Park Cities Trivia Is Now Open for Those Who Can Remember

We’re one day closer to Friday, so let’s have some fun. Here are some trivia questions from days long ago:

  1. Who or what were Charles & Nance?
  2. What was the Good Ship Miramar?
  3. Who or what were Lou Lattimore and Marie Leavell?
  4. What was Laughead’s?
  5. Who was Louise Finley?
  6. Before Neiman’s moved to NorthPark, where was it located?

Sorry, no prizes for the right guesses, but you can take pride in having a sharp memory.

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36 thoughts on “Park Cities Trivia Is Now Open for Those Who Can Remember

  • February 23, 2011 at 3:34 pm
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    Charles & Nance was a “beauty shop” even though I can’t remember exactly where it was.
    The Good Ship Miramar was a replica of a ship in the rear yard of a house in the 4000 block of Miramar.
    Lou Lattimore (Lovers Lane) & Marie Leavell (Oak Lawn)were upscale ladies shops.
    Laughead’s (Hillcrest) was a famed sports photographer. His son in law, Jim Bradley, was with him and is still around taking pics in his 80’s.
    Louise Finley (Miss Finley’s) taught ball room dancing on Mockingbird across from Bradfield to the youth of the Park Cities. N-M was in Preston Center, SE corner Preston and Villanova (entire building).

    Reply
    • December 28, 2023 at 8:14 pm
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      I worked as a hairdresser in the 60’s first at the Beauty Salon in Neiman’s. I then went to Charles and Nance Beauty Salon as a Hair Stylist. It was so exclusive. It had no way to see inside due to heavy drapes covering all windows. There were no signs showing what was inside. Actually the front door was kept locked to keep walk-ins away. If you had to ask what a service cost, you probably did not have enough money to afford to have your hair, nails or feet done. It was about five times the price of Neiman’s for the same type services. I loved working there and learned a lot about people there.

      Reply
  • February 23, 2011 at 3:36 pm
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    1. Hairdressers
    2. A big ole boat in the backyard of a crazy lady who lived on Miramar in HP
    3. Dress shops
    4. Photographer, mostly for sports and teams
    5. ?, but I’m guessing a dance teacher or a piano teacher
    6. In Preston Center on the east side of Preston at or near where Houston’s (or whatever it’s called now) is located

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  • February 23, 2011 at 3:42 pm
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    1. Dress designers, alterations?
    2. Ship built on Miramar for the ladys daughter’s Deb Party.
    3. Dueling expensive dress shops on Lovers Lane.
    4. Photography Studio on Hillcrest.
    5. Tap, ballet and ballroom dance lessons attached to the Village Theater.
    6. Preston Center West where Houston’s and all that are now.

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  • February 23, 2011 at 4:15 pm
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    3. Beauty parlors
    6. Preston Center in the Tootsie’s location

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  • February 23, 2011 at 4:46 pm
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    3. Lou Lattimore and Marie Leavell were upscale ladies shops.
    4. Laughead’s was the premier photographer located across from SMU who did all of HP’s annual pictures for many years as well as HP’s sports pictures. Laughead’s also photographed all of SMU’s sports pictures, party pictures and annual pictures for many years. Laughead’s was a pioneer in sports posed action photography, photographed various sports for press guides for over 40 colleges across the nation, innovated the pressbox photography during football games to allow the offense and defense to make changes based on the other teams formations to effectively play the game, innovated the color slide pictures seen over the shoulder of sportscasters. James T. “Brad” Bradley, Laughead’s son-in-law bought the business many years ago, still does all of HP’s sports pictures and organization pictures as well as SMU’s football pictures.

    6. Neiman’s was located on Preston Rd., in the space adjacent to Houston’s across from Preston Center.

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  • February 23, 2011 at 4:53 pm
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    Lou Lattimore was an upscale boutique on Oaklawn @ Prescott, I had my hair cut at the salon at the back of the store…..name of the hair salon? Craig did my hair….’89 – ’92, can’t remember the salon name.

    Marie Leavell was a boutique as well but I can’t remember where it was.

    There was a Neimans in Prestonwood Mall in Addison, but that wasn’t BEFORE NorthPark, so I’m stumped.

    Can we add questions?

    Across from the former Lou Lattimores is currently Al Biernats. What restaurant was in that space before it became Biernats? And before that restaurant, what bar was in the space?

    Reply
  • February 23, 2011 at 5:34 pm
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    Gee, you guys are really good!
    1. Charles & Nance was a beauty salon in HP Village where Deno’s is now. This was a time before blow dryers.
    2. The Good Ship Miramar was a ship-like structure built by a couple to host parties in their backyard on Miramar.
    3. Lou Lattimore and Marie Leavell in their heyday were located along Lovers Lane. LL owned by Albert Lidji was located across from Petco and Marie Leavell owned by Johnny Leavell was next to the Inwood Theater. They both boasted the hottest beauty salons around.
    4.Every kid who lived in the Park Cities ended up having their class photos taken by the Laughead team. It was amazing to see them in action when they shot photos of sports teams. Laughead’s was located on Hillcrest directly across from SMU.
    5. Louse “Miss” Finley operated one of two dance schools. It was very proper ballroom dancing. Remember that?
    6. Before Ray Nasher talked Mr. Stanley into moving to NorthPark, NM was located in the building that now houses Tootsie’s.

    Like I said before — you all are very, very good. If you don’t mind, I’ll come up with some more brain teasers for you.

    PS – @kmom: The restaurant that preceded Al Biernat’s was J. Alfred’s. Opened in the 1970’s, it was owned by a couple of fellows named Gene Street and Phil Cobb.

    Reply
  • February 23, 2011 at 6:03 pm
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    @kmom, that was Marie Levell and not Lou Lattimore across from today’s Al Biernet. The restaurant preceding Al’s was Joey’s out of Houston.

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  • February 23, 2011 at 6:36 pm
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    Anyone remember Lorraine Cobb? Those were the days.

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    • February 25, 2021 at 9:14 am
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      Good memories of shopping with my dear mom at Lorraine Cobb’s. Where was it located..too young to remember. When did it close?

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      • June 22, 2022 at 7:59 pm
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        I remember! My mom used to take me there to buy dresses and shoes! I was young but have fond memories and had a music box that she signed ! Lovely times ..we lived on mockingbird lane and would walk across the street literally 🙂 glad someone else remembers the place!

        Reply
  • February 23, 2011 at 7:27 pm
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    was it lorretta blum that was on oaklawn?

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  • February 23, 2011 at 9:08 pm
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    @ sally: Nice one. I had to scour a group of Parkies to find out it was the legendary Loretta Blum.

    @hpparent: Mind if we include that one in the next trivia challenge?

    @joeat: You’re absolutely right! And J. Alfred’s preceded Joey’s!

    Reply
  • February 23, 2011 at 10:24 pm
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    Loretta Blum, that was it. Meh, I got nothing.

    @joeat, what was the restaurant before Joeys, and the bar before that?

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  • February 24, 2011 at 7:27 am
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    Oh my gosh…I forget about Lorraine Cobb up on mockingbird by where la Madeline is…right? Think we got bras and slips there!!
    Anyone remember Radfords Cafeteria on Hillcrest?

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  • February 24, 2011 at 8:30 am
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    I think the restaurant before joey’s was the wine press.

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  • February 24, 2011 at 8:47 am
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    @sally – yes!! Lorraine Cobb was next to Jay’s Cafeteria where La Madeleine is now on Mockingbird — tons of shopping there as a kid/teen.

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  • February 24, 2011 at 8:58 am
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    Thanks, @Oldtimer, I could not think, knew it had something to do with wine though, and the bar before that was J. Alfreds. Lorraine Cobb’s is not ringing any kind of bell. What was it??

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  • February 24, 2011 at 8:59 am
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    anyone remember Radford’s? it would be a huge hit today!

    What was the restaurant somewhere on hillcrest that you picked up the phone to order your food at the table? Coffee’s?

    Reply
  • February 24, 2011 at 9:13 am
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    Didn’t Lorraine Cobb also have a store in a little house down past Lovers Ln/Inwood? Always staffed by somewhat elderly ladies??? Maybe I’m imagining this……

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  • February 24, 2011 at 9:20 am
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    I also remember an ice cream parlor next to jay’s cafeteria. I think it was called Sally b’s. I think radford’s cafeteria had miss Inez playing the organ.

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  • February 24, 2011 at 9:26 am
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    @Oldtimer & @Joeat are right – and they were owned by another Cobb – Phil Cobb (and Gene Street). J Alfreds was the first bar to open in Dallas selling liquor by the drink. Right on the edge of HP. THAT was quite the scandal back in the day, the change from selling “set-ups” to actually selling liquor by the drink.

    Reply
  • February 24, 2011 at 10:26 am
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    Anyone remember the two screen movie theater in Preston Center where Taco Diner is now? And who can forget the Fine Arts Theater in Snider Plaza? So many fond memories of entertaining myself in the car for hours while my dad was inside.

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  • February 24, 2011 at 2:12 pm
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    @Neal, I have a relative who worked the ticket booth at the Fine Arts Theater in Snider Plaza when she was about 14-16. Her dad would drop her off and pick her up, hysterical.

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  • February 24, 2011 at 2:15 pm
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    Here’s a few more:
    Where was the Gazebo Dress Shop and who ran it ?
    Where was The Beefeater ?
    What was Jean Claude’s and where was it ?
    What was The Railhead ?
    What was the famous Dessert that Downtown’s NM Zodiac serve ?

    Reply
  • February 24, 2011 at 3:26 pm
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    @Neal, the theater in Preston Center was originally a Safeway and then a Cattlemen’s Steakhouse (FTW).

    @PJT, the Beefeater was at the corner of Cedar Springs and Fairmont. The Railhead was right at but not in the Quadrangle. Jean Claude was on Cedar Springs at Fairmont but I can’t pinpoint exactly where. That building may be torn down now. They ended up in the building where Coal Vines is, in the two story part closest to Cedar Springs.

    Reply
  • February 24, 2011 at 4:53 pm
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    @pjt and jo eat: The Railhead was on Twin Hills off Greenville near the current Dart parking area. It was a prime rib restaurant with salad bar – seating in boxcars and live music in the bar/waiting area. Miss it!

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  • February 24, 2011 at 5:30 pm
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    @UP Resident, I am sure you are right, but we had a similar restaurant, same idea at the Quadrangle. I always got the names confused and can’t remember the one that I mention.

    Reply
  • February 24, 2011 at 6:24 pm
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    Good Memory Joeat My favorite was the “Good Ship Miramar”
    I fondly remember seeing it as a child and hearing fascinating stories about how it got there and the parties!

    Reply
  • February 25, 2011 at 11:08 am
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    all have answered – but i don’t think anyone gave the name of the captain of the ss miramar – cosette faust newton – anyone remember the glass barbs in the brick wall to discourage climbers?

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  • February 25, 2011 at 3:08 pm
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    Jean Claudes was a wonderful french restaurant on McKinney Ave, Jean Claude was the owner and chef. We loved that place!

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  • February 25, 2011 at 4:42 pm
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    Thanks @Pierce, I have been struggling for the name, almost had it but not quite. I well remember sneaking down the alley and seeing the glass barbs and the stories of hostages. In those days we used to go riding and this was always a must.

    @She’s a troop leader?, Jean Claude was never on McKinney, you may be thinking of Calaud’s.

    Reply
  • February 25, 2011 at 5:08 pm
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    I think the original Gazebo was where Javier’s is now. There was another restaurant similar to the Railhead called Victoria station.

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  • February 25, 2011 at 5:15 pm
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    Anyone remember the name of the restaurant in Hp village before cafe pacific? I do remember Everet’s jeweler’s was there and a florist shop.

    Reply

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