John A Brown

[PapaJack]

Isn't it interesting how two individuals can have totally different memories of the same thing; John A. Browns? My mother was a denizen of the Brown's Bargain Basement which was in the Park side. She may have been intimidated to enter the front door with two kids in tow, or maybe her routine of hitting the shops led her to the Park side.

I distinctly remember that the Cravens entry had to be made only from the ground floor. In it was the young girl's fashion department, which irked me but delighted my older sister. Now that I think about it, the Renaissance, nee Cravens, still doesn't have entries on other than the ground floor, as per the sky way (Underground?) from First National Center.

Thanks for the shot of the Judy Parade. I gave my pennies for her, and mourned her passing.

I'll see you on the 23rd.

[rondvu]

http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/p...1stOKChome.jpg


http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/p...2ndOKChome.jpg

Here are the photos of the two homes the Brown's lived in. I know the Estate was the Syphony 2003 Designers Show House and the 1st home on NW 18th has been showcased on the Heritage Hills homes fall tour.

[Doug Loudenback]

That info will be good for the blog article ... thanks!

The 2nd house is familiar but I don't immediately place it. Do you know?

[rondvu]

Doug the 1st home is located at 301 NW 18th and the Estate now sits on 1601 Guilford Ln. I have the 2003 booklet for the 2003 Symphony Designers Show House, it has some intresting facts. If you need information from the booklet feel free to contact me.

[grantgeneral78]

Are there are any pictures of the browns in capitol hill? I remember when I was a kid riding up and down the escalator woo hoo.

[rondvu]

Grantgeneral78 check out Doug's photobucket on page one. You will be surprised at the pictures you will find.

[Doug Loudenback]

Looks like they're on different pages now after adding stuff, so I'll post the Capitol Hill images I copied here, grantgeneral78 ...







Most of the better images, although they are small and not high resolution (you have to pay $$ for that privilege) are at the OHS research archives ... Star | Archives ... type in what you're looking for and search. I recall that there were other Capitol Hill photos that I did not save, if you're wanting more.

[grantgeneral78]

Looks like they're on different pages now after adding stuff, so I'll post the Capitol Hill images I copied here, grantgeneral78 ...







Most of the better images, although they are small and not high resolution (you have to pay $$ for that privilege) are at the OHS research archives ... Star | Archives ... type in what you're looking for and search. I recall that there were other Capitol Hill photos that I did not save, if you're wanting more.

These are great pics Doug I appreciate you posting them, only if you find anymore please post them these bring back so many memories for me....thanks again

[Pete]

I have to say seeing all these old photos of a thriving downtown retail area and an up-scale department store in Capitol Hill makes me incredibly sad given the current state of those areas.

I know both are on a comeback path but it absolutely sickens me to think about how we just throw away these neighborhoods and just keep moving further out. I know big chunks NW OKC -- where I grew up -- are headed in the same direction if they aren't there already. Very depressing.

[grantgeneral78]

I have to say seeing all these old photos of a thriving downtown retail area and an up-scale department store in Capitol Hill makes me incredibly sad given the current state of those areas.

I know both are on a comeback path but it absolutely sickens me to think about how we just throw away these neighborhoods and just keep moving further out. I know big chunks NW OKC -- where I grew up -- are headed in the same direction if they aren't there already. Very depressing.

It really is bad, but we live in this "throw away" generation. Not like the old days if it broke you fix itnow you just replace it with a different not so made one....doing the same with our community`s

[Steve]

QUOTE: "What made OCURA decide to keep Robinson Renaissance and the Colcord while ripping down everything else on those 4 blocks?"

One word answer: Luck.
Longer answer: Both buildings barely escaped the wrecking ball. The Colcord was in the hand's of Charlie Colcord's heirs and they disagreed as to whether to let it be torn down or sell it to Neal Horton, who fought hard to convince the family to give him a shot at bringing the fading landmark back to its original glory.
Mind you, this was before Horton got involved in Bricktown. He got the building placed on the National Register of Historic Places, which helped the building survive the onslaught of Urban Renewal. Also helpful - Urban Renewal's then sizable operations (150 or so employees) were then officing at the Colcord. I've been told that city leaders always less than enthused about tearing down the Colcord.
As for what is now known as Robinson Renaissance, Doug is exactly right - Urban Renewal was running out of money by the time Carrozza was insisting it had to be torn down to make way for his proposed galleria mall. This story is actually more than I can tell here (lots of upsetting irony, stupidity, etc) - at the risk of sounding like a huckster... read "OKC Second Time Around."

[jbrown84]

I need to ask for that for Christmas or something.

I can't BELIEVE anyone would ever remotely consider tearing the Colcord down. LOUIS SULLIVAN!!! Good lord.

[NativeOkie]

Is it true Judy injured or killed a trainer or visitor?
Seems like I recall Judy with Ho Ho the clown.
I loved Ho Ho.
Used to come to birthday parties. Not with Pokey

[yukong]

Some memories of JAB.

I don't remember it having an entrance on Main Street. The various buildings were indeed disjointed. I remember having to exit the main building in the alley between Park and Main, and re-entering another building on an escalator which was outside in the alley. I have never seen another escalator on the outside of a building like that.

The Men's department was on the West end at Harvey and Park. It featured a life-size stuffed Tiger. On the right shoulder of the tiger was a little wire hook, that when pulled would emit a loud "roar." Whenever we went to Brown's I had to find the Tiger and my mom would lift me up so I could "moo the tiger." I continued this event until Brown's closed its downtown location. I guess the tiger was quite old (as was all of JAB's fixtures) by then, and I was a grown man. The commotion "mooing the tiger" brought was great fun as JAB's customers and employees were totally unaware of my discovery.

I do remember the pneumatic tubes, and also the little metal "JAB charge card" my mother cherished. JAB issued the metal cards, which looked like military dog tags, with a small leather cover. All of the pertinent data was on raised letters that printed on receipts with carbon paper. Totally mechanical.

Well, again I stand corrected...I was thinking it was a lion, but you are correct it was a tiger, and I too always had to make him roar. I just loved that tiger. Made mom take me there every time we went downtown to shop and see dad at his office in what was then the Liberty Tower, (now City Place.) He was on one of the upper floors, and in addition to making the tiger roar, I always made him show me the spiral fire escape slide. I begged him every time to let me slide down from the 30th floor, but he never would.

[yukong]

Is it true Judy injured or killed a trainer or visitor?
Seems like I recall Judy with Ho Ho the clown.
I loved Ho Ho.
Used to come to birthday parties. Not with Pokey

I loved Ho Ho also. Pokey was a friend of our family. We went to church with him for many many years. Bill Howard is his name. Because of him, I got to go to KOCO and watch a taping of the Ho Ho show once. That was quite a treat. Saw him just last week at the funeral of mutual friend. He is getting along in years, but is still as funny as he ever was, and he is and always has been one of the funniest guys I have ever know.

[ddavidson8]

It's funny in a sad way that every time I see Krusty the Clown on The Simpsons I think of Ho Ho.

[CCOKC]

That is so uncool. Krusty and Ho Ho were polar opposites. You are a sick sick person.

[rondvu]

http://tulsatvmemories.com/imag2004/hoho.jpg


I wonder if Hoho ever shopped JAB?

[Doug Loudenback]

I've got a large part of the Brown's article up, that part which takes it up the late 50s early 60s sit-ins. The rest should be up fairly quickly.

Doug Dawgz Blog: John A. Brown's

[Doug Loudenback]

There is one image in the John A. Brown portfolio at the Oklahoma Historical Society that I've not been able to place, and no information is presented there which does so. It was clearly not in the Main Street or Park Ave. elements of Brown's and I'm trying to figure it out.

Anyone know? Here's the photo:



I wonder if it was in some other town?

[BB37]

You are correct...my mistake...I remembered the name Brown in the DBD, and was thinking of the wrong thing. The JAB was at Penn Square, west end.

IIRC, when Dillard-Brown-Duncan bought out Kerr's and made their entry to OKC, both DBD and JAB put out statements that the two companies weren't connected.

[bornhere]

I think it is some other town, but I' not sure where. I don't remember the Brown's, but I remember the buildings on either side. Probably Enid.

[Doug Loudenback]

I've not found anything on an Enid store ... can you help with that?

I located one (only one) Oklahoman ad which gives a "stray" address. An 11/5/1948 article contains an ad for a Frigidare automatic washer for sale at "Appliance Store 215 N.W. First Street" and the ad uses a John A. Brown Company logo at the bottom. That address would be on the north side of Park Avenue ... I've been unable to duplicate that address in other searches.

[bornhere]

I can't. All I remember is seeing the two buildings on either side, and my memory says it was Enid. What really sticks in memory is that book store sign. But I've been in about every town in the state at one time or another, so I may be wrong about the place.

[bornhere]

What would be at 215 NW 1st today... Leadership Square?