I am looking for those who grew up on the NE side of Oklahoma City, during the 40s, 50s, and early 60s. I understand that NE 23rd street had cafeterias, movie theaters, and clubs.

We moved there in 1968, after my father retired from the military, when the neighborhood was turning mostly African American. I would loved to know the history before that time. I live in Virginia now, however, my mother still lives there. Our home was across from Springlake park. Please share the memories.

Even if you didn't live there, please recall any memories of the 40s, 50s, and early 60s.

Do you remember "Missus Kemp"? (c. 1960?)

(The kindly, elderly, ceramics/pottery Lady? The one with the jigsaw puzzles for all of the neighborhood children to share in her tiny dining area? Regardless of race, creed (as if=) or color? Somewhere south of the other/original Han's BBQ location on The 2-3? During/just prior to turbulent transitional times?)

Probably I just imagined her. =)

Disclaimer: I didn't "grow up" over there. I just visited.

RadicalModerate,
Where was the original Han's located? I ate at the one West of Portland on 10th lot's of times but I don't remember another one.
C. T.

It was on The 2-3 =) in the vicinity of Lottie.
(not far north of where Mrs. Kemp used to live).

The one west of Portland was good . . .
The original location had Authentic OKC BBQ.
(from an 8 years olds perspective =)

Biznesschic1959,
There have been several places discussed on this site, just different threads. Springlake, Blackhawk park, the original State Fair of Oklahoma on the grounds where Douglas High School currently resides. Of course, several memorable places like a drug store on the Northeast corner of 36th and Kelly. If you will spend a little time browsing quickly through the Oklahoma City Memories thread and actually any of those under Nostalgia and Memories category, skipping any that are obviously not North East OKC, you will find some interesting comments. Maybe somebody will come along and be a little more help than I am. There are also search tools but I'm not sure what search arguments you would use. Good luck.
C. T.

I'm having trouble with the date on Han's because a lot of things happened in my life from 1947 till 1955. I did go places but it was dependent upon a divorced dad and an aunt since my mother didn't have a car till 1955. Do you remember the years Han's was on 23rd?
Thanks,
C. T.

23rd and Lottie? When did Hans go out of business?

Did you live on Springlake Drive, or the cul-de-sac, ?? Circle?

A block or so east of Eastern, north side, was a pre-McDonalds burger drive-thru, called The Golden Point. Visually it was somewhat preminiscent of golden arches but rising up to a point. The building is still there.

On the northeast corner of 23rd & Eastern was a covered picnic table place where people would gather to buy watermelons to go, or sit and enjoy just a slice.

Several years ago they tore down Longfellow (Lynx) Elementary, rebuilt and renamed Martin Luther King Jr. Meanwhile at 36th and Prospect was Polk (polkadot pink panties), where locals went to get polio shots and later, sugar cubes. The building still stands but is now Longfellow.

At 48th & Prospect was the Townley's mansion, or something, with stables which offered to the public horseback rides down 48th into Lincoln Park and back.

What was that record store across from Douglass HS, more or less?

biznesschic1959,
Sometime after 1988, but then they were on 10th somewhere West of Portland. I believe East of Meridian on the North side of the street. I remember them at that location from the time my mother got her first car in 1955.
C. T.

23rd and Lottie? When did Hans go out of business?

We lived on the cul-de-sac, there is an open field behind our house. I would sit for hours watching the rides at Springlake. It caught fire every other year.
I know exactly what building you are talking about, and it was a hamburger place when we moved there. It closed down sometime after that.
I believe the watermelon lot has a grocery store there now.
I took swimming lessons at Longfellow, and several of my neighborhood friends went to polk.
Know the Townley mansion well. Several friends of mine have bought the place, but it always changes hands quickly. Rumor has it that it is haunted.
There was a record store called Horace that was around 17th street and eastern. He and his wife owned the stone house on the corner of 44 and eastern.

When we moved to that area, there were two grocery stores that sat across the street from one another at Springlake drive and Kelly. Across from that, there was a Cherry's cafeteria, CR Anthonys, another large grocery store and the league for the blind.

My father used to go to a dive bar around 23rd and eastern called the Fox Box. I understand that NE 23rd had a movie theater and cafeterias. Do you remember those? How about the caves????? And there was a drive-in in the Wildewood section that was closed when we moved there.

I remember a diner was on that corner also. And perhaps a tire store?

I remember "The Golden Point" . . . (It wasn't too far from the Original Han's BBQ location).
I may remember it because "The Golden Point" also had a location in my hometown 700 miles away.
I think "The Golden Point" (back home) switched from sub-par burgers to proto TacoBell food before it was bulldozed to make way for a Charcoal Oven.

The non-original Han's location, in OKC, was at 10th and Tulsa.
Their BBQ did not suffer from the move. It just seemed way too far to drive.

I think the entire block on The 2-3 where Han's used to be was leveled to make room for . . .
something. Maybe vacant lots? Unspoiled vistas?

I am sorry, the record shop name was Hebbie's record shop, not Horace.

I really miss Hans BBQ,the 10th st. location was the only one I ever knew. That was the best BBQ (RIBS) that I have ever had. Some things should just go on forever and Hans is one of those things. I do think it was around 1988 when they closed up. I think it's a mexican rest. now.

OKCRT, I agree, it is a Mexican restaurant. Actually, I believe it has been about three different restaurants since Hans closed.
C. T.

I really miss Hans BBQ,the 10th st. location was the only one I ever knew. That was the best BBQ (RIBS) that I have ever had. Some things should just go on forever and Hans is one of those things. I do think it was around 1988 when they closed up. I think it's a mexican rest. now.

Before I forget, I never knew of Mrs Kemp.

What was the name of the cul-de-sac? From my house you could hear the Tumble Bug at night, but I was closer to the zoo than to Springlake.

OMG, Cherry's Cafeteria? My bells are going off but I'm not recalling where it was. There were three centers with grocery stores. I'm guessing Cherry's was in the southernmost complex, a block or two east of Kelly on 36th, on the south side. It had Safeway, Woolworth, Anthony's, a laundromat, and then some. I'm thinking Cherry's was on the east side of Safeway? Help Me!

Across 36th to the west was Park Estates Shopping Center with a grocery store flanked by Conrad Marr Drug and TG&Y.

Across Springlake Dr to the north was a large Red Bud grocery store. There were a few small businesses attached but no significant retailers other than a detached restaurant called Pink Kitchen.

At 50th & Eastern, NW corner, there's still the shell of a Champlain "great name in the great plains" filling station. Photo historians should check out the architecture.

Across from what is now Remington Park was a drive-in movie and a bowling alley.






(

When I was born my mom worked at the OTASCO store on NE 23rd. We lived on NE 20th and my grandma lived on NE 18th. I took my first steps in Glen Ellen Park. I remember a Pink Kitchen restaurant on NE 23rd, and Al's Ice Cream Store on Lottie. Al had the best ice cream and made the most to die for malts. We moved when I was about 1 1/2, but my grandma lived in the same house until her death in 1957. It was a pretty nice neighborhood back then.

The "circle" is on 42nd street off of Casper Dr. My mom still lives there, and it remains one of the best blocks in Park Estates.
Cherry's was on the West side of Safeway. It was the last building in the complex.
Where the pink Kitchen was, now stands a bar, in which the owner has had for years.
I remember that station. It was there for many years, and they mainly did car inspection. Next the it was an old house, where we used to walk to buy penny candy.
Was the bowling alley red brick? I believe it was closed when we moved there. Did you enter the drive-in off of Grand blvd?
There was a small restaurant on Springlake drive, going west before you got to the houses. Do you remember the name?

Was Glen Ellen park on Glen Ellen street? I remember Al's Ice cream on Lottie. I believe it was next to a grocery store. We attended Corpus Christi Church on 15th and Kelly, and I attended the school from 3rd to 8th grade. I understand there was a movie theater on 13th and Kelly. Was it where the VA's parking lot is now?

I grew up on 16th & Lottie in the late 50's and early 60's. There was an ice cream store that was there for years called Al's. there was also a movie theater on NE 23rd & Lottie (don't remember the name) next to a place called Swick Generator. Also an old time diner on that corner that ws very small and they only had a counter for you to sit at.

The bowling alley was constructed in red stone, pretty sure. It was entered to from Eastern, as was the drive-in movie.

The circle street I was thinking of is Park Circle (remembered today); it was located on Springlake Drive. I do remember Casper Dr but am hazy on the circle. I knew a family on Casper who had a bomb shelter in their backyard, only to perish in a car crash while on vacation.

Kitchen's Corner was a small store on the southwest corner of 50th & Eastern. That's where we walked to for candy in the 50's.

Are you thinking of Dogs & Suds, a burger/malt drive-in, located roughly across Springlake Dr from the Pink Kitchen? Are you talking about a different location?

"Dog and Suds" . . . Wow. I vaguely remember that place--on account of the interesting name. I know that we ate there on more than one occassion.

I seem to recall that the "Suds" referred to that wonderful rootbeer (with a head) that I probably remember (or only imagine) we used to be able to get . . . Or at least was shown on the drive-in's sign.

The building of that theater is still there, and stayed empty for many years. Was the old diner a pink kitchen at one time? I believed it had a neon coffee cup on top. Remember Al ice cream well. We went to Corpus Christi school and church, which was on 16th and Kelly, I read that there was a theater at 13th and Kelly, any memories?

I remember that circle. It was Springlake circle. The owner of Springlake park lived there. It was taken out when Metro-tech bought the property. There is another circle off of Casper drive, if you take it to the right. That is where my mom still lives. It is the only row of houses in that addition in which the back yards faced Springlake park. Behind it is a large field, owned by Springlake, used as a parking lot when it was full. Was Kitchen's corner once a restaurant? I believe the building is still there. Was there a Campbells grocery store? Didn't know that small business on Springlake Dr was a drive-in. Makes sense, because the original building was small. They had taken down the drive-in section when we moved there.

RM, you're right about root beer, served in glass mugs. The dogs were the best I ever had (footlongs, mmm, mmm, mmm!).

Biz, that's interesting about the field behind your house. Now, where does that church or school on Eastern figure into the equation? It was a 7th Day Adventist in a spacious wooded setting.

Campbells grocery store? Give me a day to wrack my brain on that one. Still working on Cherry's Cafeteria.

I was born in 54 and grew up on 10th st between Post and Douglas, but my fondest memories were when the family would go into town on the weekends. It was the early 60's and we would always go to Hans BBQ. And then we would usually stop at an ice cream shop on Lottie to get a malt. I never knew it was called Al's until I saw this forum. All I remembered was this place with white walls and tile floor and a giant counter where you gave your order. There was this older man with grey hair and a crew cut behind the counter. Maybe Al? He reminded me later of Sgt Carter on Gomer Pyle. Lol. Anyway those trips with my mom and dad and sister were special. I also remember going to a large dept store downtown with two levels, and big ceiling fans and a bell going off all the time. Not sure where that was. Miss those times though.

Another kid from the fifties, here. We too would go downtown some Saturdays. I remember a large department store downtown with two levels. John A Brown had a large mezzanine (at least large to a little kid) and more floors above that. I don't remember large ceiling fans (although there very well may have been), but there was a bell on the second floor connected to a cheezy stork on the wall. The bell ringing represented a child being born in the OKC hospitals.

All you "seasoned" readers, am I pretty close to correct?

Sounds like John A Brown to me....
I also remember
Streets
Rothschilds

Some nice pics here..........
http://departmentstoremuseum.blogspot.com/2010/11/john-brown-company-oklahoma-city.html

Sounds like John A Brown to me....
I also remember
Streets
Rothschilds

Some nice pics here..........
http://departmentstoremuseum.blogspot.com/2010/11/john-brown-company-oklahoma-city.html

And don't forget Montgomery Wards since the building is still there.

The school is still there. We use to play on their play ground, and play baseball on their diamond. Campbells would have been on the same side of the street as the gas station on 50th. It may have been called something else during the early sixties, but it was a small store. Cherry Restaurant was on the west side of the strip mall, at the end.

You grew up in the Nicoma Park area, right? There was a fish place off of NE 23rd around Post, that was shaped like a fisherman's net. Mom would drive there on Fridays, and it was about 10 miles from our house. The fish would still be hot when we got home. Do you remember the name? Also, there was a chicken shack in MWC, that you could eat in, or walk up and take out. Best Fried chicken in the world.

We spent part of most summers out in Shady Nook which was just west of 23rd and Post but as hard as I try I can't remember any fish place in the vicinity. Dean's Drive In . . . Jim's Fried Chicken . . . Edie's Broasted Chicken yes. Fish place no.

Last night I Google-Mapped the area and was mystified to see NE 23rd labeled Brownfield Highway.
Anyone know what that is about?

I believe they are trying to put housing additions on NE 23rd, so they renamed it. The fish place was about 6 blocks east of the old Catholic home. It set on a side street, not on 23rd. Where was Dean's Drive IN? Sounds familiar.
Jims fried chicken is the chicken place I was talking about. Before it was Jims, it was a hamburger place. What was the name of the strip mall at 23 & Westminister? I am thinking West Oaks?

As far as I know, that strip mall was always called Westiminster Shopping Center. (Nicoma Park has always been known for it's imagination in naming things.) They had a grocery store and a few other businesses including a barber shop and either an Auto Parts or Tire store. I knew the guy (Jim) who owned Jim's Fried Chicken fairly well and ate there at least once a week. They really did have superior chicken.

Did you know that Nicoma Park was developed by the same guy who developed Nichols hills? It was supposed to be linked somehow with a huge chicken raising operation--maybe one in which everyone in town had a chicken coop in their back yard. This is why, later, it was also a center for gamecock breeding.

Unless it has been removed--which is hard to imagine--there is a little white monument, right next to 23rd, on the north side of the street, right by Strawn's Corner (23rd and Hiawassee), marking the site where a state game ranger was killed back in the 1920's or 30s. I can't remember for sure, but I think the monument said his horse was startled by a passing automobile and threw him.

Almost Forgot:
Dean's Drive In was just down the road--past Jack's Barber Shop, Wiley's Laundry, and Shady Nook Pump and Supply--where Mr. Tee's BBQ is now. I think the NS street is Outpost. I remember what a treat it was to get 5--very tasty--hamburgers for a dollar. I only ate one because they were fairly large even at that price. I also remember what a surprise it was to learn that "Dean" was the lady who ran the place. If you walked a little further west on 23rd to the top of the rise, and crossed the two-lane with dirt shoulders, you would find yourself at the door of Carr's Grocery and Feed Store.

Jim's Fried Chicken may still be in business . . .

I remember Mr T's however, I don't remember it being a deans drive in. Didn't know that about Nicoma Park linking to Nichols hills. The would have been a big chicken plant. My brothers 1st wife is from Spencer, so we turn north on Westminister. Hiawassee Rd is almost in Choctaw, a long way.

Hiwassee Road is only 2 miles East of Westminster. Hiwassee Road was the dividing line between Nicoma Park and Choctaw and I grew up in Nicoma Park (at 23rd and Hiwassee). I remember the marker relating to the death of the game ranger, but I wonder if it were removed when 23rd was widened.



I remember Mr T's however, I don't remember it being a deans drive in. Didn't know that about Nicoma Park linking to Nichols hills. The would have been a big chicken plant. My brothers 1st wife is from Spencer, so we turn north on Westminister. Hiawassee Rd is almost in Choctaw, a long way.

Besides Springlake, the Oklahoma State Capitol, and the OKC Zoo, the place I remember best on the northeast side was the old Bison Theater on NE 23rd. The theater was a couple of blocks east of the Governor's mansion. I used to walk there from NW 21st and Harvey to see classic horror films like "Frankenstein", "The Wolfman", "The Blob", and my favorite, the original "Not of This Earth". This was in the late 1950's when I was around eight to ten years old. (I am now 62 & retired).

I used to like walking to the State Capitol. In third grade, I walked to the Capitol building into Lt Governor George Nigh's office & he gave me a signed picture of himself. Boy, was I proud of that picture!

You grew up in the Nicoma Park area, right? There was a fish place off of NE 23rd around Post, that was shaped like a fisherman's net. Mom would drive there on Fridays, and it was about 10 miles from our house. The fish would still be hot when we got home. Do you remember the name? Also, there was a chicken shack in MWC, that you could eat in, or walk up and take out. Best Fried chicken in the world.
Was it Ozzie's Fish Market?

[QUOTE=RadicalModerate;523541]We spent part of most summers out in Shady Nook which was just west of 23rd and Post but as hard as I try I can't remember any fish place in the vicinity. Dean's Drive In . . . Jim's Fried Chicken . . . Edie's Broasted Chicken yes. Fish place no.

Edie's Broasted Chicken was on top of the biggest hill between Hiwassee Road and Anderson Road. I believe she (Edie) was a sister to the owner of Toland's Dairy on whose property the place was located.

"Dog and Suds" . . . Wow. I vaguely remember that place--on account of the interesting name. I know that we ate there on more than one occassion.

I seem to recall that the "Suds" referred to that wonderful rootbeer (with a head) that I probably remember (or only imagine) we used to be able to get . . . Or at least was shown on the drive-in's sign.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/katherineofchicago/3991399180/

The Bison was long gone when we moved to OKC in 68. I understand that there were cafeteria on NE 23rd? Adairs maybe? do you remember?

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS. That is it. We would drive from NE 42nd street, and it was the best fried fish you ever tasted. Where was it located? Do you remember when it closed? I remember it sat off of NE 23rd, but I cant remember the side street. I remember is was had an odd shape.

Is it possible that Ozzie's Fish Market was in the little geodesic dome just off 23rd (to the south) on the west side of Avery? Like, in the "west Nicoma Park" area? By the time I moved down here (1974?) the place was some sort of "breakfast/plate lunch diner"... or was it another dive bar? Hmmm... It's been awhile. I forget.

Is it possible that Ozzie's Fish Market was in the little geodesic dome just off 23rd (to the south) on the west side of Avery? Like, in the "west Nicoma Park" area? By the time I moved down here (1974?) the place was some sort of "breakfast/plate lunch diner"... or was it another dive bar? Hmmm... It's been awhile. I forget.


What is this 70s everyone keeps talking about. I can't remember.

It was a free and magical time, populated by flying unicorns, sparkly disco balls and misty rainbows.
And fish markets shaped like fisherman's nets (or geodesic domes: structures designed by left-brained Hobbits).

Thank you. I did a google search and found the building. And it would have closed around 72, 73, before I went to high school.

So . . . Do you remember a place on the south side of 23rd, just west of Hiawassee, (where "Community Park Shopping Center"/Sanders Fence Company probably still is today) called "The Four Palms"? Apparently, it was some sort of "Private Club" back in the 50's or 60's. It had been closed for several years when the new owner of the property had us gut it (take out the old booths and the bar) so it could be turned into a dentist office? and later a florist?

I kept telling him that he should restore it to its "former glory" and make it into a nice "Supper Club" for folks who wanted something a couple steps above the trashy, hard-core bars along that stretch of Hwy. 62. I think it was the coolness of the old, long-darkened, neon sign with the--yes--four palm trees that made me think this could be a viable alternative to his plans. =)

The only thing I can find on the Internet about this place is that the owner back in '62 had some kind of beef with the owner of Nicoma Park TV and Radio repair that went all the way to the Oklahoma Supreme Court.

Seems as if I do remember a florist in that area.

Does anyone remember Bryant Center? It was a bowling alley with a restaurant I think. It was on a dead end street, and you couldn't see it from the road. Old timers told me that there was once a swimming pool on 23rd street and I-40, where the apartments are now. What about the drive in around 23rd and Sooner road. Was it the Skyview?

Here's an aerial from 1963.

I believe Bryant Center was an auditorium and bowling alley, and later became a YMCA. It's abandoned now.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/i35and23rd.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/blackhawkpark1.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/bryantcenter1.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/bryantcenter2.jpg

Here's an aerial of the same area from 1954:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/i35and23rd1954.jpg

The bowling alley in the last photo had a club called the Tee Pee.
The Earl Day Organ Trio played there for quite a while. The whites
in the club were the drummer, guitarist and me. I remember sitting
next to the bandstand and the manager asked me if I'd rather have
a seat in the back. I told her I was a friend of Earl's and all was
well.

Prunepicker, was it called the Bryant Center back then?

It's my understanding there was a bowling alley and a large auditorium... Was the Tee Pee Club separate from those?

Prunepicker, was it called the Bryant Center back then?

It's my understanding there was a bowling alley and a large
auditorium... Was the Tee Pee Club separate from those?
It was under the same roof. I'm not sure if they were connected
by a common door. The club was large but I'm not certain as
to whether or not it was an auditorium at one time.

Yes, I bowled a few times at Bryant Center Lanes and it was in a fairly isolated area. It wasn't one of my regular stops for bowling though. I think the only time I was there was for tournaments or jackpot bowling.


http://www.abandonedok.com/bryant-center-revisited/

I also grew up in Shady Nook and remember Wilson's Barbershop-haircuts 50 cents-any cut you wanted. Then to fix our Junkers, we'd buy salvage parts from Bob Brewer who owned a salvage yard there. One could buy a decent used car those days for fifty dollars!