can handle, unless we have stops a long the way. What time and where is all I need to know! I'm kool with anywhere except T.C. Jester. I do that all the time. You choose! Still time for anyone one else to join, if they so wish! Janne, I was so envious of you Dad's little red fire engine! I thought you and Judy were the luckiest kids in the whole world to get to ride in one of those to school. I wonder if I had my pony picture with me atop in my cowgirl outfit taken at Happy Land. Who didn't have a pony picture of them taken in the 50's? MTV awards were over the top last night with Kenye West stealing Taylor Swift's moment. Lady GaGa was really weird, both on stage and in the audience with that thing on her head. Can you imagine any of that back in the 60's. Any new thoughts by anyone for the forum?

09/14/09 08:13 PM #204     Talley Hudson Patrick Swayze--rest in peace.

09/14/09 09:37 PM #205     Linda Webster It is indeed sad to see that someone from our high school and that most of us knew and took dance lessons from his Mother Patsy has succumbed to that horrible, deadly Cancer. Well he is finally free of pain and joining his father. To second you Talley-- Patrick Swayze rest in peace.

09/15/09 10:20 AM #206     Jennie Anderson (Dylan) Amen! He made our lives richer by his accomplishments. He gave our neighborhood such pride. Long live his memory!

09/15/09 07:37 PM #207     Lindy Clarke (Hall) Hi All... Thought I'd check in to see how many of us were posting memories of Patrick Swayze.... and then, I got hooked, and just spent several hours reading thru 9 pages of postings; trying to catch up. That was fun... like being transported. Oh, the names... most I do remember, some I'm hazy about... When we moved to Oak Forest, from England, I was in 5th Grade, but only for 2months, then 6th Grade had Mrs. Mewhinney (very tough, but my all-time favorite teacher). We lived on Wakefield, and what a wonderful street it was. Three doors down from us was Lane Roquemore (& his older sister Shirley), and 2-3 doors down from him was the Swayze family. Across the street from me was April Sorrell, and a few doors down from her was the Bradley family (bunch of kids), and halfway down the block were Pam & Jan Hughes. For a short time there was a Roger next door to me, not sure if it was Roger Felton or not. Later, my parents bought a "new" house on Poinciana, off Mangum, in Mangum Manor, and over there we had Roy George, Chip & Boo Barnette, another Roger -?- (maybe that one was Felton), some big Catholic family with 8-9 kids, and many others, I'm struggling to recall. I've often said I had a "Norman Rockwell type childhood" and I'm so thankful to have grown up in the Oak Forest area. Patrick's older sister, Patti, was in our grade at some point, and she was the first one is junior high to get real boobs. She never seems to be mentioned in anything I've ever read about Patrick. The Swayze's were a large family, or seemed like it... 4-5 kids(?). They didn't play with us much, but they were "around". Patti didn't play at all, and Patrick was much younger than us. I used to see Patrick a lot at the stables (Silver Spur Stables, 34th@Ella).... his dad would come and ride with the other dads, and the rest of us would follow along. Patrick was just a little boy... usually all dirty :o). Of course, at the stables, we all got rather dirty after a few hours, but he seemed to play in mud and was a high-energy child... always running around and so darn cute... we kinda just took him for granted. The kid. When I see Patrick on the big screen, it doesn't even seem like the same kid. Doesn't quite fit with my memories. I just love this site so much... There were several postings that I want to comment on, but will do that at a later time. Lindy Clarke (Hall, Wells, Tamblin... lol) '65

09/16/09 05:58 PM #208     John Leediker Wow, the recent posts sure do bring back a lot of memories. I guess I was one of a limited number of guys who took ballroom dance lessons from Eleanor Eason. I remember those Tues nights and having butterflies about what I was going to have to learn that night :) I wish I could remember some if it now. Ed Cearley lived just down the street from me then on Althea, and we used to share rides to the lessons. I vividly remember the day that Buddy Holly was killed and some of his 45RPM records that Eleanor had at the studio for dancing.....brings back a lot of memories. I also was one to frequent Tradewinds roller rink...we had lots of fun back in those days. I remember having some of those lights that clipped onto the bottom of my skates...it was cool to skate when the lights were low and the mirror ball was spinning. I forgot who posted the comment about the bar next to Eason studios......it was called The Dutchman....I used to go in there with my Dad occasionally and drink a Dr.Pepper and eat those great pretzels. Someone also mentioned the Garden Oaks theater.....does anyone remember the Saturday morning Fun Club at G.O. theater? Admission was 10 cents for a morning of cartoons and a movie It is amazing how simple life was back in those days....I guess the world will never be that way again. I am saddened by the passing of Patrick Swayze...he was a remarkable guy and a huge loss to the entertainment world. My thoughts are with his family...... Best to all...keep up the excellent posts. -John

09/16/09 06:24 PM #209     Peggy Lee Pratt (Ervin) I used to walk to the bus stop and ride the bus the the Garden Oaks theater Fun Club on Saturdays with Cheryl Hammock.That was the days........can you even imagine our grandkids being able to do that??? Acutally our kids couldn't do that. Can remember playing at the railroad tracks @ TC Jester. Also, remember spending a lot of time at the horse stables on Ella. My sister, Donna, loved horses, I didn't. Yes, I remember Eleonor Eason. And certainly remember Patsy Swayse School of Dance. Patrick was about 3 or 4 and I can remember him dancing. Seemed he was always there. Wow---that was a long time ago. Rest in peace, sweet Patrick.

09/17/09 09:22 AM #210     Donna McAnally (Dillon) Oh yes, I also took the shuttle on Saturday mornings to go from our house on Gardenia to the Garden Oaks Theatre. What fun those mornings were! Sometimes a few of us would venture down the street to Penny's and Sears. What freedom we had! In later years (after I turned 21, of course) I used to go the Dutchman with my mother (who was widowed early) and Eleanor Eason would come in there occasionally. She was a funny person, so colorful.

09/17/09 12:50 PM #211     Lindy Clarke (Hall) Yes, Garden Oaks Theater every Saturday morning, with my sister Wendy and sometimes a few other kids from our block... the bus went straight down Wakefield. I seem to recall the Flash Gordon serial episodes and some others. And a few times, while in the 7th Grade, April Sorrell and I took the bus to Foleys Downtown. We'd eat something at the counter, and look around and go home, never bought anything. We felt so grown-up, but thinking back, we were so young. I never did the dancing lessons, which is odd, because in 3rd Grade I really wanted to be a ballerina. But soon after moving to Wakefield, I discovered the stables, and my love of horses took over... I hung out there every single day for over a year before my dad finally bought me a horse. We rode our horses to the Chuck Wagon, and all along the TC Jester bayou, and out in the woods to pick blackberries... this was before the 610 Loop was built... we were so sad to see "our" woods cut down. Someone mentioned catching snakes earlier, and a couple of our guys at the stables made hatbands out of the skins from snakes they caught. Friday and/or Saturday nites were always at Tradewinds Roller Rink.... unless our family was going to a drive-in movie... Thunderbird, Post Oak, North Shepherd, and several others to choose from... and they were still there when I started dating. How sad to see those close. Tradewinds was the epicenter of socializing in my world, and damn those pickles were good. I was in & out of love every other week. We were so fickle at that age. I sat next to John Brown (mentioned earlier) in 8th Grade American History with Mr. Prappas (the only teacher I ever had a crush on; he was so cool!). Mr Prappas was also a law student, and later had a practive on the Gulf Frwy, which may still be there. Anyhow, yes, John Brown's desk was then empty for the next few months, and it was weird. He was a sweet & gentle guy, and then he was gone. I didn't go to John's funeral, but did go to Steve Lewis's. Steve used to come over to our house on Poinciana every few days, and we all loved him. He was scared to go to VietNam. He came over the night before he left, and I'll always be haunted by that. He was always a laughing cheerful guy... at least, on the surface. I never met anyone that didn't like him. There is a website for the VietNam Memorial, where you can go and acknowledge the soldiers that died... I did that a year or two ago (don't have the link, but Google is your friend). I think it would be lovely if some more Waltrip people went on there and said a few words.

09/17/09 06:37 PM #212     Stephen Ray Puckett Jennie mentioned pony photos. There was a guy that came to our house on Chantilly making pony photos and I got one - I was thrilled! Later my little sister got one as well. Don't know if it was the same one but the pony looked the same. Later I have seen kid/pony photos from all over the US and they look very much the same. Perhaps someone sold get-rich-taking-kid/pony-photos kits, complete with kiddie outfits? I also thought Janne was the luckiest girl to have Happyland in the family. Later in 1954 I visited the new Disneyland and discovered a place I liked better. I told my parents that when I grew up, I wanted to live on Tom Sawyer's Island.

09/17/09 11:53 PM #213     Leah Favella Buddy Swayze's sister's name was Vicki and she died in the 90's she went to Waltrip. His other sister was named Bambi and Patsy and Buddy Sr. adopted her during the Vietnam era...and then there were 2 younger brothers. He is now with his Dad and Vicki and is at peace...

09/17/09 11:55 PM #214     Leah Favella Hey Janne !! I loved Happyland...I remember the paint pony...yeehaw !!

09/18/09 12:09 AM #215     Leah Favella Talking about square dancing....The Raglands taught and I think they were at the Firehouse or either Garden Oaks...I can remember the blue checkered big skirts with lots of petti's The Fun Club on Saturday Morning.... Riding the Bus from Sears to go downtown to shop at Foley's and have lunch at Sakowitz...Shirley Wilhelm and I rode that bus alot and Jennie and Janne and I had some fun times at the Rodeo.. Breakfast at Garden Oaks Pharmacy..Th Hollands owned... Going with my Dad to go thru the houses in Mangum Manor and Ella Lee Forest..he was the builder in those sub-divisions... When I come back from Florida to visit the neighborhood...I lived on Azaleadell..and on 41st across the street from Carol Gunter Snell...What changes...But our Memories will live on !!

09/18/09 09:47 AM #216     Kay Watters (Greene) Hey all, I've enjoyed reading thru the Waltrip 65, I'm usually on the 64 site too. Although Sue and I (Watters) didn't share in Jr. High with all of yall as Mom worked at Fonville Jr. High and we went there. We roller-skated there too at Rainbow Skating Rink, took private lessons in dance, figure, and a little racing. We took acting at the Alley Theatre for a while, took dance lessons and both of us did dance on the Larry Kane show on Saturdays, but always on the sides as the Regulars made the center. Nothing stuck to us, moved to Shepherd Park Plaza, met my neighbors, Barbara Porter, Fred Bode, Kay Zigal, Vernon Ellis and brother, Johnny Pappagallos, Donna next door, who was mad about Frank Romano. Glen Cadenas, Bobby Schmanski, Ross Taylor, all come to mind. I met & married Dan Baker who was at the Tradewinds Skating Rink and the Horse Place near Waltrip,liked a Pat ?. He now lives in Canyon Lake, TX, now, Kay Z. married and lives around Bastrop, Fred runs a Cat Scan dept at a Hospital in Austin, married. Both Sue and I were D.E. students, I worked at Sakowitz and Sue worked at Foleys, went to SHSU and promptly both got married. Yes, life was so great back then. Enjoyed it.

09/18/09 11:46 AM #217     Bernard Brady Any of you remember the yo-yo contests at the Garden oaks theater? Oh my, it was big. Duncan yo-yo (the sponsor), had the worlds most amazing yo-yo artists every Saturday. Shoot the moon, rock the baby, The loops, walking the dog. Seems like I always went with Ricky Fitzgerald and we never ever missed. We'd spend most of the day there and probably never spent a buck. BJ Brady

09/18/09 12:48 PM #218     Jennie Anderson (Dylan) I love all the sharing on the forum, it was getting a little lonely there for a while. Yes indeed, Yo Yo contests at the Garden Oaks Theater. I can remember now standing on the stage doing the "walk the dog" and other tricks. How much fun was that? Yes, going downtown to Foley's and Sakowitz was awesome. I hate to remember the segregated buses now. How terrible that we became a part of that then. We would catch the bus at Sears and ride all the way to Main Street. Janne and I used to go see the adult movies down there sometimes, like "What Ever Happened to Mary Jane?" and other movies that tended to educate our young minds on things we were never going to learn at home. Leah, did you go with us to some of those, or just the rodeo, so we could scout out guys? Robbie and I are on for our ride Sunday, any late comers welcome. Talley and Janne said they would if they were here. Come on folks, it's not a race or anything! Does anyone remember the crazy teacher in 2nd grade at Oak Forest that jumped out the window of the shack, when the old heater, by the door, blew a gasket and starting steaming like "Old Faithful"? We jumped out after she did and those shacks were high off the ground too! Mrs. Semeyn and I loved talking about that time, sharing how all of us were just pouring out the window. I think, she said the teacher was fired shortly after. How crazy was that? I still remember it like it was yesterday? Maybe that's when I developed my school anxiety problem that lasted for years and years!

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