If, in Sweetwater, you'll take the backway instead of the highway, you'll find the Midway.  A popular place in the 50s and 60s, the drive-in is now closed. At some time the "mountains" on the screen structure were painted - now more abstract than landscape.

Midway Drive-In Theatre
Photos courtesy Mike Price, December 2007

 

Midway Drive-In

Sweetwater, Texas

 

 

 

 



rained out at the drive-in

 

Friday night at the drive-in got rained on.  From the looks of the vehicles, it was pick-up truck night. Everyone congregated under the awning -- waiting out the rain.

 

Sonic Drive-In

5802 64th Street

Lubbock, TX

counter service

 

Lunch today was at the Dixie Dog in Spur, Texas.  I recently heard Chet Garner, the Daytripper, talk about the Dixie Dog so that became my destination for today's jaunt.  Started almost 60 years ago as a quick stop for malts and burgers, the hamburger stand expanded into a diner in 1960.  A family-owned business, it was "the place" for Spur citizens for decades.  The Dixie Dog re-opened in 2013 under new ownership but maintains the hometown, greasy spoon atmosphere.  I was noticeably the "out-of-towner" in the place; everyone else was greeted by name.  The waitress said she'd seen me taking pictures at the place up the street. I counted three cowboys hats-- the wearer of this one declined to be photographed!  What did I eat?  The Dixie Dog -- a biscuit-battered hot dog on a stick!

 

Dixie Dog Drive-In

Spur, Texas

 

 

 





"hoss"

 

Before you think that this image does not fit with my recent holiday-themed images, be advised that Dan Blocker's  birthday was December 10.  I found this mural of Hoss on the side of a defunct drive-in on the main drag of O'Donnell.  Dan Blocker made his reputation as Hoss Cartwright on the television series "Bonanza" and in doing so, put O'Donnell Texas on the map.  O'Donnell embraced this transplanted native son and memorializes him throughout this town of 831.  Heritage Park features a head statue of Hoss by Glenna Goodacre, the sign "Blocker" marks the site of the family's store and in the O'Donnell Museum you can see Dan's extra-large size Cub Scout suit.  Don't look for Hoss's grave site in the O'Donnell Cemetery (as a friend and I once spent an hour doing); Blocker (Dec 10, 1928--May 13, 1972) is buried in his birth home of DeKalb, Texas

 

Hoss Cartwright Mural

7th Street and Doak

O'Donnell, Texas

line-up

 

My heart beat a little faster when I spotted these lawn chairs lined up against the chartreuse wall -- even with the wooden barstool impostor hiding behind the telephone pole.

 

No Name Drive-in

East Grand Avenue

Hot Springs, Arkansas

9.11.2013

tommy's famous burgers

 

Evidently expansion didn't really work for Tommy.  Tommy's Drive In #1 is still in business on University Avenue but the 34th Street and Idalou Road locations are closed.  One review stated that "they had no direction" and not really a drive-in with Mexican food and catfish on the menu.  While catfish might not have been a big seller at Tommy's Famous Burgers, the sign endured.  The drought seems not to have adversely affected the tumbleweeds.

 

Tommy's Famous Burgers

3303 Idalou Road

Lubbock, Texas

order here

 

Sweets Shop

"Home of Frozen Pickle Juice"

2505 Avenue G

Snyder, Texas

7.7.2013