7 replies to this topic

[Brian Luenser]

Here are some shots I find interesting from the 1946 Fort Worth Phone Book. All shot with my stupid I-Phone.

Starting with page one.


Amon Carter (Sorry, sideways)


Perry Bass


Small airplane company from Fort Worth. (American)


Is it just me, or is it a conflict of interest to call for an ambulance from a Funeral Home. They all did it. I guess as long as you are paying for those huge wagons...
You gotta ask yourself, do they really want me to live?


Did not remember they sold new cars from downtown


Cripes. West 7th had all the cars


If I only had hair. This is just a block from me.


Bicycle shops downtown?


This one really surprised me. That they cared that their chickens were treated humanely...


Triple XXX ?


Not only did Mexican Food catch on, but Mexicans came by the Millions to serve it.


You have to know how to dance.


Back in the days when motors were expensive because they were not made by 14 year old Chinese girls.


Can you say preservatives?


Open from 7-11

[JOHNNY DONUTS]

really cool pics! I like going ino the Quickway acroos the street from the omni theater... They have a whole wall of old ads from Ft Worth

[John T Roberts]

It's interesting to see where things were back then. It appears American Airlines had some of their offices in the Blackstone Hotel. Frontier Pontiac was where the D.R. Horton Tower is now. Cromer's Ace Bicycle Shop was on Commerce where the Bass Hall is now located and Massie Supply sold bicycles where the Blackstone Hotel annex is now.

As for establishments that are still in the same location, it appears that Joe T. Garcia's (in a partial ad) and the Original Mexican Food Restaurant have never relocated.

[Brian Luenser]

John, I did not notice Joe T Garcia's in the photo. In fact I was wondering if it existed in 1946.

Old phone books. If I had to go to jail for a year (For like having a cookie) I would be OK with a stack of ancient phone books.

I am still amazed by the amount of auto dealerships on 7th street. And I am way surprised that several were East of the Trinity. Also, pages of auto repair places. It is amazing how reliable cars have become. (I have not had a car break since High School.) Back then, you had lots of radiator shops. Don't know why cars used to overheat so much and now they never do. Lots of car battery stores. Lots of tire stores. I remember when good tires lasted 20k miles. Now I get 60k on tires easy.

Lots of hair care. More than now I think. Lots of pawn shops and loan shops. That surprised me. I guess that was because the government did not hand out money like candy back then. When I guy lost his job he had to find work. Pronto. If he couldn't, he would be selling the wife's ring. My favorite show on TV is Hard Core Pawn. I record every one. A real window into what this Country has become. (It is like on Tru Tv or something. Charter 76) These days a guy goes in to pawn a $1,000. necklace. The fact that a poor guy has a $1,000 necklace to pawn tells the whole story. (My most expensive jewelry is my $60. watch.) We breed stupid now.

[Ron Payne]

My favorites are the dialing instructions and the ambulance located at Ray Crowder's Funeral Home

Brian - I'm with you on the 'stupid people' thing, as my 'signature' currently shows!

[ron4Life]

I'm totally trippin on the phone numbers themselves, interesting..

[CleanBarber.com]

As a child growing up in Fort Worth I recall the arrival of the new phone book and my father calling my brother and me to the room for the “show”. He would then take the old phone book between his big hands and split it in half with one blow against his knee. Keep in mind my father was 72 years old when I was 8 when he died. I recall this “show” for four years. Later in life I concluded that the performance was rigged by dear ol’ dad. As an adult I asked my mother if he really did split the phone book in half. She said yes. I have never seen anybody do that since. Here’s to you Jim.

[Ron Payne]

Cool! I remember reading once in a 'magic book' that you can put a phone book in the oven until 'just before it browns' (however long that may be), and then you can tear it in half with your bare hands and amaze your friends! Perhaps your dad read the same book?