I still remember my mother telling my stepfather “your old men shall dream, dreams, your young men shall see visions”; every time my stepfather would talk about the good old days or what he should have done, when he was a younger man. In November, I will be 64 years old, am I following this pattern?
I can still remember sleeping with the windows open for that fresh nightly breeze, being awakened in the morning by the milkman's bottles of milk clanging as he picked up the empties, retrieved his money from the envelope and left a couple of bottles of milk. On Sunday's Mr. Chesnick always came knocking on our door to receive his $1.58 weekly payment ,that I'm sure my parents had been paying for years. That carrying charge was a killer. Other than utilities and rent; that was about all the credit my parents had. You see back then, you had to prove to the bank that you did not need the money, had a substantial savings account, before you could even see a loan officer.
We had a rare family reunion about three years ago when my mother passed away. It was at the funeral where I saw the family exchange emails because they did not know the next time the family would get together .That was sad because I can remember my family visiting the family mechanic , Uncle Benny, whenever that complex automotive repair job came up. It was always the same price, a six pack of Texas Pride. Our family consisted of a lot of plumbers, carpenters, cement finishers, and all types of semiskilled workers, which knew the weekends were for paying back that free labor they received months ago. That family tradition died before I got back from the service in 1968. It was at that funeral, where I overheard my nieces and nephews talk about dealerships services and the contractors who installed their cabinets and carpets. I looked around the room and could not find any plumbers, carpenters or cement finishers. Now, if I ever want that six- speaker surround sound, I have an energetic nephew that works for Best Buy in Sugar Land for 30% less than the store would charge. That's about it.
Even though I remember the water fountains in the old Sears' building that were clearly marked “white only” and “colored”, and the segregated Downtown and EL Rancho movie theaters ,I don't remember spending much time there. I have always been proud of the fact that Victoria integrated without any fanfare or incidents.
I do remember my parents covering us kids up with a blanket ,to hide us from the ticket taker, as they paid general admissions for two adults before entering the Lone Tree Drive Inn. As we pulled up to our parking space, all I could see were children springing up from all sorts of places behind their pickups. I've always wondered if that was the norm.
About five years ago a neighbor from down the street was arrested for a domestic dispute which took about an hour and four police officers to apprehend him. It reminded me of a neighbor we had that waited until Sunday to do all his drinking for the week. This particular Sunday(back in the late 50s or mid 60s )his wife had to call Officer Willie Hill because her husband was verbally abusing her. As Officer Willie Brown approached, my neighbor started cussing him, calling him by name because everyone knew Officer Willie Brown. Willie Hill surveyed the situation, looked around smiled and winked in our direction, assuring everyone watching that everything was going to be OK. He must have talked to my neighbor for least 30 minutes convincing him that he needed to sleep it off, for the rest of the day. They don't make too many police officers like Willie Hill, anymore.
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Maybe some don't know the definition of spousal abuse --especially in an alcoholic stage. It is nothing absolutely nothing to wax or wane about.
No I have seen the so called victims made light of. People joke about it and then two days later their spouse has hit the hell out of them and they had to sneak in the back door of the local doctor's office you knew nothing about. I worked there and saw what men did to women....wink wink.,...I don't think this life is funny. Ever see a fractured jaw wink wink. Ever see a fractured skull wink wink. fractured arm wink wink. And the spouse had to hide from friends and family wink wink.
Does being being democrat allow you to call the names but not be accountable for eluding to spousal abuse and laughing wink wink....
August 28, 2009 at 8:36 p.m.catahula
My memory failed me, the police officer was Willie Hill not Willie Brown…Office Hill was an institution in Victoria way back when…First of all you are letting your iminationrun away, as usual….There was no gun or children involved, just a cussing by both parties and the wife, that would not warrant a 9/11 call today…Willie Hill could be a Dutch uncle if needed or a gentle giant, whatever the occasion warranted…The old timers of Victoria know exactly what I am taking about….The jails could not hold all the people that were accused of yelling at their spouse…Get a life.
I would never accuse another poster of supporting spousal abuse but that’s just me.
Try your condescending preaching on someone else.
August 28, 2009 at 7:28 p.m.Mike what a way to celebrate spousal abuse with Willie Brown. That was the same way they did where I lived...when your spouse beat you or held a gun to you the cops would come and talk to the man and wink and leave.
Yea a really great memory of the law you bring up. Sorry but that is disgusting. Alcolholic abuse to a family back think was also accepted with a wink and a nod --I know!! It should have been accepted with cattle prod being applied at least ten times daily to the sob. All the damage they did to the family. The scars left with winks and nods.
Willie Brown was no man if he did not take care of that woman and children.
Thank God over 10 million times they don't do that any more.
Spousal and child abuse is now illegal and there should be no winks and nods.
I am glad I know of one community way before then that did not accept that with a wink and nod and used ole sparky instead. Amen.
August 28, 2009 at 6:33 p.m.Mike
August 28, 2009 at 3:52 p.m.The theatre I cannot remember was located next to the old Post Office. It seems like there was some space between it and the Post Office on Constitution St.
There was another theatre on the 100 block of N Main and it burned in the early 1960's.
Hauschilds Music Store was on the NE corner of Forest and Liberty streets. The McFaddin bldg may still be on the NW corner. The Hauschild family lived next to the store on 200 block of Forrest St.
Arlewil
Your memory continues to amaze me because now I remember the Rita.,...Wasn't that other theater close to the old Hauschild store?
Yes, things were less complicated and I don’t recall my stepfather ever discussing politics; except to say President Eisenhower was probably playing golf again.
August 28, 2009 at 3:35 p.m.Mike
August 28, 2009 at 3:23 p.m.Another good job of reminding folks of the way things used to be. The old movie theatres in downtown Victoria (Downtown, El Rancho, Rita) were located right around the square. My treat at one time was my Dad would take us to the Downtown Theatre on friday night. We saw a lot of westerns along with a cartoon and Movietone News. There was another theatre on the 200 block of E Constitution but I don't remember the name. I do remember the ticket price of 25 cents for adults and 10 cents for children age 12 and under. Going to the movie theatres back then was a family affair except for Saturdays which were mostly for kids.
I am 69 and graduated in the first class out of the new Victoria High in 1958.
I don't know if things were better then than now, however it seemed a lot less complicated then it is today. There were less people and less rules to follow, no TV, no internet. You could listen to "The Lone Ranger" on radio and it was fun then.