I was trading some messages with Nicolette Brennan from the City of Cape about a picture of Broadway for a project she’s working on. That got me to thinking about how many Broadway stories I’ve done. I’ve documented the street from the river’s edge to the old Colonial Tavern on the west end. Click on the photos to make them larger and click on the links to go to the original story.
So many teens were dancing at the old Teen Age Club at Themis and Spanish that the floor was bouncing and a city inspector shut ’em down. They moved the dance to the bank parking lot at the corner of Main and Broadway.
Crash at the Colonial Tavern
The Colonial Tavern was my dad’s morning coffee stop where everybody would gather to hash over the previous night’s Cardinal game. A sports car picked this night to plow into the building that was at the west end of Broadway.
The park that got away
A three-acre tract of land on the south side of Broadway east of Hwy 61 was donated by the Doggett family with the understanding that the the land would be developed into a park similar to Dennis Scivally Park on Cape Rock Drive.
The family felt that the tract hadn’t been improved in the past 10 years, so they filed a suit to reclaim the land. A granite marker with the name “Doggett Park” next to the Masonic Temple parking lot is all that remains of the park.
Crash at Broadway and Fountain
Sometimes what you think is going to be an inconsequential story resonates with readers. Fred Kaefpfer, who was directing traffic at this crash at the corner of Broadway and Fountain, turned out to be Cape’s singing policeman. It became one of the most-commented stories of the early blog. The Idan-Ha Hotel shows up in the background of the photo.
Idan-Ha Hotel burns
The Idan-Ha Hotel, which had caught fire in 1968, caught fire again in 1989.
Star Service Station – Cigarettes 25 cents a pack
The Star Service station at the corner of Broadway and Frederick gave stamps with your gas. Ninety stamps would get you $1.50 worth of free gas.
Annie Laurie’s used to be Brinkopf-Howell’s
Niece Laurie Everett’s Annie Laurie’s Antiques, across the street from the Star Service Station used to be a funeral home. It’s the top-rated antique shop in Cape County now. Shivelbines Music, across the street, got a new sign in November.
Bob’s Shoe Service
Bob Fuller’s Bob’s Shoe Service was where I stocked up on Red Wing boots, the ideal footwear for a photographer. They’d shine up acceptably for formal wear (at least as formal as I ever got), but you could wade water and walk on fire with no worries.
507-515 Broadway
The 500 block of Broadway has had an interesting past.
Discovery Playhouse – Walthers’s Furniture
I was glad to see some life around the old Walther’s Furniture Store and Funeral Home. The Discovery Playhouse has become popular in a short period of time. Here is was before it opened.
Lutheran Mural Building razed
When I shot the Discovery Playhouse, I had no idea that the landmark building across the street was going to be torn down within a couple of years. It was best known for the huge blue mural on its side.
Rialto Theater roof collapses
A rainstorm caused the roof of the old Rialto Theater to collapse in 2010. This story contains a bunch of links, including one that tells how I met Wife Lila there when she was working as a cashier. This picture is of the 1964 Homecoming Parade.
Broadway Theater is still impressive
I managed to talk my way into the Broadway Theater on a cold December day. It still has the feel of the premier theater of the city.
What’s going to happen to the Esquire?
When I did this story in October 2011, it looked like the Esquire Theater was going to get new life. A new owner had an ambitious plan to renovate it. The latest stories in The Missourian make it sound like the project is unraveling.
Here’s a piece I did about its art deco history. In September 1965, I used infrared flash and film to capture kids watching The Beatles movie Help! It was the first (and only) time I used that technique.
Pladium / D’Ladiums – it’s still the same
I wasn’t a pool player, but those who were spent their time in the Pladium (now D’Ladiums) across from Houck Stadium or the Pla-Mor, next to Wayne’s Grill and the Esquire. The Beav still rules the roost at D’Ladiums.
Vandeven’s Merchantile
Howard’s Athletic Goods and a handful of other businesses have moved into the building at the corner of Broadway and Pacific over the years, but it’ll always be Vandeven’s Merchantile to me.
It dawns on me that I have even more photographs along Broadway – way too many to inflict on you in one shot. I’ll hold off putting up the rest of them until another day. Don’t forget to click on the links to see the original stories.
Frony shot a better looking car that showed up at the Colonial Restaurant with its TV star driver in 1962.
http://www.semissourian.com/blogs/flynch/entry/37162
Ken, was there a restaurant at the west end of Broadway named The Green Parrot…..about katty-corner from The Colonial Tavern? My Grandmother Vandivort had a few family dinners in that restaurant during our Christmas family reunions in the 50’s. (There was a Green Parrot Restaurant in St. Louis that I grew up with so I may be confusing the names.) I do remember hearing my Grandfather Vandivort (Clyde) say “There are only two decent restaurants in this town – The Tavern and the “Parrot”…if that is the correct name.
I did not see much of my Dad when I lived in Cape and he lived in central Illinois. But I vividly remember him coming to visit once and he took me to the Colonial to eat. First time I remember ever being in a restaurant and being there along with his visit seared a pleasant memory in my mind. Thanks for the reminder. Been a long time since I have thought about it. The only other place I remember ever eating out was Wimpys.
Ken
Wasn’t there a bar called the Spanish Door
on Broadway in the early seventies?
I didn’t find a listing for the Spanish Door in either the 1968 or 1979 City Directories.
I think the restaurant Harriet was referring to may have been the ElDorado. Ken didn’t you do a story on it too….the building housed a motorcycle shop in the sixties. Yes there wa s a Spanish Door in the 800 block of Broadwy across from what was the old Kroger Store.
So many memories “On Broadway”
That’s pretty close. I think maybe you’re both thinking of the Alvarado on the northeast corner of Broadway and Hwy 61. Fred Lynch did a blog post on the Alvarado.
Any other pics of the Idan-Ha Hotel would be great to see… I have been lookng to learn more of its history and find as many pictures as I can. SeymourChilton@gmail.com
Type Idan-Ha in the search box on the right-hand side of the page. A bunch of references to the hotel will pop up.
Be sure to read the comments. Some of the readers have close connections to the Idan-Ha and have shared their memories.
Ken,
Do you have any pictures of 315 Broadway, between the Missourian and the Post Office? Also, Dee Vandeven was a great guy that took me rabbit hunting and fishing when we lived on Pacific right behind his grocery.
Do you mean old photos or new ones?
This aerial of the Common Pleas Courthouse shows a little of the neighborhood in 1964.
This recent view from the KFVS tower gets close.
This aerial looking west down Broadway shows the area, too.
Is this the building
or was it one that is now a parking lot?
You’re in luck. Frony shot the house and Fred Lynch had a story about it on his blog. Reprints are available.
Thank you, you are absolutely right. It was The Alvarado!
Ken,
I was referring to when it was still a residence. We moved out of 315 Broadway about 1960 or 61 when we sold it to the savings and loan.
Sorry, then. That was a little before I was running around Cape with a camera. I was taking pictures a Kodak Tourist II folding camera that Dad gave me, but I wasn’t doing things like shooting Broadway yet.
Check with Sharon Sanders at The Missourian. I’m sure she has photos of it. You might also search Fred Lynch’s blog in The Missourian.
It as the Alvardo restaurant, a somewhat “upscale” restaurant im competition with the Colonial Tavern. The Alvardo also started a curb service to compete with Pfister’s Drive-in. I was a curb-hop at the Alvardo; and later at Pfister’s.
To Jim Luckett: Spent many a night at the Spanish Door
Ken “Pickle” Dillingham
My buddy Patty Mason Turner’s mom Kathy worked nights at the Colonial as a waitress when we were in High School, Class of 68. When I visit Cape, I still see the old Colonial in my mind at that intersection.
If my memory serves me corrctly(which could be doubtful), Vandevens was located on the southeast corner of broadway & pacific, catty-corner from Howards.
That is exactly right. Howard’s has now moved into what was the old Vandeven’s building. Later generations will think of it as Craftsman Printing and the Grace Cafe.
The old Howard’s building was knocked down and turned into a SEMO parking lot.
@ Tim Luckett, Yes there was a bar on the 700 block of Broadway named The Spanish Door. It was a few doors west of the old Smitty’s Tavern, next to an appliance store. It had bright red doors. After the Spanish door it became Uncle Charlies. Just about across the street where the Dollar General Store sits now. Your memory serves you correctly!
I’m looking for pictures of the old pool hall Pla-Mor which was next to Wayne’s Grill, Vandeven’s Grocery store on the corner of Pacific & Broadway, & Walther’s Furniture store at 502 Broadway. Can you offer any help or send me in the right direction.
Thanks,
Andy Auer
ken I would like to buy one of your books on smelterville ..please contact me
They are available in Cape at Annie Laurie’s Antique Shop on Broadway. If you aren’t local to Cape, drop me a note and I’ll tell you how to get it by mail.