Gone But Not Forgotten in San Antonio! - Part I (New Braunfels: garage door, boat)

[Willsatx]

There used to be a Fargo's at that shopping center on Wurzbach and Evers.

[Dwangle]

Yes BudB it would be fun if we could remember the neon lights that were so popular at that time. I have mentioned the Handy Andy neon totem pole's ( or whatever you want to call them) earlier in this thread. The Nix building still has a KMAC clock in their parking garage. I think it is neon and I think it is still there down town. I think the Broadway 50 50 still has a neon light too.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by danasue65

Fond memories of Dollar night Monday at the San Pedro Drive-In during the summers, where you could find herds of Northside teenagers. Eating chiliburgers at G. W. Jr.'s, which was owned by Church's Fried Chicken and got closed down in the mid 80's. I worked at a low-end clothing called Weiner's at Blanco and West Avenue (all of those closed down in the 90's, I believe) and would take lunch break at a hot dog place called Weiner Works (long gone). I also remember eating at a place I think was called Sopapilla's, which served hot sopapillas at the end of your meal.

I remember eating cotton candy at the Globe Store right down San Pedro past the mall, followed by REALLY discount shopping at Solo Serve. And-this is WAY back-there was a restaurant in that same area called the Zuider Zee, that had a windmill. It was a HUGE thrill when I was young. Anyone else remember that?

Oh my goodness - the San Pedro Drive-In!!! My boyfriend and I would go there once in a while. We used my Grand Prix because he sold his truck and only had a motorcycle. lol

One night they were showing the Chainsaw Massacre. Some Redneck had a chainsaw, turned it on and had all the girls screaming throughout the parking lot. Couldn't do that now days and get away with it. LOL!

Yes, Globe on San Pedro!!! I bought my first set of bedsheets for my new apartment on Fredericksburg Road. Freedom! LOL!

[SATX56]

Originally Posted by BudB

It would be fun and some good history to list all the drive-in theaters in SA once upon a time. I'll start with my part of town; The Rigsby with a Tic-tac-toe game in neon just east of Commanche Park on Rigsby, the Parkair at Goliad and Clark, The Mission w/ San Jose on front, The Trail w/ a cowboy and wagons at Roosevelt and Loop 13, SouthSan out on SW Loop 13/ SW Military Rd., and the Chief on Ackerman Rd. just off WW White. Anybody else got others besides the Alamo on Austin Hwy. San Antonio had at least a couple dozen drive-in theaters at one time in the mid 1950s. I went to a rock concert July 4th 1972 at a defunk drive-in out on Zarzamora I think, that may still be standing but I can't recall the name.
Meanwhile, I am glad you remembered the Sang Toy Market satx and there were many others all over town. Occasionally I pass one that's boarded up, graffittied and forgotten but was once a vital part of the neighborhood and the Chinese American community.

Hello Bud B , the Rigsby is one I barely recall . But I'm quite sure I've been there. Just east of Commanche Park on Rigsby later became government housing!! I remember all the others you mentioned and many more except for the Chief on Ackerman. Most of our drive ins are well documented on a couple Drive-In sites! I've never heard the Chief mentioned! The rock concert you attended was probably at the Kelly Drive In. It was on Frio City Road but just about a 1/2 block of Zarzamora! I didn't recall the name Sang Toy Market but that had to be it . The address is correct and that was 50's early 60's . I was surprised you found something on that! Wah Young was in business many years at Malone and S. Flores!! Thanks for sharing with us again BudB always interesting!!

[GWhopper]

Originally Posted by scorpion23

millard fillmores was the resturant on wurz and evers remember ten speed bicycle club and marvins gardens

Where was Millard Filmore's on Wurzbach?

I remember the 10 Speed Bicycle club, that inhabited the building where Smuggler's Inn used to be and now Perfect 10.

I've been trying to find out the history of the Smuggler's Inn chain but have come up with nada on the internet. I get to travel all over the country and I see so many buildings in so many cities in the Southwest that I recognize as old Smuggler's Inns buildings. Anybody know the history of this chain? All I can find are reviews, which are not favorable. I am curious as to how this chain could grow so fast, build these very architecturally-distinct buildings, then go out of business in so short a period of time.

[Primo]

Originally Posted by GWhopper

Where was Millard Filmore's on Wurzbach?

I remember the 10 Speed Bicycle club, that inhabited the building where Smuggler's Inn used to be and now Perfect 10.

.

Millard Filmore's was on the corner of Wurzbach and Evers...the place that had a school bus sticking out of the building that was used for a party room. Was that place a chain? In recent years it was a Hungry Horse and then some asian place. I am not sure what it is these days. There used to be a T.G.& Y and Fargos in the shopping center behind it. Bonus side trivia: Millard Filmore was the middle school in the Brady Bunch!

[Been There B4]

Originally Posted by GWhopper

Where was Millard Filmore's on Wurzbach?

M F was located near the southwest corner of Wurzbach and Evers. It was in the stand-alone building facing Wurzbach, at the northern edge of the big, L-shaped strip mall property that has seen its ups and downs over the last couple of decades. I've lived away from SA for the last three years, but remember the building being occupied by an Asian restaurant before I left, and a Hungry Horse before that.

[huckster]

I lived in the area for many years and recall all you speak of,
the Bandera drive in, the gas stations, the movie it is in etc,
The whole place has changed soooo much it is sad , youjust have to farther out to see old familiar places. I used to cruise all over the place in the area you spoke of, however I now live and have lived in Detroit for 30 years and will soon be moving back. Talk about nostalgia.....try moving away for 32 years and then think back........but soon I will be among old friends and family and places I used to haunt, and al will be well.
Cool Crest trailer park , medina dam was crossed in a car,reds cove,
hilltop tavern at culebra and SWresearch- an old country type of beerjoint with wood floors and screen doors and outside tables where you could see of into the hills, beer in freestanding coolers for the beer where you opened the top and grabbed a longneck etc( if the place were still there
it would be a landmark and a place of interest and a money maker- none are in existence anymore unless you travel to west texas)
The gas station at 1604 and 471 was closed in 2000 "because of retirement" as the video taped sign said I have when I came through the area.
Those were the days and they will be back soon-for me.

Originally Posted by 940

This thread is for those who have lived in SA for some time now or maybe just have memories of places that no longer exist. It might be interesting to some of the newer folks who have no idea what used to be here, whether it was a beloved place or just something different that you can't find anymore.

I'm in my early 40s but I remember all the old movie drive-ins that used to be everywhere in the city. We used to frequent the old Bandera Rd Drive-In that used to be located at the SE corner of Bandera and Loop 410 where the old Target building sits empty. We also used to go to the Fredericksburg Rd Drive-In about a mile past Crossroads Mall (the old Wonderland Mall) just south of Loop 410. I remember the Woodlawn, the Mission and the Valley Hi theaters also.

For those that live on the far west side near Potranco Rd, there used to be a business just about 1/2 mile south of Potranco outside 1604 where you could drive back into the woods and target shoot. It was called appropriately enough "A Place to Shoot"...original, eh?! That wouldn't go over so well now with all the new homes being built, of course.

Also, at the eastern corner where Potranco Rd and Talley Rd deadends, was an old country gas station and store named "Reds" with old 1930s or 1940s gas pumps. It was owned by Mr and Mrs Red Laidley and they stocked everything from some basic groceries to farm and ranch equipment and feed for livestock. Most people don't know this but if you can find an old scary movie entitled "Race with the Devil" starring M*A*S*H TV star Loretta Swit and also starring Peter Fonda, you can see just how rural Potranco and that area used to be. The film was made around 1973 and the premise of the film involved two couples trying to get away from devil worshippers who caught them spying on one of their sacrifices..anyway..the scene shows them driving on Potranco towards Talley Rd in their RV and stopping at Reds for gas and information. You get a great shot of what the interior of this old country store looked like and you see both Mr Laidley and his elderly wife who had bit parts in the film. In the distance, you can see empty farm land and not the sea of homes that inhabit the view now.

The old gas station there off Culebra just to the west of 1604 that I hear was finally demolished for a new Jim's was called "Dan's"...it was similar to the store just mentioned above..Red's...everything seemed to have just one name! It serviced all the farms and ranches on FM 471 from where the old Grissom Rd intersected to the east all the way west towards the county line.

Anyone else have any old memores? I'll add some more later!

[Primo]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

Oh my goodness - the San Pedro Drive-In!!! My boyfriend and I would go there once in a while. We used my Grand Prix because he sold his truck and only had a motorcycle. lol

Do you remember it was actually called SPOT. San Pedro Outdoor Theater. I remember there was a rifle range not far up West Ave, around Nakoma, I believe it is where the present day park is. I remember that was "going out to the country" in those days.

[GWhopper]

Originally Posted by Primo

Millard Filmore's was on the corner of Wurzbach and Evers...the place that had a school bus sticking out of the building that was used for a party room. Was that place a chain? In recent years it was a Hungry Horse and then some asian place. I am not sure what it is these days. There used to be a T.G.& Y and Fargos in the shopping center behind it. Bonus side trivia: Millard Filmore was the middle school in the Brady Bunch!

I remember the train. I think it was a Wendy's for awhile, too.

I think it might have been a chain, I have seen similar buildings with trains sticking out of them in other cities as well. Something to research, I guess.