Gone But Not Forgotten in San Antonio! - Part I (Fredericksburg: retailer, ranch)

[940]

I remember that too..and it was later than 1972..I seem to remember it on every TV channel in the late 70s but I could be wrong...

[BrianW]

Originally Posted by 940

I remember that too..and it was later than 1972..I seem to remember it on every TV channel in the late 70s but I could be wrong...

Yep, it was '77. For some reason, I thought I was still in high school... I guess the old memory isn't what it used to be!

[Banditos41]

Hey guys & gals. I just found this forum and have some old memories about SA & some questions.

I lived in SA twice. Once in 1979 while I was stationed over at Security Hill, on Kelly. And again in 1995 when the company I was working for then moved me from Dallas to San Antonio. Both times I remember how I though SA was a great place to raise a family but just wasn't a whole lotta fun for a single fellow. But I have great memories of both times.

One question that I had prying at me for years I think has been answered on this forum. What was the covered shopping center west of Fredricksburg Road and south of 410? It looked like an outdoor shopping center that had been roofed over as an early attempt at a Mall. Was this the Wonderland Mall I keep reading about? I remember buying a bike there to get me around the Kelly/Lackland area without burning gas (soldier's pay you know.)

I was depressed to see the condition of South Military Pkwy when I moved back in 95. All the lovely trees were gone and there stood an ugly and derelict mall that would close a few months later. The first failed mall I ever saw.

Does anyone remember the little drive-in movie theater on South Military that by the late 70's was showing porn movies? To meet local censorship laws, they had a fellow stand in from of the projection booth with a couple of long handled paddles. The idea was this guy would "black out" the area of the screen where the genitalia were with the paddles. A bunch of us from Kelly would take a couple pickups over, guys and girls alike, to see the show. We didn't care about the dirty movie. But watching the guy go through his moves trying to keep the black spots in their proper place on the screen was great! He was an older fellow that had moved that disco dancer would have envied. And when he missed one, we would all moan.

I was heart broken when I heard Abel's was being torn down. I hope the lower end of Broadway hasn't changed much. Who cares about the Alamo. Save the Pig Stand!

[irnag]

Anyone remember La Casita? It was a restaurant that I used to go to in it's original location which I don't remember where: Zazamora? Then it moved to Hillcrest just south of Babcock then it moved to Babcock and Callaghan. Funny thing was as it moved closer to my house, the less frequent I went there. Go figure.

[Primo]

Speaking of the windmill restaurant.....I know there is a light house over off Rittaman and I-35....what was that originally?

[Willsatx]

Originally Posted by Primo

Speaking of the windmill restaurant.....I know there is a light house over off Rittaman and I-35....what was that originally?

I would like to know what the lighthouse was also.

[spaceage007]

I could be off a year or so for Holmes too..anyway, yea, boondocks is a good word for the northwest side back then. Marshall was always the "kicker" school because of the FFA and Ag which was at Marshall until O'Connor High opened in Helotes and now I think it has the FFA chapter.

I use to live in Heritage which at the time was Jay area. I really wanted to go to Holmes, the only way I could go was to take FFA. At the time the only northside schools that had a FFA program wereMarshall and Holmes. The "Ag Farm" was off 1604 near Taft. Man I hated that class.....thank God for a new little gadget called "Gameboy".

Speaking of the windmill restaurant.....I know there is a light house over off Rittaman and I-35....what was that originally?

Isnt this the place where some guy went in and shot a bunch of people? I think it's a Asian restaurant now. Bet it was a sea food restaurant.

[tcs]

Dont know if anyone mentioned that the Windmill was the old Zuider Zee Restaurant chain. Bill Martin franchised the restaurants and up until a short time ago we still had one in the metroplex. Closed due to not putting money back into the restaurant. Food was pretty good but towards the end, was poor.

[Primo]

Since we are on the topic of restaurant architecture. Remember when IHOP looked like old time Swiss or German style house...they had the big sky blue roofs...brick walls, with shutters, and planters below the windows. The last one I can remember was on San Pedro @ Rector...they tore it down about 8 years ago and made it into a Pollo Loco.

Not far from there down San Pedro was the Spanish Galleon...next to the HEB @ Oblate. Did anyone ever eat there? Could you go into the ship area or was it just decoration?

[940]

Originally Posted by Primo

Since we are on the topic of restaurant architecture. Remember when IHOP looked like old time Swiss or German style house...they had the big sky blue roofs...brick walls, with shutters, and planters below the windows. The last one I can remember was on San Pedro @ Rector...they tore it down about 8 years ago and made it into a Pollo Loco.

Pics a bit faded but you can make out the blue roof..