Austin | Historic Images & Postcards - Page 64

hookem · #**1261** Posted **Aug 26, 2021, 2:31 AM**

In the 70s and 80s all cities were pretty trashy compared to now (homeless situation excluded.) The streets and sidewalks, parks, etc were covered in pull tab can tops and cigarette butts. Streets and buildings weren’t maintained to the standards of today. You didn’t have to shower because you’d end up smelling like smoke if you entered any place of business anyway.

But the malls, man, wow. If you didn’t experience growing up during those times I can’t explain how amazing the malls were. They were like the social media of the time. You couldn’t wait to get into your parachute pants and members only jacket to go to the mail to talk to girls. My first job was in the mall

just like Fast Times.

Geckos_Rule · #**1262** Posted **Aug 26, 2021, 3:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by hookem

But the malls, man, wow. If you didn’t experience growing up during those times I can’t explain how amazing the malls were. They were like the social media of the time. You couldn’t wait to get into your parachute pants and members only jacket to go to the mail to talk to girls. My first job was in the mall

just like Fast Times.

Honestly, this extended out until probably 2006-ish. When I was growing up in middle school, it was the cool thing to get a couple friends, and have one of our mom's drop us off at Barton Creek Mall for a few hours to mess around.

Outside of the food court, the last time I was there showed the radical change. Now, a significant portion of people are only there to visit (1) Nordstrom; or (2) the Apple store, then leave.

KevinFromTexas · #**1263** Posted **Oct 13, 2021, 10:06 PM**

1987

I remember seeing the F4-Phantoms fly over Austin back then. We used to haul our trash to the FM 812 landfill in Southeast Austin back then, and it had an awesome view of one runways as it lined up perfectly with the top of the dump. We'd unload and then watch the jets do their "touch and go" practice landings. They were basically training for aircraft carrier landings. One actually crashed along 71 near 183 near Bergstrom. The crew parachuted out before impact and were ok.

Here's an AP News article on it from 1988.

https://apnews.com/article/6061198de...d1911a2c0b8835

Quote:

Air Force Plane Crashes in Austin

April 11, 1988

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) _ An Air Force jet crashed into a warehouse complex today, but both crew members ejected and parachuted to the ground, fire and Air Force officials said.

Airman Kim Lowery of Bergstrom AFB in Austin said the crew members from the RF-4C Phantom II jet were being examined by Air Force medical officers at Bergstrom. There was no immediate word on their conditions.

Lt. Larry Morris, Austin Fire Department spokesman, said there were no immediate reports of injuries on the ground.

-

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid...26637420739781

Mopacs · #**1264** Posted **Oct 18, 2021, 3:10 AM**

Barton Creek Mall under construction - 1979-80

https://www.facebook.com/livingspringsaustin

bilbao58 · #**1265** Posted **Oct 18, 2021, 3:35 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mopacs

That’s how Austin looked when I lived there.

bilbao58 · #**1266** Posted **Oct 18, 2021, 3:36 AM**

December 27, 2007

Downtown Austin by bill barfield, on Flickr

drummer · #**1267** Posted **Oct 18, 2021, 6:25 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bilbao58

December 27, 2007

Downtown Austin by bill barfield, on Flickr

Hard to believe that was nearly 14 years ago.

AusTex · #**1268** Posted **Oct 18, 2021, 7:33 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by drummer

Hard to believe that was nearly 14 years ago.

OMG The sheer simplicity of our skyline Just "nearly 14 years ago" is truly astounding. I have been here for it all and I am still amazed at how fast a skyline can build; how fast a metro can grow. WOW. What a great photo!!!

drummer · #**1269** Posted **Oct 18, 2021, 8:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by AusTex

OMG The sheer simplicity of our skyline Just "nearly 14 years ago" is truly astounding. I have been here for it all and I am still amazed at how fast a skyline can build; how fast a metro can grow. WOW. What a great photo!!!

Yeah, double meaning for me. 14 years ago as in "Wow, time flies!" and "Wow, a ton has happened!"

the Genral · #**1270** Posted **Oct 18, 2021, 9:08 PM**

I watched the 360 cam daily. It was amazing to see a 40 + story building getting built in Austin at the time. I think everyone was excited, and surprised. I think the Spring was the next big thing to happen after that, and the beginning of where we are today.

KevinFromTexas · #**1271** Posted **Oct 20, 2021, 8:08 AM**

1961

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid...92570927449196

823 Congress construction.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid...70563642983299

the Genral · #**1272** Posted **Oct 20, 2021, 4:38 PM**

823 made an impact on Congress Ave. back then as much as anything being added today imo.

Urbannizer · #**1273** Posted **Nov 23, 2021, 11:53 PM**

https://staustin.org/photoalbums/our-earliest-photos

The Drag-1915

The Drag-1929

Guadalupe Street looking south from 38th-1933

St. Austin Catholic Church- 1970's

Armybrat · #**1274** Posted **Nov 24, 2021, 1:43 AM**

Are you sure about the date for St. Austin’s Church?

Urbannizer · #**1275** Posted **Nov 24, 2021, 3:53 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Armybrat

Are you sure about the date for St. Austin’s Church?

Could be off, not sure. Going by the photo URL which mentions early 1970’s.

bilbao58 · #**1276** Posted **Nov 24, 2021, 8:01 PM**

St Austin's website has that photo listed as one of their "earliest photos." Is that on Guadalupe? If so, I can guarantee that no part of Guadalupe looked like that at any time in the '70s. The church website states that their current building, on Guadalupe just north of MLK, was finished in 1954.

Here's the current building sometime in the '60s.

austlar1 · #**1277** Posted **Nov 24, 2021, 9:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urbannizer

https://staustin.org/photoalbums/our-earliest-photos

The Drag-1915

The Drag-1929

Guadalupe Street looking south from 38th-1933

St. Austin Catholic Church- 1970's

Great pictures. I think the first one might actually be from the mid 1920s based on the cars, which appear to be 1920s models. I love the picture dated 1929. The Drag looks so interesting. Note the large dog posed in the picture with the man standing at the end of the line of parked cars!

jbjjbjbb · #**1278** Posted **Nov 25, 2021, 12:39 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by austlar1

Great pictures. I think the first one might actually be from the mid 1920s based on the cars, which appear to be 1920s models. I love the picture dated 1929. The Drag looks so interesting. Note the large dog posed in the picture with the man standing at the end of the line of parked cars!

The one dated 1915 is actually 1927, according to the UNT Texas History Portal.

The one dated 1929 is Lightsey's rental car fleet.

austlar1 · #**1279** Posted **Nov 25, 2021, 3:18 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbjjbjbb

The one dated 1915 is actually 1927, according to the UNT Texas History Portal.

The one dated 1929 is Lightsey's rental car fleet.

Ha! The scooters of their era! Presumably Lightsey's did a brisk business renting autos to UT students for those special occasions. Bet there were a lot of accidents involving hip flask toting college men and their fast co-ed companions.

KevinFromTexas · #**1280** Posted **Nov 28, 2021, 7:50 PM**

My brother sent me this photo this morning. Stassney Lane near the railroad tracks from February 1, 1968. Crockett High School is on the lefthand side near where those cars are parked. Today the parking lot borders the railroad tracks. This is my neighborhood. I went to Crockett and I'm sitting on my couch almost exactly 1,450 feet from the railroad tracks. lol

This is looking west over the tracks.

Same view today:
https://www.google.com/maps/@30.2133...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid...65887789630533