Mohr Chevrolet Company - Season's Greetings

1009-15 Bryan St.  -  Dallas, Texas  -  Phone 7 8141  - 24 Hour Service

1009 Bryan was originally home to City Chevrolet. This near the odd juxtposition of Bryan to Munger and Greenville Ave. east of Garret Park.  Mohr Chevrolet took over the location about 1936, expanded along Bryan, and remained there until about 1954 when the dealership moved to Central Expressway at San Jacinto. Their slogan for many years was "See Mohr and Save More."

The little tree implies "Christmas", but the word's not mentioned.

Republic National Bank - Season's Greetings

Our Thanks

Best Wishes For a Prosperous New Year

Some editorials in my local newspaper down here in the heart of Texas are blaming atheists for taking the "Christ" out of Christmas. Folks, I'm an atheist myself and I got nuthin' against Christmas. I found some replicas of matchbooks that were given away by Dallas businesses at Christmas time, you know, back when lots of people smoked and nobody said a word about it.  I noticed something odd. Long ago in the days before political correctness and people protesting nativity displays I believe that Capitalism took the "Christ" out of Christmas. I'll post a few more items in the next few days.

Gene's Music Bar

Looking North on Akard St. from Wood.   Adolphus Hotel in background.   Color by Leonard Raef

Gene's Music Bar opened about 1955 or 56 and was located at 307-09 S. Akard, just a few blocks up from the Adolphus Hotel. In the 1950s & early 60s this was considered the "fun" side of town. There were pool halls, drinking places, and strip joints; and nearby hotels like the Baker featured exotic dancers in the nightclub and live music. Gene's was known to be a longtime gay hangout was sometimes targeted by the vice squad. In 1958 it was also the proud owner of "the Southwest's first and only stereophonic music system."

Owner Walter Lawrence, who also ran The Lasso Bar, the Jungle Hut Lounge, and the Golden Steer #2, all on Akard, was questioned by the Warren Commission as part of the investigation of the Kennedy assassination.  Lawrence was acquainted with Jack Ruby, and because Ruby had been seen walking some dogs in the vicinity of the club, the Commission seemed to think he could verify for them that Ruby was an active homosexual. Good fodder for conspiracy theorists, I reckon.

After the Baker Hotel was demolished in 1980, the old "fun" part of Dallas eventually disappeared, and Akard became a narrow tree-lined driveway for ATT Plaza.

Goldfinger

Goldfinger Greek Restaurant opened in March 1973 at 2905 Cridelle, a half block north of Northwest Highway in the Bachman Lake Area. In 1975 the Dallas Morning News had this to say about it: "Probably the best Greek food in town, served in an elegant atmosphere, with live Greek and American music and a tiny dance floor. Try the excellent moussaka, veal renata or souvlaki and shrimp. And the dolmas are superb. Prices: $4.50 to $9.75."

The restaurant stayed in business a good 30 years at least, and I found an online review as late as 2005. The name of the street was changed from Cridelle to Webb Chapel Extension (so romantic), and sometime after 2005 the restaurant changed hands and became the Rio Bravo Mexican Restaurant. The building is relatively unchanged although the color scheme has gone from white with green and yellow trim to simply black and white.

Chris Drive Inn

4526 Bryan  -  Phone Tenison 0382

Hickory Smoked Bar-B-Q  -  Cold Beer  -  Fast Service  -  Free Delivery

Chris Drive Inn was located on the south side of Bryan between Carroll and Peak about where Holly forms a "T". The site was at various times home to a plumbing company, a cafe, and several lounges, including Tom & Jerry Lounge in the early 1960s. It was apparently a two-story building with living quarters above the business, but both floors were rented as apartments from time to time. From the phone number I'd guess this matchbook was from the early 50s but so far I've found no other trace of this long lost bar-b-q joint. The address is no longer even listed as a property in Dallas County tax records.

Zo-Mar Hotel

409 No. Harwood St.  -  Phone 2-0376

"Modern Rooms"

I like this image of the determined bellboy, but I haven't found much about this old hotel. I would have especially liked to find the origin of its unusual name.  What I did find was that it was in operation at least from 1933 to 1938, and in 1933 you could rent an "attractively furnished" room with private bath and ceiling fan from $4 to $7 a week. 409 North Harwood was about midway between Bryan and Live Oak Street.

Commerce Street Approach to Downtown

The last time Texas used a black-on-orange license plate was 1955, and the two-tone blue car looks a lot like 1955 model Ford Fairlane or Crown Victoria.