Memories of El Chuco Photos
I remember:
1. Riding the “tranvia” (streetcar) from downtown and the conductor having to jump off and reconnect the electric line to the overhead wires.
2. Catching big fish on the canal on 8th street whenever the water was lowered or shut down.
3. Buying tennis shoes at Karl’s on Stanton Street.
4. Paying 10 cents to watch a movie at the Alcazar on El Paso Street. Also known as “El Calcetin”
5. Watching movies at the Crawford Theater close to San Jacinto Plaza.
6. Sneaking in to the Plaza Theater through a side door. Getting thrown out through the same door.
7. Buying 10 cent hot dogs and a Coke for 15 cents at the Coney Island.
8. Watching the alligators at San Jacinto Plaza.
9. Buying groceries at Chew Dins on Stanton Street.
10. Swimming at Frontera Park.
11. Cruising at Ascarate Park on Sundays.
12. Drag racing at the end of Railroad Drive.
13. Going to the drive-in movies at Ascarate on Delta, El Bronco on Alameda, and at North Loop.
14. Sneaking in to the annual dance for Farah employees at the Coliseum.
15. Looking at the globe on top of the Gas Building for weather conditions.
16. Watching the letters of the high schools lit up on game nights on Mount Franklin.
17. Hundreds of people walking from El Segundo to watch the Bowie Bears play football at El Paso High on Friday nights.
18. Watching Nolan Richardson play basketball for La Bowie.
19. Going to the Crosno Hops or watching on TV
20. Listening to Wolfman Jack late at night on a transistor radio.
21. Buying “45’s” at Star Disco Records downtown.
22. Listening to Steve Crosno eating chicken fat and booze on KELP radio
23. Watching the parade on New Years day winding through downtown
24. Watching cartoons with “Papa Quinito” on XEJ-TV from Juarez
25. Eating delicious hamburgers at the Lucky Boy downtown.
26. Watching cartoons with Marlin Haynes and having to yell out “daffyfuddlebug” or the cartoons would not start.
27. Watching the weather with Ted Bender also know as “Ted Blunder”.
28. Seeing the commercials for K-Mart with “Katy K-Mart”
29. Paying 30 cents a gallon for gasoline in the 60’s.
30. Watching Howell Eurich dress up as BOZO the clown.
31. Sharing a telephone party line with strangers who would listen in on your calls
32. Texas Western winning the NCAA basketball National Title and the parade from the school to downtown.
33. The organ rising up at the Plaza Theater and playing before the movies.
34. Buying delicious Ben’s Tacos from his store on Park street close to St. Ignacious church.
35. Buying popcorn for at dime at the Kress downtown.
36. Looking at the Christmas toy display upstairs at the Grant’s Department Store.
37. Going to the bargain basement at the Popular Dry Goods Store.
38. Cruising at the Oasis on Alameda
39. Watching the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show.
40. Mourning the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
41. Hearing Long John Hunter play at the "Lobby" club in Juarez
42. Dancing at the "Noa Noa" until daybreak in Juarez
43. Going to Father Rahm's youth center on Kansas street
44. Going to the "levee" on the Rio Grande near Sunland Park, NM.
45. Asking the iceman for chunks of ice when he would deliver ice to houses
46. Playing on the boxcars that were left on Kansas street and Seventh
47. Working as an Usher at the Plaza Theater and watching the people from behind the screen.
48. Selling newspapers downtown in the '50's'
49. Going to the Bullfights in Juarez.
50. Buying sweet bread at the Bowie Bakery on Seventh street and Park in South El Paso.
51. Fishing all night at Ascarate Park.
52. As a kid, watching "6 Gun Playhouse" on the only Television on the block.
53. Buying Kool-Aid ice cubes from the only family in the neighborhood with a refrigerator.