Remembering Joe Trevino ~ a KBRO Tribute

1947-48 Ticket-taker Joe Treviño in front of movie poster for Song of Scheherazade starring Yvonne De Carlo who we all remember as Lily on the Munsters.  Joe told me these were good times for him before the Majestic but added with a grin that "fun-time" was after work. 

 

The Brownsville Herald printed a special section for the opening of the Majestic Theater in 1949

Joe Treviño and daughter Sandra with character actor Don Stroud at Fort Brown Motor Hotel restaurant.  Movies:  Bloody Mama (1970), Joe Kidd (1971), The Buddy Holly Story (1978), Amityville Horror (1979), License to Kill (1989).  Ever the promotional man he enjoyed hosting guests for movie promotions.  Some of you might have caught Stroud recently in Quentin Tarantino's Django (2012).  He has a great cameo in the opening scene.

The Majestic celebrated its 14th Anniversary 1963:  (left to right)  Leo Martinez, Jr., Raul Davila, Joe Treviño, Carmen Abete, Reynaldo Alaniz during release of Flipper (1963)

With BruceCabot of King Kong (1933) fame.  Photo by Luis Garcia, Jr.  “Photographer” McAllen 

Left to right: Manager of the Palace in McAllen (whose name may be Truman Riley or Chester J. Medley), Manager of the Arcadia in Harlingen ( Maurice Agnew).  Mr Treviño had a great memory and spoke well of Brownsville and the people he remembered but these names the best he could remember at the time he shared these.

Mexico’s most famous movie star was named “Mr. Amigo.”Cantinflas:  Mr. Amigo (Feb. 1965) “Cantinflas” [Mario Moreno Reyes] (1911-1993) with Joe and Irma Treviño with Manuel Moreno, with Joe Cruz and wife of Cruz Shoes of the Majestic Building, unknown, woman married to state representative etc etc

You can't really mention the Majestic Theater without thinking of Carmen Abete and this photo many fell in love with when her son Eddie shared it with George Lopez who created Brownsville1965.com back in 2000 or so and while the site no longer exists her memory lives on and will continue when Bronsbil Estacion is long gone too I hope.  Share the history. 

 (Sept. 1965) Joe Trevino and President of the Chamber of Commerce Glenn Herman with Emilio "El Indio" Fernandez (1904-1986), legendary Mexican actor.  Treviño was on the board of directors.

Enthronization of The Most Reverend Bishop Adolph Marx in the Immaculate Conception Cathedral  Brownsville businesses place ads in a 16-page Brownsville Herald welcoming the Bishop.  However, Joe Trevino placed letters on one side of the Majestic marquee to spell, “Welcome Bishop Marx.”  As the Bishop’s car passed the sign, the Bishop Marx looked back at the other side of the marquee which announced “What’s New, Pussycat?” as the movie showing that night.  The Bishop was a little flushed with the surprise and he included the anecdote in a following sermon.

This photo appeared as a promotional gimmick in the Brownsville Herald.  It supposed that movies were placed in vault immediately upon being received to maintain secrecy of coming attractions.  Manager of local bank Noel Ramon  and Joe Trevino. 

 Promotion of Shenandoah (1965) with Katherine Ross and Glenn Corbett

 Here was another photo Joe threw in the stack of photos he let me copy.  Unknown school performance – stage was new addition to theatre.

His Obituary

Quick endnote.  When I first met Joe he was still directing Trevino Funeral Home down the street where I lived.  He and my grandfather were also neighbors.  Anyway I use to take the bus every morning for classes at Texas Southmost College.  One day I forgot my wallet and started rushing back home when I saw Mr Treviño walking out of the funeral home and I asked him if he would loan me a dollar and I was nervous because I still might be able to run home and not miss bus but anyway he saved the day and I paid back the dollar and years later as I started researching theaters and drive-ins of Brownsville I met Joe again and this is a piece of that history.   He was a great man and will be well remembered by a great many.  

Brownsville Aerial Photos by Jose Cazares

Actually, Jose Cazares does take aerial photos but this time he sought some vintage ones for us to look at.

Joe has done us the favor of researching archives anywhere he thinks he'll find some good material on Brownsville, Texas while researching former East Levee St conglomerates Capitol Theatre, El Jardin, Missouri Pacific Railroad depot (MoPac) and the original Chamber fo Commerce building all built in that Spanish Colonial style of which we still have a few reminders left scattered throughout the historic district.

 This time Joe visited the University of Texas Libraries and searched their vast inventory of records in the L.L. Cook Company files in the Texas Highway Department Historical records. You all recognize the ol' Gateway Bridge there.

 Here's another photo of the Gateway Bridge which may look familiar because this was also produced as an old postcard. 

 This aerial photo shows both bridges to Mexico.

 The Old Bridge

 Port of Brownsville

Not sure what this section back beyond Fort Brown is

By the way these are "photo copies" being that Joe took these with his camera.  Some of them are behnd plastic and he managed to not get much glare at all in these photos.  He did a helluva job.  

More to come later

1955 March 12 ~ Rocket Service Station - West Side Brownsville Junk -N- Treasure Anniversary Photo

Back in early 2014 local antiques dealer Nora Vasquez asked if I could look at some various sized negative photos she had saved and of course I was interested.  The bulk of these were over a hundred in a cardboard box, average sized about 4" x 6" and stored in bunches of wax paper the way they would have been if you ordered photos back in the late 1940s or early mid '50's which is what we estimate the collection to be from.  No one has fully studied the collection but we've seen several posted on the Facebook page and here.

One envelope found in the box was Kodak manufactured printed for Alex Studio which was at 1107 S E Washington St., Brownsville, Texas but others might be from Rogers Studio on E Levee or some other photo studio.  

My apologies to the Cisneros relative who supplied us with the above information which I embedded on the photo so people can keep the most accurate info about it.  I hadn't planned on making this post. Otherwise I would have written up a nice history but if you're resourceful enough you'll find more Cisneros Gas Station photos and info posted on this blog elsewhere.  Some of them are colorized by yours truly.

Anyway, it's been a long but good day.  God is great.

1955 ~ Stillman Portraits by Adrian Lamb and First Stillman Museum Photos

On Sunday March 6, 1955 a crowd gathered at the Jacob Brown Civic Center as the City of Brownsville accepted a gift of portraits of Charles and Elizabeth Stillman painted by Adrian Lamb.

Alexander (Sandy) Stillman with his hand held by his father, Dr. James "Bud" Stillman appeared on the front page.

Chauncey D. Stillman presented the portraits to Mayor H.L. Stokely who accepted them on behalf of the City of Brownsville.  City officials and Brownsville Historical Association board officers were there to make it official.  

Adrian Lamb created the portraits by drawing from two daguerreotypes taken around the time the two were engaged in 1849.  Charles would have been about 39 years old and Elizabeth, 21 years old.  This is one of only two photos known to exist of Charles Stillman.

Lamb is well-known for portrait paintings which can also be found in the White House, Smithsonian Institution, Harvard Law School, the Pentagon and United States Naval Academy.

Mrs. Elizabeth Stillman Williams, her husband Langbourne and Chauncey Stillman pose with Mayor H.L. Stokely and his wife in front of Elizabeth Stillman's portrait.  

The Charles and Elizabeth Pamela Stillman paintings are now on display at the Historic Brownsville Museum on E Madison St.

 Great-grandsons of Charles Stillman, Godfrey Rockefeller and Timothy Stillman

 Margaret Garcia and Timothy Stillman behind Jacob Brown Center where dedication took place.

Stillman & Rockefeller family members pose on the steps of the Stillman/Trevino ancestral home. Front row left to right:  Mrs. Godfrey S. Rockefeller; Mr. Abelardo Trevino; Alexander Stillman, Mrs. Calvin Stillman and Mrs Timothy Stillman.  Second row, left to right:  Mrs. Dean Model, Mrs. Lanbourne Meade Williams, Calvin Stillman.  Back row, left to right:  Dr. James Stillman, Godfrey S. Rockefeller, Chauncey Stillman and Langbourne M. Williams.

The Stillman House at 1325 E Washington St. was built by Henry Miller who also owned the Miller Hotel a block away on E Elizabeth and 13th St.  The Stillman's first two of six children, James and Isabella (Elizabeth) were born in Brownsville, Texas.  Their other children were born in New York or Connecticut.

Mrs. Elizabeth Stillman Williams and her brother Chauncey D. Stillman standing in front of the Charles Stillman marker.  Chauncey Stillman purchased the home from the Trevino family and donated the Stillman House house to the Brownsville Historical Association for use as a museum.

Early photos of the house after it was turned into a museum.

Photos courtesy of the Brownsville Historical Association.  Original March 6th, 1955 Brownsville Herald photo of 6 year-old Alexander "Sandy" Stillman colorized by Javier R. Garcia.  

1963 Rams Cheerleaders at Central Middle School (Junior High)

Front LtoR:  Linda Hockaday, Juliet Villrreal & Laura Tobin.

Back, LtoR:  Carlotta Lynch, Susan Mc Clain & Yvonne Sharp.

 1961 Juliet Villarreal Central Junior High ~ 7th Grade

1963 Juliet Villarreal ~ 9th Grade

Thanks to an "anonymous" Bronsbil Estacioner who sent us this wonderful look back at a future leader who needs no introduction, Dr. Juliet Garcia.

2016 Charro Days Saturday Parade

It brings me pleasure once again to post these photos of yet another yearly parade and this time we have more classic cars and plenty of familiar historic buildings.

Classic Cadillac convertible and no - I am not going to identify car years and buildings in the background but I will try to name some people in the photos but you can read the name in most of them probably.

Every parade begins with a proud display of our two national flags on this border with Charros and dancing horses and costumes.

 110th Secretary of State of Texas Carlos Cascos 

Floats of two nations in one parade.  There were many beautiful floats but since I'm not a photographer I just tried to choose a few of the best photos.  The light was not perfect but the weather and breeze was.  I walked from 3rd St to Palm, back to 10th St on one side, then back to 3rd without breaking a sweat.  God is great.  

The Texas State Senate: District 27. Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr and  Representative Eddie Lucio III District 38

in a late 60's Ford Galaxy 500

 City of Brownsville Commissioner Rose Gowan in a classic Mustang

 City of Brownsville Commissioner Cesar de Leon

 Okay I know we got the Lucios already but that's a awesome car and historic house behind this photo.  

I met an interesting person from China who was dressed in this traditional wear from her home country which she kindly tried to explain represented her ethnic group, one of 55 or 59 I think she said.  Our guess is that she is from the northern region or Mongolian section of that extremely large continent.  If anyone knows for sure let us know!  I should have taken notes but really, to see costume dress like this is a real treat in Brownsville so here she is.

Now I had to take a photo of the Charro Days Headquarters building and luckily these two Charro Days representatives agreed to allow us this photo.

 It was nice to see carriages in this parade.

 I didn't take too many photos from this angle.  Too high....

 I went to Texas Southmost College but the Scorpion looks more badass now.  No, I didn't learn to speak or write like that in college.

 City of Brownsville 

 Padre Island is where you're thinking you would take this if you could or was that just me?

 50 year old Mustang looking green as money

Marching like army soldiers of old Brownsville down E Elizabeth toward the Fort.

I remember thinking "Did they really make those globes on the old street lamps look yellowish to give them an authentic look"?  Public Utilities Board (P.U.B.) lights the city of Brownsville, Texas.

Here are some of the folks that put this together each year with a few sponsors listed.  This parade went so much better then the last which was slowed by too many gaps.  This time it flowed much more continuously and smoothly.  They do this all for you.