Windshield Glass Manufacturing Co. - Season's Greetings

Our New Home  -  3404 Ross Avenue  -  Dallas, Tex

The last of my holiday offerings. Quite a mixture of a Santa-baby, reindeer, and fir tree in that bottom panel, but alas, still no mention of Christmas. I guess that could be a baby Jesus but it looks more like the New Year baby to me.

This image dates to 1949 when Windshield Glass moved into their new concrete block building just east of the intersection of Ross and McCoy. The 5000 square foot building is still there after more than 65 years. It's now J B Parks Wholesale Florist.

Merry Christmas, all!

Texas Bank and Trust Company of Dallas - Season's Greetings

Main at Lamar  -  RIverside 8-9141  -  The Largest State Bank in Texas

I found Texas Bank & Trust mentioned as early as 1930 and as late as 1965. This illustration looks like an atomic-age incarnation of the Texas Bank Building, or at least of its parking garage, and the phone number looks like it came from the late 50s or early 60s. "The Downtown Bank" was located on the corner of Main and Lamar, and peering at a street view in google maps, I'm guessing its building is long gone. One corner of that intersection is home to El Centro College, in the old Sanger Harris Building, and the Texas Club, built upon the metal frame of the former Continental Trailways Bus Terminal occupies a second corner. The Texas Bank Building must have been on one of the two other corners, either the one containing a skyscraper of fairly recent vintage,  or the corner that's a ground-level parking lot.

But back to the subject of "Christmas" greetings, again no sign of the word on this matchbook, although I do see what looks like a church in the snowy scene above.

The Baker Hotel - Season's Greetings

Ok, there's holly berries and leaves, stars, and a house surrounded by fir trees. I'm not sure but I think that's a pair of red shoes in the top panel. Does this say "Christmas" to you?

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.