St.
Louis Memories 2010
David A.
Lossos
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return to the "Genealogy in St. Louis" Web Site click here.
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Lossos
Note: If your name and/or e-mail address appears WITHIN the body of
your E-Mail, I will include them in your posting. If not, the post will
be attributed to "Anonymous".
This website has gotten so big I've had to divide it into pieces.
Submissions that I received from 2001 through 2003 are posted at
Memories 2001-2003
those I received in 2004 are posted at
Memories 2004
those I received in 2005 are posted at
Memories 2005
those I received in 2006 are posted at
Memories 2006
those I received in 2007 are posted at
Memories 2007
those I received in 2008 are posted at
Memories 2008
those I received in 2009 are posted at
Memories 2009
those I received in 2010 are posted at
Memories 2010 (You are currently looking at this website)
memories currently being sent in are at
Current Memories
For all you former "Altar Boys": "Ad
deum qui laetificat juventutem meam."
(Missouri Sales Tax Tokens, commonly referred to as "mils". Red ones
were worth 1/10 of a penny, green ones worth 1/2 a penny)(Images
courtesy of Bob Doerr)
This twenty-five cents would get you a double feature and a bunch of
cartoons to boot.
On April 4,
2001, I posted a few memories I had of growing up in St. Louis. I
received so many great replies that I thought I'd post some of them
here.
Original
Post from Dave Lossos
I
remember when my phone number was Mohawk 2343
I remember going to see a double feature at the Ritz Theater for 25
cents.
I remember coming into the movie in the middle and eventually saying to
the person I was with "This is where we came in".
I remember the way to get your friend to come out to play was to stand
in front of their house and yell their name (was this a St. Louis
thing?).
I remember the first time I had the nerve to wear "bermuda shorts".
I remember getting all the news I needed from a St. Louis publication
called "Prom Magazine".
I remember (as a ten year old) being sent to the corner tavern to get
my grandma a pail of draft beer.
I remember riding the Grand Avenue electric street cars.
I remember riding my bike in Tower Grove Park (even after dark!).
Post from Cus (1/1/2010)
Old Store near Rock Road...
I think was called Grants...... My mom worked there as a teenager.
A prize I recieved for selling x-mas seals was a blue and white plastic Virgin Mary statue.
I think there was a Village Inn Resteraunt/Cusumano's on Belefountaine and Chambers Road that made that great pizza. The crust was light and bubbly. The cheese slightly browned...just the way perfect pizza is.
On another tangent.... In the old Arbor Terrace/North Woods, I remember a neighbor surname Cusamano. Don't know if related to yours. I remember they had a little pomeranian dog.
What else... Let me think...
Mom knows the jingle for Melrose Pizza.
Post from Selma Harris nee Ruch (1/5/2010)
I remember so many of the things posted on your web site. I was born in So. St, Louis in 1934 but now reside in California. If anyone went to Scruggs grade School from 1940 to 1948 and then to Cleveland High School, I would love to hear from you. My name is Selma Harris nee Ruch. e-mail me at [email protected].
Post from Floyd McFarland (1/7/2010)
I attended the Adams Elementary School on Tower Grove during the latter 1930's and early 1940's. I am writing a journal of my life and have encluded my memories of that time and place in my life. Most of my childhood friends from that era have died but they live on in my memories. There was Muggy and Buddy Maness, Richard and Robert Wilkerson, Jack and Bob Ball, Betty England, Lloyd England, Bob Isreal, and my best girl, Betty Essman. I have photos of many of these people but none of Betty Essman. I would dearly love to have a photo of her. I even have a photo taken in 1940 of a few classmates in the west school yard.
We attended the Manchester movie theater, spent many summer days in Tower Grove Park and Shaw's Garden. We planted Victory Gardens and participated in the School Scrap drive during the war.
I have many memories I would love to share. I can be reach at my name @ hotmail.
Post from no name (1/7/2010)
Does anyone remember a restaurant/tavern called "House of Sullivan" in north St. Louis? I am trying to find information on the owners of this establishment.
Post from no name (1/7/2010)
I cannot get enough of this site! I have checked the Nostalgia book so may time that I am going to get my own. I have moved to Maryville, IL and I have red all of Bill Nunes books.
One of my oldest memories is going to Mass with my Grandparents at St. Mary Magdalens Church in Brentwood. After Mass I was allowed to ride the pony in the lot across Manchester. There is a luxury car dealer there now.
Post from Beverly Gibson (1/8/2010)
I do not have a memory of this but my mother brought up yesterday that in 1940 she had been entered in a baby contest by her mother and won. My Aunt told her that my moms picture was posted in the St.Louis Dispatch. Is there any way we could find out how to get the article? It would mean so much to my mother.
Post from Floyd McFarland (1/13/2010)
This is an enjoyable site. Thank you Dave, for providing it. I think everyone considers their childhood period was the best of times. We resided in the Manchester, Tower Grove neighborhood from 1936 to the summer of 1943 when we moved to a small town in St. Francois County named Elvins.
My Father was a quiet man who never shared his thoughts and experiences with me and I felt I never really got to know him. Because of this, I decided to write my memoirs so my children and grandchildren would know who I am. As I reminisced about those times, I was surprised how much came back to me. It has been a joy reliving those days with the old gang. There was my best friend, Muggy Maness. Muggy lived in an upstairs flat at the corner of Norfolk and Boyle. He had a large fenced in back yard where we replayed those movies that we had seen at the Manchester Theater. I think it cost a dime to get in and we were treated to a double feature. The show change every Sunday, Wednesday and Friday, I think. Though we lived several blocks from the movie, we walked to and from it with never a threat of harm. (Sure couldn’t do that today. Huh?).
I was only a young boy but I had a girlfriend whom I met at the show and sat besides with my arm around her shoulders. Her name was Betty Jean Essman and she resided in a large multi unit building at the corner of Vandeventer and Boyle. I need a photograph of Betty for my book. If anyone can help me here, it would be appreciated and I will pay for such a picture. I think she graduated from Adams in either 1945 or 1946. There may be a graduating photo from that period with Betty in it.
The war broke out and we formed a Victory Club. We had a shed and that was our club-house. I was a terrible baseball player but the big guys wanted to form a baseball team. There was not enough big guys to complete the team so a few of us little guys were allowed to join. Richard Wilkerson was our pitcher and Jack Ball our catcher. Muggy was a good player and was put on second base, My brother Ted played the outfield and Bob Ball and Bob Wilkerson were also members. Bob Isreal and Billy Cooley and Borden Gann, just to mention a few. The Big guys needed a name for our team. That was in the days of Enos Slaughter, Terry Moore, Joe Medwick, Mort and Walker Cooper, Stan Musial, Marty Marion, Max Lanier, Johnny Hopp, Pepper Martin to name a few. All our heroes. Well, we wanted to call our team the Cardinals but decided on the “Tower Grove Blue Birds” instead. I didn’t get to play but it was an honor to just be accepted by the Big Guys.
Yeah! We went to the Forest Park Highlands for our school vacation. We rode on the upper level of a two story bus. I enjoyed free lemon aid with Betty Essman and even road the boats with her.
I remember going to Tower Grove Park and Shaw’s Garden.
I belong to Classmates but have not been able to connect with any of the Adams School people of that age. I really don’t remember many of them but I would like to hear from my forgotten friends of yesteryear. And Mainly, I would really like to have a photograph of Betty for my book.
I have many more Tower Grove stories but won’t bore you now. It you would like to share that period with me, contact me at [email protected]
Post from Jan Vitale (1/15/2010)
I am in search of information on an amusement park back in the late 40's & 50's.It was located on St.Charles Rock Road and north side corner by Hwy 270. It was called West Lake Amusement Park would you post or do you have any information on this park.It was my favoriate when I was in grade school.
Post from Fred Robinson (1/17/2010)
I was living on Bermuda road in Normandy and graduated from Normandy high in 1970. I became a musician after leaving high school and moved to Los Angeles in 1977. Live in New York now.
I played bass with Herman Grime’s and the Spectors from 69 to 71 and played at Club Imperial a lot. After that I played with Bob Kuban from 1970 to 73. If anyone has any pictures of either of those bands, please let me know. I can’t seem to find anywhere and Bob claims he doesn’t have any. We used to play every month at Starlight Ballroom on Rock Rd. and of course all the clubs and youth dances. I wish I had kept some of the pictures. Bob had his own club out on North Florissant road where we played every Saturday. I still was under age so the older guys would get me a beer and I had to hide it.
I remember sneaking out my bedroom window after my parents were asleep and going to Hall street with a buddy to drag race until 4am, Going to Steak and Shake to find money races and pick fights – ours was in Pine Lawn, and – to correct an earlier post, it was Bloemkers drugs at the corner of Bermuda and Florissant road, and they had the best chocolate chip ice cream ever.
I miss the peace and quiet of the summer evenings, sitting on lawn chairs and watching cars drive by. Walking around and around the track at the football games holding hands with my first girlfriend – that was so exciting.
Practicing louie louie with my first band, the Loose Ends, and trying to decipher the lyrics, which we knew were bad, but everyone heard them a little differently. Also performing at the battle of the bands in the gym at Normandy. Loading our equipment into my Mother’s car but trying to be cool anyway. There must be other musicians out there from so many other basement beginner-bands.
Post from Gloria (1/17/2010)
I attended All Saints Catholic Grade School our school picnics where held at West Lake
Amusement Park. We had a parade around the school area and the students got on rented buses and it seemed it took forever to get to the Park. That is after we all attended morning Mass and Father Ryan gave a lecture about not riding the roller coaster.
We usually got to the park before our parents so we would go and save a table looking down on the swimming pool. I love going there, I never went down the big slide in the fun house I walked up those steps but turned around with my itchy burlap sack and walked down all and I mean all of those steps.
I can't recall right now, but know of a sight that has information on the park. Then on the way home we stopped at Grandpa Pigeons .
Post from Anonymous (1/24/2010)
Does anyone recall when the Cards fans started wearing more and more red to Busch Stadium? Because as a kid going to the Browns and Cardinal games, most people just went to the games in regular clothing. I think it may have been in either the 70’s or 80’s but I’m not sure. Also I wonder what the driving force was behind the change!
Post from Lynn in Michigan (1/26/2010)
This is to the person who shared his memories of his musical days with Herman Grimes and the Spectors. So wonderful to read that! I met Herman Grimes one Saturday when we went Downtown to watch Steven B. Stevens broadcast KXOK from either Stix or Famous. I can’t recall which now. We went every Saturday. Well, that particular Saturday Herman Grimes was there. He was meeting people, signing autographs and being just an all around nice guy. When I went up to meet him, I told him I didn’t want just his autograph on a simple slip of paper, but something more special. I was 15 and very cute with the typical 60’s long hair and short, short skirts. Herman took off his tie, signed it and gave it to me. I was the belle of the ball! Everyone wanted to see it and touch it. It hung on the mirror in my bedroom for years until I packed it away when I got married. It sat in a box in my Mother’s basement for years and when she moved, she threw it away. Through the years I’d tell people about it and no one ever seemed to know the name Herman Grimes. It reached a point where I even began to wonder if I had the name wrong. What a delight to read that he truly did exist! How I wish I had that tie to send to the poster wanting old pictures and such of those days. You also mention the Drag Racing on Hall Street. I was down there every Friday and Saturday night. It was a veritable boy smorgasbord! Of course, the muscle cars of that era are unlike any other. There will never be a time like the 60’s again. Great cars and great music. Garage Bands everywhere. We attended so many Battle of the Bands that I’ve lost track. I can remember there were so many garage bands back then that it was not at all unusual to be out walking and hear music coming from a garage and just walk up and stand and listen and dance. Oh, the 60’s in St. Louis were great. Thanks for bringing back some really GREAT memories!
Post from ??????? (2/3/2010)
How about the St. Louis Braves Hockey team at the late-lamented Checkerdome.... or was that the Arena?
BTW, as a kid I worked at Holiday Hill Amusement Park. Anybody remember the train there ..... I was the engineer.
Post from Vicki (2/3/2010)
To Sandy who posted on 2/11/09 about her family owning Lakehill Speedway; I would so interested in knowing anything about the Speedway, espically some of the driver's in the early 50's. I would dearly love to find some photo's of my dad racing or playing music. His name is Harvey Nichols, born in North St. Louis, played music on North Broadway with a guy named Billy Cook in the early fifties, in the later sixties he played at the Red Haven with Gib Brown. He also raced at local racetracks in and around St. Louis with a man named Webb Spaulding. They raced at Lakehill, St.Charles, Godfrey and a few others. He raced the Fender-Bender Class and was known as Big Daddy Harvey Nichols, his car number was 6 (for the 6 kids he had). He was married to Helen Mossberger who lived on Sacramento St.
My dad later in the sixities opened his own Bar on Vandervilt & Chouteau called Harvey's Bar. We lived over the bar.
I am Vicki and I had two sisters, Pat and Nancy, and three brothers, Harvey Jr., Mike and Stan. Mike Nichols was the father of the current country singer Joe Nichols.
I remember some of our friends, the Maness family, Whitaker family, I went to school at Roosevelt High School in 1968. We moved to Eureka Mo in 1968, then to Arkansas. Anyone who may remember us or our mom and dad please contact me at [email protected].
Thanks to St. Louis for a great raising and memories of the greatest city ever.
Post from ??????? (2/5/2010)
What a great web-site !!!!!!!
I grew up near the area of Minnesota and Chippewa in South St. Louis.
As a young kid I remember going to the Melvin Theatre, walking to Cherokee St. to shop at stores with my sisters. The stores I remember most would be JC Penney, Thom McCann Shoes, Proper Shoes, Woolworth, Kendall Sporting Goods, and of course Western Auto.
I remember the old St. Anthony’s Hospital at Grand/Chippewa, Sears, Ben Franklin, and Du-Bowl Bowling Lanes on Gravois (before it burned down) around the corner from Pizza-A-Go-Go when it was on the west side of Grand. The old Steak N Egg on Grand by Charlie’s Chevrolet.
I remember things like Western Bowl, Red Bird Lanes, Bailey Farm Dairy on both Keokuk/Meramec and on Delor just west of Virginia, The Ritz Theatre, The Avalon Theatre, The Granada Theatre, all of the drive-ins like South Twin, 66 Drive-in, the Ronnie’s Drive-in, the original Al Smith’s Restaurant at S. Grand/Meramec, the VFW hall on S. Broadway across from Miniwood Park with the BBQ stand. Crusoe’s Restaurant at Compton/Osceola, which use to be Knolls Market.
I remember at the corner of Chippewa and Minnesota Cumming’s Confectionary and Russ Watterson’s Tavern, Ron Barr Auto parts at Chippewa/Compton, Dad’s Cookies, Marquette Park (pool) and recreation center.
I still live in the St. Louis Area and the list could go on and on
Post from ??????? (2/11/2010)
Do any of your posters remember the name of the rock club on Airport Road in Berkeley? Many of our local groups played there from the mid 60’s through the 70’s….and even opened for some early big names.
Post from ??????? (2/12/2010)
It was called Aerospace.
Post from Jim Longo [email protected] (2/13/2010)
The club on Airport Rd in Berkely was also called Castaways. Michael McDonald and his bands, Blue and Mike and the Majestics used to play there, along with The Good Feelin' and many other local groups.
Post from ??????? (2/14/2010)
From the post of 2/11/10 regarding the rock club on Airport Rd. in Berkley, that was the Castaways Club. It was in the basement of the Lamias grocery store. Previous to being a club it was a bowling alley if memory serves me correctly. It also was the site if a slot car track at one time.
The Aerospace lounge was up closer to Brown Rd., I`m sure they had music also.
Post from ??????? (2/23/2010)
Regarding Herman Grimes, I remember when he called himself “Little Mojo”. This was probably about 1960. My best friend was Paula Nickl. He recorded a song for her named Paula. I still have it. I was told at the time that the part of the song that went something like “Pau, Pau, Paula!” was Tina Turner.
I, also, fondly remember the Starlight Ballroom and the drag races on Hall Street.
This is a great site!
Post from Connie (2/23/2010)
Hello there. Great website! Do you know or happen to know if there was a name to the giant slide in South City, on Liberty's parking lot on Chippewa? There was Liberty's grocery store, a giant slide, we slid down on burlap bags, a putt putt and batting cage?
(Note from Dave Lossos: "Hi Lands Miniature Golf" was located at 7011 Chippewa)
Post from Kris Will (2/23/2010)
Does anyone remember the KXOK funfairs in the 60's? Does anyone know who
played there in 1969? I think they were at Kiel.
Post from Barbara (2/23/2010)
No one has mentioned Kipp's Candy on South Broadway, they are still n business in Affton, Mo. and possibly one more store. My daughter worked for them during high school.
Post from Margo from League City, Texas (2/28/2010)
Growing up in Frostwood, a part of Berkeley in the 1950's and 60's brings back so many memories
Even though I graduated from McCluer in '72, my memories are of Frostwood:
Jackson telephone exchange. My parents still have the same number they've had since 1952, but now live in Ferguson
Frostfield Elementary - school picnics at Holiday Hill after a parade down Midwood
Berkeley Jr. High - school picnic at Chain of Rocks
Saturday night Social Club at BJH
Food fights in school cafeteria at BHJ
Savoy Movie Theater, then Grandview Theater
KXOK Radio
Movies at St. Barts every Friday night - my favorite "The Invisible Man"
Frostwood Pool - couldn't wait to go every day, without parents, on my bike
Painting the windows with Halloween scenes down in the IGA shopping center
Catching fireflies for money for some research program
Emma Ogle School of Dance
Playing as long as we could outside until dark
Free Cardinal baseball tickets for Straight A students
Riding the bus from Northland to the Cardinal games with my best friend
Flaming Pit gave 25 cents for each "A" if you brought in your report card
In high school cruising between Natural Bridge Steak 'n Shake and Lindbergh Steak 'n Shake and hoping for a parking spot
Skating on Ferguson Pond on cold winter nights
Famous Barr at Northland had a candy counter and the Pick Wick restaurant in the basement
Riding my turquois bike everywhere
Boy Scout Fish Fry Friday nights in the IGA parking lot
Northwest Plaza opening up. It was the place to go!
Going to the airport to park and watch planes take off and land
Post from joe williams (2/28/2010)
A lot of people are talking about KXOK radio and movie theatres & drive-in theatres, on Facebook there is two fan pages - St.Louis Flashback Movie & Drive-In Theatres, and another Facebook site called St.Louis Flashback KXOK 630am The 60s,
Post from Gary Palozola (2/28/2010)
I remember when my phone number was Sterling 12665 and we played outside all day and half the night long with the use of cell phones or internet. You could go to Mc Donalds and get a hamburger, fries and a coke and give them a dollar and get change back. I remember when they were building the Arch (my intials are in the concrete on the north leg). I remember when gas was .14 cents a gallon and if they had a gas war it went down to .12 Cents. I remember when you could get your hair cut for .50 cents. I remember "Hill Days". I remember Katz drug store and Neissners and Woolworth, virgin cokes (cherry). I remember pea shooters. Nichol cokes out of a machine. White Castles were a dime each and for a dollar you could get more than you could eat. I remember when my dad made $200.00 a week and all my friends thought I was a rich kid. I remember when the only dope there was was a stupid kid at school.
I was born in South St. Louis on St. Vincent St. in the house we lived in in 1947, Moved to Mapewood when I was three years old. 7606 Marion Ct. Sterling 12665. I went to Valley elementry school ,Maplwood Jr. High and High school. My grandma lived on the corner of Tam and Oakland and we used to go to the zoo alot. I loved going to the art museum and watchin the horses on the bridle trail. My friends and I used to walk from Maplewood to my grandmas almost every week. We used to walk down the east lanes of Hwy.40 when they were in the process of making it four lane from two. I moved to Creve Coeur when I was thirteen, it was country then. Eventually as I grew older I became a Maplewood Police Officer.
I remember the street cars down town and going to see the Christmas windows in the winter at the big department stores downtown. I remember goin to the drive in almost every weekend. Goin down to the river front and on the Admiral...sometimes we`d go down the road to where the Armory used to be and find old bullet shells of the 50 cal. size. I remeber wearing Bass Wejun penny loafers (still do) and St.Louis Threadneedles from Boyds. I remember nichol cokes and ten cent White Castles and fifteen cent burgers at Mc Donalds. A place called Tumble Town on Manchester just into Brentwood where ya could go and bounce on trampolines almost all day for a buck. Dairy Queen malts with real fruit in them (banana yummm). When I got old enough to drive I remember cruisein through Steak N Shake, Parkmoor and Chuck a Burger on fridaynights. Or goin to the drivein theater...The Manchester, The Four Screen in St. Ann, The Holiday.
I remember Creve Coeur lake and the hydroplane races, the Trolly that ran from one end of the park to the other. In winter, guys would drive cars on the lake and play car tag.
I remember when they built the Arch ( my initials are in the concrete of the north leg). I remember when they built Hwy.40 into 4 lanes, St. Charles rock Rd into 4 lanes, Heck I remeber when all the roads were two lane and some didn`t exist. When thet put in Hwy 270 it was the best drag strip around. There are so many more memories, I could write all day...thanks for puttin up this site...it is great !!!
To Lynn in Michigan....I am almost certain that spoolies were a type of hair curler for women that ere rubber and folded back over themselves.
Does any one remember St. Louis Hop and Charlotte Peters on TV ?
For the Maplewood crowd...does anyone remember Miss Soden the kindergarten teacher at Valley School and the fire escape tube on the side of the old school ? How bout Katz, Niesners, Woolworth,Shitez Hardware, The trophy room at JB Smith funeral Home, Orange Julius with a real egg in each one, Bettendorfs, Harpers drug store, Greenwood Tavern
Does anyone know what happened to Punky and Jaybird, two beautiful sisters (Louise and Kathleen Jathro) that moved from Maplewood to Webster in the late 50`s or early 60`s ???
Post from Judith Fumagalli (3/2/2010)
Does anyone remember a movie theatre in Pine Lawn on Natural Bridge in the late 50 or early sixties
It was next to Hill Brothers Shoes between Jennings Station Road and Lucas Hunt across from Spica’s Tavern
(Note from Dave Lossos: It was called "Studio Theatre" with a Velvet Freeze right next door, then Hill Brothers.)
Post from Pete A. (3/7/2010)
St. Louis… I grew up there for 35 years before a move to California.. Corpus Christi high School in Jennings.. 1960-1964.. Raced on Hall Street.. Alton Drag way, Mid America Raceway.. Wise Speed Shop, County Speed Shop. Went to Radissons, Club 88, Blue Note, many that I don’t remember the name of. Played music for 4 years.. A Garage band that actually worked.. We were playing a gig at the Croatian Hall, 12th and Russell on New Years Eve the night that Radissons got raided. If we had not been playing we would have been there. Knew Bob Cuban, Larry Cuban, JD Parran (sax Player) Nick Silver, So Many good things in St. Louis, Baseball, Football, Hockey, Basketball, Art Museum, Ted Drews, Steak and Shake, O’Connels, Blueberry Hill, Katz drugs, the Showboats down on the river, the Admiral, Arena, Forest Park, Shaw’s Garden, Sportsman Park, Public School Stadium, Laclede Cab, Mayor Al Cervantes, The Spanish Pavilion, Central West End, Balaban's, Left Bank Books, Chase Park Plaza, Q King Bar-B-Q, (Kingshighway and Martin Luther) What ever happened to Q King? Great ribtip sandwiches and bullet holes in the wall and ceiling. White Castle, Slays Steaks, Amighettis Bakery/Sandwiches, Volpi Salami, Vivianos Store, Watermelon Sams (Sam Zimmerman) at Natural Bridge and Goodfellow, Kiel Auditorium, Great concerts there, Club Imperial, saw many stars there in the 60s. There are just so many great memories of my youth in St. Louis I could go on for hours. Thank you St. Louis.
Post from Patricia Coleman (3/7/2010)
I remember the pony rides that used to be up off of Hampton. And the Equestrian center across from Forest park, with the tunnel going under hwy40 so you could ride in the park.
And VELVET FREEZE!
Post from Frank Turley - Santa Fe (3/7/2010)
I was brought up near north Hanley in University City where I attended Hawthorne Grade School and Hanley Junior High. Our shopping area was a fat-wheeled bike ride to the area of Olive Street Road and North & South intersection. We had Widmer's Drugstore, Canfield tire Vulcanizing, Lipcin's Dry Goods, the Beverly Theatre (12 cents; Friday night was Rodeo nite). There was a Kroger and A&P across the street from each other, and not to forget Henry' Barber shop where no matter what you requested, you would get the same haircut...no sideburns! Sometimes, we would go a little farther to Houser's Market where you could purchase his home sugar cured hams. The first black man of my young acquaintance worked out back and was in charge of killing and plucking the chickens. There was also Greenlea's Ice Cream Store which had quite a few flavors to offer. One of our favorites was peppermint stick. In those days, U City had a fair Jewish population, so the schools allowed us to have the Jewish holidays off. Those were the days of streetcars where it seemed the farther they traveled into the county, the more electrical breakdowns they would suffer. We loved putting a penny on the streetcar track to see it run over and forged into an elongated shape.
Our milk was delivered, horse drawn, by Peveley Dairy. We would beg pieces of ice to suck on in the hot summer days. If mom gave us a nickel, we could buy a little bottle of chocolate milk. The horses appeared to be mostly sorrel Belgians or Belgian-crosses. They were kept in tie stalls, at a stable which I used to visit on my bike. I wondered that they never lay down, and I found out later that horses had a "check ligament" which allowed them to sleep standing up. Those horses would stop and go by habit; the milk man did not need to touch the lines unless he was training the horse to stop for a new customer.
The movie, "A Christmas Story" starring Darren McGavin must've been put together by people of genius. Bob Clark was the director. The film captured the 1940's era in every nuance, as seen from a child's point of view.
Post from Lynn
Michigan(3/12/2010)
Thanks for the info on the “Spoolies.” Yes, you are right. They were curlers. I never knew much about curlers being a teen girl of the late 60’s. Our goal was long straight hair. Thankfully, mine fit the bill, but my poor sister used to sleep on rollers the size of soup cans to straighten her naturally curly hair. Now, I’d gladly trade places to have her curly hair.
I see so many people mentioning KXOK and Hall Street. Both are near and dear to my heart. My radio was never off. I fell asleep every night to KXOK and woke to the same. I spent countless Summer nights on Hall Street watching the drag races. Cars lined up forever. You raced whoever was next to you. It was unreal. How I regret never getting pictures. We always think it will last forever, don’t we?
Music was everywhere. To this day certain songs bring back certain areas. “Good Lovin” will forever be Hall Street to me. “Born to be Wild” takes me back to my days at Roosevelt. Let me hear “Hey Jude” and I am back in Tower Grove Park and my first date with a boy named Skip. We fell in love that night.
Such sweet, sweet memories.
Post from Mike N Oklahoma (3/12/2010)
Fond memories of Saint Louis”
Beaumont H.S.( Blue Jackets)
Ashland Grade School
Velvet Freeze Ice Cream (Newstead & Lee)
Ed’s White Front B.B.Q (Natural Bridge)
Chain of Rocks Amusement Park
The Highlands Amusement Park
Cora and Natural Bridge (where I grew up)
The neighborhood Bakeries( Fresh bread)
The Hill ( Great Food)
Playing Indian Ball on weekends
Cork Ball Games
Sand Lot Football Games O’Fallon, Fairgrounds, Penrose Parks
Visiting the neighborhood Fire station and just hanging out - Margareta Ave.)
Going to the Delicatessen for Penny Candy
Mavrakos Candies “Heavenly Hash”
The Fox Theater
Holy Rosary
The Parkmoor and Steak & Shake Drive ins
Cruising the Streets
Wesley House Dances (Lee Ave. & Taylor)
Hoc Soc
The Corner Grocery Store ( Zurhiede’s) Family’s actually carried a “tab”
Walking everywhere we went ( until age 16)
KMOX & KXOK
The Admiral
No Air Conditioning on Summer nights- We made it somehow regardless.
Pope’s Cafeteria – Good eats
The Trolley on Grand Ave.
Sportsman’s Park( “ Knot Hole Gang”)
“Sliders” White Castle
Public Schools Stadium on Kingshighway
Missouri Bottoms- Parties and good times
Post from Phylis ([email protected]) (3/14/2010)
Memories from Phylis. Too many of course to name them all. Grew up in U.City & went to Blackberry Lane Elementary School, Brittany Jr. High & U. City High. My dad owned McCausland Super Market on McCausland & Plateau & I worked there every weekend from the time I was in kindergarten. Loved the area & our customers. Closed teh store when my dad passed away. Heman Park in the summers, the Loop, Beverly Theater, Frank & Helen's Restaurant, Talayna's, Steak N Shake & Chuck A Burger on Olive St. Rd. Shopping at Famous Barr in Clayton & Stix at Westroads. Still have friends from school & reunions & Facebook have kept so many of us connected & re-connected others. A wonderful place to grow up.
Parkmoor on Clayton Rd. (dinners on Sunday nights there) Too many St. Louis Cardinals games to even begin to count w/my dad & after he passed away w/friends.
Post from Wayne ([email protected]) (3/22/2010)
Regarding Phyllis's post on march 14, 2010, I also grew up in University City, and attended U-City High School. I remember all of the places that she mentioned. I still eat st Frank & Helens, Chuck-A-Burger (the only remaining location on St Charles Rock Road, Talyanas (now on Olive Street Road & Woods Mill), and still spend time in the Delmar Loop.
Dave, you should really set up a Facebook Account for this site. Or maybe you already have one and I just haven't found it yet.
(Comment from Dave Lossos: Tried the Blog idea years ago. Only a few people posted.)
Post from ???? (3/22/2010)
does anyone have the recipe for dohack resturant sauce that they used on their fish. if so send to [email protected]
thanks for your help.
Post from kathy (3/22/2010)
I only have a question, Do you have any idea of the name of restaurant that was on south broadway directly across the street from what used to be a Schnucks store, then later became a Big lots store. It was a few blocks from meramac street. I believe is was an italian restaurant.
(Comment from Dave Lossos: Could it be the Chariton Restaurant?)
Post from Mike Carosone (3/23/2010)
Would that Italian restaurant be the old wrestler Joe Tangeros place?
Post from Wayne ([email protected]) (3/24/2010)
In response to Kathy's post and Mike Carosone's response --- I believe Mike is correct. The restaurant was located at 4301 South Broadway. It was called Charitons and was owned by the professional wrestler Joe Tangara. I first ate there on April 20, 1979.
When that restaurant closed it was replaced with a Cajun Restaurant called Broussards. They had the best Cajun food I've ever tasted. I believe that they closed around 1996 or 1997. Not sure what is in that building today.
Post from Lori (3/24/2010)
I am 48 and lived in South St. Louis until 1974. My phone number was Mohawk 4-5047. I went to Rose Fanning Grade school and actually worked at the confectionary across the street from the school in the 6th or 7th grade. It was run by a couple named Lester and Pansey at that time. I loved that job. My friend Rusty Morgan lived with his family in an apartment above the store. I played in Rose Fanning's school yard and when the older boys hit their balls into the giant pits they would lift me up to go in and get them. We used to ride our bikes down the grass in the front of the school. It had these great hills and we would ride our banana seat bike with someone behind us and someone on the handlebars - with no helmets for any of us !! I remember waiting for Mr. Softy and he always had a small cone for our dog. There was an ice cream place on Juniata that you could get a huge ice cream cone for 19 cents and a place on Grand Ave that you could get a big bag of the red pistachios really cheap. Went to movies all the time at the Ritz Theatre and on weekends my sisters and I would walk to Bretchers Bakery on Grand Ave just past the Ritz. Those were great times.
Post from Joan @ [email protected] (3/26/2010)
Your sight makes me cry to read all the lovely memories people share of such a great City. If things could be the same, I would move back in a flash.
I grew up on 5653 Roosevelt Pl and attended St. Edwards Catholic Church and school. I was taught by the Sisters of St. Joseph. I remember my father bringing me to Hamilton street bakery and I lived for Chain of Rocks Park. Please contact me if you have any photos of any of the above. Thanks and I'll be back with more later.
Post from ? (3/28/2010)
Can you please tell me what the name of the restaurant inside Famous Barr was named?
Post from ? (3/28/2010)
Anyone else still traumatized by the memory of St. Rose Miriam at Epiphany in the '60s???
Post from Lynn McCully (3/30/2010)
This is for Lori from 3-24-10: I couldn’t believe my eyes when I read your post. While I am several years older than you, I grew up on McDonald and went to Horace Mann. It was the name Rusty Morgan that caught my eye. The Morgan’s lived in the apartment next to us before they moved over by Rose Fanning. I knew the whole family very well. I remember their older sister DeeDee and there was a middle sister, but I can’t recall her name. I remember Rusty. He was younger than me and his hair matched his name so well! Not sure he’d remember my family, but I do remember his. Nice people and good neighbors. My Mom always said Mrs. Morgan kept her apartment so clean and she always took her turn mopping the building stairs. I also remember Bretschers Bakery. I went to school with Linda Bretscher. Spent lots of time at The Ritz Theater. Grand Ave. was such a neat place to be. We all hung out there.
Post from MaryinVA (3/30/2010)
MaryinVA To Joan @taroman
Was the name of the bakery you visited "Votie's"? I loved that bakery. I have never tasted cinnamon buns or cream horns the way she made them. My very favorite item was the birthday cake. They tasted wonderful and she would put the decorated cakes on display in the window so everyone knew who was having a birthday.
That bakery was next to Bean's market and across the street from Casey-Nolte Market. It amazes me now to remember how many very nice, small stores were within a short walk of our house.
Post from ? (4/8/2010)
I remember Sr. Rose Miriam (but not in a good way) from St. Mark's High School in 1953. She taught Algebra and Geometry and she was terrifying. I was out with mononucleosis for 6 weeks, and when I returned to her class, she refused to acknowledge my presence. Finally, she looked at me and said she had no idea how I could make up the work. After her class, I went to Mother Superior's office and told her what she had said, and told her I was going home. The next year, I went to the Sophie Barat High School in south
St. Louis and I loved it. In fact, I was valedictorian of my senior class.
Post from ? (4/8/2010)
Do many people remember the Girls baseball teams that played on Grand avenue..... great fun to watch Summer playgrounds at Scullin School, The pageant that ended the fun. Miss Michel? Great neighborhood, great times.
Post from Mary in VA (4/8/2010)
This is in reply to Joan on 3/26/2010. I lived in Notre Dame parish which was the parish next to St. Edwards. I remember going to a bakery on Hamilton called Voties. They had the most wonderful cinnamon buns and caramel coffee cake, but the best was the birthday cakes she would make. After they were decorated she would put them on display in the window. It was a thrill to see my cake in the window.
I also remember a tiny store called Beans and a little bit bigger marker called Casey-Nolte Market. There must have been 5 or 6 little stores within walking distance of our house - not to mention 4 taverns and 1 ice cream store.
Post from Paula Nickl (4/8/2010)
I just came across this website. It is awesome! The 2/23/0 post about Herman Grimes (Mojo) has me curious. I am Paula, and I would love to find a copy of the record! Pictures and record were lost years ago. Anyone have a copy? Contact me at [email protected] or facebook.
I remember Club Imperial, Ike Turners band. Tina was incredible back then as well. Gaslight Square – wasn’t there a bar there that had telephones at each table that were for talking table to table? Or did I dream that?
Post from ? (4/8/2010)
Here's one for the record books- This one is forever engrained in my
memory, circa 1975 ish....
It's a favorite of mine and I tell it to our kids (embellishment a bit)
around Christmas time... It's about the department store named Goldies on
Manchester Road and how they used to decorate their storefront windows (all
4 of them) with various Holiday settings. One window I remember forever
was of an animated Christmas Tree- that was operated by a hidden person
behind a wall with a microphone. The tree's name was "Freddy" and the
talking Christmas Tree would talk to people who passed by.. . asking them
"What's your name??? ..."What do you want for Christmas"??? Forever a
classic.
Great site....
Post from Jerry Devine formerly of 6427 Minnesota and Soper. St Mary and Joseph parish (4/8/2010)
Hello: :I'm JP Devine, born on Minnesota ave in 1932. I've been through Broadway theater ,24 years in Hollywood, actor/writer/ for the Los Angeles Times and now a film critic and columnist in Maine. I write many columns with references to the South St.Louis and I'm putting together my memoirs of Carondlet in the 30s and 40s before I left in 1950. I'm including a column I wrote about a "trip" back down on Google.
THE TRIP BACK DOWN
Don’t do it. Don’t even think about it. It will only depress you. You really can’t go back. For you lucky folks, the old neighborhood is only a few blocks away, or maybe in another town fifteen minutes down the pike. If you’re young, Mama is still there and Grandma is still baking.
But for some of us who are from away, far away, a million years ago and a million miles away, it’s forever alive, because we haven’t been back. We tell ourselves that it’s still there with the same smells and faces. Our childhood buddies and girlfriends are still standing on the corner, waiting for us to come home. So let’s take a trip back down. Put a seat belt on your heart.
Ladies and gentleman, I give you Google Earth Street View, a gala gimmick, a carnival ride to yesterday. Meet Google Street View- The destroyer of illusions, the shatterer of dreams.
Most of you with a computer, and who hasn’t one, are familiar with the program. You can press a few keys, slide a mouse and there you are, back in your old home town,, riding the Google car down the streets of your childhood. If you have tears, prepare to shed them now.
They make it seem so easy. You tap a key and there it is-a map of the world. You zoom into the US of A, then your home state, drop down to your town, your old neighborhood. You’re home again. Aren’t you?
I did just that this week. I sat in front of the monitor and went back to my beginnings, to that special spot, my personal Camelot. The spots you see on the paper in front of you are the stains of my tears.
My “car” sailed down Michigan Avenue. I was at the controls as my mouse grabbed the wheel and took me along. I turned left at the old firehouse. It seems to be a shrine now, an historic building sans engines, sans firemen. Some ghost still raises the flag on the old pole, but it hangs limp and lifeless. There is no wind in Google Land.
I pushed my mouse across the mat and drove right up to my ancient street. The old convent with its red brick walls and granit e foundations stands silently across the street. The sisters are gone. Those spirits in black Catholic hijabs with spotless wimples no longer float around the grounds. They no longer walk up the street to teach in my old school because it’s closed now. The beautiful old church still stands but serves communion at mass only twice a week and not on Sunday.
The long row of fifteen elm trees that once lined the street and carried the carved initials of lovers long dead, are gone, the result of a terrible disease. My “car” finally pulled up at the ancient brick house in which I was born. There was the tree my father and I had planted on a long ago Arbor Day. But this Google trip was clearly made in winter, and my old tree was bare of leaves and its limbs scratched at the silver sky like arthritic fingers begging for one more summer sun.
The four white pillars, in need of paint, were still there but without a mother’s lace curtains on the windows.
You can Google ride through small towns all over America and see how much your memories have faded. Up and down neighborhood streets, warm wooden picket fences have given away to frightening rows of icy cold cyclone wire fences. Strangely, there are almost no people in Google Land views, no paper boys on bikes, no kids’ lemonade stands or wandering dogs. There is no sound in Google Land. On my street, there were a few cars, parked cheek by jowl, but looking as though they were abandoned when the mysterious dark wind of progress came along and sucked away all life.
With a touch of a button, I drove away, ran away, flew away as fast as I could. Google Street View Land is indeed a gala gimmick, a carnival ride to yesterday. It can take you to Philadelphia, to Paris or Madrid. It can take you to outer space...but It can’t take you home.
Post from Joan [email protected] (4/19/2010)
Hello Fellow and Former St. Louisians!
If anyone has any photos of the interior of St. Edwards Catholic Church I believe Belt & Maffit or Clara ave., OR if you have any photos of Chain of Rocks Park, Please contact me. Thanks
Post from Joan [email protected] (4/25/2010)
Very lovely memories. It may have been called Vities. I was a little girl then. Perhaps that was short for its German name. I always referred to it as the Hamilton Street Bakery because that was the street if memory serves. The little woman who worked there always gave me a cookie. She was such an angel! Yes, the birthday cakes and that cherry tasting icing were divine. I have never smelled anything like that bakery since. That aroma! I have several photos of those wonderful cakes. Please share more.
Does anyone remember Adams Dairy on Easton ave? and also on that same side of the street there was a Sparbers clothing store? The man who worked there was nice but fussy. And if anyone has any photos of St. Edwards Catholic church on Belt & Clara or Maffit, also any photos of Chain of Rocks park please contact me at [email protected] Thanks and Thank you Dave for this wonderful sight!
Post from ? (5/12/2010)
Romper Room was a St. Louis thing. Captian 11 also. How about school picnics with parades and then a day at the Hi-lands or Chain of Rocks amusement parks. World series wins in the 60's. When neighborhood schools were just that. A confectionary on every corner along with a neighbor hood saloon. When street corners didn't have a stop at every corner. And yes, bottlecaps. I was in the service and no one knew of bottlecaps or corkball. All St. Louis things. In other parts of the country people ask where you went to school meaning where did you go to college. In St. Louis no one cares where you went to college but where did you go to highschool. At least that's the way it use to be.
Post from pkn (5/12/2010)
Someone (?) qrote very briefly about Scullin School and Miss Michel... wasn't she the best. Does anyone remember the nsmes of the ladies rooms on the Admiral.
Post from Jerry Frank (5/12/2010)
Hi, My name is Jerry Frank. I lived on Alice Ave. by the Ofallen Park In the 1940's, Moved to Ferguson,, 916 January ave, in the 1950's I played Saxophone a Few times with Little Mo Jo,,,,Hermann Grimes, also a few times with Bob Kuban,, and twice with Ike and Tina Turner at Toni Velosco's in Berkeley. Does anyone remember that?? the band I worked with the most was The Raindrops. I still play Sax,, I still Love it. My Dad was in the Newspaper's all the time in the 1950's that's why we finally moved to the country. Is there anyone left from Chicago St. Louis Express,,,,,,Plaza Amusement company, Hyde Park Inn,,,Anyone???????
Post from Rita Whitford (5/13/2010)
Love your site.
One of the bathrooms on the Admiral was the Sonja Heine bathroom. Loved it.
Post from ? (5/14/2010)
One web site states two of the ladies restrooms were Sonja Heine and the other Greta Garbo.....
Post from ? (5/31/2010)
I need help. Does anyone remember the name or the history of the restaurant on Hampton just a little south of highway 44 that is now the site of Hardees? I remember driving by that area in the 60's and the building had the replica of a huge chef's head on top of it. The chef was smiling, had a mustache, and a big hat. I think the building was torn down in the late 60's and then replaced by a Burger Chef and then later a Hardees. I keep thinking that it was called the "Big Bevo", but I could be totally wrong. As a child I was always fascinated with the big smiling chef, and as I recalled the restaurant had great hamburgers.
Post from Ken Ray (6/7/2010)
Gotta love the memories, my name is Ken Ray and played music professionally for 35+ years. I play trombone and have played with, Herman Grimes Brian Clark played bass then, Mike Zimmer and the Avanti’s, Bill Penny and the Pace Makers (Corky Blake on Sax) and 25 years with ‘Z’. I saw this site and it brought tears to my eyes. I remember playing and Club Imperial next to Ike & Tina Turner, Bruno’s Bat cave with Johnny Rabbit. I also remember playing all the time at the Granary In Edwardsville with Michael McDonald. Wow did it make it big time.
Anyway, thanks for sharing these great times.
Post from Sandy, originally of beautiful downtown Affton, MO. (6/21/2010)
To the post of 5/31/10 re the restaurant on Hampton Ave. just south of I-44 - Yep they did have the best burgers there. Funny coming from me the daughter of a restaurant owner (Al's Tavern in Affton, MO 1930's to 1967 - see close to the last post of 2009 "memories). And, BTW, we served really wonderful burgers too and steak and home made fried chicken. I have the menu framed in my kitchen! Back to the burgers - they had awesome hot dogs too. And...I believe it was a Parkmoor. I think there used to be one at the corner of Chippewa and Kingshighway too at one time. And, there was a Parkmoor just north of Manchester on Lindbergh (on the west side of Lindbergh). Their burger that I liked had the sauce and slaw on it (I think it was the "Bevo Burger" - that is why the other person must have remember the name the big bevo. Maybe it was called that too after the Parkmoor. Oh, well, that is my memory of that spot. The "dogs" were in a really unique (kinda rectangular) bun with cheese and bacon on it. Hey, come to think of it, there was a Parkmoor over by Ted Drewe's too on Watson Rd. at one time. Someone correct me if I'm wrong; but I think there were many more Parkmoor restaurants beside the "mother ship" at Big Bend and Clayton Rds. Most of those Parkmoor spots I remember from the 1960's. OK, now were going back. Does anyone remember when you could get carside service at a place called Medart's where the Cheshire Inn is? Oh boy, I AM gettng old.
Post from Sandy in Warrenton, formerly of Affton. (6/23/2010)
Hi there to the person that asked about the great burger place on Hampton Ave. (back in the day) just south of I-44. Well, I replied about the Parkmoors and then, afterward, I thought about it. Some of the Parkmoor locations I mentioned were, in fact, Parkmoors; but the one on Hampton with the Big Bevo hamburger, I think was maybe a Schniethorst's (sp?).
Post from ? (6/27/2010)
For those of you that grew up in South St Louis during the 50's and 60's as a child probably remember Cherokee St. quite well. It's been mentioned in past posts. One of the few places back in those years where people from all around South St. Louis would shop on a Thursday evening since they had later hours on that night. Just read that the Globe Drug on Cherokee closed their doors. They were in existence at that location for 70 years. Kind of sad. My first watch as a child came from there. It goes the way of Morris Variety Store, Thom McAn, JC Penneys, Hill Brothers Shoes, plus two dime stores and other stores that lined Cherokee St in those days. Such fond memories now, of a street and stores that made up a part of my life as a child, and where many of my Christmas gifts came from.
Post from Karl at [email protected](6/27/2010)
I am trying to get any information on the handicapped man that sold pencils on Cherokee Street in the mid 1940's.
Post from ? (6/27/2010)
I remember “the Raindrops”. I went to Aquinas with Jerry and his band played at our school dances and at the old legion post on Hwy 140 (now Lindberg). They were great! Also Valasco’s when Tina Turner was Anna Mae. I remember Paula going with “Little Mojo” in freshman year. This is the best web site ever. The sixties were the best.
Post from Rev. Mike Hruby (7/4/2010)
My wife and I lived on the Hill in St. Louis for some time; we have
many friends, who have shared their memories with us, over the years,
and we enjoy reading your site, when we can.
I have a question for your readers, that I need some help with--
as life long Cardinals fans, we are acquainted with one or two folks
who recall that the Cardinals players of the 1930s and '40s would often
join "local" fans and kids, in playing pickup games of stickball, corkball,
or baseball! Fairgrounds Park was one of the places mentioned (many of
the Cardinals players would stay at the old Fairgrounds Hotel, which was
a mere block and a half from the old Sportsman's Park, and Fairgrounds
Park, of course, was just across the street from the hotel--I want to
get in touch with people who remember the Cardinals players "playing
ball" with fans, at Fairgrounds Park, or other neighborhood locations,
during the 1930s and 40s, particularly. I'd like to know the players
names that participated, the years, and some background about the fans that
participated. I would even pay (reasonably), for copies of photos of the
Cardinal players "playing ball" with the fans, in the '30s or 40s.
My name is Rev. Mike Hruby, and my e-mail is: [email protected]
our cell phone is (913) 961.8299
Thanks again, and God bless you,
Post from ? (7/10/2010)
Does anyone remember Brian Hamilton and the Countdowns. They were a local group from Roosevelt High School I think. They were a great band of the early 60”s. How about the Ferguson Fair’s and ice skating in January Park. I remember when we use to sneak into the caves at the old estate at the end of Hallsferry.
Post from Terry Corbet (7/10/2010)
I guess I stumbled upon your St. Louis Memories about five years ago, added a couple of items, and have regularly come back for review/updates.
I am not sure what the overlap is between the content you maintain as Memories 20XX and "St. Louis Nostalgia" so I just did a string search on all of those pages and the Index to your "Big Book". I DID NOT get a hit on "Confederate Cap" in either place.
So, since I am absolutely certain that this is one memory that I have not misplaced or otherwise mistaken, I am passing it along in this email for your use as you see fit.
It was somewhere between 1950 and 1953 -- definitely before the Davy Crocket Coonskin Cap Fad. Someone came up with the idea that teenage boys across America -- especially in our quintessential border State -- were ready to remember the Civil War. And we dutifully purchased either a blue or a gray cap [Some, I think, also got so wrapped up in the fad as to don matching shirts.] to proclaim our allegiance.
As with other observations I've made, perhaps this was more of a 'suburban thing' than a 'city school thing', but I am rather amazed that no one seems to have recalled this fad for any of your postings. Since there were loyalties both ways on all campuses, I don't think this ever escalated into any 'street scuffles' as, for example, between the Webster and Kirkwood cliques, but I do think there tended to be an 'almost unanimous preference' that said if you went to Brentwood you wore one color, but if you went to Normandy, another, and so on.
In any case, I have just completed a lengthy family history piece on a St. Louisan who came to the city in 1846, had a remarkable business and civic career, was intimately involved in the martial law events that resulted in 'assessments' for Southern Sympathizing, and lies, with his family at Bellefontaine. In discussing the various way that his associates broke out on Blue vs Gray, and relating that to the family members that remain citizens of St. Louis County to this day, nothing seemed more appropriate than to remind my readers about this 'retrospective look' we made as teens in the fifties when we decided which color cap we could add to our uniforms of Threads, Levis, and Mr. B. Shirts from Boyds.
Post from Dave and Dr. Diane Kanis at [email protected] (7/22/2010)
Does anyone remember the old St. Johns United Church of Christ on Lindberg and Lemay when Dr. Herb Wintermeyer was the pastor? I even remember German services there up until the mid 1970's on Good Friday. (Karfreitag Gottesdienst) is what they called it. Forgive the spelling, Corrie Tenboon spoke there one time as well as a few other famous people. We raised our kids in that church and miss it so much, even today !!!
Post from Steve Holdenried (8/2/2010)
I moved away from the St Louis area about 10 years ago. Some of the memories I have really bring back some good times?
My name is Steve Holdenried and I married Regina Bottini. I went to St Mary's and she went to St. Elizabeth's.
I remember:
Going to a bakery on Cherkee St. with a date to buy HOT fresh baked bread that was cut down the middle and had butter and garlic brushed on the bread and put into a bag for about 50 cents. Then drive up to Drew's Frozen Custard to buy a root beer float. Cheap date.
I loved going to high school football games on friday or saturday. I was a cheerleader for St. Mary's High School and loved to perform stunts like jumping over 14 guys and end up in a roll. Man I would die and kill most of the guys if I tried that now.
Every year the the Goodyear blimp would fly over the south side neighborhood near Cherkee St and let out hundreds of ballons. The ballons had discounts and free stuff when you went to the stores. We would drive on our bikes and get as many of the ballons as we could, even when they landed on the roofs of garages.
Going to Benton Park each summer to get a bamboo rod to use to go fishing. Our dad would take us and made sure we went back in line to pick up on or two fishing rods for the kids who did not go with us.
There was a business we went to on Jefferson Street each Friday after school to sign our name to get a free pencil. I did that for years.
That business was right across the street from a Donut place I think it was the California Donut Shop. We would look at the way Donuts were made and how they just floated in the oil and were turned over and over by the donut machine.
There used to be a outside theater on Gravois near St Francis Church that showed movies to kids who sat on benches outside.
I still think Ted Drew's Frozen Custard is the best in the world and never miss a chance to visit when I come back in town, I now live in St. Joseph Missouri. My wife died almost 9 years ago but we both loved St Louis.
Post from Larry Eder (8/4/2010)
I grew up in Walnut Park, North City. We indeed all had the blue and grey hats. We bought them from Kappy's in Jennings. Our school was a mix, but mostly Yankee. My Aunt worked for a uniform hat company and got me a yankee officer's hat as well as a confederate infantry cap. There was a rumor that there was going to be a BB Gun fight in Penrose Park one evening over the Blue Grey split, but I don't remember it happening.
Post from MEinVA (8/11/2010)
These hot summer nights remind me of our four family flat on Wabada in Wellston. Of course, there was no air conditioning in those days, so we just sweltered at night. On nights when my dad worked late, my mother would walk my brother and me to an ice cream store. We would go down Wabada and cross Hodiamont. The ice cream store was on the next corner. They had the best cherry vanilla ice cream! Does anyone remember that store?
Post from [email protected] (8/13/2010)
Hi Dave and Everybody Else,
I just happened upon this website when performing a random search with my Father’s name. His name is Kenny Ellebracht. I am one of twelve children that him and my Mother had. My Mother’s name is Alice Rose Ellebracht. We lived in North St. Louis on Lee Ave. until 1966. Our parish was Perpetual Help. My memories of North St. Louis are sparse, but I do remember Bob’s Confectionary and Ellebracht’s Bakery, (not related). I remember that we could play in the front yard without even thinking about anything happening. I remember playing Jail Break and Hide and Seek into the night.
I also remember moving to South St. Louis. We lived on Arsenal. Five houses up from Kings highway, across from Southwest High school. We continued our games of Jail Break and Hide and Seek. There was Arway Bowling Alley/Pool Hall on the corner. My Dad worked for General Candy Company and drove a walk in van, so we all fit. The owners of the company, Mr. Milligan would let my Dad drive the truck all the time, as if it was his! Anyway, at Christmas time we would all get in the truck and go downtown to see the Christmas windows. Man, it was magnificent! We would go to an orphanage on Kings highway, I believe and get our Christmas tree. The night before my Dad would bring home all different kinds of candy and paper bags. We would make an assembly line and stuff the bags with the candy. The next morning we would take boxes of these bags to the Orphanage for the kids. It was a good day. My Dad was involved in Boy Scouts and taught swimming and first aid to the St. Louis Area. He would have swimming lesson at Cherokee Rec. Center on Friday nights.
My Mom was a nurse. I remember she worked at Incarnate Word Hospital on Grand. She worked the evening/night shift. My Dad would pack us all in “The Candy Truck” to pick up Mom from work. We waited for her at the park across the street. I can’t remember the name, it’s the park with the tower in it. Well, this park had and still does have a statue of a lady with her arms spread, sitting on a throne. My Dad used to let us climb on it. We would sit on her lap, my brothers , let’s just say they always got in trouble. My Mom would come walking on the path from work in her white dress, with white hose, white shoes and her nurses hat in her hand. Of course, that statue didn’t stand a chance of getting any more attention once Mom walked out that door. God, she used to smile so big to see all of us. My Dad would just watch in admiration.
I think I just rambled… If anyone knew my parents, I would love to share some stories.
Post from Jill Broussard Meadows (8/24/2010)
In response to Kathy (3-22-10) Mike Carasone (3/23/10) and Wayne (3/24/10).......The restaurant mentioned was 'Joe Tangaro's The Chariton' on the corner of South Broadway and Chariton....across the street from Shnucks, then Big Lots. After that my brother, Baron Broussard, opened Broussard's Cajun Cuisine. When he moved to California, I reopened Broussard's and ran it until the death of my son-in-law in Louisiana, at which time I closed the restaurant (1996) and moved back home to be with my daughter and granddaughters. I have since lost my daughter in an automobile accident (2000) and now raise those two granddaughters. But my love for St Louis and the customers that supported us will live forever!
I heard there was a fire inside the building and while visiting there last month (July 2010), I noticed the building had undergone some renovation. I was told that someone bought the building and has restored parts of it but has not opened anything there yet.
I found your sight while looking for info on who owned The Chariton before Joe Tangaro.....I think it was the Weiland family.....he used to play baseball for the Cardinals per his wife whom I met when she visited the restaurant while I owned it. I would love to be in touch with her again but can't seem to locate her. I think their names were Jeraldine and Bob Weiland (?). Any info would be appreciated.
I have many wonderful memories of St Louis and the great friends/customers I met during my time there. Thanks for the memories!
Post from Jay Gannett (8/31/2010)
I live in Castle Rock, CO now. I grew up in St. Louis County, and until 5 years ago spent my life there. I have such great memories of the place and places there.
I was born in late 1948 in the city, at the old St. John’s Hospital on Kingshighway. We moved in 1950 to University City on Kingsbury between Purdue and Jackson. It was a great place to be a kid. Our part of street was chained off at the Jackson (west) end so we could pretty much play in the street all the time. I went to Flynn Park Elementary and pretty much walked to school, or rode my bike, every day. I loved it. Only a couple of blocks. In the winter when it snowed, we’d take our sleds to school and sled on the hill during recess and after school. At the end of the school year, the school picnic was always at Heman Park where we got to swim all afternoon and have a picnic.
On Jackson, I remember there was Bauman’s Servewell Market. It had wood floors and in the summer, you could cool down by the freezers. On the corner of Jackson and Pershing was Reed Drug Store…a real gem in my memory. It had the marble topped soda fountain and we could get a 5 cent cherry phosphate along with baseball cards and penny candy. I used to save up mills (remember them?) to buy stuff like that. On the southeast corner of Jackson and Pershing was Broad Bros. Sinclair service station. They had neat junk to check out! And, of course, the street car ran right down Pershing. I remember my dad would take it sometimes when mom needed the car. Later on, I got to ride it too.
In sixth grade a few of us formed the “Movie Club”. We’d all meet at the Toddle House next to the Varsity Theatre in the Delmar Loop on a Saturday. We’d get something to eat and then check out the Varsity and the Tivoli to decide which one had the better Saturday Afternoon Matinee. Boy we saw some great flicks: Forbidden Planet, It Came From Mars, The Blob (the best!) and many more.
I remember I rode my bike everywhere. I even remember sometimes riding all the way to Forest Park with friends and larking around the park all afternoon. My favorite place was the Art Museum. It had some really cool stuff. I remember, on the right as you came in the front was a series of period rooms that just fascinated me and in the east wing there was a gallery that had a reproduction of an Elizabethan building. It went up like 2-3 stories (reduced scale) and had stairs, balconies and windows and doors. It always intrigued me: an indoor exterior! And, you could leave your bike outside and it would be there when you came back out.
On Hanley at Maryland there was and A & P grocery store (where the library is now). That’s where my mom shopped. Sometimes I would go with her and loved going to the coffee section where they fresh ground the 8 o’clock coffee. I loved that great fragrance of fresh ground coffee. Mom always knew where to find me when it was time to check out. At the end of summer each year, we’d always go to Boyd’s in Clayton (Forsyth and Bemiston) to get back to school clothes.
In 1960, at the end of sixth grade, we moved to the eastern edge of Ladue next to the border with Clayton, Gay Ave and Maryland (or Ladue Road). More to come………….
Post from Diane James Scheltinga (8/31/2010)
Thank you for the great place to read posts and find out more about St. Louis history. I happened on your website because I was researching my ancestors, early settlers at Florissant and St. Ferdinand's Parish. (Judge Samuel James Family) Your original post from April 2001, regarding the Ritz Theatre and all; they were very familiar to me and so much fun to recall. In addition, loved going to Soulard Market even after I was married in the 60's and played in the "pool" there when I was little. Must add: pretzel boys on the corners on the weekend as we were out shopping, many times Downtown, South Broadway, Grand Avenue, Cherokee Street or 38th Avenue (?), mostly Downtown and Cherokee Street. The watermelon stands with large slices just 25 cents and hot tamales .........."Get yer red hot hots!".......... late on hot summer nights. I wish I could convey these times to my grandchildren and great-grandchildren..... only can tell them........"Ya had ta be there!", because they just don't get it!
Post from Linda (8/31/2010)
I remember our grade school (Epiphany of our Lord) softball team going to New Orleans snow cone stand on Watson Road in South City after the games, especially if we won!
My husband and I went to Jacks or Better restaurant when we dated. There were peanuts all over the floor! It was always crowded and a good place to go on a Friday or Saturday night. We talked about getting married there. It was "our" place.
Flaming Pit Restaurant in South St. Louis - that is where we had our wedding reception dinner
Taco King - a place that had delicious tocos in the 1970s on Hampton Avenue. My friends and I spent A LOT of time there, It was one of our hang-outs!
Post from Wade Wilkerson (8/31/2010)
Re: Post from ??? (1/12/2009)
A customer sent me the link to your website. What a fun site! I grew up in Maplewood. Graduated in the class of 1961. I remember when my phone number was STerling 7527 and then later it was STerling 1-7527.
Someone asked about Hollywood Miniature Golf. I seem to remember it being on Manchester along about Brentwood. I know the Ford dealer that used to be at Manchester and Kirkwood Road (Suburban Ford at one time) moved to the location once occupied by Hollywood, but that was ages ago.
I'm in full agreement you have a fun site. I'll be recommending (this website) to old friends and relatives.
As an aside, our family phone number in the early 1940s had six "digits" -- TE (Terryhill) 1022. In the mid 1940s, when more lines were required, they added a digit for TErryhill 3-1022. In the 1950s AT&T needed even more lines so we got YOrktown 5-2446 and that served my parents until my Mom's move to FL in the 1990s. In the 1940s the Green Parrot Restaurant in West Kirkwood had a phone number that some callers confused with TErryhill 3-1022. Many times a year we would have people mistakenly calling our home to make dinner reservations. Most of our family would tell the caller the correct number; but my teenaged brother once answered a caller who asked, "Is this the Green Parrot?" with a bird's squawk, and then in a parrot-like voice, "May I take your reservation?"
Regarding Hollywood Golf, I have some different remembrances from the Jan 12, 2009 post above from ???. My firm recollection is that Hollywood Miniature Golf was located on the south side of Manchester Road about 600 feet east of Lindbergh (which is called "Kirkwood Road" within the Kirkwood city limits). The western boundary of the Golf course was Taylor Avenue and the property is now occupied by Bopp Chapel.
The Hollywood Miniature Golf owner, Jeanette Waldman, was a friend of my mother. Mrs. Waldman and her husband vacationed in Mexico in the winter and brought back Mexican clothes, shoes, and nick knacks for sale in the golf shop. In about 1947 my mother bought me a pair of made-in-Mexico huaraches (braided-leather sandals) from Hollywood Golf. I was embarrassed to wear them to George R. Robinson grade school because they were so different. [Pictured sandals are huaraches from August 2010 http://www.zappos.com/frye-lawson-huarache-tan and priced at $168! They are very close to what I remember.]
I played mini golf at Hollywood Miniature Golf in the late 1940s with my Mom. Later, when I started driving in 1956, I took dates there and Mrs. Waldman would give us free rounds of golf because of her friendship with my mother. As I recall there were three 18-hole courses.
Regarding the Ford dealer on the northeast corner of Manchester and Kirkwood Road during the 1940s and 50s, that was Kribs Ford. Our family bought a Ford there in the early 1950s. Kribs had a weather ball—a 2-ft diameter lighted sphere on top of a 30-ft brick tower. During my Dad’s car purchase I got a wallet card that explained the weather ball. It read:
Weather ball red as fire shows the temperature is going higher.
Weather ball white as snow, down the temperature will go.
Weather ball forest green means no change in temperature is foreseen.
Weather ball blinks in agitation shows there’s going to be precipitation.
Post from Alan Wheeler (8/31/2010)
Hollywood Golf was east of where Bopp Chapel is. It was between Wood Avenue and Woodlawn Avenue. Suntrup Ford and Greentree Shopping Center are there now. Suntrup Ford used to be Yates Stevens Ford and that may be the franchise that replaced Suburban Ford, which had been at Kirkwood and Manchester and was owned by the Linn family in Kirkwood. I enjoyed seeing the site.
Post from Chuck N (9/5/2010)
Does anyone remember WIL's Jack Carney and the Pookie Snackenberg Fan club? Why I am still a member. Still have my Official Pin!
Post from Chuck N (9/5/2010)
Jog my memory.. Please!
There was a drug store with a soda fountain near Tillis Park on the other side of Hampton Ave. at the base of the HILL that made and served its own FABULOUS Root beer at the fountain. The elixir was oh so thick, black and very pungent , it had a thick , creamy and heavy dark chocolate head. It was the best darned root beer I've ever tasted, especially on a typically hot St. Louis afternoon.
I was one of the four park and recreation directors at Tillis park in '63 and '64, Suzanne Zepf was one and John B and Sue (?) were the other two. Man that root beer was served in a tall ice cold glass and went down smooth. I don't think the building is even there anymore. Anybody got the recipe?
Chuck
Post from Carl Stedman, Ed.D. (9/17/2010)
I earned my way through college by working four summers at the St. Louis Independent Packing Co. (Mayrose meats) at 824 S Vandeventer. This meat packing company employed significant numbers of people and provided meat to the U.S.Army as well as many in St. Louis and throughout the Mid-West. If was a well run, clean, and efficient plant, and provided employment for my father for over 30 years, who became foreman of several departments.
I can find no references, descriptions, or pictures of this plant - any suggestions fro where this information might be found?
Post from Linda Vachalek (10/3/2010)
My Grandmother told me many stories about taking a horse and buggy up from Southern Missouri to attend the World's Fair. I am attaching an envelope she got while she was there. It says 1903 Worlds Fair on it! She also had a wonderful picture taken of her and her sister, a paperweight they bought and also an autographed copy of Home Helps published in 1900 and signed by Mrs. Sarah Tyson Rorer which they also bought there.
Post from Floyd McFarland(10/3/2010)
Earilier I requested a photo of my childhood friend, Betty Essman. Sadly Betty passed away in 1982. She had wed L. Miesner and resided in St. Louis until her death.
I am working on a journal of my life and will be including photos of those years. Betty was an important player when I lived on Northfolk Ave. and attended the Adams elementary school.
Maybe someone has a photograph of Betty in an Adams graduation class of the mid to latter 1940's (1947-1949).
Please help me if you can. Send photo to Floyd McFarland 616 Woodgate, Farmington, MO 63640 or in an attachment to [email protected]
Post from Patsy Owens ...I now reside in So. California, formerly of St Louis.(10/6/2010)
Re: the post by Carl Stedman, Ed.D. (9/17/2010)
IPC has been replaced by the Missouri Pacific freight terminal and yards. I googled it and it came up under "HISTORY OF ST. LOUIS NEIGHBORHOODS-CENTRAL WEST END"...bordered on the East by Vandeventer Ave.......on another page under Melrose Meat is a story about J. Joseph Horan, the man who created the jingle "Mayrose Meat Man."
Post from Jerry (10/12/2010)
Does anyone remember the Splatter, Platter, Parties,,at the sunset pools, in Crestwood Mo. sponsored by a radio station,, I played Sax there in 1959 with Kenny Loren and the classmates, and appearing with us was Jerry Lee Lewis, I started to put my horn away,and he said to me, You know how to play rock and roll, Stay up here and play... Does anyone have pictures of that?????
Post from Steve (10/12/2010)
My name is Steve Holdenried and I graduated from St Mary's High School in 1964. St Louis was a wonderful City to grow up in. I remember having a Holdenried picnic each year near the pool in Forest Park. I could not swim when I was 5 or so but that did not keep me from putting my arms down on the bottom of the pool and pretending I was swimming. I lived on Texas Ave and went to St. Francis De Sales Elementary School until the 5th grade. Once in a while I would go trash picking in the old Ash Pits in the alley ways. I believe all the people who had ash pits then had to tear down one of the walls. I was told that a closed ash pit was nothing but a target for rats.
I remember we had a barn in our back yard at 2862 Texas. It was a great place to play as a kid but I believe the city told us to tear down the old cow barn about 1951 or so. The area at one time was a dairy farm. My grand father built a shed in the rear of the home located just next to the playground of St Francis School. My other grand father owned a dairy across the street from the gym at St Francis De Sales.
There was a confectionery one block off Jefferson Ave and Petzalose (misspelled) called MOM"S. In the early 50's our relatives who had phone service would call Mom's store a leave a message to get a hold of our family and run to the store. In 10 minutes our relatives would call back. The came the phones with Party Lines. I listen in on my neighbors many times. The phone would ring a special way and you knew the phone call was for your family but anyone could pick up an hold onto the speaker and listen in.
I loved the milk man if he he came by later in the day. He would break off chunks for the kids in the neighborhood to bite and suck on.
You could play until the street lights came on and if you had a bike you could ride behind the guys who sprayed the bug spray and get to hide in their fog. I think that is some of the reasons I may have brain damage.
Thanks for the memories St Louis I had a wonderful childhood.
Post from Sandy Robine (10/20/2010)
To Diane James Scheltinga that had an entry here dated 8/31/10. I last heard the name Scheltinga when I worked with a Drew Scheltinga at Clayton Engineering "back in the day". Would Drew be your husband or perhaps a brother-in-law or otherwise related to you? I remember him just being a really nice person with which to work and he had a nice smile. My last name at that time was Spain. If you want to contact me, I have an "entry" on this website and I think it is toward the end of "2009". My name is Sandy Robine. My contact information as well as a story of some of my memories & pictures of my family's restaurant are there! The entry was dated 10/22/09.
I just received a call (re my entry) yesterday from a lady living in Colorado! She had read the St. Louis Memories website and saw that we were both of Croation heritage and that our parents were both married in 1939 at St. George Church in Affton and that we both grew up in Affton (both born in 1947) really close to each other. We just went to different schools. However she did attend St. George grade school with my cousin and her older sister was probably in another cousin's class. She graduated from Notre Dame H.S. and me from Affton with her neighbor! Again THANKS DAVE LOSSOS for this AWESOME WEBSITE. God bless Dave Lossos!!!
Post from Sandy Robine (10/20/2010)
To Jerry Devine (post 4/8/10 - my birthday!...I certainly can see why you are a successful author. Your entry on April 8th brought me to tears. How beautiful - yet sad. Thank you for sharing your journey down memory lane via google. What a week it has been also for us "boomers". We have lost our "mom", Mrs. Clever (the Beav's mom) and, now today, one of our "dads", Mr. "C" (Richie's dad) has passed. As the Fonz would say, Aaaaaaaaaaa! Or, in this case, Awwwwwww!
Isn't it amazing that this website brings us all together again - even if we never knew each other. I am Sandy (Krshul) Robine with several entries; but the most detailed (complete with pictures) is from October of 2009. I just wonder if folks from other towns are as blessed as we St. Louis "Kids" from back in the day. Funny how you could relate to each other by just know what high school you went to OR what "parish" you belonged to. Thanks Jerry for sharing your memories in such a heartwarming article.
Post from Jimmy V (10/20/2010)
I remember the "good old days", when we could play basketball and fuzz ball at the school yard till the street lights came on. I grew up in So. City went to Hoarse Mann all 8 years of grade school. Graduated in 1965 went on to Roosevelt for a short period of time. The Ritz, Granada, and Shenandoah shows. We played baseball at Tower Grove Park and also McDonald Park (Bent and Utah or B&U) if your from the Neighborhood. Built my first skate board out of a roller skate and a 2x4 and would ride the hills in the front of the school yard. Katy's (Cobb) corner, home of the 12 cent triple scoop ice cream cones and a full display case of penny candy. Sputnik, sour apple and grape gum. Red hot dollars, button strips, and little cardboard cartons of Spanish peanuts the might have a penny or more inside wrapped in wax paper. What a prize. Teen dances at Holy Family, St Anthony's and Regal Hall. I remember all the school picnic's at the Highlands until it burned in 63 then Chain of Rocks. My grandparents owned the Penny Arcade inside and we would always get to take a couple friends in early before it opened and play games for free. Kids would peer through the windows and wonder how we were able to get to do that. Sled riding down all the steep streets south of Miami St, Parker, Potomac, Oletha, Fairview. Nothing but fun. Dang where did the time go.
Any Hoarse Mann Alums within this time period (50's-60') around please post a hello. Jog our memories. Whatever happened to everyone? I still see a few people but not enough.
Sharon Hoffman, Sandy Smith, Wayne Moody, Laura Lamb, Pat Ligon, Joe M (parents owned a bakery), Carol Riley, and many many more. If anyone knows or see these people tell them about this site.
I remember Helen's Pizza on grand (the best first date), Ludwig's music where I failed miserably at guitar, (wanted to be Elvis or the Beatles didn't matter). The Rice Bowl and Mavorako's candy. Cherokee street where I bought my first pair of Penney brogs for $7. Hampton Village, The House of Good Shepard, Velvet Freeze with the giant ice cream cone out front, Skateland etc etc.
Great web site looking forward to more postings.
And as we got older, Tighe's Tavern, The Lost Dutchmen/Sunrise Saloon, Rusty Springs, The Peppermint Lounge, Bernard's Pub, The Loading Zone, and Friday's, Disco Dancing .
Post from unsigned (10/31/2010)
"Weather Girls" who wore cocktail dresses while giving you the forecast on the evening news
Dancing to Bob Kuban and the In Men
When Farotto's was a 20 x 20 pizza pick-up business next to an auto parts store
The Balcony Restaurant at J. C. Penneys
S and H Green Stamp redemption stores
Gas station attendants wearing uniforms that pumped gas and washed your windshield
I thought Ike and Tina performed at the 2 plus 2 club
The graffiti in the restrooms of Cyranos
Rolling your skirt up at the waistband to shorten it
Post from A. Self Leone.(10/31/2010)
Does anyone remember St. Louis Bible Fellowship Church when it was on Potomac St?.
Post from ??? (11/13/2010)
We all have our great memories of St Louis and how wonderful to be able to say we actually were the ones to enjoy a time that was the best to be a child growing up during the 50's, 60's. Being able to walk to school in south St Louis, up the alley ways and walk them home for lunch and back to school because it was safe to do so. Three day school picnics on the school grounds of Holy Innocents on Reber and Kingshighway and walking in a parade with homemade banners up the center of Kingshighway. Walking all the way up Kingshighway to South Town Famous to buy 45 records. Being able to win a prize like a bicycle with your ticket stub at the Columbia theater on a Saturday afternoon, also watching the "Battle of the Bands" on stage in the mid 60's. Going ice skating at Steinberg Rink in Forest Park every Friday and Saturday night for free under the age of 12, even Sunday afternoons. Renting a full locker inside the girls restroom and letting as many of your friends as possible put their shoes in the locker and the craziness after a night's session of skating fighting the crowd to get in and out of that locker room to get your shoes back. Trick or Treating with a pillow case for blocks and blocks, coming home with tons of candy that you didn't have to second guess. Saving Pepsi bottle caps to get a free bowling game at Palace Bowling Alley at Southwest and Kingshighway. Cyrano's Ice Cream after a high school prom. Car races on Northrup and through the "S"s on Christy. Wearing "suntan" nylons with Ked's tennis shoes painted with white shoe polish that you bought at Ben Franklin's where you could also pick up KXOK radio station's Singalong Survey that was displayed on the same rack as the 45 records. Making gum rapper chains with Fruit Stripe gum and collecting Beatle flip cards that together created a large poster of the Beatles. Ironing your hair straight or putting Sun In on it that turned your hair orange! Mini skirts worn with Maxi coats or Hot pants with boots! Those were the days my friends, I thought they'd never end.....and so the song goes! Thanks St Louis for the Memories!
Post from Scott (12/8/2010)
A couple of pics of Franke’s Twin Pools for you. There was a postcard too, but cannot seem to find it. My dad and his brothers owned the pools. Before my time.
Post from Linda (12/8/2010)
I was looking at your St. Louis memories, and I think I'm a smidge younger than alot of your other respondants, but I remember my Mom telling me things that sounded just like what I've read. The coal man, the ice man, the pitchers of beer. Made me very happy. Thank you. I do remember one thing myself, though. My Mom and uncle took me and my brother to the Highlands the day it burned, but we had gone home already.
Post from C Pat Gould (12/8/2010)
Went to Aquinas with Jerry Frank….I remember when he was in on making a record….there was a large open room at Aquinas when the school first opened….we would bring record player from home for music and dancing at noon….Sharon Gorke I think kind of started it….when it first opened, we started as juniors…was no senior class…we were the first….great times….the sisters wanted a Christmas tree….at the time, Shermiers farm land was being cleard for houses off of Charbonier….Bill Gettemeier got the farm truck and a bunch of us went out and got about a 30ft. pine that had just been toppled….took it behind the school and got it off the truck…never heard what the good sisters did with that Christmas tree….had groups from Sacred Heart in Florissant, Our Lady of Fatima, STS. John and James in Ferguson, Holy Ghost in Berkeley, Our Lady of Guadalope in Cool Valley….everyone melded together…one big group….great times…only time better was time spent as paratrooper with the 101st.
Post from Earl Richardson(12/8/2010)
Dave, thanks for a great website about memories of St. Louis.
I lived in Webster Groves and my phone # there was WO 2-1312.
Anyone remember TV after school on KSD Ch 5, my favorite show was “Texas Bruce” starring local TV personality Bruce Gibbs every afternoon showing Popeye cartoons. His sign-off line every day was ‘hasta la vista maceros.’ He was also a dad in my Scout troop in Webster Groves. Big memory of this famous TV star (who was like God to me) teaching me to tie a knot on a boy scout camping trip.
Speaking of Boy Scouts, anyone go to Camp Irondale?
I just visited St. Louis a few weeks ago after being gone for 45 years. One of my high points on this visit was a Boy Scouts memory reunion at Irondale, with Scout troops camping there for the first time in 45 years, and I got to relive so many childhood memories.
We lived right next to the St. Louis Trolley lines where it came from Maplewood to Webster Groves on an old bridge very high above Deer Creek. As kids we played on that bridge all the time. Kids would never do such a thing today. Around 1948 (I believe) trolleys on that route were replaced by buses. There is now a fascinating historical display of ‘The Old Webster Groves Trolley Line’ along the area where the bridge was torn down, over Deer Creek Park, at the border of Maplewood & Webster.
As a kid I spent time in Old Orchard, & also played little league baseball at Blackburn Park in Webster.
Remember the big fire at Forest Park, in 1963 I believe, when the Highlands burned down? We saw the smoke from my house in Webster and it made me so scared.
Who can forget the 1964 Cardinals and the World Series, broadcast by Harry Carey & Jack Buck. My only regret was Stan Musial retired just a year too early to be in his final World Series.
Anyone remember the 1966 CBS TV-special broadcast nationally & narrated by Charles Kurault called “16 in Webster Groves”? You may not want to remember it, I thought it was an unflattering & not realistic picture of kids in Webster.
Great, memories, thanks for a great website!
Post from ??? (12/8/2010)
Yes I am still traumatized by the memory of Sr.Rose Miriam. Had her as a teacher for two years at Epiphany. 7th and 8th grades. '65 and '66.
Post from Pam Harster (12/29/2010)
My parents were born in the 20’s and raised in South St Louis on Water Street and Broadway. They are no longer living, but used to tell us wonderful stories about growing up in St Louis. Dad talked about the hot tamale man…where his friends would like to tease “how’s your wife?” and the tamale man would say “hot…red hot”. He also talked about bowling at a little alley on Virginia. He was a pin setter there. Anyone remember the name? We still go to Carondelet Bakery (Doering’s) on Virginia….best cheesecake and gooey butter cake anywhere; south St Louis style…slabs of cheesecake in cuts….apricot cake; peanut cakes; stolen. My grandparents took us to Doering’s every Saturday and then we would go to Fehlbaum’s (sp) Meat Store for good braunsweiger and cold cuts. In the true German style we would have baked goods and cold cuts for breakfast.
My parents were good friends of the Dohack’s and we used to go there all the time for their Jack Salmon and BBQ sauce.. Dad talked about playing corkball behind Red Villa’s tavern; going to the firehouse on S Broadway where they would ring the bell. Dad was an altar boy at St Boniface then went to Cleveland HS. Mom grew up on S Broadway in one of the beautiful old homes with the turret style roofs. They lived around the corner from the Rathgaber’s in the beautiful house on Davis Street. Had a chance to visit with the Rathgaber’s a few years ago. That house is amazing and is on the St Louis historical registry. Mom’s family owned a sand and gravel business at the quarry…Ruprecht’s Sand and Gravel. Her mother’s side of the family were named Riekus and lived on Minnesota. They had their wedding breakfast at the Bevo Mill. When they were younger they used to dance on the Admiral and then go up and “neck” on the top deck. Dad used to go to Sportsman’s Park and sit in the “Knot Hole Gang” section where his uncle, Harry Kramer was a police officer working at the Park. He used to upgrade Dad and his friends to front row seats. My Grandma Harster worked at the Tums factory.
When we were little we loved to see Santa at Famous Barr, go to Mavrakos for Heavenly Hash, go to Ted Drew’s, get pretzels from the street vendor, see the Cardinals. We also liked to see the Vess Bottle off of Hampton across from Steak and Shake. We would eat at the Chariton (great shrimp).
I live in Ohio now, but still think St Louis is the most wonderful city ever! And of course, still a huge Cardinal fan! Great post…thanks for the memories!
Post from ??? (12/29/2010)
Anyone remember channel 11,, top of the chase hotel, back mid to late 50's there was a trio on the chuck Norman show called the Dusty frank trio,,, Leo Ward on guitar,, Jack Briggerman on drums, and Dusty Frank on Piano,, Boy could he play Boogie wooggie Piano,, It was unreal. I wonder if any of those guys are still Playing.
