I Remember, Way Back in '81 ...

• Wow, great photos. I remember playing video games with my friends for hours at Carousel in Lochwood. Never thought I'd find a picture of it until now. Thanks for posting!

• I kinda sorta remember '81 as well...through my baby pictures, grandpa Dallas.

• Those sculptural lights marking the entrance to the Gemini Drive-In should have been saved! Does anyone remember another hotel on Central close to the old Southland headquarters where there was a fountain out front with an erstwhile 'eternal' flame?

• And Father Time's all like, "Wow, Steely Dan? Jesus, are you ever old!" ******* Actually, Daniel, when I read RW referencing The Judys, I said the exact same thing. Only with The Judys instead of Steely Dan. "Guyana Punch, oh oh, oh oh."

• When I was a kid, say, ages 8 through 11 or so, my Mom took us swimming at the Northpark Inn. You could pay a fee and "join" for the summer. Just the mention brings it all back -- the smell of the "cocoa butter" suntan lotion everybody used back then, Katie the lifeguard, the hot parking lot treacherous with bits of twinkling glass under my feet, the elaborately shaped swimming pool with its tiki accents, Katie the lifeguard, rumors among us kids that Olivia Newton John was bisexual or Alice Cooper had eaten a turd onstage, the strains of "Do You Feel Like We Do" or "I'd Really Like to See You Tonight" or "The Boys are Back In Town" wafting through the air, Katie the lifeguard, and Katie the lifeguard. Ah Father Time, he giveth and taketh away, but mostly he giveth. Until he taketh away and you're all like "Giveth it back, yer fat bastid!" and he all waves it around taunting-like while you keep jumping up and grabbing for it for it, but he won't giveth it and finally you give up because your lungs ain't what they used to be. And you say "O Father Time, I accept your conditions, I only seek Grace and the wisdom that age may bring -- because, after all, 'Youth, that is constant, but where the hell am I?'" And Father Time's all like, "Wow, Steely <i>Dan</i>? Jesus, are you ever <i>old</i>!" ("Shave and a Haircut"; CURTAIN.)

• Great Photos Red Oak-- I am writing a book on the history of Dallas hotels. Arcadia Publishing is the publisher and its books are comprised of old photos with heavy captions. Red Oak (or anyone reading this blog) if you have any photos of any of the old hotels or motels in Dallas I would very much like to talk to you. I have a rapidly approaching deadline, but if anyone has hotel/motel photos, I'd be interested in seeing them. My publisher stipulates that only 25% of the images can be postcards or advertising and I have plenty of that material. What I am looking for are actual photographs. If anyone has anything of interest, could you e-mail me at sam.childers@sbcglobal.net? Thanks!

• Robert, you're right - it was the Northpark Inn, where many man has gone before, or something. Let�s not forget the Gemini drive-in at the NE corner of Central & Forest. Loved driving past that place at night with the fam on the way home from Grandparents house. Always lots of heaving bosoms to be seen on the screens as we bounced down that 2 lane game trail otherwise known as 75, with mom yellin' "you kids look the other way"

• '77 Monte Carlo going by -- this photo reminds me of all the term papers I researched in that place! SHHH!

• Lakewooder, you bring back quite the memory: On July 13, 1985, I took my high school girlfriend to see The Judy's at the Arcadia, after which a bunch of us ended up at the Northpark Inn (that's what it was called, right?). Word was the joint was packed with Trekkies -- which was an understatement. It was like we'd walked into Starfleet Academy drunk on Blue Nun.

• Pretty fascinating photos. Shows how far we've come in revitalizing downtown yet, in some photos, how much work lies ahead.

• Wow, that brought back some faded memories. Terrific slide show. Does anyone remember the old Northpark Hotel located on the east side of Central? There was always a helicopter parked out front... as a kid, thought it was very cool.

• Ride past this intersection daily. You should see what an "ess-hole" it is now.

• Killer diller, dude!

• Robert, Thanks for causing me to lose an hour. What a great series of photos. Brings back a lot of memories.

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