Back in the day, way back in the day I remember coming to Oklahoma from west Texas along with my family to see relatives in Enid. Picked up several choice black diamonds and got stopped by the Highway Patrol, the tail end of the car was so low they thought Dad was a bootlegger. Had to core the melons to prove they weren't injected.

Back in the day, way back in the day I remember coming to Oklahoma from west Texas along with my family to see relatives in Enid. Picked up several choice black diamonds and got stopped by the Highway Patrol, the tail end of the car was so low they thought Dad was a bootlegger. Had to core the melons to prove they weren't injected.

LOL.. Sounds like my kinda luck. He..He..

Back in the day, way back in the day I remember coming to Oklahoma from
west Texas along with my family to see relatives in Enid. Picked up several
choice black diamonds and got stopped by the Highway Patrol, the tail end of
the car was so low they thought Dad was a bootlegger. Had to core the
melons to prove they weren't injected.
THAT is an incredible story!

Come to think of it... each melon could have held several gallons of "moon".
Did he plug one?

:LolLolLol

THAT is an incredible story!

Come to think of it... each melon could have held several gallons of "moon".
Did he plug one?

:LolLolLol

Not that I'm aware of. We weren't Baptists, but Pops was a forty-miler and never around us kids. BTW, this was probably 1954, so only near beer was legal in Oklahoma.

Ever go raid a watermelon patch? Meanest S.O.B farmer there ever was lived up between Cherokee and Alva. Had two electric fences around his patch. First one was ankle high to where you couldn't see it, second one was about 3 feet inside that one so that when you tripped on the first one you fell onto the second one. Pretty much stuck! Gonna git lit up no matter what. Bet he used to sit up nights laughing himself silly at all the hollerin' going on.

Not that I'm aware of. We weren't Baptists, but Pops was a forty-miler and
never around us kids.

Ever go raid a watermelon patch? Meanest S.O.B farmer there ever was
lived up between Cherokee and Alva. Had two electric fences around his
patch. First one was ankle high to where you couldn't see it, second one
was about 3 feet inside that one so that when you tripped on the first one
you fell onto the second one. Pretty much stuck! Gonna git lit up no matter
what. Bet he used to sit up nights laughing himself silly at all the hollerin'
going on.

Do you mean a "fifty miler" as in the Boy Scouts? If not, I don't know what
you're talking about. Please explain.

Electric fences. Did you ever tell someone to pee on one? While it's true
that they were almost always pulsating and didn't "grab you" the first time,
one would inevitably manage a stream for a few seconds and then there
would be the usual 1/2 hour of screaming!

One thing about them Black Diamonds back in the day, you couldn't miss the seeds. (huge)(good spitters)

Miss the yellow-meated melons

But i like red as well

Read a story once about some peopling driving to Las Vegas. They packed some food to eat along the way, including a watermelon. Got to Vegas, valet parking and they did not see the car for three days. Checkout to go home, valet brings car around with his his hanging out the drivers window.
Forgot about the melon and it blew-up in the trunk. Makes me want to gag just thinking about it.

Do you mean a "fifty miler" as in the Boy Scouts? If not, I don't know what
you're talking about. Please explain.


Forty mile Baptist, Methodist, etc... one who doesn't drink alcohol or go honky tonking or participate in other such endeavors within 40 miles of home so as to not arouse suspicion amongst the neighbors or congregation

Forty mile Baptist, Methodist, etc... one who doesn't drink alcohol or go honky tonking or participate in other such endeavors within 40 miles of home so as to not arouse suspicion amongst the neighbors or congregation

================================================== ========
Just before Waco, Texas on I-35 there is a small Czech town (West, Texas). There used to be a Family Restaurant that served the best food (The Family Restaurant was the name). However the Baptist group from around the local towns would NOT indulge in a Cold Beer.....So, the guy that owned the restaurant had a "Lean-to" shed attached to the building with opening and closing Garage Doors.....You "Honked", the door went up, you pulled in ...gave your order....a young KID would load your purchase in an inconspicuos box....pay the tab and go home with No One knowing any different.....the food was Better that great....No One ever beat their chicken Fry....the beer was ICE COLD....I meant the Tea......

Liquor store in Edmond has a back door. Parking spaces marked out - about 4 spaces - for the Baptists. Only bad thing, a Sonic was built right by it and now the east row of stalls at Sonic have a view of the Baptist parking spaces.

Will Rogers said, "Oklahoma will remain dry as long as the voters stagger to the polls."

Was in the neighborhood today (purposely) of where I thought the "Black Brick" coffee house was located. The building is gone. I thought I had found it but the building is no longer there. Stopped and talked to a guy sitting on his front porch who said he had lived at 13th and N. Blackwelder since 1971, said he thought it was located in the 1300 block of N. McKinley! Buildings have been torn down, siding installed etc. It was either the 1300 block of Blackwelder or McKinley!! I went by and looked at it about 30 years ago just to see if I could find it. Where can a person get access to old OKC phone books, that would tell the tale!!

Was in the neighborhood today (purposely) of where I thought the "Black Brick" coffee house was located. The building is gone. I thought I had found it but the building is no longer there. Stopped and talked to a guy sitting on his front porch who said he had lived at 13th and N. Blackwelder since 1971, said he thought it was located in the 1300 block of N. McKinley! Buildings have been torn down, siding installed etc. It was either the 1300 block of Blackwelder or McKinley!! I went by and looked at it about 30 years ago just to see if I could find it. Where can a person get access to old OKC phone books, that would tell the tale!!

I thought it was closer to NW 24-26th?

I thought it was closer to NW 24-26th?

It's kind of a mind bender that nobody seems to remember the exact location but, I think it is because it was in a residential area. I'am pretty sure it was orginally a home. (not positive) My memory of the place was that it was kind of a "beatnick" kinda place and I thought it was boreing.

The Black Brick was definitely north of 23rd street on McKinley.

I thought it was closer to NW 24-26th?
I went all the way to N.W. 33rd and the neighborhoods kept getting nicer the further north of 16th that I went!! I'm 99% sure it was the 1300 block of Blackwelder or McKinley!! Sure wish I knew where I could get access to old phone books! Library??

I went all the way to N.W. 33rd and the neighborhoods kept getting nicer the further north of 16th that I went!! I'm 99% sure it was the 1300 block of Blackwelder or McKinley!! Sure wish I knew where I could get access to old phone books! Library??

Maybe Southwestern Bell could help?

The Black Brick was definitely north of 23rd street on McKinley. Yep, It was definitely north of 23rd, I just don't remember the street #.

The Black Brick was definitely north of 23rd street on McKinley.Yep, on the west side of the street at the end of an ally that ran between two rows of houses. It looked like a detached garage with a walk-in door on the NE corner of the building. The only indication it was a business was a small light set into a cubbyhole on the east outside wall. I'm not sure it ever actually had an address. The inside was painted black with psychedelic designs painted with florescent paint on the walls and lit by blacklights as was common in that era.

"It was far-out man! A real happening!"

I just Google streetviewed that whole area and it sure don't look like it did in the 60's.

That immediate area has changed quite a bit from even the early 80's.

Maybe I was a weeeeeeeeeeee bit under the weather when I went there!! LOL

Maybe I was a weeeeeeeeeeee bit under the weather when I went there!! LOL

Hear ya...

The fruit drinks at the Black Brick had names like:
Purple Passion
Black Bugs Blood
Sunshine something...

The fruit drinks at the Black Brick had names like:
Purple Passion
Black Bugs Blood
Sunshine something... Ha!!..I remembered I had a Purple Passion while I was there now that you posted the name.
(I think it was Kool Aid)

I thought it was closer to NW 24-26th?
You are correct. It was on the west side of the street, too. A friend of mine
lived just north of the Black Brick and on the east side of the street.

Was in the neighborhood today (purposely) of where I thought the "Black Brick" coffee house was located. The building is gone. I thought I had found it but the building is no longer there. Stopped and talked to a guy sitting on his front porch who said he had lived at 13th and N. Blackwelder since 1971, said he thought it was located in the 1300 block of N. McKinley! Buildings have been torn down, siding installed etc. It was either the 1300 block of Blackwelder or McKinley!! I went by and looked at it about 30 years ago just to see if I could find it. Where can a person get access to old OKC phone books, that would tell the tale!!

the OKC Main Library has old phone books...

I'm letting you guys roll, but I have always thought it was east of Classen, about 1 block

I'm letting you guys roll, but I have always thought it was east of Classen,
about 1 block
I was on N. McKinley.

Maybe I was a weeeeeeeeeeee bit under the weather when I went there!! LOL

Been there.........lots of foggy times in times past.....Childhood Memories of OKC, page 5, thanks Google.

Trust me. A friend of mine named Carl lived in a rental almost across the street. He had a very small 1 bd house with a screened back porch where he dried his weed.

Yep, the Black Brick was n of 23rd, east of OCU. You can get old phone books, even reverse address phone books at the downtown library on the second floor. I looked for the Black Brick about a year ago in a 1967 SWBell phone book and found nothing, but I didnt have time to be thorough. I checked some reverse phone books for 1961 last weekend and found the following in an hour of looking - remember even numbers are on east and north sides: W Britton Rd - Britton Cafe 815, A&A Cafe 816, Fitzgeralds Place 817, Britton Drug (great fountain)900, Browne Dept Store 908, Ritz Theater 912, Britton Bakery 911, TG&Y 916, Water Tower Grovery 1129, Potter's Mr Burger 1200 (the first Johnnie's was once here a bit later), 1801 Sam Botkin Carriage House Rest, The Villager 2132, Veazey Drug 2624, Puddin Lanes Bowling 2625, Puddin Lane Records 2648, Puddin Lane Grocery 2652 Britton & May Twilight Gardens

N Penn 9209 Jackson Dennis Donut (Casady Square) 9228 Turner's Tastee Freez, 9231 Humpty Dumpty

N May - Buster Brown Shoes 3200, Denver Oil 3301 (In 1955 Cashions Bowlarena at 3401 and at 5801 Maurice Woods Wedgewood Park) 1961 continued Shep Ricrdsn
Rambler 3316, Robt Hall 3415, 36th & May Safeway, Carousel Drive-In 3600, Wheeler & Stuckey 3601, Tony's Pizza 3621, Morris Chev 3724, Hikry Pit BBQ 3816, Dub Rich. 3815, Cooper Menswear 3832, Gene's Texaco 4001, Dunns DQ 4024, Red Top Motel 4111, McFarlands BBQ 4122, MAYFAIR? Goodyear 4805, BC Clark 4809, Woolworth 4825, Otasco 4900, Al's ThrifTWise 4901, JC Penney 4916, Parks 4924, Streets 4928, 50th& May Veazey's, Humpty Dumpty 5008, TG&Y 5020 Hart's Cafteria 5052,Pink Kitchen 5900, Shoppers World 5901, El Sol 6014, Lady Classen cafeteria 6903, Veazey's 6907, McDonald's 6910, ....LAKESIDE SHOPS 7423 TG&Y, 7427 Lakeside Post Office, 7509 Billye & Harolds Florst, 7518 Lakeside Theater, 7519 Lakeside Bakery,
7527 Mrs Coffee Dan's Restaurant, 7700 Carnation Ice Creamland (I remember another at NW 23 & Western, nw corner), 7727 Dobbs Toddle House, 7800 A&W Root Beer, 7917 The Brass Key (Fantastic curly-q fries) 8016 Pizza Planet, 9300 McMahan's Dairy Boy, 9405 Sonic THE HANGAR BLDG at 9625 Radiant Beauty, Bill's TV, Northridge Barber, US Borax, 7-11 #16 (Tiny worked there) Caballero Cleaners

And, just for fun 1955 Progress Beer Brewery 501 N Douglas Ave, now home to the Okla League for the Blind.

I could spend hours looking through those old phone and reverse address books, again Downtown Library. Someone needs to look for Black Brick around, when 1965?, between 24th & 26, Blackwelder, McKinley or Military. I remember it as a garage on W side facing street with a Black Brick stuck on the garage door, entrance was on S side of garage.

Yep, the Black Brick was n of 23rd, east of OCU. You can get old phone books, even reverse address phone books at the downtown library on the second floor. I looked for the Black Brick about a year ago in a 1967 SWBell phone book and found nothing, but I didnt have time to be thorough. I checked some reverse phone books for 1961 last weekend and found the following in an hour of looking - remember even numbers are on east and north sides: W Britton Rd - Britton Cafe 815, A&A Cafe 816, Fitzgeralds Place 817, Britton Drug (great fountain)900, Browne Dept Store 908, Ritz Theater 912, Britton Bakery 911, TG&Y 916, Water Tower Grovery 1129, Potter's Mr Burger 1200 (the first Johnnie's was once here a bit later), 1801 Sam Botkin Carriage House Rest, The Villager 2132, Veazey Drug 2624, Puddin Lanes Bowling 2625, Puddin Lane Records 2648, Puddin Lane Grocery 2652 Britton & May Twilight Gardens

N Penn 9209 Jackson Dennis Donut (Casady Square) 9228 Turner's Tastee Freez, 9231 Humpty Dumpty

N May - Buster Brown Shoes 3200, Denver Oil 3301 (In 1955 Cashions Bowlarena at 3401 and at 5801 Maurice Woods Wedgewood Park) 1961 continued Shep Ricrdsn
Rambler 3316, Robt Hall 3415, 36th & May Safeway, Carousel Drive-In 3600, Wheeler & Stuckey 3601, Tony's Pizza 3621, Morris Chev 3724, Hikry Pit BBQ 3816, Dub Rich. 3815, Cooper Menswear 3832, Gene's Texaco 4001, Dunns DQ 4024, Red Top Motel 4111, McFarlands BBQ 4122, MAYFAIR? Goodyear 4805, BC Clark 4809, Woolworth 4825, Otasco 4900, Al's ThrifTWise 4901, JC Penney 4916, Parks 4924, Streets 4928, 50th& May Veazey's, Humpty Dumpty 5008, TG&Y 5020 Hart's Cafteria 5052,Pink Kitchen 5900, Shoppers World 5901, El Sol 6014, Lady Classen cafeteria 6903, Veazey's 6907, McDonald's 6910, ....LAKESIDE SHOPS 7423 TG&Y, 7427 Lakeside Post Office, 7509 Billye & Harolds Florst, 7518 Lakeside Theater, 7519 Lakeside Bakery,
7527 Mrs Coffee Dan's Restaurant, 7700 Carnation Ice Creamland (I remember another at NW 23 & Western, nw corner), 7727 Dobbs Toddle House, 7800 A&W Root Beer, 7917 The Brass Key (Fantastic curly-q fries) 8016 Pizza Planet, 9300 McMahan's Dairy Boy, 9405 Sonic THE HANGAR BLDG at 9625 Radiant Beauty, Bill's TV, Northridge Barber, US Borax, 7-11 #16 (Tiny worked there) Caballero Cleaners

And, just for fun 1955 Progress Beer Brewery 501 N Douglas Ave, now home to the Okla League for the Blind.

I could spend hours looking through those old phone and reverse address books, again Downtown Library. Someone needs to look for Black Brick around, when 1965?, between 24th & 26, Blackwelder, McKinley or Military. I remember it as a garage on W side facing street with a Black Brick stuck on the garage door, entrance was on S side of garage.

================================================== ========
I got married in '66 and I'm almost sure the Black Brick was still there....I know the Volkstube was alive and well....Anyone ever go there????Vince Gill did....

I got married in '66 and I'm almost sure the Black Brick was still there.
It was around into the 70's. The last time I was there the 8 Track stereo
was playing Iron Butterfly.

================================================== ========
I got married in '66 and I'm almost sure the Black Brick was still there....I know the Volkstube was alive and well....Anyone ever go there????Vince Gill did....

The Black Brick was still alive in the early 70's. Never heard of the Volkstube and wish I heard never HEARD Vince Gill.

Ever consider that the Black Brick had no phone?

The Black Brick was still alive in the early 70's. Never heard of the Volkstube and wish I heard never HEARD Vince Gill.

Ever consider that the Black Brick had no phone?

I figured that out after I had looked thru the phone books, but it might show up in the reverse address books. Might because it might just be under the residence owner's name.

Maybe I should ask this is the other thread, but does anyone remember the name of a bowling alley downtown, maybe around Reno or California, east of Shartel. My dad bowled there when I was very young...

Surely one of us can remember who owned the Black Brick. I just know I knew the person at the time but the fog around my memories is preventing access to that part of my brain.

Maybe I should ask this is the other thread, but does anyone remember the name of a bowling alley downtown, maybe around Reno or California, east of Shartel. My dad bowled there when I was very young...

Civic Center Lanes. Dewey and Couch I believe. My mom took me there in '62 for my first bowling experience. My first game was a 46, but...on the 5th frame I rolled a strike!

The Black Brick was still alive in the early 70's. Never heard of the Volkstube and wish I heard never HEARD Vince Gill.

Ever consider that the Black Brick had no phone?
Good point!! But if they DID have a phone how do you think they would have answered?

Good evening, This is the Black Brick, How may I direct your call? LMAO.....

I remember going to the Black Brick my senior year 67-68, so I know it was around then. I remember it like some of you, north of 23rd and east of OCU, and the house was on the west side of the street and the door faced east (I think). I think that was one of my first exposures to black lights and I thought it was sooo cool...well, probably thought it was "groovy" back then. We planned what we were going to wear to make sure we had a lot of white on. My blue and white striped cheerleader sweater really looked good....and blue tennis shoes with the white laces. Groovy man!!!!!

~~~

I remember going to the Black Brick my senior year 67-68, so I know it was around then. I remember it like some of you, north of 23rd and east of OCU, and the house was on the west side of the street and the door faced east (I think). I think that was one of my first exposures to black lights and I thought it was sooo cool...well, probably thought it was "groovy" back then. We planned what we were going to wear to make sure we had a lot of white on. My blue and white striped cheerleader sweater really looked good....and blue tennis shoes with the white laces. Groovy man!!!!!

~~~

They had black lights when you were in high school? I thought you guys had one of those coal-oil lamps with a wick. (64 made me post this LMAO)

Ever consider that the Black Brick had no phone?
Maybe I'm hallucinating, but I swear there was a phone on the wall where
they kept the change. There was a bunch of cards and notes around it. It
could have been unlisted.

They had black lights when you were in high school? I thought you guys had one of those coal-oil lamps with a wick. (64 made me post this LMAO)

Hahahahaha......remember we WERE on on the northside.... they were far advanced in new fangled things like that... :-)

~~~

Hahahahaha......remember we WERE on on the northside.... they were far advanced in new fangled things like that... :-)

~~~
================================================== =========
I was gonna be smart (hard for me) and say something about "Party lines"...then it dawned on me...that song in the 60's said "Party Lights...I see the "Party Lights"...Not party lines...Oh well, I 'll be quiet.....

================================================== =========
I was gonna be smart (hard for me) and say something about "Party lines"...then it dawned on me...that song in the 60's said "Party Lights...I see the "Party Lights"...Not party lines...Oh well, I 'll be quiet.....

Well..... I do remember party lines....and no direct dialing, had to call the operator to connect you to the number you wanted (BR-549) ....

~~~

Well..... I do remember party lines....and no direct dialing, had to call the operator to connect you to the number you wanted (BR-549) ....

~~~

I remember party lines, independent phone companies. We lived in Harrah a few years and calling to and from OKC was long distance. I think Harrah was with the Chickasaw Phone Service. Don't remember that is the correct name of the company.

Civic Center Lanes. Dewey and Couch I believe. My mom took me there in '62 for my first bowling experience. My first game was a 46, but...on the 5th frame I rolled a strike!

Yes, I remember bowling there in the 50's when they still used pin boys.

I remember party lines, independent phone companies. We lived in Harrah a few years and calling to and from OKC was long distance. I think Harrah was with the Chickasaw Phone Service. Don't remember that is the correct name of the company.

I remember going to my grandparents farm in Fairveiw Ok. when I was little, the phone would ring and everyone would just sit there, I would ask if they wanted me to answer it, they would respond with "no, it's not are ring".

Yes, I remember bowling there in the 50's when they still used pin boys.

Remember the old bowling alley on campus corner in Norman? They used pin boys into the '60s.

Remember the old bowling alley on campus corner in Norman? They used pin boys into the '60s.

University Bowl? Think that place was open into the 1980's....

Did Harold's end up with the property?

Remember the old bowling alley on campus corner in Norman? They used pin boys into the '60s.

Yes, I went there a few times. I spent most of my youth, though, at Capitol Bowl on SW 29th. I think I grew up there. I don't think they ever had pin boys though.

Yes, I went there a few times. I spent most of my youth, though, at Capitol Bowl on SW 29th. I think I grew up there. I don't think they ever had pin boys though. papaOU ..I had an uncle that bowled a 300 game and he used to say that the bowling alley in question still had pin boys in the 60's. I think he was kidding. Is it still in biz? I remember going to the bank next door and lieing MAO for a loan and getting it.

papaOU ..I had an uncle that bowled a 300 game and he used to say that the bowling alley in question still had pin boys in the 60's. I think he was kidding. Is it still in biz? I remember going to the bank next door and lieing MAO for a loan and getting it.

I started going there at least by the mid-60's and they were automated at that time. The place is no longer in business but several ventures have tried to use the place and they have all failed. They have been Hispanic dance clubs twice and were always packed on weekends but did not last.

I have felt for sometime that bowling is a dying sport. Nobody, bowling alley's, companies like AMF, Brunswick, etc..........are not doing anything to draw the kids in. I don't have an answer.

The Main Event that was proposed at Memorial & Western would have helped, it is like a cross between Dave N Busters and Chuck E Cheese without the little ones, I have seen quite a few teens in there at times. The one here gets pretty busy and has a bunch of events. The only time that we have been up there is IIDA Texas/Oklahoma Austin Chapter Bowling for Kids fundraiser, which is this coming Wednesday night.

My nephew's (7th) birthday party this year was at Windsor Lanes, she said that it was pretty busy with kids birthday parties on that day.

I have felt for sometime that bowling is a dying sport. Nobody, bowling alley's, companies like AMF, Brunswick, etc..........are not doing anything to draw the kids in. I don't have an answer.

SPLITSVILLE (http://splitsvillelanes.com/#)

Opened in the Arlington (TX) Highlands last year. Just TRY to get in on a weekend. We haven't been yet, but my wife was an avid league bowler before we met, so I'm sure we will when her goofy RN schedule permits.

Penn 44 on west Penn had Pin boys way back when!! Had a friend that worked there!! Actually it was Gen/64's across the street neighbor (Jimmy)!! Do you remember that 64????

Man I sat in Wilkerson's and watched Penn-44 being built and I am SURE I was one of its first customers and I'd bet my first born that it NEVER had pin-boys. It was MODERN from day one. :boxing2: :LolLolLol

Man I sat in Wilkerson's and watched Penn-44 being built and I am SURE I was one of its first customers and I'd bet my first born that it NEVER had pin-boys. It was MODERN from day one. :boxing2: :LolLolLol Do you remember what year that was '60?

Penn 44 on west Penn had Pin boys way back when!! Had a friend that worked there!! Actually it was Gen/64's across the street neighbor (Jimmy)!! Do you remember that 64????

================================================== =========
Sheesh, I had forgotten all about that....He really thought he was cool working there.....Acted as if he were the Bowling Pro though.....

Do you remember what year that was '60?

================================================== =========
You're right 60 but, they always had kids working in the back so nothing got "Hung Up" and were still Pin setters....aka "Pin boys".....He was also an alley sweeper, trash taker-outter and an all around "Jerk".....But he made a pretty good all around guy when he finally grew up....and wasn't "Hitting" me every chance he got.....