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Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: Steve on March 30, 2007, 06:00:21 pm I am transferring this topic to "forum chat" from the "hot dog vendor" thread in the discussion section since we have strayed way off topic in the previous thread. Here is the text of my last post.
""I remember Carl Olzawski very well. Carl was a year ahead of me at Hale in the class of 1974. I was class of 1975. Patti Olzawski was 2 years behind me, class of 1977. The Olzawski name goes back further with me in memory; did these kids go to the old John Paul Jones Elementary as I did? I also went to St. Pius school for 1st & 2nd grade, 1963-1965. (The name "Olzawski" makes me think they were St. Pius church members.) My family was very active in St. Pius PTA and school activities back in the early 1960s, and was one of the original "founders" of the parrish. I remember the old church services in the Moeller family barn, and the original dedication of the "new" St. Pius church around 1965. I have old snapshots taken at the dedication of the new modern St. Pius church. My dad (may he rest in peace) had a lovely singing voice and sang in the St. Pius choir in the 1960s; I made my first communion there and was confirmed there in 1971 after my father's death. I remember some incidents at St. Pius in the mid-1960s, when my parents were co-presidents of the St. Pius PTA. They were having problems with some of the lay teachers at the school and their diciplinary tactics. (One teacher, Ms. Case really comes to mind for her habit of physically hitting kids for no obvious reason!) I remember a "secret" meeting my parents had at our house in 1965 to discuss the situation with other families. Our house was packed with people concerned about the problem. In the fall of 1965, my parents had had enough and put me in 3rd grade at John Paul Jones, and put my brother in 7th grade at Whitney Jr. High. We still went to St. Pius for church, but no longer Catholic school. I went on to Whitney Jr. High and graduated Hale in 1975. Turning 50 this year, in October! Gadzooks, I never thought I would be this old!"" Any other Tulsa old timers that grew up here in the 1960s-1970s, please share your memories here. A snipe-free, non-judgemental topic where we can hopefully trip down memory lane in good taste! Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: Steve on March 30, 2007, 09:33:19 pm Posted by AMP:
"There was a popular night club later near the Oertle's store in the buildings that were built by the commercial contractor that built both the large Oertle's building and the strip shopping center to the south. The club was called Wiskers. Anyone recall that place?" Yes, I remember Wiskers club, or at least hearing about it. I don't recall ever being there. I did go to 20th Century Electric Company and Reflections Club, back in the disco heyday, as well as Tulsa's popular gay discos as the time. My favorite Oertles parking lot business was the Razor Clam Restaurant, one of Tulsa's late-1970s gourmet cuisine, high style restaurants. I went there for my 19th birthday celebration in 1976. I thought that was really livin' at the time, and it was. I think the chef there (sorry I can't remember her name) went on to open the great restaurant at the 2300 Riverside Apts./Condos. Another great restaurant and favorite of mine at the time was in the Parker Drilling Building downtown, but for the life of me I can't recall the name. I know it has been mention here before. Help? Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: Porky on March 31, 2007, 06:02:14 am quote: I went to Whiskers twice back in those days. Didn't care for the bikers that hanged out in there. I spent a lot of time back in them days at the 20th Century Electric Company. That was quite the place for the time. I still have my membership card for Reflections. lol I came across it this past winter when I was cleaning out some old storage boxes. I thought it was a great club but I liked Tennessee Gin and Cotton better, now that was a club. Stan Frisby ran both of them, I've often wondered if Stan Frisby the realtor is the same person. Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: TheArtist on March 31, 2007, 08:19:02 am I was very young but I remember looking out the car window at night as my parents drove around town, and seeing all kinds of wonderful lights. Neon signs and fanciful starbursts were everywhere. Strings of lights would criss cross car lots. The neon git-n-go boy that would "run", U-tote-em signs, rockets, of course the old Meadow Gold, I remember those huge starburst ones that would start lighting up in the middle and then the lights would grow outward making the star, then the whole thing would then flash and blink, then start over. There were 3 dimensional stars that would rotate, streams of lights that would grow like a rocket contrail taking off then lighting up in a burst of many star bursts, etc. Of course there were also many multiple versions of the "arrow" pointing to businesses and roadside hotels. Neon strips around so many buildings and in windows, plus the glowing Sonic, Penningtons. You would look down route 66 and the roads leading off around it and they were just chock full of glowing, blinking, lights.
What I find interesting to consider is how that once ubiquitous effect is completely gone. The essence of what was, the "look" of that time period is lost. Sure you can find a remnant here and there, but unless you were there, there is no trace of what that time was like. Unless you saw it, you just couldnt know. Its extremely rare, actually I dont think I have ever seen a photo or something in a movie, that gives you an idea of what it was like, but yet it was so much a part of our lives, a part of that time. But now its held only in our memories. A young person today wouldn't know, couldn't imagine, or would even guess to consider that what I am talking about even existed. They may imagine the few old signs they see today, rusting away, as being much like their new counteparts, only here and there, and pretty much just sitting there, boring. But they would never imagine the incredible variations and number of shimmering, sparkling, magic, filling some of the busiest streets on both sides, all up an down, competing for attention. The effect was complete wonder to a little boy looking out the backseat windows of a car in the 60s. Too bad you couldnt bring back just half a mile of that to show people what it was like. Buildings often remain to remind people of what was, but something like that advertising which lined them, floated around them and lit them up, was far more etherial and easily lost to history. Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: dbacks fan on March 31, 2007, 09:56:59 pm Sorry, copied this over now that I found it.
quote: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Originally posted by AMP The Zuider Zee sat facing the service road, to the North East of Oertle's store about where the old Holiday Inn Holidome office is today. There was a parking lot shared by Southwest Nursery that was just across from the street to the North of the building there that you could access the Zuider Zee fish restaurant from. Southwest Nursery owners also owned and may still own the Christmas Tree Lot at 41st and Harvard. They also owned OK Fireworks at that time. The eye doctor that was located in the front of the Oertle's building, Dr. Wilks, was there for the longest time. I believe he outlasted almost everyone else. Once my mom's Pontiac convertable was stolen from Oertle's parking lot, and used in an armed robbery. A man was shot and killed in that car by lawmen, story was he used the rear zipper window to shoot at the cars chashing them. There was a popular night club later near the Oertle's store in the buildings that were built by the commercial contractor that built both the large Oertle's building and the strip shopping center to the south. The club was called Wiskers. Anyone recall that place? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I don't know if popular is the right word for Wiskers (or was it Whiskers?) I remember people I grew up with that were older than me going there to party, and I can remember walking through the parkinglot one night, probably in '78 when I was a sophomore at Hale and saw Gary Temple who was a TPD officer and also a security officer at Hale, sitting in an unmarked police car and thinking "Boy did I pick the wrong lot to walk through!" He saw me in the hall at school a couple of days later and asked me if I was inside the bar, I just said "I'm 15, I don't think I could get in." Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: Steve on April 01, 2007, 02:55:33 pm quote: I couldn't have said it better myself, Artist. The old neon signs of Tulsa were indeed beautiful, works of art. Unfortunately we don't seem to appreciate things like that until they are gone. I remember all the wonderful neon on 11th street, the motor courts and motels. The Will Rogers Motel really sticks in my mind with the neon sign of the bucking horse cowboy in animation. The Mayo Meadow shopping center at 21st & Yale had great neon signs, all across the entire facade. Even the Shopper's Fair center at 21st & Sheridan had some great neon signs in the '60s, the Happy House Gift Shop sign comes to mind. Shaw's Drive In, Boots Drive In all had great neon signage. The Git-N-Go running boy, U-Totem, I remember them all. That was when stores showed real imagination and the almighty $ was not necessarily the primary concern. I am glad I am old enough to remember these. Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: AMP on April 01, 2007, 04:32:43 pm The Oertle's Store sign on East 11th Street had the Neon Moving sign of the man hammering down high prices on top of the Oertle's part. He actually was left there when Ernest Wiemann Iron works occupied the building prior to the store. Watt Henry owned the building.
http://www.wiemanniron.com/history.htm Here are a few of the older Neons. Not as actractive and fanciful as they appeared on a warm summer night. http://www.flickr.com/photos/losttulsa/sets/72057594051660802/ http://www.bygonebyways.com/oklahoma_66.htm (http://www.bygonebyways.com/4CRte66OK-Tulsa-Desert%20Hills%20Motel%20Neon.jpg) (http://www.bygonebyways.com/66OK-Tulsa-11th_St._Cleaners_Sign_3A.JPG) (http://www.bygonebyways.com/66OK-Tulsa-Oasis_Motel_Sign_9.JPG) (http://www.bygonebyways.com/66OK-Stroud-Skyliner_Motel_1.JPG) (http://www.thelope.com/images/8-5-297glendora.jpg) http://www.losttulsa.com/uploaded_images/BeeLineBowl.jpg Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: AMP on April 01, 2007, 04:47:30 pm (http://www.wiemanniron.com/images/ewiw_parade_640px.jpg)
You can see the address of the Wiemann Iron Works on the side of one of his trucks in this photo. Address is the same location as the 11th Street Oertle's store. At one time both businesses shared the building, with Oertle's on one side and Wiemann on the opposite side. Later Oertle's took over the entire building. Wiemann located east of there on 11th street where they are today. Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: MichaelBates on April 01, 2007, 07:26:41 pm Wasn't 2035 E. 11th (11th & Xanthus) later the home of Looboyle's?
Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: AMP on April 01, 2007, 07:39:38 pm Speaking of Nathan Hale High School and Tulsa schools, my cousins attended Hale, Terry and Tony Turochione or Turk for short. Both played on the football team.
Anyone remember the Social Clubs of the School days back then. Our rock band played for many a keg party in those days. Toppers, Knights, Theta, Rajah Broncs .... Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: AMP on April 01, 2007, 07:43:29 pm Oertle's sat facing 11th and on the East side was the parking lot, near the railroad tracks was the Oertle's accounting offices, and east of that was Partners Grill. Partners was in a building that reminded me of a rail car diner.
Looboyle's sat on the North side of Oertle's behind it on the side street. Both buildings are still there and an old Looboyle's sign still exists on the back side of the Looboyle's building. We were not allowed to go to the Looboyle's building, and I really never knew where it was until about 10 years ago when I was driving by there and spotted that sign. Consumers Oil Gas Station was directly to the West of Oertle's on 11th street. They sold oil there in Glass Bottles when I was young. http://www.antiquemystique.com/pages/8223_jpg.htm Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: dbacks fan on April 01, 2007, 07:55:48 pm Nathan Hale Class of 1981 Prank(http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p309/kallsop2/graduation.jpg)
Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: AMP on April 01, 2007, 07:58:10 pm Gus Hudson sold motor oil at his stations in glass bottles also.
My dad would search out suppliers of motor oil, purchase it in bulk quantity and sell it below his cost as a loss leader as a form of an advertising promotion. We always had the lowest price on 1 2 and 3 quard motor oil anywhere. His suppliers would use a box knife and cut off the shipping ID markings on the cartons so other small gas station owners would not find where he was buying it and be angry with them for selling it so low priced. This Hudson Bottle shows a retail price of 15 cents per quart. Hudson gas stations were also known as Hornet Gas Stations in the Tulsa area. http://www.antiquemystique.com/pages/4829_jpg.htm Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: Steve on April 04, 2007, 02:59:39 pm quote: The social clubs I remember from my day (Nathan Hale Class of 1975) were centered around sports or academic interests. There was Reginae Aquae for girl swimmers, band and orchestra clubs, vocal clubs such as the Choralettes, A Capella, and Concert Choir, Fellowship of Christian Atheletes, Key Club, Demoiselles, Chess Club, Math Club (Mu Alpha Theta), Future Homemakers of America, Future Secretaries of America, Future Business Leaders of America, Distributive Education Club (DECA), and various foreign language clubs. No offence dbacks fan or any Nathan Hale '81 people, but if my class had pulled a stunt like that (the trash & signs picture), our parents would have "beat the crap out of us," after we were made to clean up the mess and make a formal apology to the school administration. Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: AMP on April 05, 2007, 01:07:46 pm First Color TV set in our home..
(http://www.geocities.com/wa2ise/radios/rca21t8395.jpg) First Window Airconditioner I recall both as the TV Repair man lived directly across the street from us at 3240 South Jamestown when I was growing up. Color TV came delivered and the men had to put an antenna on up in the attic. Wow that was a big job then. During dinner the TV man came over and had a mirror on an stand and he messed with a lot of dials on the back of the TV while watching the screen reflect in his mirror. I could see him from my chair at the dining room table. NBC had color programs, Disney and Ponderosa are two I remember watching. Airconditioner came around the same time. My dad and a helper were moving the AC upstairs using a rope and pully thing. My dad said it was a one ton unit. Wow, he must be strong one of my friends proclaimed as the two hoisted the big metal device up to the second story window. They had a giant plug for the Window AD that an electrician had installed, he told us as he was using a screwdriver inside the electrical box in the garage that it was 220 volts and to never be afraid of electricity, but to respect it at all times. The AC worked much better than the Water Coolers, and we got to sleep inside more during the summer. Before we slept outdoors with pallets in the yard or on the breezway. No one needed an alarm system or ever locked their doors. I don't remember seeing doorbells until around the mid 1960s in Tulsa. All your neighbor friends just walked in through the breezeway or in the front or back door. Only one that knocked was the Fuller Brush Salesman. LOL Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: Steve on April 05, 2007, 01:50:31 pm I guess I was spoiled AMP; I don't remember ever not having air conditioning at home. When my parents built a new house in 1960 when I was 3, that house had central heat & air. I do remember that none of the Tulsa schools I attended had air conditioning and we didn't have a family car with air conditioning until 1968. Somehow we all managed to survive.
We got our first color TV in 1967. I vividly remember racing home from school that day because I knew the new color TV was coming. NBC did have the most color programs back then, probably because NBC and RCA were jointly owned and RCA manufactured color TV sets. Our first color set was also a 21" RCA, big "early American" style floor console. I remember it was rather finicky and we had to have the TV man out about every 6 months to make internal adjustments to it. I recall we always used Snead's TV service. The "Fuller Brush" man. That's something you don't see anymore! My mom usually would buy something from him, but even when she didn't, she got a free gift of some sort: a soapdish, small bottle brush, some trinket like that. Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: dbacks fan on April 05, 2007, 02:51:13 pm quote: No offense taken. They actually called me at 11:30 that night and asked if I would go with them and take pictures for the yearbook supplement. I said now and went to sleep. Got up the next morning and my mom asks me if I know any of these students that were arrestted. Dumbfounded I asked "What are you talking about?" Then the story came on KRMG news and all I could say was "idiots, haven't even graduated yet!" Any way of the five arrested, two were 18 and charged as adults, the other three were charged as juvinels. The charges were many, grand theft, grand larceny, destruction of public and private property and I can't remember what else. The idea started I think my sophomore year when the seniors decorated the school with realestate signs, the next class had to top that, and my class, well they went way overboard got caught and paid for the damages. Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: AMP on April 06, 2007, 01:05:08 am Actually the AC had to of been before I was 5 as my dad passed away when I was going on 6, so that would of been around 1954 to 1956. The color TV seemed to of been a few years later.
I believe the TV man was maybe Mr. Carpenter, but could of been different. I remember Potts Electric and he owned a big truck with those giant gray Horns mounted on it, used for Political announcements. Remember the Ice Cream trucks that were big and made banana splits and other fancy treats. Schools were not Airconditoned then, we had a fan that ocilated and if you were lucky and the person sitting in front of you did not hog the air, you got a breeze about every 5th rotation. LOL My dad had a Packard that had AC in it, it came up two plactic clear tubes in the back widow area of the car. I always rode laying on that shelf in the back window. Today, parents would be arrested for child endangerment if they allowed that to occur. I always laugh when we take the kids on rides on the motorcycles, they have no child seat on them. Some laws make no sense. One time the road construction people came and put out these Black Round things that burned stinky oil and smoke came off them. They were to warn drivers of holes and work they were doing. Back then we had an old bumby asphalt rock kind of road, they put in curbs, drains and paved the road with concrete I believe. I got that black carbon on my hands and clothes from playing with one of the round torch devices. I got in much trouble for getting greasy and dirty alot when I was a kid. I took most any mechanical device apart to see what made it work. Took the gas meter apart once and the gas man came to put it back togehter, he was amazed I got all the fasteners loose. LOL (http://www.lanternnet.com/archive/96torch.jpg) Those Torches looked like the bombs used in cartoons to me. Remember Winkey Dink for your TV? Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: Steve on April 06, 2007, 12:37:09 pm Remember when every grocery store in town had a vacuum tube tester and stocked new radio tubes? Your TV or radio would go on the fritz and you would pull the suspect tube(s), trot down to the Humpty Dumpty, IGA, or Safeway, and check the tubes?
Vacuum tube amps & technology has never died. Plenty of us out there (including myself) still use tube amps, especially musicians. I have a 1964 Hammond A102 organ and Leslie 251 speaker, with all tube preamps and power amps, about 25 tubes in all. Fortunately even in 2007, there is still a widely available supply of NOS U.S. made tubes around, and new tubes are still made in Russia and China; I have always bought NOS U.S. tubes (RCA, Sylvania, Westinghouse), even as prices skyrocket and stock dwindles, but I hear most of the new Russian product is pretty decent quality. The new Chinese made tubes are mostly crap, so I have heard. Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: Steve on April 06, 2007, 01:31:24 pm quote: I remember those school fans, big floor stand fans. The ones I remember did not oscillate, but I can still see the center label "Emmerson SEABREAZE Electric." Lucky the kid whose desk was in the path of the fan. When A/C was introduced in cars in the early 1950s, the compressor and blowers were located in the trunk. They blew the cooled air through the plastic tubes in the rear package shelf and usually into roof air outlets on the sides of the inside roof. By around 1958, automakers moved all A/C equipment to the engine compartment and used in-dash air outlets. "Winky Dink and Me, Winky Dink and You!" With the clear plastic film you put on the TV screen and colored with Crayons. Sort of the very first interactive TV show! Winky Dink would come to a stream with no bridge, the kid viewer would draw a bridge on the screen, and Winky Dink would magically cross over! Woe to the parent that had to scrape crayon wax off the TV screen when the child did not use the plastic cover! Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: waterboy on April 06, 2007, 01:49:46 pm I am really enjoying and sharing those memories. The torches were cool. Thought you might enjoy a Central Braves story from 1969.
We sucked at most sports. Lost every football game but one in three years (Edison, I think). But we rocked in basketball. We had black kids that excelled in the sport (6'6" McMullin twins and Carlos Chappelle)and were quite good. Coach only put the white kids in when the score went over 100! Remember only two schools were integrated at the time, Rogers and Central, maybe McLain too. So we won the state championship that year defeating the mighty segregated OKC teams. The next day early in the morning a rumor started that all the kids were going to cut class at 10:30 and parade down main street in celebration of our win. Strangely the rumor made it through the entire four floors without a single adult finding out. Many kids actually thought it was a sanctioned event! I was on the School Life staff as a writer and knew that I could cover it as a story and cover my donkey as well. When 10:30 came, I swear, the entire school emptied onto the streets of downtown Tulsa! An impromptu parade began with 55 Chevy's, cigars, members of the marching band, cheerleaders... anyone who wasn't totally geeky was there. The downtown businessmen took it in stride but someone must have complained. The word passed quickly that if you were not back in class by 1pm you would be expelled. Many of us made it back and made our excuses but with no luck. We all were required to bring our parents to an assembly and discuss our event with the principal, the counselors and sign some paper. It took all day but if you didn't you couldn't come back. It was a wonderful day though, long before Ferris Bueller. Of course they wouldn't let us even report about it in the school paper. What did we expect from administration that wouldn't even let us put Class of '69 on our sweatshirts! Since some adult knew it had sexual connotations we had to use LXIX. Anyone know about that little episode? Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: Steve on April 06, 2007, 03:48:32 pm quote: I was a 7th grader at Whitney Jr. High in 1969, don't remember your story but it is a fun read. I do remember the big football rivalry between Hale and BTW at the time. I attended the '69 4A championship game with my family at Skelly Stadium between Hale & BTW, I think it set a Skelly Stadium attendance record that held for many years. My brother was a soph. at Hale at the time. I enjoy these trips down memory lane too. The current events discussions are great and more appropriate to life today, but it sure is fun to wax nostalgic. The memory threads probably keep me coming back to TulsaNow more than anything else. Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: AMP on April 06, 2007, 06:54:36 pm My favorite toy as a kid was the box that other things came in. They made great forts, and places to hide and play in.
They actually made a cardboard box that was designed like a Tank and you crawled around in it as it rolled along with the printed tread moving on the outside. Brewster's Toy store had awesome toys, and a vist there for your birthday was one of the highlights of the year. Not sure where I got the Tank Box, but it may of been at Brewsters. Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: AMP on April 06, 2007, 07:04:05 pm Ah the wonderfull tube type amps. Digital can never seem to have the same soul as the tube. As a drummer I used to watch the tubes glow and increase in the strength of light as the guitars got louder.
Vox Super Beatle, Geoff Bond owned one thing was like a top fuel dragster. He aimed it out his parents sliding glass back door one evening near Evanston Circle in Southern Hills and gave the conservative neighborhood a new meaning with a wild lead guitar solo. I now know how those folks must of reacted as loud rap hip hop boom boom music kinda of grates on me. I am reminded of one night playing at the Camelot Inn during a Young Republicans party. Those were some great times in the 60s. Remember the Farfisa Organs (http://toneybooker00.tripod.com/FarfisaOrganffg.jpg) Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: Steve on April 06, 2007, 08:09:11 pm quote: Nothing, NOTHING can replace the warm, wonderful sound of a vacuum tube amp! I play Hammond organ/Leslie, not a professional by any means, but just for my own personal enjoyment. I have been playing Hammonds since my parents bought me my first L100 Hammond spinet in 1965. The distinct tube amp sound of the classic tonewheel Hammond organ/Leslie speaker is a rock/blues/jazz/gospel classic and can never be exactly duplicated, although the new Hammond/Suzuki digital B3 comes pretty darn close! But the new digital Hammond consoles cost $20,000+! You can buy a used vintange tonewheel Hammond today for 1/4 the price, or less. The vintage Hammond tonewheel organs were built like tanks, to last a multitude of lifetimes with proper maintenance. My Hammond A102 (just like a B3 but with built in speaker and reverb) will outlive me by 100 years. Farfisa, VOX, et. al. were just Hammond wannabees, IMO. They had their own sound and contributed to many classic rock recordings, but Hammond is the GOD. Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: random on April 07, 2007, 07:57:43 am He aimed it out his parents sliding glass back door one evening near Evanston Circle
Evanston Circle! When I was in High School circa 1975, we used to cruise all over this town. One of the places we used to drive was "Evanston Circle." There were some cool houses and one house had a huge dog that would run at you with a big log in his mouth! He would follow your car as you drove by. I think I have it on super 8 film somewhere. My two cents on (guitar) amps I've always played a hybrid trasnistor and tube. (Music Man 410) Nice warm tube sound with the dependability of "solid state" or as we call them now - "analog." Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: AMP on April 08, 2007, 11:16:52 pm Anyone remember the drive in Root Beer stands with the frosted mugs, kiddie mugs and the trays that hung on the car window.
That was back when they could use real natural flavoring ingrediants in the Root Beer. And man was it good! Today, at least for me, nothing comes close to comparing with the flavors, sights and sounds and the living of and enjoying life as it was back in the 1950s. We have a guy that races a 1954 Harley Davidson, and that bike is still winning races today. They sure don't build alot of things like they used to. Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: Steve on April 09, 2007, 09:01:06 am quote: When my family moved to Tulsa from Dallas in the spring of 1957, our first home here was at 2246 S. Gary, directly across the street from Madelene Catholic Church. Brownie's Root Beer and Burgers was just a short 1-block walk from our house and one of the very first childhood memories I have is walking with my family up to Brownie's for a sandwich and frosty mug of root beer. I also vaguely remember walking (or perhaps I was in a stroller!) with my dad and brother from our house down to Steve's Sundry on Saturdays to browse and get a bite to eat at their lunch counter. In early 1961, we moved to a brand new house FAR out in the 'burbs of east Tulsa at 20th Street & 69th E. Ave. The area around 21st & Sheridan became our stomping grounds then for the 1960s-mid 1970s. Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: Susan on April 09, 2007, 10:46:14 am Just curious as I am new to the forum - where did our name come up? I am Susan Olzawski Barrett and was doing a search this morning on something for my brother Carl and found this. He said to pass along his information to you - Olzawski@aol.com Susan Olzawski Barrett
Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: AMP on April 09, 2007, 01:10:51 pm It "Olzawski" is in this thread:
http://www.tulsanow.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6195 Not sure where but the search feature showed it to be there. Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: AMP on April 09, 2007, 11:16:47 pm Anyone else remember having the "Stick your tounge in the pop bottle" contest.
You would open a bottle of coke or pepsi and before you drank it, see how long you could stand having your tounge stuck in the bottle. The bottle had to be turned upside down and it burned your tounge to death!!! How long could you stand it before it burned you tounge where you could not stand the pain. Another cool drink item back then was the flavored straw. Strawberry, Chocolate, Cherry. And FIZZIES !!!! Most people over 40-50 reading this survived the No Seat Belts, Riding in the rear window of the car, drinking out of the garden hose, Fizzies and other things that are banned today. Is it we had more common sense or are people today less adapted to the outside world? Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: AMP on April 09, 2007, 11:26:24 pm 21st and Sheridan cool.
"What's New Pussycat" with Tom Jones was the first movie that played at the Bowman Twin Movie Theatre. I was there. Mr. Bowman, who owned all that land near 21st and Sheridan which developed into Bowman Acres, drove a pickup truck and wore overalls, he reminded us of Sam Walton. He was in Oertle's store one afternoon making a large purchase using a personal check. A phone call came into my mom's office to see if his check was okay. Upon phoning his bank, the person at the bank informed my mom that he could buy just about anything he wanted and his check would be okay. He was buying some photographic equipment that day. I trust he was able to get some awesome photos or movies with what he purchased. Anyone remember what movies they watched at the Bowman Twin? Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: dbacks fan on April 09, 2007, 11:55:19 pm quote: I remember the tounge in the pop bottle contests! While not 50 or over, I'm 43, I do remeber that. I also remember playing hockey as a kid in the Tulsa Minor Hockey Association which became the Tulsa Hockey League, before it was required for all players to have a face mask installed on their helmets. When I first started playing in 1972, my brothers had played in the late 60's when the only place to play was the Civic Center. Then came "Four Seasons Ice Rink" and the first hockey shop in town run by two families called "H&S Sporting Goods" run by the Hembre and Swan families. The Hembres got out of the business and left it to the Swan's, who's son John I played hockey with. Their mother was running the business until she was injured in a car accident in 1974 or 1975. My parents bought the business and changed it to "Allsop's Hockey and Supply". I learned how to sharpen ice skates, curve hockey sticks with a propane torch, and restring tennis rackets when I was about 12 or 13 years old, and started working in the business then. It was one of the greatest things that I learned in my life, working for my parents. I also remeber the first skateboard park in Tulsa, that was built on the land roughly where the "Pink Barn" was on Memorial just south of 15th street. I don't remember any helmet and pad rules then. You went and rode your board but you signed a waiver (or your parents did) that released the park from any injury that might happen while using the facility. People took responsibilty back then, the only law suits were based on true negligence of the owners, and those were not that common. Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: dbacks fan on April 10, 2007, 12:33:34 am This was the last place our shop was in 1978 and 1979 before we moved it into our own garage. At the time to the east of us was Mel's T-Shirts, D&G Audio Repair, and the first east Tulsa Police Sub-Station. This was in the strip shopping center on the north side of Oertle's. There was a Radio Shack, a shoe store, a Better Price store, Pizza Oven, a computer store where I heard the first computer generated voice, and some other stores that I can't remember.
(http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p309/kallsop2/theshop.jpg) Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: dbacks fan on April 10, 2007, 01:04:19 am quote: Let's jog the memory banks a little..... LeMans, Marooned, What's Up Doc?, Freebie and the Bean, Sherlock Holmes Smarter Brother, The Dutches and The Dirtwater Fox, Airport 75, Airport 77,Smokey And The Bandit, Earthquake, Rollercoaster, The Bad News Bears, The Bad News Bears Breaking Training, 9 To 5, War Games, Rambo First Blood, Animal House, several Tuesday 25 cent movies as a kid, midnight movies- Pink Floyd The Wall, Flash Dance, Richard Pryor Live On The Sunset Strip, thats all I can remember right now. Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: AMP on April 10, 2007, 01:08:45 am I believe that Skateboard Park later became Johnny White's Tulsa Suzuki location after he sold the Memorial location to the Auto dealer.
Johnny ater moved the Suzuki Dealership to 36th and Peoria where the Blue Rose or whatever it is called now is. Smokey's Honda was either in that building or near it before Smokey Miller moved it to the 51st and Lewis location next door to the El Chico restaurant. Smokey's Honda began life in Turley near the curve on North Peoria. My friends and I all owned Hondas so it was quite a ride across town back then from 71st Street all the way across town to either Jandebuer's on Pine between Sheridan and Yale, or keep on going north on Peoria up to around 56th street north to Smokey's Honda. That location later was owned by the doctor and it was Buddy's Honda, then something else. I recall the street being so hot one afternoon it stuck to our shoes. LOL Shaw's Drive In near 32nd and Yale was my favorite hambuger joint. Six or seven of us would ride our Hondas there and chow down on Saturdays if we had some time off. We all ran with no muffler, just a straight pipe. Everyone that rode a Honda with no muffler had a black circle on the top of their right shoe from covering the end of the pipe below the footpeg when ever a police car drove by so you did not get a ticket for loud pipes. Braum's was another favorite stopping place in the Summer Time. Hot Fudge Bannana Sundae. Anyone remember Pennington's drive in. I rode my Honda 750 in there once and ordered a Wiz Burger with cheese and fries. Lady on the other end of the speaker said, sorry we don't serve Motorcycles here. I said, good... cause I already have a motorcycle, I just want a hamburger today. Don't think she thought that was funny, but I did and still do. LOL Der served ya walking, riding or driving thru. Long as ya had dough ya got a dog. http://s176.photobucket.com/albums/w162/ampracing10/Legends/?action=view¤t=PICT1465.jpg Here is an old ad for Tulsa Speedway, anyone remember going to Tulsa Speedway at the Fairgrounds on Saturday nights? http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w162/ampracing10/Legends/PICT1485.jpg Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: AMP on April 10, 2007, 02:52:57 am Ever wonder why most Mezeppa fans know who Dr. Gene Scott is?
Cast of the Uncanny Film Festival could be found at the IHOP restaurant late nights across from Utica Square, which I believe stands near where Orbach's clothing was at one time. It is today a Goldie's Burger I believe. There is a story about Mazeppa in his younger years at that Orbach's store. Anyone know the detials? Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: AMP on April 10, 2007, 02:59:26 am Found this on Tulsa TV Memories
(http://tulsatvmemories.com/imag1999/griffy.gif) Gotta love the web.... http://tulsatvmemories.com/gb072001.html Tulsa 60's & 70's Food Chatter.... Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: AMP on April 10, 2007, 03:17:58 am Steven's Hamburgers rocked! There about 29th and Yale. The late Tanya Colt, who perished in a bad car accident back around 1968, her family owned Steven's Hamburgers. They had some awesome pie too.
Shaw's drive in hamburgers. If you look behind the glass addition in the front to the original building in the back, you will see it is made from blocks that were and still are made at Chandler Building Materials on East 15th street. My dad built that building in the early 1950's and my mom ran an Orange Julius stand there for a few years. Anyone remember the crazy intersection with the wooden telephone type polls that held up the bridge on the North Side of 31st and Yale? Same block used to build my grandparents home out on East 11th Street near the small Airport there. House is still there sits at an angle with a large front yard. My mom had a Parakeet business she ran from our home, and my dad built another building from that same block behind our house at 32nd and Jamestown. Popular building material then, and most those buildings are still standing to this day. Walmart uses blocks made at Chandler still. Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: Susan on April 14, 2007, 06:17:34 am I found this forum during a search for information on my brother, Carl Olzawski. We were both surprised to find him mentioned here. He would love for Steve to email him - Olzawski@aol.com He lives in Virginia, has three children and works for Laureate Capital.
I am going to read the other posts here as it is fun to "think back," especially as we plan our 35th reunion from Nathan Hale. I see where someone mentioned Oertle's facing 11th Street. Weren't they actually on Memorial acrosss from the Mahu Mansion. I remember crazy Halloween things over there later.....lines going down Memorial to just get in the door! Susan Olzawski Barrett Nathn Hale Class of 1972 Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: AMP on April 16, 2007, 12:41:07 pm Thr original Oertle's Wholesale Drugs distribution warehouse was located downtonn Tulsa on 1st Street. In 1951 they opened a member only wholesale store on East 11th Street. Buyers had to become a member by being an employee of a specific business or an owner partner of an existing business etc.
The Oertle's store location on South Memorial opened in 1964. Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: Steve on April 16, 2007, 03:12:38 pm quote: That's how I remember it AMP. In many respects, Oertles was about 30 years ahead of their time, with the membership aspect. Everything old is new again. I recall someone telling me that the various departments of Oertles on Memorial were contracted out, or owned by other interests. For example, I was told that the jewelry department at Oertles was in fact owned and operated by Zales Jewelry Inc. Was that true? Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: AMP on April 17, 2007, 05:39:33 pm Only department in that building that was leased as far back as I can remember was the Grocery department that was operated by Hale Hasell. Family didn't want to have the liability of operating a butcher and fresh food retail facility.
The eye glass doctors office of Dr. Wilks was also a leased department as was the United State Post Office located in the basement area of the building. It was off limits to all associates and even us kids. We had access to most parts of the building with the exception of the Vault and some maintenence areas like the giant Boiler behind the building. I got to go in there once but with an adult. Actually Max operated the Jewelry department when the store was on East 11th Street. He made many trips to New York to purchase cut unmounted diamonds for creations he sold at the store. I can always spot a Max Oertle antique diamond ring still to this day. Folks that own those comment about the clairty of the diamonds and I can always seem to catch a hint of blue when the diamonds are turned at a certain angle. The settings are unique and that is another signature style that Max had. My dad managed the Camera department, and my mom set up records and tapes, small appliances, the credit department where you were issued an Oertle's Credit Card, she also set up Domestics and a few other departments. The business started out as a Wholesale Drug distribution business that deliverd door to door pharmacuticles, Health and Beauty Items and Sundary goods to small and mid sized corner drug stores and neighbor hood stores. Later, parts of the business were sold in part to Zales Management Company out of New York. Not sure of their connection with Zales Jewlers. Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: AMP on April 17, 2007, 05:48:02 pm Found this movie of the Ice Cream Truck days from Tulsa..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrsXYgy2ti8&mode=related&search= Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: dbacks fan on April 18, 2007, 08:21:24 am Hey AMP, wasn't the automotive department downstairs run by Whitlock before they moved into the Shoppers Fair location? For a short time in 1990 and 1991 I was a route driver for Drug Warehouse when they were in the old Oertles building, and we used the downstairs area for storage, and I can remember going dow there and seeing the old sporting goods sign on the wall and the outlines of some of the merchandise that was displayed on it. You could see where tennis rackets had had hung because the paint was discolored except where the racket was.
The ice cream truck footage brings back memeories of Melodee Ice Cream trucks that ran through our neighborhood. Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: RLitterell on April 18, 2007, 09:57:37 am I remember Guy Henshaw (sp?) auto parts, Burgess hardware in west Tulsa, Andy Anderson Supply also in West Tulsa, Dooley Drug, Reynolds Drug and Bundy's burgers in Carbondale just to name a few.
Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: RLitterell on April 18, 2007, 11:34:03 am I had to log back in and post this one, Brewster Toys. I think they were on So. Harvard around 25th? anyone? My folks bought me a blue peddle car there. My dad put it in the back seat of our Ford Crown Vic and I set in it's seat all the way home. I think I'm gonna cry
Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: AMP on April 18, 2007, 10:47:47 pm Brewsters My Favorite Toy Store.
Always got something from there for my first 10 B days! Remember walking down the ramp to the rear of the building. That place was magical.... How bout a photo of the 1972 NCRA races held during the Tulsa State Fair at Tulsa Speedway #1.. (http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w162/ampracing10/Legends/PICT1903.jpg ) Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: AngieB on April 19, 2007, 05:12:06 am quote: Dooley Pharmacy is still in business. And I remember when the Bundy Burger burned down. Sad. Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: AngieB on April 19, 2007, 05:18:51 am quote: Are we sure that video was in the 50s? It's weird...the little girl at 26 seconds in looks like me. But I was born in '66. And it says in the title West Tulsa but someone in the comments says it's North. Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: RLitterell on April 19, 2007, 05:57:48 am quote: Really? I remember when they sat on the corner across from what is now Ollie's Rest. an old gas station where Dickson Goodman Lumber used to be. Ol' Doc Dooley died in the early 60's. Where are they located now? Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: AngieB on April 19, 2007, 07:20:10 am quote: I don't remember the previous location. They're still where I always knew them to be -- 25th W Ave, just South of 41st. Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: RLitterell on April 19, 2007, 09:10:22 am quote: I'm glad to hear the Dooley name is still around. Oh and boy were those greasy Bundy Burgers good or what? I can still taste them. I remember hearing when Bundy's burned. I was saddened as well. I lived in that neighborhood early on and attended Alice Robertson school in K through 2nd grade. My Daddy would take us to Bundy's for a treat. My Mom grew up with some of the Bundy kids in the 1930's. I sure miss Tulsa cheers Russell Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: AngieB on April 19, 2007, 09:32:18 am So greasy the buns glistened!
I went to Robertson. Mrs. Elsey and Mrs. Gathron were my favorite teachers. I'm trying to remember the 2nd grade teacher's name -- I can picture her, very tall and thin. Seems like her name was Mrs. Barcley? Is that right? Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: RLitterell on April 19, 2007, 12:20:04 pm quote: Yes!!! Mrs. Barclay. She was my teacher too. She taught there for many many years. We moved to Berryhill after 2nd grade. Mrs. Barclay lived there and her two sons went to Berryhill School. One was in my grade the other was a year older. I think she has passed away. I am not real sure of that but a friend of mine seemed to think she had. My 1st grade teacher was Mrs Graham and Kindergarden was Mrs Wilbanks and Mrs Emmerson. Wow not a bad memorey for a 50 year old huh? I am bashing my brain trying to remember the gym teacher, a male with Elvis like hair. The principal was Mr. Morton. My goodness the memories you have stirred!!! Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: AngieB on April 19, 2007, 12:55:21 pm quote: Mrs. Emerson was my kindergarten teacher. Do you remember Miss Watkins the music teacher? I have all my yearbooks, I'll dig them out and see if I can throw some more names at you. You're my brother's age but he went to Pleasant Porter. Oh, just remembered, Mr. Layton was our principal. Y'know, I actually graduated with kids I went to kindergarten with. That's the Westside for ya! Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: RLitterell on April 19, 2007, 01:25:37 pm quote: I don't even remember having a music class. I am sure I did but boy, that was a long time ago. Do you remember the little sundry that sat on the corner across from the cleaners? there was a church on the opposit corner and a small grocery store just across the street called "Ernies Grocery". We used to stop on the way home and buy penney candy from the sundry. I lived at ...now here is one I pulled out of thin air.... 3021 west 45th place. My neighbors were Greg Miller, An Indian boy younger than me named Jimmie Moffett (sp?) Debbie Gibson, Nancy Morgan, Mike Doyle, And Russell and Cathy Slack. The slacks had a younger brother we called Bubbie but his name was Mike I think. He would be closer to your age than mine. Do you remember the the cop killing across the street from the school, Spybuck I think was the name? I remember being in class when that happened, I think I was anyway. Also across from the schools front entry there was a 2 story house with a full poarch on the second floor. Downstairs was a small grocery store.... My mind is racing..... Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: AMP on April 19, 2007, 08:10:31 pm Girls sun-bathing in the back yard with KAKC or KELI disc jockies telling them when to roll over.
Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: AMP on April 19, 2007, 08:14:15 pm The Golden Drumstick at 11th and Yale...
Treasure Chest and those awesome Rolls with Honey. One of my sisters met the son of the owner of the Golden Drumstick at Ron's Hamburgers one evening not too long ago. He said he thought Church's Chicken was the closest to his dad's recipe of frying Chicken. I remember was GDS had Giant pieces with lots of meat on them. Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: mdunn on April 21, 2007, 05:44:01 pm quote: Angie,I actually talked to mrs Gathron about 10 years ago when I was visiting Tulsa,She was 83 then I believe but doing well.She was one of my favs too.And remember How mrs elsie would tell us there where pet birds of hers living in the attic??? I think we were in the same class with those teachers.I remember Mr Turner and how I hated dancing rythyms on thursdays,he would give us rubber bands and make us dance to the rubber band man.And Mrs Moore was the 3rd grade teacher,she lived 2 doors down from me. Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: Steve on April 21, 2007, 07:22:13 pm quote: I did too, and I grew up in the 1960's around the area of 21st St. & Sheridan, in far southeast Tulsa at the time, so that is not just a west-side phenomenon. I was in the very first kindergarten class in the fall of 1962 at the then brand new John Paul Jones Elementary School. Went on to Eli Whitney Jr. High and Nathan Hale Sr. High, graduating in 1975 with many kids that were in my original 1962 kindergarten class at John Paul Jones. I hear that the school board is relocating the Margaret Hudson program from my former elementary school, Jones, and is going to reopen Jones as an elementary school this fall. Kudos for that. This was long over-due for the surrounding neighborhoods and restores a much needed neighborhood school. Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: Dejadilla on April 22, 2007, 06:09:58 pm quote:Weber's Root Beer on Peoria near 32nd, I believe. Frosty mugs and silver trays. Local owned and operated. Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: AngieB on April 22, 2007, 06:49:24 pm quote: I don't remember Weber's having a drive-in set up or trays. The trays that hung onto the car windows were at A&W. I also remember that they had tiny tiny mugs for the kids. About Weber's...my brother worked there about '75 or '76 and Leon Russell would come in all the time. Probably had the munchies. [8D] Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: RLitterell on April 24, 2007, 06:38:04 am quote: Yeah, I remember that place too. It was an old orange colored building, ahh cruising the "restless ribbon" Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: AMP on April 24, 2007, 01:33:55 pm Up until the FDA banned some of the ingrediants in REAL ROOT BEER, Brownies Hamburgers made their own RB and served it in Frozen Mugs.
They still have RB today in those thick frozen mugs, but it is not the same as back when we were kids. I will try to find my Brownies Ad from 1972 Anyone remember Big Miikes http://s176.photobucket.com/albums/w162/ampracing10/Tulsa%20Speedway/?action=view¤t=PICT1890.jpg Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: RecycleMichael on April 24, 2007, 01:43:55 pm The only ingrediant I know missing from today's root beer is the oil from sassafras. In 1960, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned sassafras as a potential carcinogen, however, a method was found to remove the oil from sassafras. Only the oil is considered dangerous today.
Hey...I know a lot about root beer... Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: Steve on April 24, 2007, 01:54:10 pm The banning of cyclamates was the death of Funny Face soft drink mixes. Anyone else remember those from the 1960s? Pillsbury's sugar-free alternative to Kool Aid. I remember Goofy Grape, Lefty Lemon, Loud Mouth Lime, Rootin' Tootin' Raspberry. And of course Chinese Cherry (the slant-eyed, bucked tooth cherry on the package!) and Injun Orange (with the feather and goofy face), two of the first consumer products to succumb to political correctness. They were replaced with Choo-Choo Cherry and Jolly Olly Orange. I have seen unopened mint packages of Chinese Cherry and Injun Orange from the 1960s go for BIG bucks to collectors on EBAY.
I think Pillsbury tried to keep the Funny Face brand going with sugar and sacharine sweetened versions, but just couldn't compete with Kool-Aid. I saw some of the original Funny Face plastic character drink mugs for sale at a 15th Street resale shop recently. I laughed out loud when I saw those. Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: Steve on April 24, 2007, 02:38:59 pm Anyone else remember watching Hollywood studio cartoons (MGM, Warner Brothers, etc.) on Tulsa TV in the 1960s, on shows like the morning "Cartoon Circus" BEFORE these cartoons were edited for violence and political correctness?
Since around 1970, all these old cartoons have been stripped of racial stereotype images and someone's idea of excessive violence. Is it possible today to buy DVDs or tapes of the original, uneditted versions of these cartoons? I particularily remember the Black and Asian stereotypes. Elmer Fudd would be chasing Bugs Bunny and shoot his gun. The screen would go black with smoke. When the smoke cleared, there would be Bugs in blackface with exagerated lips and eyes, shouting "Mammy!" or singing "Swanee" with a banjo. I also remember Asian stereotypes with slant-eyed characters in coolie hats, particularily from the Tweety Bird cartoons. All of these types of scenes have been removed and what you see today is not the original version, but a sanitized "politically correct" version. Some of the most artistic, clever, witty, fluid hand-drawn animation ever created was from the 40s & 50s, and unfortunately because of racial stereotypes, industry censorship, and today's over-sensitivity, can not be viewed in its original form today. Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: Steve on April 24, 2007, 10:05:20 pm When I was a child at John Paul Jones Elementary in Tulsa, 1962-1968, the school cafeteria had two lunch lines, the cash line and the "ticket" line. Must have been a very progressive idea at the time. The "ticket" line was for kids that prepaid their lunch; you would prepay a week or two worth of lunches and the cashier lady would have your prepaid ticket. When you went through the line, she would mark off the cost of the foods you bought and you never had to carry cash for lunches. You could buy either the standard plate lunch or ala carte, but when your ticket was full, you had run out of lunch money until you bought a new ticket.
I was always in the "ticket" group, my mom was a firm believer in that so she didn't have to prepare my lunch or give me lunch money every day. I remember going into the cafeteria early on Monday mornings to buy my prepaid lunch tickets. As I recall, $1.60 would buy you a week or more of full, healthy lunches. We "ticket" line kids were considered the nerds of the day! I also remember we ate off of genuine china plates and dishes and with real stainless silverware. No disposable dishes or utensils back then, and everything was washed and reused. It was an honor to be a school cafeteria worker and serve on the washing line (I still have my 6th grade cafeteria worker certificate.) The food was all cooked in-house by the cafeteria cooks, no catering or fast-food outsourcing whatsoever. I loved the bean chowder, cinnamon rolls, Okie Pizza, and the Okie Spaghetti. And there was always fresh salads and more healthy foods on the line too. Kids remember school cafeteria food as awful, but in retrospect to me, it was pretty darn good. Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: Conan71 on April 24, 2007, 10:48:11 pm quote: I did too, but different areas. What's weird is I went to Barnard until the end of 5th grade. We moved out to the Jenks district, went there, 6th through 9th, finished up at Cascia and wound up graduating with kids I went to school with from both schools. TM- were you in school w/ Tami Marlar? We were same year, different schools. Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: Conan71 on April 24, 2007, 11:23:12 pm quote: Steve, I didn't even get all the way through your post before I started thinking about working in the cafeteria at Barnard. I also was thinking about bean chowder, cinnamon rolls, and sauerkraut. When my mother got the chance, she would come eat lunch w/ me at Barnard on bean chowder day. She would always ask me to find out when they were serving bean chowder again. That really was a great lunch. Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: Conan71 on April 24, 2007, 11:28:53 pm quote: That was back beofore white people decided to become apologists for every culture and race. I do still remember when it was okay to laugh at ourselves, and particularly remember some of the cartoon instances you cited. Not too long ago, one member on this forum took me to task and tried to have me booted for making a "Confucious say" reference, implying I was hateful toward Asians (the "hate" in hateful would be your first clue as to whom it was). I'm sure that same member used to laugh at Looney Toons too. Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: AMP on April 24, 2007, 11:36:31 pm Golden Corral has a bean chowder product that is as close to the old school Bean Chowder that I have found. It is on the potato bar with the soup. Be sure to grab a handfull of crackers, and some milk to wash it down with.. YUMMY!
I have a friend that works in a School Cafeteria, she told me they still make the Bean Chowder, Cinammon Rools and the sheet pizza. Man that was some good eats.... Did not offer them at Vo Tech when I took a few adult classes in metal fabrication, Welding Pprocesses, and Archetectural Metal Design a few years ago. Buddy Cagle was the instructor and he was the best teacher I have ever had anywhere. Their breakfast up at the North Airport campus rocked. Lemley's food on Memorial was more gormet as they had a culinary class there. Prices are very reasonable and anyone can stop in their and eat I believe, at least it was allowed when I was attending there. Speaing of food and CH students, when I was a border there '66 '69 we got food from Bishops Cafeteria. Anyone remember Billie that worked the salad area when you first got in line at the Utica Square Bishops? She would always put a scoop or two of dressing on your tossed salad and say "That'l Do It" Sweet lady, and it made the food taste even better. Anyone remember the young man that played the piano at the Utica Square and the 41st and Garnett Bishops? I believe he took lessons from the man that owned the general aviation airport out on East 11th Street, Harvey Young. David was his name, and I think he went big time, he was an excellent planists. Anyone remember his last name? Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: Steve on April 24, 2007, 11:49:25 pm quote: Yes, I would love to see the old cartoons in their original form. I think at 50 years old now, I have grown up enough in attitude to appreciate the artistry and humor, and look past the racial stereotypes, without someone else's imposed censorship. And after all, most of those old cartoons were produced for adult audiences, not children. I may get some flak here, but I think one of the greatest animated shorts ever produced was Bob Clampett's 1943 "So White & De Sebben Dwarfs" (also known as "Coal Black & De Sebben Dwarfs'), a WW2 era cartoon take-off of the Snow White story with an all-black cast and military WW2 theme. Fantastic animation, a break-neck pace, wonderful 1940s swing music, just a masterpiece all-around. And the voice cast was all black actors, not white people in dialect. This cartoon was banned for years on TV, but if you search the internet, you can find it today. Chock full of racial stereotypes for sure, but they say that in its day, black audiences loved it just as much, if not more than white audiences did. Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: Steve on April 24, 2007, 11:58:27 pm quote: Yea, the sheet pizza was what I referred to as Okie pizza. It was just a dough crust, seasoned ground beef, and shredded chedar on top, formed in a large rectangular sheet pan. Would taste pretty lame to us now, but was might tasty back in the day! The only cafeterias I remember in Utica Square were Danner's Cafeteria in the 1960s, and later Furrs. I remember the lady that used to play the organ for diner's enjoyment at Furrs! (I am an organist so I really remember that.) Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: AMP on April 25, 2007, 12:24:59 am Perhaps it was an organ, I believe you are correct.
Building is now the Olive Garden. Back then it was two stories, but I believe Petty's offices are located where the the upstairs dining srea once was. Seems the name changed from Bishops to Furrs or vice versa can't remember. Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: Steve on April 25, 2007, 12:43:40 am quote: Not to nitpick, but I believe it was a Hammond M3 or M100 organ! I am a Hammond owner and huge fan, so I tend to remember these things. Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: AngieB on April 25, 2007, 05:41:30 am quote: Tami is a couple of years older than I am but we were in marching band together. She was our Band Queen! Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: mr.jaynes on April 26, 2007, 05:30:24 pm quote: Man, I saw those in the 1970s when I was a kid, and I still think those old 'toons were in some cases better than even the new ones, and some of the toons produced today! I think what made them good, was the fact that the people who worked on them were true craftsmen and storytellers, people who loved their art. Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: AMP on April 27, 2007, 02:30:45 pm And they changed the "Buds" in a Cheech and Chong Movie to Diamonds????
Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: Steve on April 27, 2007, 06:06:17 pm Anyone else out there old enough to remember when most grocery stores and gas stations in Tulsa gave out trading stamps? The major stamp companies I remember in the Tulsa area in the 1960s were S&H Green Stamps and Gold Bond Stamps.
Safeway and Humpty Dumpty Grocery gave out Sperry & Hutchinson Green Stamps. I think local DX gas stations also gave Green Stamps. 3-4 full books would get you a brand new toaster! 15 books would get you a new vacuum cleaner! I remember sitting at the kitchen table helping my grandma and mother paste green stamps into those books! Once a month we would sit down and take out the stamps collected from an old coffee can, and paste them into the books. The last S&H green stamp redemption store I remember in Tulsa was located around 41st & Yale, the the strip center on the northwest corner. Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: random on April 27, 2007, 08:19:58 pm quote: I think there was a green stamp store on 3rd ST. I also remember - Safeway gave away Gunn Brothers Stamps! Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: Steve on April 27, 2007, 08:31:25 pm quote: Yes, at one time I am sure there were several Green Stamp redemption stores in Tulsa. I vaguely remember Gunn Bros. stamps. I think the most popular trading stamp in Tulsa by far, was S&H Green Stamps. I remember those old trading stamp dispenser machines they had at the check out stalls in grocery stores. Looked like big dial telephones with multiple concentric dials. Whatever your total purchase $ was, they would dial in the price total, by $10's and $1's, and the machine would spit out your earned green stamps! No one EVER spent over $100 at a grocery store back then, so I bet the old green stamp machines only stopped at $99.99! Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: RLitterell on April 28, 2007, 06:00:25 am quote: I remember Gunn Bro's stamps too. My Mother saved both Green Stamps and Gunn Bro's. There was a redemption store for one of them, I don't remember which, at 21st and Utica across Utica from St Johns. Not living in Tulsa now I don't know what is there but I understand that the building was demo'ed and something else is there now. I remember going to Safeway at Chrystal City Shopping Center with my parents on payday, at the checkout stand if the person ahead of us did not want their stamps my Mom would always ask if she could have them. It always seemed to tick off the cashier if that person said yes. I suppose now that the cashiers collected them as well and would pocket the ones refused by customers who did not collect them. I think half of everything we owned was earned with Gunn Bro's or Green Stamps.[:D] Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: mr.jaynes on May 02, 2007, 12:27:34 pm OK, here's one: does anyone remember the Electronic Silvermint? Located on Memorial between 15th and 21st streets, on the west side of the road? Had a skateboard pit and a ramp or two, and an arcade inside? I loved skateboarding, and dare I say that I was a reigning champ at not only Galaga, but Centipede too.
Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: RLitterell on May 02, 2007, 12:34:57 pm quote: I'm way too old.[:O] Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: mr.jaynes on May 02, 2007, 12:56:20 pm I even remmeber my nickname that I'd post after gaining the Highest score: REX after the King of Carnival. I remember it sounded cool to me, so I used it.
Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: Steve on May 02, 2007, 02:46:10 pm quote: That skateboard park was built on or near the property where the old Pink Barn dance studio was, the dance studio that was so popular with Tulsa teens in the 1960s and early 1970s. I think I have about 15 years+ on you, but I do remember that skateboard park on Memorial, although I was never there. My first apartment in Tulsa was at 16th & Memorial on the west side. I lived there 1976-1977 and I vividly recall a flood we had in 1976 and all the first floor apts. had 2 feet of water in them. Fortunately, I lived on the second floor and I remember standing out on my balcony and watching some guys canoe by on the ground floor. I grew up in the 1960s and remember the first skateboard craze. We called it "sidewalk surfing" back then, I think we got the name from an old Beach Boys or Jan & Dean song of the same name. I remember making my own skateboard with a piece of plywood and nailing on a pair of old-fashioned "clamp-on" type roller skates. Darn, where did I put my skate key?!? Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: mr.jaynes on May 02, 2007, 03:29:34 pm And the video arcade was phenom! Being the undiputed champ of Galaga and Centipede gave me some extra respect in the eyes of my peers. Video arcades in general had it going on. There was the Nautilus (there was one at Woodland, and I think at Southroads also), the Silvermint, Games People Play, Cosmic Cowboy.
Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: AMP on May 02, 2007, 09:17:22 pm Company that printed the S&H and other stamps was located in Sand Springs near where the Rib Crib is now. It is no longer in business.
The Safeway grocery store is also closed. Recently metal thieves broke into that property and removed majority of the heavy copper wire from all the electrical facility inside. Building has been vacant for a few years, I believe Mervin's or some other Indy food store that was run by Buck Myers was the last in there. From the appearance of the poor condition of many abandoned and empty commercial buildings, the economy in most parts of Tulsa other than Southside seems to be declining more and more with every pasing day. Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: mr.jaynes on May 06, 2007, 02:45:18 pm Well, I'll return on occasion to visit, and I gotta tell ya, I notice that there are part of Tulsa that seem very depressed economically. I remember how the East side had relatively more going for it than it does now. I think it started to decline in the late 1980s.
Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: Danny on May 09, 2007, 11:21:22 am quote: that was originally called "Ridge Riders skateboard park". the arcade came later, at first, the main focus was skateboarding, after the craze died in the 80's, the arcade became the main draw. Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: RLitterell on May 09, 2007, 11:59:49 am Childhood memories of Tulsa 1960s1970s
Gasoline jumped from (appx) 23 cents per gallon to 40 cents per gallon. I thought my Daddy was going to cry. Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: mr.jaynes on May 18, 2007, 05:24:05 pm quote: I loved both. Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: breitee on May 30, 2007, 02:18:02 pm Does anybody remember the following?
Zuider Zee Golden Drumstick Captain's Cabin Bill's T Records Honest John's The Rubicon Odessy Mall Der Weinerschnitzel Dickie's Fish and Chips Arthur Treacher's Fish and Chips The Hungry Pelican The Library on 11th St. Tink Wilkerson D.B.Wilkerson Dan P. Holmes DX, Deep Rock, Apco, Pacer Fina, and Consumers Gas Stations Linda Soundtrack Blast From The Past Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: mr.jaynes on June 01, 2007, 01:26:34 pm quote: Let's see, as I remember it, Zuider Zee was located near the Oertle's, and was a seafood restaurant I believe; may have been a chain, but I'm not completely sure. Der Weinerschnitzel I think had a location on 41st Street between Sheridan and Yale and was a A-frame chalet-type building? Dickies was fish and chips, and Hungry Pelican was seafood, had a location in Tulsa and in Broken Arrow. What is Odyssey Mall and the Rubicon? Hey, does anybody remmeber a department store called David's ("David's the name, the name for all the best")? You could buy just about anything under the sun there. They even had a department dedicated to cowboy boots, specifically Acme, Dan Post and Nocona. Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: breitee on June 01, 2007, 02:28:39 pm The Odyssey Mall was in Brookside about 43rd and Peoria and the Rubicon was at 7th and Peoria in an old two story house that is now a hamburger restaurant. They were both head shops. David's is what Oertle's became after it was sold.
Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: Aa5drvr on June 03, 2007, 08:15:30 am Speaking of east tulsa, does anyone recall Western Village Resort at Admiral and Garnett? It was a western ranch style resort with a lodge, golf course and a runway. My dad took us there to look at planes. I think I saw my first helicopter up close there. This was about the time of the "Whirlybirds" TV show, and civilian helicopters were quite rare.
Discussed on Tulsa TV Memories recently was the SW corner of 11th and Sheridan where a Consumers Gas station was, now a used car lot. Before it was a gas station it was just a octagonal concrete slab with each section different colors. Originally it had been planned to be an Automat, quite a futuristic concept for Tulsa in the early 1960's Alas, it never materialized and later became Consumer's gas station. Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: mr.jaynes on June 03, 2007, 03:50:03 pm Does anybody remember Crutcher's Western Wear, with locations at Forum 21 Mall and Woodland?
Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: breitee on June 06, 2007, 09:39:30 am Do any of you happen to have any photos of the old Ma-Hu mansion on Memorial BEFORE it was abandoned? I would love to see photos of the property with the longhorn steer grazing in the front.
Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: cks511 on June 06, 2007, 11:52:27 am I believe it's a true story that the Ma-Hu mansion was the site of a suicide and it was a favorite fright place of ours.
St. Michaels Alley is still the same after all these years. Our favorite haunted house/hotel was the Bates Hotel across from East Central. Yes, that was it's name. And, favorite haunted cememtary was Sparky's at the end of Harvard off 91st. And, all the cartoons that were politcally, gender and racially incorrect, believe they called it communist. LOL. Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: AngieB on June 06, 2007, 12:21:09 pm quote: It's under new ownership. Food may be basically the same, and they renovated the bathrooms, but I hesitate to say that it's "still the same after all these years." JMO Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: Aa5drvr on June 06, 2007, 12:21:32 pm Locally the hotel known as "Bates" on 11th was really called "East Central Hotel" long before Hitchcock.
Born in Tulsa in 1956 and lived at 11th and Mingo. Everyone says I have a photographic memory. I beg to differ. I have a pornographis memory, but no one told me where they stored the pornograph. Title: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: JimPat on October 05, 2007, 02:34:25 pm I'm trying to remember, has East Central High School always been the Cardinals. Seems like I remember a diffferent name back in the '60s and '70s.
Title: Re: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: BUCKWHEAT on September 22, 2020, 02:52:09 am I DISTINCTLY REMEMBER THE MA-HU MANSION - BUT THEN I ALSO REMEMBER OERTLES BEING AT 29th & MEMORIAL TOO NOT WHERE OTHERS HAVE SAID IT WAS
REMEMBER SEEING LEON RUSSEL & FRIENDS ( YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE WHO ALL WE SAW -- SERIOUSLY) DRIVING AROUND TOWN TOO -- AND GOING BY HIS HOUSE NEAR WOODWARD PARK TULSA WAS THE BEST PLACE TO GROW UP IN IN THE EARLY 60's Title: Re: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: heironymouspasparagus on September 24, 2020, 10:01:26 pm I DISTINCTLY REMEMBER THE MA-HU MANSION - BUT THEN I ALSO REMEMBER OERTLES BEING AT 29th & MEMORIAL TOO NOT WHERE OTHERS HAVE SAID IT WAS REMEMBER SEEING LEON RUSSEL & FRIENDS ( YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE WHO ALL WE SAW -- SERIOUSLY) DRIVING AROUND TOWN TOO -- AND GOING BY HIS HOUSE NEAR WOODWARD PARK TULSA WAS THE BEST PLACE TO GROW UP IN IN THE EARLY 60's Oertle's was on 11th street for many years. Then moved to south Memorial in the late 60's. There were still longhorn cattle at Ma-Hu then. They gave out silver dollars at Halloween. That ended after about the second Halloween we lived in the neighborhood. Made it worth the walk up that long driveway! And there was an alligator in the small pond on the southwest corner of the property next to the small concrete building - at least that was the story.... The barn at the back burned down and since it was full of hay, it made quite the conflagration! The wind was very strong from the south that day, and there were a couple of houses in Johannson Acres that got their roofs toasted! Flames were literally over the roof of one of those houses! Did not catch fire, but it was close. Did require a new roof. Oh, yeah...you don't really have to yell. We can hear you. Seems like I remember Leon drove around in a white Rolls Royce. Title: Re: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: BUCKWHEAT on September 29, 2020, 09:25:49 am GUESS THAT WAS A BIT BEFORE ME -- ABOUT 68 WAS WHEN WE STARTED ROAMING AROUND RIDING BIKES IN THAT PART OF TOWN VAGUELY REMEMBER TALK OF THE REST BUT NEVER HEARD THAT OERTLE'S WAS ELSEWHERE -- EVEN USED TO HOP TRAINS ON THE LITTLE RISE AT 31st & YALE & RIDE THEM DOWN TO THE EMPTY FIELD AREA AT 31st & SHERIDAN - THAT WAS A FUN PLACE TOO -- A LITTLE WILDERNESS AREA
Title: Re: Childhood Memories of Tulsa 1960s-1970s Post by: BUCKWHEAT on September 29, 2020, 09:27:10 am ACTUALLY IT WAS ABOUT 63-64 WHEN WE STARTED ROAMING NOW THAT I THINK ABOUT IT
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