Highrise Tower

I was browsing the newspaper The Rice Thresher dated November 7, 1958 and came across a business ad for The Explorer Club located at 7404 Greenbriar Drive The Explorer Club - A Private Club - - 7404 Greenbriar - .... exotic drinks; meals to appease the ravage white hunter; entertainment suited for maharajahs (& beer) .... membership, $6.00, subject to increase Nov. 13; stock available, minimum 10 shares, complimentary membership to stockholders .... contact Hap Veltman before Nov. 9 .... originated, owned and operated by Rice Students. Opening Nov. 13, 1958

I was browsing the newspaper The Rice Thresher dated October 16, 1942 and came across an article about the Little Theater located at 707 Chelsea Blvd. Little Theater Opens Tuesday An event of interest to the Institute theater-goers who have bee left in the cold since the disbanding of the Dramatic Club, will be the opening Tuesday night at 8:30 p.m. of the first production of the season by Houston Little Theater. The offering will run through Saturday night, although the last night the house will be given over in a large part to Soldiers. The play will be "The Heart of the City", by Lesley Storms, and the direction will be in charge of Dr. Friedrich Jessner. The Little Theater is located at 707 Chelsea Boulevard. Dr. Jessner, who comes to the Little Theater from the drama department of Yale University, has a wide and varied experience in the theater bot in this country and abroad. I'm not exactly sure what this is. Doesn't sound like a film theater, but a theater of the arts. Maybe this was apart of the Rice Institute's courses? I see talk about a drama club.

I was browsing an old HISD board meeting report dated May 14,1956 and came across a directory listing for the Houston Fire Station No. 33 at 7100 Old Main Street Road, AKA Old Main Street Fire Station. Very rare find! Later, after the OMSR name change, this Fire Station was located on Fannin Street, with a presumed address of 7100 Fannin Street. I believe, in the present day, this is an empty field. This is the site of the Medical Village: Proposed Mixed-Use Development by Slosburg. I still don't understand that site! The value must be so high that none of the medical institutions can buy it. The vacant land is one of the only remaining undeveloped parcels in the TMC. This parcel of land and several surface parking lots. Though, of course, MD Anderson controls a lot of undeveloped land around as well.

I found another location of the Main Street Theater. I was browsing the newspaper Jewish Herald-Voice dated January 15, 1981 and came across a movie listing for "First Night of Pygmalion" Now playing at the Main Street Theater 6265 South Main Street * 524-6706 "First Night of Pygmalion" A comedy based on the correspondence between Georg Bernard Shaw and the original Eliza Doolittle, about the riotous circumstances surrounding the first production of Shaw's masterpiece. I know of other locations of the Main Street Theater: Main Street Theater At 2540 Times Blvd. Main Street Theater At 4617 Montrose Blvd. Main Street Theater At 6265 South Main St.

I was browsing the newspaper The Texas Jewish Herald dated October 11, 1934 and came across a business ad for Kaphan's Restaurant located at 700 Waugh Drive. This restaurant came after their 7900 South Main Street location? I never knew they had another location on Waugh Drive. Kaphan's reopened tonight in their beautiful new home at 700 Waugh Drive. Same policy, same cooks, same genial atmosphere. Weldon Burke and his Tropical Serenaders Dine, Dance, and Make Merry from 8 P.M. Until 3 A.M.

I was browsing the newspaper The Bellaire & Southwestern Texan dated November 4, 1970 and came across a business ad for The Lobster Kettle Restaurant located at 5710 Bellaire Blvd. Love the price of the sandwich! For a real taste treat from the coast of Maine, try a Maine Lobster Salad Sandwich - 98 cents. Another "Kettle" restaurant! The name was very poplar back in the day. Dutch Kettle At 6410 Fannin St. Kettle Restaurant At 9047 South Main St. Kopper Kettle Cafeteria At 6910 Fannin St. The Lobster Kettle Restaurant At 5710 Bellaire Blvd.

I was looking at an old Houston map from Shell Oil Company dated 1956 and came across this circular road in the Texas Medical Center called Cullen Circle. The infamous Texas Medical Center Library AKA Jesse H. Jones Library AKA Houston Academy of Medicine Library has always been housed on the circular road. Present day, the road is called Library Circle. 1956: 2022:

I was browsing the newspaper The Bellaire Texan dated May 6, 1959 and came across an article about a shoe store called Shoe Box located at 6700 South Main Street. Anyone recall this place? It sure was a long time ago! The shoe store was apparently housed in the Hermann Professional Building, but the address of 6700 South Main seems different than the professional building. 6700 was where the Tides II Motor Inn was located. The original location of Shoe Box store was located at 2260 West Holcombe Blvd. in the Braeswood Center shopping center. Bill Douglas was the owner of the Shoe Box stores.

I was browsing the newspaper The Rice Thresher dated October 7, 1983 and came across a business ad for Lickety Split Restaurant located at 6628 South Main Street. Did anyone ever eat here? It wasn't too long ago (comparability) so maybe someone around here has ate there?

I was browsing the newspaper The Citizen dated January 28, 1948 and came across an article about a proposed City of Bellaire municipal airport called Bellaire International Airport which was going to be located on Richmond Road (now Bissonnet Street) and Bellaire Boulevard. The airport master plan was designed by architecture firm Leigh Fisher Associates, Inc. Very cool find!! Signed by C.E. Nayland, president of the board of directors of the organization, the letter to Mayor Massey stated: "It is the board's opinion that the purchase of this tract of land is very desirable to provide future airport facilities which will be needed in anticipation of our city's growth. The land in question consists of a 4000-acres tract west of Richmond Road and Bellaire Boulevard lying in the Westmoreland Farm area. Glenn H. McCarthy, millionaire Houston oilman, has leased the acreage which he has offered to turn over to the airport commission for the construction of the huge air terminal.

I was browsing the newspaper The Bellaire & Southwestern Texan dated September 11, 1974 and came across this business ad for help wanted. Cashiers wanted: Positions will be at the Houston Intercontinental Airport, Greenway Plaza Airport Terminal, City Post Oak Airport Terminal, & South Main Airport Terminal. Air Coach, Express Airport Transportation. Article from the Plaza Commerce Bank drive-through grand opening. Their headquarters was located across the street (or freeway.) Our new motor bank is particular easy to reach from the West University-Bellaire Area Mr. Savage said. “Simply drive north on Weslayan and turn east on the Southwest Freeway inbound feeder. We're just beyond the Greenway Plaza airport terminal. You return home by turning south on Edloe,” he said, “or you can reach the main bank lobby by turning north on Edloe.”

Where exactly was this? Does anyone know anything about it? I wonder if it's on that famous abandoned airport website? I was browsing the newspaper The Bellaire & Southwestern Texan dated September 11, 1974 and came across this business ad for help wanted. Cashiers wanted: Positions will be at the Houston Intercontinental Airport, Greenway Plaza Airport Terminal, City Post Oak Airport Terminal, & South Main Airport Terminal. Air Coach, Express Airport Transportation. Connections can be made to 26 other Metro routes, the West Loop Park & Ride lot for downtown commuters, the City Post Oak airport bus terminal and the greyhound bus terminal at Northwest Mall.

Information found in the newspaper The Bellaire Texan dated October 29, 1958. This particular Monorail was designed by Murel Goodell for his company Monorail, Inc. based in Houston, TX. Actually, all three monorails that were tested in Houston (Houston International Airport, Arrowhead Park, and Fondren/S. Main) were owned by Murel Goodell. Across Pasture The test line in Houston is located at Fondren Road and S. Main and runs for about 1000 feet across pasture land just outside the cit limits. Monorail, Inc., is the only company to have built and operated full scale modern monorail units. Another test line was built in Houston in 1956 on Old Spanish Trail, and later moved to Dallas and reinstalled at the State Fair Park. It has been in operation there since that time.

Information found in the newspaper The Baytown Sun dated November 18, 1957. This particular Monorail was designed by Murel Goodell for his company Monorail, Inc. based in Houston, TX. Actually, all three monorails that were tested in Houston (Houston International Airport, Arrowhead Park, and Fondren/S. Main) were owned by Murel Goodell. Financier Buys Stock In Monorail Axel Wenner Gren, the Swedish financier and unofficial world diplomat, today announced his purchase of the controlling interest in Monorail, Inc. for $2 million. Wenner Gren and Murel Goodell, manager of Monorail, said the company headquartered in Houston, will continue under the same management but will have Wenner – Gren's support to insure its expansion. Monorail is a single track overhead train system that can operate up to 150 miles an hour.It has been failed as an answer to the modern urban transportation problem. But so far, it has suffered from lack of financing. The only operating system the company owns extends across the state fair grounds in Dallas.

Information found in the newspaper The Bellaire & Southwestern Texan August 18, 1965. This particular Monorail was designed by Murel Goodell for his company Monorail, Inc. based in Houston, TX. Actually, all three monorails that were tested in Houston (Houston International Airport, Arrowhead Park, and Fondren/S. Main) were owned by Murel Goodell. Sky Taxi The “Sky Taxi” monorail at the International Airport, Houston's unique answer to the nation's parking problems will get off the ground sometime this week with a leting of construction, electronic and coach building contracts. The announcement was made by Marel Goodell.

I was browsing a random TMC map and saw a weird thing. When the Shamrock was built, there was a street built, or renamed, in honor. The official Shamrock Hotel address was 6900 South Main Street. I wonder where Shamrock Drive came into play? Shamrock Drive no longer exists and was changed to Pressler Street.

I was looking at a Shell Oil Company map of Houston dated 1956 and noticed the road that circles Hermann Park was called Outer Belt Drive. Edit: Outer Belt Drive became South MacGregor Way, and finally became Cambridge St. Next to Memorial Hermann Hospital in the TMC over the last decade. Outer Belt Drive no longer exists. The street was renamed to Hermann Park Drive. 1956: 2022:

I was looking at a random TMC map online and noticed that Pressler Street used to be called Galen Drive. When did this happen? Who, and what involvement was Galen to the Texas Medical Center? Galen Drive was near the Shriner's Hospital, and near the intersection of Holcombe & Main.

I was browsing the newspaper The Jewish Herald-Voice dated September 22, 1938 and came across a Happy New Year ad from Mr. and Mrs. Joe Levit and Family - 2612 Wheeler. I assume this was where Joe Levit lived back in 1938. Back then, they used to include a residential address to go a long with the news article, or photograph. The Hines Life Science development called Levit Green is named after Joe Levit and his family. Very cool!

More information from the newspaper Southwestern Times dated January 24, 1946. There was a naming contest held on February 15, 1946. Awesome concept rendering! Facts About This Center: Hotel: This 1004-room hotel, completely air conditioned, includes 431 hotel rooms, and 573 rooms in apartments ranging from one-room efficiencies to two three, and four-bedroom apartments and penthouses. Many private dining rooms, coffee shop, snack bar, ballroom, large dining room, beauty shop, barber shop, liquor store, drug store, art gallery, and available spaces for other shops. Unique clerk desk in basement for driving, registering and going direct to room. Medical Building: An individual building properly designed for the medical profession with the latest designed sanitary features for any size clinic. Proximity to the Texas Medical Center, Cancer Research, and Baylor Medical School give added important to the location for every doctor. Market: The largest marked in the world, with 51, 000 square feet, choice imported and domestic foods, liquors, cooked food, restaurant, meat market, frozen food lockers for the public and all the other good things which go to make this the finest. A Complete Shopping Center To Include Such Shops As: Ready-to-ear, Men's fine Tailoring Shops, Beauty Parlors, Jewelry, Appliances, Drug Store, Baby Shop, Stationary, Photography Studio, Florists, Variety Store, and other types of business to make a Complete Shopping Center. Write or telephone applications for rental space of stores, shops, medical offices, or apartments furnished or unfurnished, to 6902 Main Street, telephone Keystone 3-5507. James A. Clark, Operational Manager

I never knew about this! I was browsing the newspaper June 11, 1986 and came across a business ad for Texas Medical Center YMCA Swim & Tennis Center located at 6900 South Main St. I read the Shamrock Hilton Hotel closed, and the YMCA leased (or was donated by the TMC) for a spring/summer season. It was a seasonal YMCA that eventually went away. Here's the article that was released a few months earlier.

I was browsing the newspaper Southwestern Times dated January 26, 1950 and came across a Grand Opening business ad for Kee Jan Restaurant located at 8299 South Main Street. Very cool find! I never knew this existed. There were other famous Chinese restaurants located in or around the Texas Medical Center but this place was never spoken about. Was it not as good? Or did it go out of business quickly? Anyone ever heard of this place? Looks like they were previously on Westheimer Road.

I was browsing the newspaper The Rice Thresher dated October 6, 1989 and came across a business ad for The Outback Bar located at 7707 South Main St. This was farly recent. Did anyone on HAIF go here by any chance? The artwork is a little weird! I guess the theme matches though. I never heard of margaritas called "Maggies." I've been known to say "marqs" which is a cool abbreviation. I could use a Escalantes margarita right now!!

I was browsing the newspaper The Bellaire Texan dated December 3, 1986 and came across an article about a proposed replacement for the aging Memorial Hermann Robertson Pavilion. A replacement for RP has been known for nearly 20 years. I wonder the hold up? I'm guessing the MH board of directors/foundation does not want to demolish the historic building. Bernard Johnson, Inc. was the architect who designed the hospital. Very cool find! I love old TMC proposals.

Project Name: SAFStor - Fuqua, LLC Facility Name: Extra Space Location Address: 3307 West Fuqua Street Estimated Cost: $9,839,022 Scope of Work: Construct a new three (3) story, 105,000sf self-storage facility with all associated site work. Square Footage: 105,000 ft 2