1953 - Brownsville Compress and 421 neighborhood

 The following aerial photos were taken by Rogers Studio in 1953.  Most were scanned from 4x5 negative film with the exception of one which was scanned from a photograph.  The negatives were scanned in 2014.  A method had to be devised to digitally develop them by scanning them in sections and assembling the sections using a basic Photoshop Essentials program.  There may be some scan lines (note red arrows) but anyone can download these photos and produce a pretty clear 8x10 or 11x17 print from these.

 Scanned from photograph

1951 Rio Court 781 Central Blvd. Brownsville, Texas

actually it was W Jefferson.  Thanks Brownsville Stationer Pricilla Abbott

 oops ...  year is actually 1951

1960-61 Service with a Smile

With a heartfelt thanks to contributors of Brownsville Station Facebook page.

 While searching the Brownsville Public Library’s online “Access” newspaper archive Brownsville Station stumbled upon what might be a treat for those of us with long-time family ties to Brownsville, Texas.   In 1961  “Four Corners” was considered the outskirts of town which you would pass by if on your way to the municipal airport, Boca Chica beach, the Port of Brownsville or Padre Island.  El Centro Supermarket was closer than the H-E-B on Boca Chica Blvd and Paredes Line Rd.  There may be a small snippet of personal history to discover on the full-page ad published by El Centro Supermarket thank its employees for their courteous service to the community.   Add to that a long list of names to fit on the (perhaps) pseudo list of “Courtesy Club Charter Members” we’ll thank the Brownsville Herald for compiling the list for us to enjoy nearly sixty-years later.  The truly earnest person might find a recognizable name in these lists.  If not, enjoy some of the previously published photographs seen on the Brownsville Station Facebook page taken from (mostly) 1960-61 school annual ad sections and others from contributors to the page.  

 Ninfa Guzman Cavasos - Fisher's Cafe employee in downtown H-E-B parking lot.  Photo by Del Kuebke.

Ninfa Guzman Cavasos - Fishers Cafe - shared by Cyndi Benavides

Sam Perl was also known as Mr Brownsville.  Bill King was the son of William Abraham "Snake" King who wrote Rattling Yours about Snakeville wild animal farm in Brownsville, Texas.

 Downtown H-E-B image courtesy of Nora Vasquez at Junk N Treasure 

 Is this the famous Vermillion's Dan Davidson before the beard??

  Photo courtesy of Junie Mauldin - colorized by Brownsville Station.

1973 Brownsville Incident - Ebony Magazine

Ebony March 1973 article reproduced here.  Digitized copy of original can be read HERE

 [editor's note - soldiers were actually  "Discharged without honor" as if that makes it any better]

1960 0807 - Aerial of 421 Homes Butt-up Against International Blvd and TSC College

1970 1208 International and Van Buren

Bloodstains

Agent Orange

They can make things worse for me
Sometimes I'd rather die
They can tell me lots of things
But I can't see eye to eye
Well, I know they know the way I think
I know they always will
But someday I'm gonna change my mind
Sometimes I'd rather kill

Blood stains, speed kills
Fast cars, cheap thrills
Rich girls, fine wine
I've lost my sense, I've lost control, I'm lost my mind

Things seem so much different now
The scene has died away
I haven't got a steady job
And I've got no place to stay
Well, it's a futuristic modern world
But things aren't what they seem
Someday you'd better wake up
From this stupid fantasy

Come on, blood stains, speed kills
Fast cars, cheap thrills
Rich girls, fine wine
I've lost my sense, I've lost control, I'm lost my mind

Songwriters: Michael Palm

Bloodstains lyrics © Peermusic Publishing

Marshall Nichols and Charro Drive-In Burros

The first manager for the Charro Drive-in Theater was Marshall Nichols who shared these photos over twenty years ago for an article I wrote for one of those Studies in Brownsville History..." books published by UTB/TSC.  The photos were not printed in the book.  Marshall is seen here on the scooter he used to get around large parking lot for everyday maintenance tasks to make sure drive-in would be ready for each night's double-feature.  His first day on the job came on May 5th, 1949.  These photos were probably taken in the early 1960s after he had been manager a number of years.

Theater Managers were always expected to find creative ways to promote their theaters and Nichols came up with plenty of ideas using local businesses.  He met Will Cabler,   a retired Texas Ranger with land up the street from the theater on Paredes Line Rd.  Cabler had a bunch of burros he was willing to sell so Nichols had special giveaway promotions so the animals were given away as prizes.  Keeping burros was a bigger chore than say, small monkeys in a cage so he brought a bunch of small monkeys from William Abraham "Snake" King who was a wild animal farmer who had been selling animals from around the world since the 1910s.

Marshall Nichols daughter with burros.  The family lived in a home that was built-in the screen tower.  Theaters provided swing sets for kids which was a great idea at the time.  It allowed kids to spend their energy on the playground while the drive-in filled with cars as the sun went down.  

Another example of how many local businesses partnered with The Charro to promote business.