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The unobvious food memories


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#51 safly

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Posted 03 June 2008 - 07:25 PM

Thanks Herb for sharing something beautiful and someone so special to you with all of us here. I think I speak for all the FORUMERS here in offering you and your family our sincerest condolences regarding your wife's passing. And we would like to let you know that WE ALL welcome you on board here, and WE ALL look forward to reading more about your memories of this city's wonderful past.

Yourself and others like you are an important reason why this FORUM is well recognized in the community, has achieved some amazing growth and is a welcoming "site" to see everyday we login. Thanks.
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#52 ramjet

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Posted 03 June 2008 - 08:51 PM

QUOTE (safly @ Jun 3 2008, 08:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Thanks Herb for sharing something beautiful and someone so special to you with all of us here. I think I speak for all the FORUMERS here in offering you and your family our sincerest condolences regarding your wife's passing. And we would like to let you know that WE ALL welcome you on board here, and WE ALL look forward to reading more about your memories of this city's wonderful past.

Yourself and others like you are an important reason why this FORUM is well recognized in the community, has achieved some amazing growth and is a welcoming "site" to see everyday we login. Thanks.


Absolutely! Whether you're a transplant or an expat, the thing I like about this forum is that it is a place for those who love this special city can trade memories and observances with collective appreciation. I'm sorry for your loss. But I very much appreciate you sharing your memories of your wife while you folks were in Fort Worth. Every time I visit and pass by the City's landmarks, many discussed on this forum, I think of family and friends who are no longer here who thought the town was as fantastic as I do...

#53 gdvanc

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Posted 03 June 2008 - 09:42 PM

Welcome to the forum, Herb. That is a beautiful post and it is a wonderful reminder of what is truly important: the love and time and memories we share with those we love. 45 years! It is touching and encouraging to see an example of that sort of deep and giving love surviving in a society that seems increasingly filled with the superficial and self-centered. Thank you for sharing this look into your life.

#54 Herb Jones

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Posted 04 June 2008 - 08:24 AM

QUOTE (gdvanc @ Jun 3 2008, 10:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Welcome to the forum, Herb. That is a beautiful post and it is a wonderful reminder of what is truly important: the love and time and memories we share with those we love. 45 years! It is touching and encouraging to see an example of that sort of deep and giving love surviving in a society that seems increasingly filled with the superficial and self-centered. Thank you for sharing this look into your life.



Thank you all for the warm welcome...as our life quickly passes us by one day all we have left are memories.I am just so happy that ALL of my memories are ones that come from my heart. I feel thats why I am still so full of tears. I plan to come up with many more Ft Worth related memories. THANKS AGAIN.



This is me in 1963 at Carswell AFB with my 1st ever car..1956 Chevy BelAir. One year before I met Terry.
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#55 Herb Jones

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Posted 04 June 2008 - 12:03 PM

Who remembers Carlson's on University Dr? Have you ever tasted a better Baconburger...They had their own special secret sauce that made the difference. For all the years it was there, two sisters were the carhops and were there working almost every night. One was named Rose...Does anyone remember the others name? And there was a motorcycle policeman named Woody, who patroled Ft Worth and showed up at Carlson's every night just to say hi to all us young ones. Who could ever forget Woody, Rose and her sister.
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#56 McHand

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Posted 04 June 2008 - 07:07 PM

QUOTE (GenE @ Jan 17 2007, 12:16 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I want to hear of your food memories...this is not the obvious places/things that have been mentioned in other threads (like the mexican resturant downtown that has been demolished, nor the Hardies mentioned elswhere earlier today).

Also, this isn't meant to be a listing of GREAT food, just GREAT food memories and the year(s) you enjoyed them.

Some of mine from the 1970's-80

The Chocolate Butter Spritz Cookies made at any of the old Buddies (and what ever other name they have used).

A little cafe on Jacksboro Highway just west of the river, made the BEST Apple Pie using cream to help cook the apples.

A bakery, I think on Vickery that made Meringue shells for tarts. My mom used to make meringue shells, but the closest I ever got was buying them from this bakery.

A German resturant very near the Weatherford traffic circle.

And I have to mention, a little hamburger stand in downtown Dallas somewhere in the area of Commerce and Akard? I think it may have been west of where the Baker Hotel used to be. It was a little hole in the wall stand, un-airconditioned with VERY minimum seating. People would call in their order and walk to pick it up, never expecting to sit down and eat there. This shop probably had a great deal to adding to my cholestrol levels.




Could this have been Swiss Pastry Shop?

In the early 80's I was only tall as the middle shelf in the case. I remember seeing big huge Pac Man cookies. We never bought one of those but I remember eating something really sweet, kind of like those iced Mexican pastries (name, anyone?). Seems like we went on Saturdays, and it was always crowded.

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#57 Birdland in Handley

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Posted 05 June 2008 - 12:05 AM

Hi Herb--Welcome
You have a great wealth of FW memories; thank you for sharing. Please accept my sorrow for the loss of of a lifetime.

#58 safly

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Posted 05 June 2008 - 12:07 AM

QUOTE
We never bought one of those but I remember eating something really sweet, kind of like those iced Mexican pastries (name, anyone?). Seems like we went on Saturdays, and it was always crowded.



Why's it gotta be REALLY SWEET?

Why's it gotta be MEXICAN PASTRY?

So you are saying you would ONLY EXPECT thems KIND OF PEOPLES there on Saturdays? Which just happens to be Telemundo Futbol day??? mellow.gif

And that THEMS PEOPLES would ALWAYS MAKE IT SEEM CROWDED (like they were stocking up for a WORLD CUP match on TV) there and a game of loteria would breakout!
(WHY? Because IT'S FREE!)

And then those kids would start to bounce those big freakin pink balloons on that long rubberband til it ANNOYS YOU or until their mom or tia would spank them with a chancla, then they would all cause shop riots and looting and a man in a bumblebee costume would just randomly appear and "threaten" you into buying 15 cent "un chicle" and an RC Cola! Isn't that what you just said??? I mean, that's what I thought I was reading into there, Holmes!!!

JUST KIDDING AVVY! tongue.gif

Do you mean Pan Dulce?

or

Churros dipped in frosting??

DAMN! That sounds pretty good.

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#59 McHand

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Posted 05 June 2008 - 09:05 AM

safly, you a craaa-zzzy!

For the record, I remember a bunch of old white men in slacks and hats!

Are churros the same as durros?


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#60 safly

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Posted 05 June 2008 - 12:01 PM

What can I say, it was late at night STUFF.

No, Churros and Duros are NOT the same.

Churros...



are a deep fried stick of tender dough. I have also coined them as "FRIED BLISS". These are wonderful when added with granulated cinnamon and brown sugar. PERFECT for dipping into coffee, hot cocoa, and NOW certain frostings.

A Duro...



is a wheat filled pasta that usually comes store packaged. For a tasty low fat snack, it can be either microwaved or deep fried and sprinkled with some lime juice, a some chili powder and salt to taste. Some vendors will usually sell these ready made in a paper/wax bag. Durritos came up with the Americanized version.


The word duro means "hard or hardened". It's used to describe the state of an object or thing, say for instance, a taco shell. Tacos Duros can be ordered at your favorite Mexican eatery and they will know it to be those TACO BELL style crunchy corn taco shells or some may interpret it as a flauta style item. My preferance is for the flauta style.

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#61 mschrief

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Posted 05 June 2008 - 09:52 PM

A fond food memory: Saturday morning shopping at Dillards downtown, then stepping over to the Richilieu (sp?) Grill for a bowl of chili. Ah, those were the days!

#62 Herb Jones

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Posted 08 June 2008 - 08:04 PM

QUOTE (mschrief @ Jun 5 2008, 10:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
A fond food memory: Saturday morning shopping at Dillards downtown, then stepping over to the Richilieu (sp?) Grill for a bowl of chili. Ah, those were the days!

Us older folks remember it as Leonard's downtown and the thrill of it all was taking the trolley right to the basement entrance.
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#63 Mick

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Posted 08 June 2008 - 11:36 PM

Man, lot's of great memories in this thread.

Anyone remember Rick's Locker Room on Park Place off Eighth Ave? It was a great dive bar with outstanding hamburgers. (Later moved to a little more upscale area on Camp Bowie called Rick's On The Bricks)

Papa Joes on 28th St. - Another hole in the wall that had a great reasonably priced steak. (now M&M Steakhouse)

Mr. Quick, Griff's and Ft. Worth's first Taco Bell on Hwy 80 were high school hang outs. (also hung out at a teen club behind El fenix on Camp Bowie called "The Box" It later changed to a bar called I Gotcha)

Took a date to the Farmer's Daughter back in high school and spent the outrageous sum of $7.25 cents for dinner. blink.gif laugh.gif

Jetton's off University was always my favorite cafateria - I still remember their killer mexican cornbread.

Shakey's Pizza Parlor on Camp Bowie - The pizza was lousy but they had $2 dollar pitchers of beer on Wednesday and never asked for ID's laugh.gif

The Hayloft - Must have eaten the chicken fried steak there 200 times. I still remember the cheesy little red checked blouses, cheap straw hats, and cowboy boots they made the waitresses wear. Poor things laugh.gif

Can't leave out a couple of real oldies, Leta's Grill in the stock yards and the long gone Famous Hamburgers by the courthouse. (the link below has some great history on Leta's Grill)

http://www.anti-hero.../letastory.html



#64 Birdland in Handley

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Posted 09 June 2008 - 02:06 AM

Something unobvious, something semi-food: Boomer children will recall hearing their parents, on Sundays, mutter toward the end of the sermon at the mainstream Protestant church, in my case, St. Stephens Presby: I hope this is timed so we will beat the Methodists.
Everyone wanted to get to Colonial Cafeteria on Berry before the line got too long. Once you got there, line or no--Oh! the Blackbottom pie, the Chocolate Icebox pie, the Boston Cream pie!
This was a ritual of my early 60's childhood. Cafeterias must have really prospered on Sundays.

#65 Birdland in Handley

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Posted 09 June 2008 - 02:09 AM

Something unobvious, something semi-food: Boomer children will recall hearing their parents, on Sundays, mutter toward the end of the sermon at the mainstream Protestant church, in my case, St. Stephens Presby: I hope this is timed so we will beat the Methodists.
Everyone wanted to get to Colonial Cafeteria on Berry before the line got too long. Once you got there, line or no--Oh! the Blackbottom pie, the Chocolate Icebox pie, the Boston Cream pie!
This was a ritual of my early 60's childhood. Cafeterias must have really prospered on Sundays.

#66 texastrill

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Posted 09 June 2008 - 09:39 AM

Excellent post at #58 safly! laugh.gif
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#67 McHand

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Posted 09 June 2008 - 11:08 AM

I'm telling you Trill, safly is off his rocker! rotflmao.gif

Ok I have another food memory: smiley faced pancakes at Burdaav's. I don't know if Vickery Cafe does this also.

Another: my 10th birthday was at an upscale restaurant on Camp Bowie with three girlfriends. It was my first grownup dinner. I don't remember the name of it but I think it was in that split level shopping center that now has La Madeline, and I think it was upstairs.

My parents and brother were at another table, and my brother ordered some kind of cream soup. He took a bite and started chewing on what he first thought was a mushroom but ended up being A PIECE OF CARDBOARD!!!! Fortunately my parents didn't get mad, and of course us girls thought it was hilarious.

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#68 GenE

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Posted 11 June 2008 - 06:06 PM

QUOTE (avvy @ Jun 9 2008, 12:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Another: my 10th birthday was at an upscale restaurant on Camp Bowie with three girlfriends. It was my first grownup dinner. I don't remember the name of it but I think it was in that split level shopping center that now has La Madeline, and I think it was upstairs.


Back in the early 80's, I think it was just called "The Balcony".

GenE


#69 McHand

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Posted 11 June 2008 - 07:21 PM

Could have been. I'm going to ask my mom.

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#70 jth

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Posted 12 June 2008 - 12:18 AM

QUOTE (avvy @ Jun 4 2008, 08:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (GenE @ Jan 17 2007, 12:16 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I want to hear of your food memories...this is not the obvious places/things that have been mentioned in other threads (like the mexican resturant downtown that has been demolished, nor the Hardies mentioned elswhere earlier today).

Also, this isn't meant to be a listing of GREAT food, just GREAT food memories and the year(s) you enjoyed them.

Some of mine from the 1970's-80

The Chocolate Butter Spritz Cookies made at any of the old Buddies (and what ever other name they have used).

A little cafe on Jacksboro Highway just west of the river, made the BEST Apple Pie using cream to help cook the apples.

A bakery, I think on Vickery that made Meringue shells for tarts. My mom used to make meringue shells, but the closest I ever got was buying them from this bakery.

A German resturant very near the Weatherford traffic circle.

And I have to mention, a little hamburger stand in downtown Dallas somewhere in the area of Commerce and Akard? I think it may have been west of where the Baker Hotel used to be. It was a little hole in the wall stand, un-airconditioned with VERY minimum seating. People would call in their order and walk to pick it up, never expecting to sit down and eat there. This shop probably had a great deal to adding to my cholestrol levels.




Could this have been Swiss Pastry Shop?

In the early 80's I was only tall as the middle shelf in the case. I remember seeing big huge Pac Man cookies. We never bought one of those but I remember eating something really sweet, kind of like those iced Mexican pastries (name, anyone?). Seems like we went on Saturdays, and it was always crowded.



Thinking that hamburger place in Dallas was The Lunch Sack. Used to work in Main Tower Building and it was around the corner I believe on Field Street between Commerce and Main. They also had Chicken Fried Steak Sandwiches. There was a Great American Hero next door on the Main end.

#71 McHand

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Posted 24 June 2008 - 07:13 AM

QUOTE (GenE @ Jun 11 2008, 07:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (avvy @ Jun 9 2008, 12:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Another: my 10th birthday was at an upscale restaurant on Camp Bowie with three girlfriends. It was my first grownup dinner. I don't remember the name of it but I think it was in that split level shopping center that now has La Madeline, and I think it was upstairs.


Back in the early 80's, I think it was just called "The Balcony".

GenE



QUOTE (avvy @ Jun 11 2008, 08:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Could have been. I'm going to ask my mom.


Asked Mom, and the place was The Ice House, which she said was actually an old ice house.

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#72 txrdside

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Posted 24 June 2008 - 09:01 AM

From the 50's a little cake treat from Mrs Bairds Bakery called the "Devil Dog". Wish they still made them.
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#73 cbellomy

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Posted 24 June 2008 - 09:14 AM

The Ice House was on Camp Bowie at Hulen. Actually, the building, which is still there, is on Dexter. After its incarnation as the Ice House restaurant, it became Celebration for several years. Now, I think it's a gardening shop of some sort.


#74 mnmassie

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Posted 01 August 2008 - 12:44 PM

I have so many food memories from growing up that I wouldn't even know where to begin...but a few are

* Duke's Donuts on Cherry Lane. Duke was the nicest man and getting his donuts was always a special treat. As a kid, when I had slumber parties my Dad would always get us fresh donuts in the morning. In high school we'd always pick up Duke's before 7am band practice. Nothing like the sugar rush to get you through a long practice just so you could crash in your first class!

* Some little burger joint on Las Vegas Trail. I don't even know if it's there anymore but my grandmother and I would go every single day after she picked my up from school. We went so often that we didn't even have to get out of the car - my grandmother would just hold up one or two fingers indicating how many burgers we were getting. And always with cheese, mayo and no onions. I couldn't stand onions as a kid.

* El Campo. Man I miss that place. It's The Point now but we went all the time. I practically grew up in that restaurant. I remember when I was little being fascinated by the big marlin on the wall. My family was really good friends with one of the waitresses and when I got older and started dating I'd make the guy take me there. I always had to get Judy's "approval" first. They had the. best. chicken fried steak. I was so glad that I happened to be in town from college the weekend they closed so I got to have my beloved chicken fried steak one last time.



#75 longhornz32

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Posted 01 August 2008 - 01:45 PM

I just found out that my Grandmother in law had a cafe on 7th street for awhile. We think it was called 7th street cafe or Juanita's cafe. Does anyone know anything about it?

#76 larry

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Posted 03 August 2008 - 04:39 PM

As a life long resident of Fort Worth, I was googling trying to find the name of the sea food restaurant at I30 and Forest Park. My wife and I ate our first meal there as man and wife 24 years ago today. Found this forum and it was the Spanish Galleon, where one of the entrances was the mouth of a whale.

It has been great reading about the places I hung out in high school - Paschal 1964. Grew up on Stanley Ave, one block South of the Chuck Wagon.

#77 malibu65

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Posted 17 November 2008 - 01:05 PM

QUOTE (larry @ Aug 3 2008, 04:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
As a life long resident of Fort Worth, I was googling trying to find the name of the sea food restaurant at I30 and Forest Park. My wife and I ate our first meal there as man and wife 24 years ago today. Found this forum and it was the Spanish Galleon, where one of the entrances was the mouth of a whale.

It has been great reading about the places I hung out in high school - Paschal 1964. Grew up on Stanley Ave, one block South of the Chuck Wagon.




Does anyone remember the Goff's hamburger stand on camp bowie. I was about 5 years old in the mid-fifties. First time I ever had ketchup on a hamburger or sesame seeds on a bun. It was great.
My wife and I have had this ongoing argument on where it was. I say it was right behind where the denny's is today. Any info appreciated.

#78 SWRebel

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Posted 11 September 2009 - 01:32 PM

There was a Rockefellers that had a name change to Wimpy's. I am pretty sure it was out Camp Bowie.
Didn't last long.
They served a huge burger and an incredible pile of french fries for really cheap.

For an ice cream fix I stumbled into Carnation ( right across from the Loring Hotel )



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#79 friskevision

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Posted 01 December 2009 - 10:44 PM

I've noticed some people here talking about the Merry Go Round burger joint on Berry. Well, It just so happens my granddad was manager of it for years. I also frequested Mama's Pizza a LOT! I still go there whenever I'm in town. Here's some pics of the Merry Go Round!







I hope you enjoy them!



#80 Papaw

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Posted 02 December 2009 - 09:18 AM

Boy, what nice memories of that great place. I can't remember his name but his face well as I ate there many many times.
Thanks friskevision for the pics.

#81 bailey

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Posted 02 December 2009 - 09:57 AM

QUOTE (Papaw @ Dec 2 2009, 09:18 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Boy, what nice memories of that great place. I can't remember his name but his face well as I ate there many many times.
Thanks friskevision for the pics.


Wow, these are great pictures. I ate there a thousand times probably. The managers name was Tommy but I can't recall his last name. I worked at the Chuck Wagon on W. Berry from 1968-1973 and used to talk to him all the time as both stores were owned by the same company. He was quite a character. We were always in competition to see who could run the most business in a day. At one time, the Merry Go Round was one of the few places you could get an Icee and I was hooked on them. I see the Icee sign in the window on one of the pictures.

#82 Papaw

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Posted 02 December 2009 - 11:27 AM

Your right, it was Tommy. Rex Lanier owned them for awhile, his son, Larry Lanier was a popular Paschal High football player that I went to school with. I will never forget the bloody fight Larry and Richard Rainwater (one of the worlds richest people now) got into one time at Paschal. Charlie Turner said it was the best fight he had ever seen - Neither Richard or Larry were trouble makers and very friendly and easy to get along with but big, strong and tough. I don't even remember what started it now.

The good old days.

#83 bailey

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Posted 02 December 2009 - 01:16 PM

QUOTE (Papaw @ Dec 2 2009, 11:27 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Your right, it was Tommy. Rex Lanier owned them for awhile, his son, Larry Lanier was a popular Paschal High football player that I went to school with. I will never forget the bloody fight Larry and Richard Rainwater (one of the worlds richest people now) got into one time at Paschal. Charlie Turner said it was the best fight he had ever seen - Neither Richard or Larry were trouble makers and very friendly and easy to get along with but big, strong and tough. I don't even remember what started it now.

The good old days.


Rex Lanier owned the stores when I started working at the Chuck Wagon as you noted. He had his office in a building behind the Chuck Wagon on W. Berry. He sold out to the Mr. Beef chain and it was never the same after that. Tommy ran the Merry Go Round like he owned it. He was so tight he squeaked. It was amazing how much business he did out of that little hamburger joint that two people could barely fit into. What I would do for one of those hamburgers.

#84 Birdland in Handley

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Posted 03 December 2009 - 10:14 PM

Thanks for the pix, friskevision. What unique architecture.
And Welcome!

#85 friskevision

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Posted 03 December 2009 - 11:27 PM

Hi everyone,
Yeah, His name was Tommy Whitley. He worked there from around 1963 until he died around 1980. He was a cool cat. He was actually in WWII on a ship that was sunk during the war. I have a lot of pictures of him during WWII including pics of some heavy duty fighting including ships on fire, planes on fire, etc.

He was actually my step grandfather. Tommy and my grandmother lived just up the street from Mama's Pizza off of Berry. I got to "know" Tommy more after digging through my grandmothers old pics and hearing stories. I didn't even know he was in the war, much less that his ship was sunk until after he died. He had a dry sarcasm, I remember my mom (his step-daughter) bought me a battery operated fan once, I liked sleeping with a fan, and he said sarcastically "Yeah, like you really need that", trust me it was funny.

He could also cook one MEAN BURGER. He had a doberman that he loved and that dog loved him. The dog died 2 days after Tommy did, it was amazing how much that dog cared for him. I remember one time we had to go to the Merry Go Round because some college kids had stolen one of the horses the night before. They used a cutting torch and cut it loose.

Bailey, you're right! I loved Icee's, much better than a 7-11 slurpee if you ask me. Also, Tommy ran a tight ship (pun intended), I vividly remember if he wasn't cooking or telling everyone to keep the place clean, he was sitting on his barstool near the back door working the books. I remember the Chuck Wagon, but of course we didn't eat there. That would've been blasphemy. :-) However, I never wanted to. Tommy always made me a greasy, delicious burger.

If I remember right The Merry Go Round won best burger by TCU more than a couple of times.

Anyway, I'm glad you all liked the pics and thanks for the kind words!
Bobby

#86 bailey

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Posted 04 December 2009 - 10:38 AM

Whitley, that's it. Thank you for reminding me of that. I've been beating my head off trying to remember his last name.

Tommy was a great guy as you noted. One thing he did was keep his staff working. He wouldn't let them goof off. I often told him I thought he lived in the backroom of the Merry Go Round. It seemed like he was always there from opening to closing 7 days a week. That wasn't an easy job especially in the summer months. Those restaurants weren't air conditioned and I can tell you from experience with that grill blazing it was easily 120 degrees inside. It was just short of unbearable. He obviously loved what he did as did all the managers that worked for Rex Lanier. They were all with him for a long time and a close knit bunch. It's been many years but there was just something about those Merry Go Round hamburgers. I can still taste it.

Thanks for bringing up a great topic of Berry St. lore and the little hamburger joint that stood the test of time. Tommy would be proud of you for remembering him.

#87 cjyoung

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Posted 04 December 2009 - 10:57 AM

QUOTE (ramjet @ Feb 11 2008, 08:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (cactusflower @ Feb 11 2008, 05:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
There was a place called 'Crystals Pizza Palace' and it had rooms similar to a Clue game, where you could dine. I'm sure there were pinball machines somewhere. Or you could eat in the theater where I remember them showing something along the line of the Keystone Cops. The pizza was tremendous, btw; the olives were kind of spicy. Fabulous Texas pizza. Travelbear do you recall this? Maybe it was Parton's Pizza that was in the 1849 Village.


Loved Crystal's. That's where the Travis Avenue Baptist youth group met after Sunday evening service back then (alternated with Mama's Pizza on W. Berry, which amazingly is still around.) How 'bout the Hayloft on Forest Park Blvd. for chicken fried steak and Brittany's on Altamesa where you phoned in your order from a telephone on the table? Site of my first date. Their specialty? Chili burgers... Does anyone know what that building is now? It's been many years ago for me...

Oh! And Mr. Quick in Wedgwood Village. Meat and bread, nothing else. Delicious...! Caddy corner to the Fotomat.


I loved Crystal's growing up. Is the Crystal's in Irving still open? I took my AAU basketball team over there about 5 years ago and they loved it.

#88 friskevision

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Posted 04 December 2009 - 12:04 PM

Bailey, you're right about the heat, it was always hot in there and he did not like people standing around. You gotta admire a guy like that. Someone could've just went into that job not caring, letting it tank. But Tommy took real pride in the place, the food and the service. I do wish I got to know him more when he was alive but we moved around eventually out of Fort Worth.

As far as Crystal's pizza goes, it's still in Irving, but don't go if you don't want your childhood memories ruined. It's a dump now. The rooms are still there, it's buffet style and they do still show cartoons in the theater, but it's just trashy. And the food is sub par if you ask me.

I've always said my dying meal would be Mama's Pizza from Berry st. We have one here in Dallas (well, Plano) and it's good, but there's something about the Berry street location. I don't know if it's because it's the same tables, chairs, stuffed bear from 30 years ago. I do know that they haven't changed their pizza since the first time I went. I love that about them. I guess a first timer could consider Mama's a dump too. But I love that place and I love the pizza.

I also remember the Cox's store and the little shoe store next to it, I think it was a Buster Brown's. My mom took me there and I wanted a pair of Nike's (just came out) real bad and the shoe salesman sold me a bogus pair that looked kinda like them with a swoosh that went up AND down. Of course he said "these are better than Nike".

Wow, I'm babbling. Just some good memories all up and down that street.

Good times.
Bobby

#89 Papaw

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Posted 04 December 2009 - 02:53 PM

"Wow, I'm babbling. Just some good memories all up and down that street. "

Yep, you can still smell Brook's BBQ and hear the Ashburn Man's train whistle blowing across the street as you walk by as you approach the Wheel Drive Inn.

#90 cajunmike

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Posted 04 December 2009 - 03:47 PM

Brooks BBQ:
I remember in the later years, I took an associate to lunch over at Brooks. We order some sandwiches and of course were the only 2 in the place and he gives us a piece of paper with a number on it. Order is ready and again were the only 2 in the place and he calls out "Number 1" and we get our food. He was working with his white apron on. All the TCU pictures all over the walls. He would be proud of the Frogs today..
Mike

#91 bailey

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Posted 04 December 2009 - 03:55 PM

Berry St. had everything you needed back in the 50's and 60's. Start with a movie at the TCU theater then move on down to Merry Go Round for a burger or El Chico just down the street, one of the few Mexican restaurants around in those days. If that wasn't on your plate, you could stop at Skillerns for a malt or go on down to Ashburns for the best ice cream around. Move on past 8th avenue and their was Mama's pizza or Chuck Wagon and just a block further, the old KC barbecue. Of course, just down 8th avenue was Ford's Barbecue.

You mentioned the Mama's pizza in Plano. It is just a block from my house but I have never eaten there in the 23 years I've lived in Plano. It always has business though so I'll give it a try. I remember when the Mama's on Berry opened. I can't remember the name of the restaurant that was in its location earlier but it was there for a long time. We used to eat there quite a bit. Some kind of family restaurant.

I'm getting hungry thinking about all this food.

#92 cajunmike

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Posted 04 December 2009 - 04:35 PM

When we moved to Fort Worth in 1966 the first place we pulled into was the Lone Star Drive in on East Lancaster. We also use to go to the Clover Drive In on Lancaster and there was one one Belknap in Haltom City where we lived. Also spent time at Carnation restaurant.

Baily your right , I am now hungry.

Mike

#93 Eric_T

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Posted 04 December 2009 - 09:05 PM

I think Herby's Foods qualifies as an unobvious food memory. Herby's made sandwiches that were sold in convenience stores and they were located at South Adams and West Shaw. The red brick building still stands. That's not far from Berry or Hemphill and just east of George Clarke Elementary where my dad was principal in the 1970's.

A gentleman at our church had a TV repair shop in part of the Herby's building in the 60's. Herby's bought a mom & pop grocery store across the street from their main building.

Herby's sandwiches were sometimes served on Wednesday nights at out church's Mid-Week school. A lady at out church bought them directly from Herby's.

Herby's also won a Texas Monthly Bum Steer Award in 1974 for their Watergate sandwich which I think was sold out of vending machines.

#94 cajunmike

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Posted 04 December 2009 - 09:48 PM

If I remember correctly, Herby's used to have radio ads telling where you could purchase their sandwiches.
Mike

#95 Papaw

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Posted 04 December 2009 - 10:09 PM

Herby sandwiches pulled me through many a hangover the next day.
Do any of you remember the Fire Station that was where the TCU Noble Book Store is now? (University at Berry) and the Fox's Barber Shop behind it.

#96 Herb Jones

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Posted 02 February 2010 - 08:15 PM

Speaking of University and Berry, To change from food to clothes just for a minute....Who remembers the Oxford Shoppe on Berry St? That is where I bought my girlfriend all of her school clothes in the mid 60's. She always looked great.
Herb Jones

#97 Cowtown Mike

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Posted 02 February 2010 - 08:28 PM

Clyde Campbells on University Drive. Double breasted blue blazer, tie, shirt the works. Did I say tie? Maybe as wide as it was could have been an apron.
Also learning the double know windsor. My good friend Rex Norris was the guy to see.

#98 Herb Jones

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Posted 22 February 2010 - 11:54 AM



Who remembers Sandy's Drive-Inn?? The one that used to be on Seminary Drive in the 60's, well the building is still there but I think it's a laundromat now.
Great 15 cent burgers, fries and drinks, and just a fun place to hang out and meet people.
Herb Jones

#99 mulligan69

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Posted 23 February 2010 - 02:30 PM

I share many of the same of those mentioned here. Some others off the top of my head from back in the day:

* Clown hamburgers - delish.
* Colonial Cafeteria I think it was, used to be next to Colonial Country Club and by the river. The set up was really cool inside.
* Casa Linda - my favorite restaurant as a kid. Is now the Mexican Inn on 8th Avenue.
* Mama's is the best! Really miss the old Camp Bowie location, the upstairs bar area was awesome.
* Casa de Guillermo, was really good too. Was in the Weatherford trafic circle, next to the Eldeweiss.
* Smokey's BBQ, was really good. I still remember the woman who worked there forever, she was a hoot. Think her name was Val. They re-opened I think, but I've not been yet.
* Taco Bell, yes Taco Bell. Remember how it used to have a totally different, completely different taste - ressembled more like Taco Casa back then. It is nothing like it used to be - changed recipes, flavors, just everything.

#100 Herb Jones

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Posted 23 February 2010 - 03:11 PM

For those people who have had the experience and good fortune of sitting in your car at Carlson's on University Dr years ago and savoring the flavor of the best Bacon Burger ever and fries and coke will agree that no burger ever could or ever will come close to matching a meal that drew you back there time after time. If someone could ever completely duplicate the Carlson's of back then, people would flock there everyday. It was the special sauce that made the difference.

Herb Jones




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