Southside Atlanta Memories

Is this it? Happy Halloween Friday! Is it Sambo's, southsiders?

Fair reader David H. may have a tiger by the tail! As you know, he's written in recently to solicit our help refreshing some fond southside memories. He remembers his aunt taking him to a restaurant on 138 back in the 1970s and '80s.                        .

From the Atlanta 1977 Yellow Pages: 

 

I do remember the Sambo's in Jonesboro; of course Sambo means only one thing to Fayette villians; going to the doctor (if you went to Sambo, he'd be nice; if you went to Dr. Helen, you'd get a shot, and get well) or grown ups talking about politics.

It's not a kangaroo, but Sambo's had locations on 139, Riverdale road, and Forest Parkway.

This website has fantastic color pics of some early Sambo's in California, and here in Florida, but nothing about our five mid '70s locations. I will try to research that, and I do have more links for you about Sambo's - the story, coming up in future Southside Atlanta Memories!

Please share any of your Southside memories with our readers and help your friends relive theirs.

David, and I- and Sambo (love how they had no qualms about using Tony's catchphrase) say

"Yourrre Gr-r-reat!"

If you're planning on partying tonight- try-

OK, maybe not--from the 1977 Atlanta Bell YP.

Atlanta in 1965 Homework!

This is a project I had to do in school.
I'm not going to leave it up long, because I did cite all the sources, but did not get permission so I don't want to be hated! It's just for school = a web class at that so no one's going to see it but you all and my teacher.
I'm not even sure it'll open on here- so there-
School.
Driving.
Me.
Crazy.
.Download Cooper PPT Microcomputer 7510 ATL 1965

It's a download?  Who's going to go to that much trouble?
I HAD to do it -it's a PPT class- not a history class or an art class. We HAD to use different transitions and animations...
The teacher's great, and is just seeing if we know how to use the program, but um, transitions...
Oh well, doing the research I discovered there is so much more info on the Art school, etc up now than there was just a year ago.
Good stuff, too.
Good night, too.

Chrysler in the international market, Ford touts gas mileage on new truck line, pundits address urban sprawl, more from LIFE-1959!

  While looking at a student group's paper documenting Atlanta urban and suburban domestic architecture,  (Hang with me--it gets good)(on the DNR's Georgia Historic Preservation page)  I chased a rabbit down the yard fertilizer hole. I didn't find the info I was expecting to find, so I decided to check out my own cache of old magazines. As you can see I hit the jackpot with this Scott's ad.  According to the ad text,  he is in the process of making his neighbors envy him, although why a grown man would want to do that to a bunch of kids is beyond me....

I kept flipping through the pages of this August 1959 'LIFE' magazine, and was gratified to see that what's old is new again....the more things change, the more they stay the same...(furnish the old person cliche of your choosing...here.)

I couldn't wait to show you all..... 

LOVE THIS TRUCK!   However, throughout the text of this ad, it never says WHAT the mileage IS--It's just "25.3% MORE" than last years model.

As I went through this 50 year old magazine, I was astonished to find the answer to urban sprawl-laid out before a lot of us here in the south even had any!  

Then there is the GM post mortem, which I thought we'd done back when '"Roger and Me" came out. Everyone I knew with a couple of notable exceptions, including our driving family, drove a GM car in the mid '70s. Most families had a land yacht of the Impala variety; my Old National cousins had matching charcoal grey sleek burgundy pinstriped Grand Prixs (2) a '75, then the new body style of '78.(click the link for an excellent little history of the '70s Grand Prix)  He worked at Doraville on the night shift, so the avocado Trimline would be unplugged for most of the day so he could sleep. Little did I know I'd one day work that shift myself...

Unfortunately by the time of the Iranian hostage crisis, giant gas guzzlers had lost some of their cachet. GM cars, too, were losing things like door handles and various other parts.

More and more harassed commuting dads were checking out little cuties that their dads tried to convince them they should be ashamed to look at. However when Mom joined in, engaged by the novelty of these little foreign boxes, and tired of being stranded by another clunker break down, Celicas and Preludes began sprouting up in the driveways of the newer subdivisions (Deer Glen, White Oak)that were (sprawl be damned) popping up over Fayette County. For sure, in town, all Fayettevillians still had a Ford under the carport, likely with this license plate on the front, (from the Dorsey-Fife House) but these new cars were so good on gas, and never broke down...

 

No planned obsolescence here, evidently....

And the weird Chrysler/Fiat deal- what's up with all that? According to this Wikipedia article...(I know, I know-look up the refs yourself..) Chrysler's already been involved with Fiat once, and most of us didn't even know... (please click these images so you can read some of the compelling reasons to drive the new SIMCA)

Ok, I'll give you one: You can make the car go-"toot" for in town driving, and "toooot" for ..but you'll have to read the rest...below...

And-when would you reset your tooter? Old National? 314 and Sullivan Road? (remember this is 1959 we're talking about) When you leave Forest Park? What do you think?

Mere gems from the 1959 LIFE magazine, anon...

Readers write (Southside Atlanta Memories for me)

Hi southsiders and friends, Strolling around my fantastic neighborhood yesterday, I finally ran into the couple who live across the street from my daughter's school and have Fayette County licence plates. Do you ever do that when you are away from home- start at the sight of a licence plate from your county? "Who's that?!" When I was growing up (and I'm not even that old!) you or your parents would know almost anyone with a Fayette county, for sure!

Anyway, the couple was on their front lawn, and it goes right up to the sidewalk, so I introduced myself and asked them if they were the couple with the Fayette County Licence Plates. And they replied,without missing a beat, "Yes! We do that too!" Donna and Mike, and Mike is retired from guess where? Delta! He was a mechanic for 40 years. (The pic above is approx the view from their front lawn, of the girl whose dad built their house, c.late 50s, with the sch my dau now attends in the bckgrnd)   More with M & D anon- but when I received the e-mail below this morning, I was struck by the similarities between my awesome neighborhood in PC and our awesome neighborhood here on the internet. It's the equivilent of you sharing some corn out of your garden. I'll send one of the kids over to tell you next time I'm making ice cream. Marilyn of the West Ender 'got' this right off, evidently, as you can see here:  (See next (or last)  post for pic.)   

"Jeannie, I saw where you had posted a couple of excerpts from this  Mr. Davis's  book about West End.
       This is another excerpt concerning the Southeastern Fair....thought maybe you could use it.   
               Have a great weekend

                        Marilyn "   

           =============================

It was nearing time for the Southeastern Fair to come to Lakewood fairgrounds ,this was always a big occasion for all of Atlanta, and especially the school age kids. That year just a few days before the fair was to begin some men who I guess were with the fair promoters came to our school and asked if anyone would like to appear in the annual fair parade, Naturally I said yes, I want to be a part of the parade .I did this not even knowing what I would be doing, but it turned out that nearly all of us who cared to be in the parade were to help carry these big balloons down the street
On the evening of the parade we all met at the corner of Baker St. and Peachtree to be assigned our chores in the parade. I was assigned to help about eight other youngsters carry this giant dragon with a long tail, it was held by straps that were all down the side of this dragon that measured by my guess about 30 feet long and 10 feet high. I ran and took the very end position at the tip of the long tail, and as the parade started moving down Peachtree St. I realized that I could get a big reaction from all the people who were lined the street when I took that long tail and ran straight for the people stopping only a few feet from them, I did this all the way down Peachtree St. just loving all the reactions that I could get from the crowd, now don't forget that I had already said that there was a lot of "ham' in this kid. After the parade ended the promoters announced that everyone who participated in the parade were to receive two free tickets to get into the fair. Now this is the point where my life changed drastically and this wide eyed 12 year old didn't even know what was coming. And here is where it begins. While I was waiting for my free tickets I couldn't help but notice a girl standing alone who really looked distressed, I walked over and asked if she would tell me what could be wrong, she said that she also had appeared in the parade riding a float dressed up and playing the part of Snow White. Her parents were supposed to pick her up about 20 minutes ago and they still hadn't shown up. Now I could readily see just why she was chosen to portray Snow White, she was a very pretty young lady. Her name was Christine and It turned out that she too was in the same grade at Brown that I was, this shows again that so many of us in the school never had a chance to know the others, ,just such large numbers of us. Any way I said that I would wait with her until her parents came. Which they did after about 10 more minutes ,they had been tied up in all the awful traffic after the parade and were trying desperately to find their daughter.
I don't know how much I could have done to protect Christine but I could see in just a few minutes that she felt much much better by my being there.
When Christines parents finally found us they were visibly upset ,but at the same time thankful that I had stayed with her and tried as much as possible to nake her feel easier about an awful situation. Her parents were going to hear nothing but allowing them to take me to my home because I stayed.
They took me home and all three tahnked me again.
It was hard for me to get this pretty girl out of my mind, Maybe "young love" was striking me right in the heart, but I imagined in my mind that this girl probably had not even given me another thought.

Just a day or two later I was getting in the line for the lunchroom at school, at this time the lunchroom was located on the 3rd. floor of the school, with only a set of double doors for entering and exiting, while standing in line someone called to me, when I turned and faced them there stood Jackie and of all people Christine was with her. The two of them had discussed the parade incident and Jackie told Christine that she knew me from Peeples St. naturally I asked if the three of us could sit together while we had lunch, it was tough because of all the people in the lunchroom but I managed to find three seats at one table for us all. Lunch just didn't last long enough that day as far as I was concerned.
I didn't use my fair tickets on the first day that it opened but waited until it was fair day for all the public schools, I gave my other ticket to Richard ,we asked and my mom agreed to drive us to Lakewood park fairgrounds that afternoon. We had $5.00 dollars each to spend at the fair so it was going to be a stretch to do all that we wanted to do. But we rode our favorite rides, one of them twice and this was the Greyhound roller coaster .We managed to use our money wisely and stay to the time that the fireworks went off. Then we had to ride the bus home after the fair.
         The Southeastern Fair was one of the premier events of the year for youngsters.

Bob Clifton memorial service at Mowell's

Here is an East Point blog posted by the vp of the EP Historical Society. He lives there and keeps up with the  happenings. Nice local flava...

I hope I'll do a post about WR "Bob" Clifton and his life southside. He was a native Illinois ?ian? who planned to fly, and to succeed, and accomplished both.  He was a sweet Paw-Paw to my daughters. He will be missed. The memorial service at Mowell's new chapel was very well done. Go here to see ajc.com obit and please leave a message for the family.  Bob's youngest son gave the first eulogy, and it was informative, and extremely moving. Retired Delta Captain Joe Ivey gave another, very appropriate and warm, and Maurice Fain, longtime Fayette County school fixture gave the rest. Very Fayette County. The music was stunning. Buck Spearman's son Reid sang "How Great Thou Art" and Bob's grandchildren sang "I'll Fly Away" sounding like they had been flown in from Nashville expressly for the purpose.

Mowell's has an evocative painting of the old bldg that hangs in the foyer, which BTW, thankfully, has been preserved. The artist is Andy Billingsley, which is a comfort to me since he grew up on Jeff Davis, right next door to Mowell's, and knew what the place was really supposed to look like. The painting is beautiful. you might want to try to see it before someone dies and you have to go there.   I believe I took this, approaching from the east, coming down to Crystal Lake. The first Granddaddy song we ever heard. Was "Crystal Lake".

Quick Fville post

I've gots lots to post over the next few days, and no time to do it! House restor. stuff, wk stuff, and very sad SS stuff. Captain Bob Clifton, the retired Delta pilot who has shown up in these 'pages' before, is very sick at home with his family attending him. He is a strong, strong man. We've all been reliving some SSAM- some of us have not been around the area in 20-odd years, and were amazed at the changes. View down to the creek over The Links, formerly Flint Acres.

The 50th Anniversary at Fayette Presbyterian Church was wonderful! Sara Klett and her entire family, Phyllis King and her entire family, and so many more worked so hard for at least a year to make this (yesterday) such a  special day. Old friends, old memories and new-shout out to Mrs Perry!  delicious food-lots of sweet sweet fun.

Want to do this more in depth- but have to mention Wings n Things/ Scorchers on ?Kathi? Ave in Fayetteville right beside Fayette Cinema on 85, right north of Georgia Avenue. From about 6th grade to abt 9th, Fayetteville Friday night consisted of wandering from the movie theatre to Mrs Winners, to Dairy  Queen, to McDonalds and back again, until the 'movie' ended and our parents were to pick us up, or in our case, we walked home- at 10-11 PM, THROUGH THE DARK WOODS- UNAFRAID! This was an acceptable way to spend a Friday night! I never dreamed that in that very spot would be a BAR that would provide a venue for the whole family to play happily together! Parents, TEENAGERS!, little kiddos- all were hanging out together having a blast at the Lua (SP?) Friday night.  They also have the absolute BEST fried mushrooms and cauliflower sisnce Archibald's in Statesboro FIRST began serving them. No breadiness, no overt greasiness, just delicious beerbattered shrooms and cauliflower and dipping sauce. I mixed the ranch and the horse sauce. T the band was great and there was even a majician to go along with the arrested development theme of the weekend. He was VERY good, though and very entertaining! Jeff Hicks. He's there next weekend, also.   

Fayette County Weekend

Don't forget the Anniversary Celebration at Fayette Presbyterian (see web site) on 92 N this weekend! This weekend will be a great one to hang around Fayetteville- see this article.

my first scheduled stop, however, will be the East Point Historical Society, on Norman Berry Dr.

BTW, finally got to read the Robert Hanson West Point Book-[on your right screen->  ] It is fantastic! Very attractivly done, great archival photos, and great research. Very well organised and useful. Many thanks to Adele Head, our Interlibrary Loan Librarian at the BCPL here for tracking it down for me. I'm also reading, courtesy her, Darden Pyron's Southern Daughter, a biography of Margaret Mitchell. Lots of good info and research. Very SSA.

For you southsiders of a certain age- what do you think of this comment? From the ajc, wed, 5/16

SEND A FAYETTE VENT

Atlanta needs second airport. Build it in Fayette County. All the employees are already located here. We would welcome the chance to give back to Delta and support our employer.
• Read vents | Send yours!

Colonial Stores

Just over at atlantatimemachine.com and saw this pic. Colonial was the first grocery chain I remember in Fayetteville; my first chain grocery memory was of the Big Apple at Jamestown at Herchel and Roosevelt Hwy. I loved going to Jamestown with Linda on Saturday; it was her day off from Ft Mac and I got to spend the whole day with her riding around the southside and shopping. Every part of the day was special, watching Bugs Bunny and Road Runner, riding up Old National, asking about each house we passed, glimpsing Aunt Mitzi's house under dim pines, sometimes stopping, going over the expressway, and finally reaching Big Apple at Jamestown. In addition to grocery items, Linda bought Tog a Longs for me to wear as play clothes. These were matched cotton knits, a unisex precurser to Garanimals. They were displayed in a cardboard endcap in the section nearest the far wall (away from Roosevelt Hwy.)  I shared her enthusiasm for these soft colorful clothes; what I hated was later in the day on Saturday when I had my long brown hair washed and Dippity do-ed and rolled. Then I was set under a hot, burning bonnet dryer for several hours to perfect the sausage rolls for Sunday, when I would get to wear tights, gloves, a scratchy slip, a scratchy dress, and maybe even a hat. 

But before that indignity, I was allowed to play on the 100 foot tall metal monkey bars, on the playground that I'm delighted to see is still there at Jamestown. The only trauma here was my abject screaming terror at the low flying jets that routinely flew over the parking lot. I was still having  nightmares about these planes crashing on to my house when I was in high school. Not suprisingly. 

A visit to the Ranch House ajacent to the Big Apple strip never failed to cheer me, though, as I delighted in the paper placemats with the border featuring various cattle brands traced in a rope font. 

When I began Lee Crest the summer of 1970 we began frequenting Colonial, in Hudson Plaza 2, (at GA 85 and GA 92) since it was on the way between the school and Kenwood. There was a cashier named Jackie who was always kind to me, even allowing me to ride on the grocery conveyer with the groceries.

When I saw this in the garage about to be thrown out- I rescued it and placed it on a high spot in my kitchen.         

Watch this one FIRST!

Finally the new video. I had to cut it in half, so watch this one first, then go the Part 2. Bud Whitman recalls life on the southside as an air traffic controller and the 1981 Patco strike. Click here for video.

Spring Break!

My kids are on Spring Break, but since I just started a new job, I obviously did not take the week off. They have had travels and parties, however, and yes Monday we did go to St Andrews St Park.

I only discovered the state park when we moved here as a family; my previous trips were to the B-s beach house near Fontainebleu, where we huddled on the east side next to the cement, attempting in vain to avoid the whipping wind. The B family was everyone's favorite Old National transplants, a large, laughing, welcoming family.   

My earliest memories of PC are 'way back in '73 when Linda brought me down during what we then called Easter Vacation. We stayed at some quaint beachside mom n pop off Gulf drive somewhere- Please note there is nothing in the background- except sand.  Of course no vacation would be complete without visiting the church Linda had attended in that area- Aunt Betty had lived in PC in the 1950s and worked for the Presbytery when she graduated from the other PC  (Presbyterian College)  at Montreat. She of course met a wonderful young man here in Panama and they lived happily ever after, until his death, in Alaska. 

About that '73 trip I remember: a terrific thunderstorm along the Chattahoochee valley in Alabama in which our reliable Dodge windshield wipers actually quit on us and we had to pull over to a providentially located service station, getting stuck in the sand, Linda making me cinnamon toast, playing here on the beach because it was too cold to be in the water. Also gorgeous tall pine trees, and an old timey store north of Panama City where we stopped, and there inside was a talking mina bird.I remember a 'gift shop', probably the one across from what is now Zoo World, where I bought shells, lost myself in the unique Florida odor of fake orange blossom and Coppertone sun lotion, purchasing one of those ? things with a plastic alligator head hinged with a rubber band on one end of a long plastic stick, with a 'trigger' on the other end. I thought it was the most clever invention I'd ever seen. I also remember the excitement of purchacing and reading on the way home a Panama City (Dothan area) TV Guide.

I'll have pt two Bud Whitman: Patco Strike ready asap. Go to this http://atcmonitor.com/whatis-new.html site to see a pretty funny Top 10 list concerning Hampton.