|
|
Post by larryparks68west on Mar 24, 2014 15:04:00 GMT
With our annual "Cut the King" event just weeks off, I thought it would be appropriate to re-visit some old posts. This was taken from our old message board in 2004 and deals with our premier landmark "meeting up" place. Unfortunately, when archiving these posts years ago, the name(s) of the individuals who posted would not copy. In some cases, the identity can be figured out by reading the content.
Now, feel free to share your memories about this or other popular "Westside" spots.
Bar-B-Q King 1960-1965
The BBQ King
Ahh...The BBQ King ! The nightmare of all parents and place of places
for teenagers with drivers's licenses.This was the place to be seen with your girlfriend or to see or seek others. The place where rumours began and romances were both kindled and ended.
Come to think of it a lotta fights started there but rarely ended there; Pete Somadakes, the owner, saw to that. I can still hear him yelling, "stoppa da fighta" "get in you carrrrra", "no drinka da beera hera".
As a young turk, one of the rights of passage of being in West Meck
or Harding High Schools was the day you got your drivers license and
borrowed your parents car to "cruise"The Q.
Located on Wilkinson Bv. (was it 2 lanes?) this is where you went on
school nights and weekends with you date or pals looking for "wemen"
and make sure you were seen. It was always better to double-date.
That way ,if you were not in the "in-crowd"(I wasn't, go figure) and
could not strike up rapport with another couple you had friends in the car with you.
The Q was actually a "drive-in" restaurant but the real purpose as far as teenagers were concerned it
was THE meeting place on the Westside.
You would turn off Wilkinson Bv. onto Weyland Ave. beside Parkers Animal Hospital, go to second
driveway and immediately turn your headlights to park or off so as not to shine your lights into other
cars in case they were "makin out".
Big WAYS 610 on "yo" dial with Jack Gale and the submarine races, Go-rilla, out in Oakdale was THE
station you could call in requests and have songs dedicated to your date from "yosef"(Appalacian fans)
It was great to be sitting in your car, windows steamed up, the radio playing the great motown music
from the 60's and hear Jack Gale say: "and now, "Save The Last Dance For Me" by the mighty
Drifters dedicated to......from Ronny. nice memory......
Oh yes as I was saying, The Q was actually a drive-in restaurant. If you didn't want to make your date
mad, you had to actually spend some cash on her, hasnt't changed much has it....hmmmm.. usually a
burger and coke would do. I can still hear "Red" barking out the orders over that square squawk box.
She woulda made a great Gunnery Sargent. Sometimes I would just blink my lights for Rufus and he
would take my order. He was a great carhop and I always tipped him well.
Once you were ready to leave The Q, you drove very slowly out the other driveway, making sure once
again you saw all who were there (recognizing them mostly by thier parents cars) made sure you were
seen. Then off to Town and Country, Shoneys on Morehead and Plaza, Babe Malloys, Harolds on Kings
Dr., maybe Park Center and sometimes over to BIG WAYS to personally dedicate a song to your date,
drop her off at her house, then some guys, not me drove by thier OTHER girlfriends house and beep'd
the horn to let her know they were thinking about her. Oh how rotten some of us were, but innocent
enough in an innocent time. |
|
|
|
Post by hughiesexton67west on Mar 24, 2014 16:59:28 GMT
Larry:
It's great to remember these occasions again, and whoever posted the above message ten years ago was right on the money.! Thanks for sharing.!
|
|
Homie
Harding-West 60's
Posts: 19 
User Name (Recognizable to others): Steve Howie West '64
|
Post by Homie on Mar 26, 2014 1:30:58 GMT
Larry, Thanks for reposting this remembrance. If I'm not mistaken, that was the late Ronnie Downer's post. He wrote many times on that site & dearly loved his Westside. He has been gone a while now, & just a couple hours ago, my brother-in-law passed away from the same terrible disease. We saw the suffering, just as in Ron's determination to continue on. Both of these fellows were fine fathers, husbands, grandfathers, and yes, an outstanding brother-in-law. We will continue to miss our fine friends and know that they are now at peace with the world! In the Bond!
|
|
|
|
Post by Rita (Schott) Brindle W65 on Mar 26, 2014 14:42:31 GMT
So sorry for your family's loss, Homie. Yes, it is a a terrible disease.
See you next month!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by larryparks68west on Mar 26, 2014 17:53:46 GMT
Homie,
I'm sorry to hear of the passing of your brother-in-law. I hope the family finds peace and comfort in the days ahead.
There are so many great posts in "the archives". Just thought by bringing some of them out it might foster more posts from others. Hopefully, as people read through this and other topics, new memories will come to mind and they'll share them here.
|
|
Ronnie Williamson
Harding-West 60's
Posts: 13
User Name (Recognizable to others): Ronnie Williamson
|
Post by Ronnie Williamson on Mar 26, 2014 20:55:48 GMT
You and your family are in my prayers.
|
|
Homie
Harding-West 60's
Posts: 19
User Name (Recognizable to others): Steve Howie West '64
|
Post by Homie on Mar 26, 2014 23:50:43 GMT
Thanks everyone, it's been a rough day or two. Everyone that has lost a loved one or friend has been thru the same path, never gets easier. Lost one bro-in-law yesterday and will gain a new one Sunday afternoon. Proudly giving away my middle (older sister) Sunday afternoon. Been threatening to give her away many times before! LOL!
Larry, I think your reposting is a very good idea, esp the Cut the King ones for the next few weeks!
|
|
|
|
Post by gdowner on Mar 28, 2014 20:21:57 GMT
Homie and Carol,
Very sorry to hear of your loss. It will leave a big void in your heart as did the loss of my brother Ronny (from the same awful disease), but you honor him and his memory with your sorrow and caring so much about him.
Big lumps in my throat and some tears appeared from nowhere as I read this post of Ronny's long ago. Ronny was quite a communicator when he wanted to be and this is a good one. Wish I knew how to post some of his other stories from the old message board...especially the one about Harding / West Football Friday nights. Most folks know that Ronny was the originator of our Westside theme "In the Bond." He loved the Westside and its inhabitants, past and present, more than anyone...still miss him terribly after 6 years. Thanks for mentioning Nub.
Hey maybe Larry or somebody can do a post on the football night and get a thread going. See you at the cruise in.
|
|
|
|
Post by larryparks68west on Mar 28, 2014 21:11:55 GMT
Gary,
I trust this is the one to which you referred.
Headlines - HARDING HIGH CRUSHES WEST MECK !
After another victorious football game over West Meck. I was cruising up Wilkinson Blvd. toward the
King with my sweetie. A car displaying West Meck. colors came up on my left side with streamers
flowing from the door handles, antenna, and bumbers. West Meck could not play football or basketball
but they sure could decorate! In fact, I heard that most of their football players that managed to
finish school became "Decorators". As they pulled along side, I was astonished to see a disgusting
passenger window. On impulse, I immediately flicked my Winston cigarette in that direction, hoping
that my delicate Harding High sweetie did not see such a crude display. The weed made a direct hit
glancing off that disgusting thing leaving only the glowing ember held in position to the left cheek by
the force of the wind. It was probably only a few seconds but it seemed like an eternity. It held there
like it was attached or pinned in place. The fire was burning like a lit fuse. You could see red ashes
kinda streaming in the air like you see when you poke the hot coals of a fire. I thought to
myself....That's gonna leave a mark! I hit third gear and I could hear sort of a girlish scream just over
the roar of my Healey's side pipes. I glanced into my rearview mirror to see the car swerving between
lanes and darting into a parking lot. My sweetie was gently stroking her long blonde hair. Fortunately,
she never noticed a thing. I saved her virgin eyes from experiencing that horrible display of bad
sportsmanship. Harding High has always strived to create gentlemen of the highest order.
I know you're out there West Meck grads! SHOW US THE SCAR!! That MOON was big and hairy! At
West Meck. that could belong to either male or female (Most likely a cheerleader).
YOU WANNA A PIECE OF ME
I'll BE IN O.D.
PS - I will be wearing a name tag that reads GARY POLK
Re: Headlines - HARDING HIGH CRUSHES WEST MECK !
"OLD" WEST MECK INDIANS DON'T KISS & TELL OR
CRY & TELL!!!!!
Re: Headlines - HARDING HIGH CRUSHES WEST MECK !
I was taken completely by surprise when the story from Mr. Norman Duncan(aka Gary Polk)was posted
on the message board.
Now that the culprit has made himself known, my trusted attorney and I will take great pleasure in
presenting Mr. Duncan with the conditions of our lawsuit.
Yes friends, for years I've suffered with pain and humiliation over the terrible blemish on my
otherwise perfect buttocks.
I vividly remember that night ... the night that started out so innocently ... the flame thrower igniting
from the sports car ... the searing pain ... our driver almost losing control of the car ...
A couple of years later, I also recall the looks of horror from my fellow recruits as we lined up for our
physicals at boot camp.
Indeed... from that day on I was known as "ol Pain in the Ashe".
Oh sure, Mr. Duncan paints a humorous picture of the events leading up to and immediately following
his heinous act ... his act that has caused years of anguish and disgrace.
But ... I swore that faithful night that I would not (and could not) take this act of mutilation sitting
down.
My attorney has spent the past several weeks investigating the statue of limitations and she has
assured me that since the perpetrator of this dastardly deed was unknown until 2004, that the statue
of limitations will not come into play.
Do we want a piece of you Mr. Duncan?
10
No, Mr. Duncan, the question is, "how big a piece".
We'll see who laughs last, Mr. Duncan ...
|
|
|
|
Post by gdowner on Mar 29, 2014 15:27:49 GMT
Thanks Larry, this is one that I vaguely remember reading, but Ronny's story contained a big buildup of the day before and the night of the "big game," that West finally did beat Harding... was it 1963 or 64? Great story by the above fine authors.
|
|
|
|
Post by larryparks68west on Mar 29, 2014 18:50:09 GMT
Gary,
I have looked through the archives very carefully. I'm sorry to say there is no post from Ronny about that football game. Years ago, when the website was being reworked by others, I saved what I could from the original posts. They are still on our Harding West website under "Westside Memories". Anyone can view them at any time.
|
|
|
|
Post by gdowner on Mar 30, 2014 17:32:44 GMT
Thanks, I appreciate your efforts. See you at Cruise in.
|
|
|
|
Post by jcp112846 on Mar 30, 2014 22:15:12 GMT
Homie,So sorry for your loss My thoughts and prayers are with you and Carol.
Gary I agree that Ronnie is still greatly missed and always will be.His contribution to the Westside In The Bond always touches my heart.In the early years I did print some of the original stories and will try to find them to see if I have the one you are looking for . Hugs Joanna
|
|
|
|
Post by gdowner on Mar 31, 2014 15:11:30 GMT
Joanna, You are tops on our list of friends. Hope our the Palumbos are well and happy! Thank you for the remembrance of brother Ronny.
|
|
