Old Houston, Hiding Away In Long-Unopened Boxes

By Richard Connelly Tue., Dec. 29 2009 at 8:58 AM

Categories: Spaced City

Pin It

Elizabeth Avedon has boxes full of treasure, yet unopened. Her dad was president of the Harris County Mounted Posse back in the day -- making him a bigwig in the rodeo -- and he kept a large amount of pictures from his stint. Pictures that show a young Houston on the edge of a boom. (Like the above photo..."Fur Storage": Meeting all your Houston fur-storage needs for the 51 weeks a year you require it.)

"My father used to bring the 'stars' to Texas like Roy Rogers, actors for Poncho and Cisco Kid, Annie Oakley, Lucille Ball, etc, so I have photos of my family or just myself with all of them," Avedon tells Hair Balls. "It wasn't his job, but I guess being from NY, he was good at PR."

Here she is giving roses to Lucille Ball at Hobby Airport.

"This was the biggest thing to happen in Houston" that year, says Avedon.

Avedon, a book designer (who was once married to the son of the famous photographer), is hoping to spark a publisher's interest in a book with her photos.

"I do have a lot of great stuff but not accessible at the moment. Good Houston history," she says. "Images inside the smoke filled "Coral Club" at the Rodeo in the 50's, LBJ, Texas Govenor's, photos of Pleasantville neighborhood being built, downtown city, not sure what else as I haven't opened the boxes in many years. I am a book designer and would love to create a cool book."

Here's some trail riders in what she calls the Memorial Drive Country Club, with the pool -- surrounded by umbrellas -- in the back, behind all the car fins.

Anyone who can help her scan in some of the treasure in those boxes, contact her through the website linked above or her blog.

Like this Story?

Sign up for the Weekly Newsletter: Our weekly feature stories, movie reviews, calendar picks and more - minus the newsprint and sent directly to your inbox.