Horned Frog Hangouts

We found one constant about your favorite places to gather: The burgers or the beer may have been unrivaled, but the real draw was the company you kept.

Our favorite places was Pop's Drug store. We could buy a coke for 5¢ and put a nickel in the music machine and dance on the dance floor, where the seats were in the back of the store. He was a kind man and very friendly to us. 
Elma Cudliff Alexander '40

In response to your card questionnaire on the subject to my favorite hangout, I had an enjoyable time returning to the past and remembering where we spent those countless hours wasting time and reveling in the fact that mom and dad were miles away and curfews were just as far. Freshman year -- Being a fresh fish in the sea of college life, the dormroom was stage for many adventures-hanging out with friends, getting to know new people-with excursions to the famous Scooners that the upperclassmen talked about...sneaking in of course. Sophomore year -- Now fully immersed in the Greek life, like many young students become, the fraternity house is home to many late night talks and guitar jam sessions, with excursions now to Fat Harry's...sneaking in of course. Junior year -- Tiring of the Greek life and now 21, the downtown scene is our mecca. Funkytown Fort Worth with it's many watering holes with excursions to Billy Bob's to boot scoot and boogie...no longer needing to sneak in. Senior year -- Now tiring of college, senioritis kicks in and pulls us routinely to 8.0's and Joe T. Garcia's for margaritas, with excursions to class...sneaking in of course.
Zach Klemo '02

Doc's Drug directly across from Clark Hall on University Drive, 1936-1040. Good jukebox and Cokes and malts. Good dancing with my best (only) girl, Elizabeth Ann Jordan. Mostly every afternoon and even some a.m.s, we'd cut classes. The whole scene for three years was my fun life in Frogland -- Doc's Drug and playing drums in the Frog Band. Oh, weekends and some night dates we'd hangout at my parents café on W. Magnolia @ Jennings "Wares' Sandwich Shot."  Car hops and the best chili and hamburgers in Fort Worth! Such great, happy memories. I wanna go back!
Claude T. Ware '46 (MA '48)

My favorite hangout was at The Hill. It was at the open area behind the Greek housing off Berry Street. Many times several of the golf team would park our cars at the top in the dirt, open all the windows and crank our stereos as loud as possible. Usually there were four or five of us shagging balls. Usually only the golf team members practiced there.  At the time we never realized what a convenient place it was to practice, especially if the weather was threatening. We certainly had many laughs and if those trees could talk! Ouch! I'm sure most of the golfers would agree it was a great place to practice. We all have many fond memories of The Hill.
Kirsten A. Larson, '88

Graduate students in English and history spent hours between classes at the cafeteria behind the drug story on University Blouevard. The breakfast menu was limited to eggs and real bacon. The coffe was weak, but dark enough to look muddy. Sudents discussed professors' eccentricities, possible thesis topiss and the Civil Rights Movement. Couples met to plan weddings or to end relationships.
Robert Cowser '65

Petta's Pizza Parlor on Bluebonnet Circle. They were the most careful about checking IDs, and the pizza was pretty good too!
David Montgomery '65

The Frog in the middle of the campus. There was nothing better than gathering and talking about our day, student government or any other TCU gossip. It is the best place on campus to meet, get some good luck with a kiss on the Frog's nose and on to the test you go!
Melissa Nabors '03

Bessies on Hemphill and Hi Hat on Bowie.
Chuck Oswalt '67

TCU Drugstore, when egg salad sandwiches were 20 cents.
Jean Hill Gwin '49

The Pub, Oui Lounge, Joe T. Garcia's, Starck Club in Dallas, Deep Ellum in Dallas, Cowtown.
Beth McRae '89

Daniels, definitely Daniels! But for ice cream, we went to the Back Porch.
Rachel Ganther '84

The Pub.
Molly and David Allison '90

Cyrus Drug Store, the pool hall next to drug store, Rockefellow Hamburgers on Berry, College Inn and Lake Worth Casino dance pavilion.
J.LeRoy Schell '43

The Drugstore on University Drive.
Ellen Johnson, '45

Wednesdays, El Chico; Saturday mornings, Toddle House; The Italian Inn; Cox's Department Store for shopping.
Mary Sue Webb '61

One of those guys who was always "enrolled" but never seemed to graduate opened a place called The Library -- a great cover for us all! Also, JJ's Oyster Bar, Oui Lounge, Pig & Whistle and The Pub.
Julie Buel Butner '88

The drug store across the street (on University) from the Science Building -- where we student nurses had most of our classes.  Since we did not live on campus we needed a resting/gathering place. That was also before the Student Center was built. There was also a donut shop there on the strip (Shipman's?) that was a favorite. Eating bar-b-que near Harris Hospital was a treat. I can't remember the name, but remember they catered for LBJ's inauguration in Washington, D.C.
Lucille Sneed Musgrove '57

The Corner Drugstore for coffee, chili and sandwiches between classes. Also Duke's Hi Hat Lounge on Berry Street for beer. It was downstairs and Hollis Duke was the owner. We used to drink beer there and then play shuffleboard. Other places were Toddle (sp?) House Hamburger Joint next to Duke's, and the Oui Lounge.
Dave Ault '53

Pepper's Burger Joint at Intersection of Montgomery and 7th. I would get a "Staunch Republican" which was a bunless hamburger with lettuce and tomato and a side of Ranch dressing to use a dip. We'd go to Pepper's after finals or a big test to celebrate. By the way, I was not a Republican.
Donna Schaffrath Detzel '78

Calson's on Berry or up to Pancake House on University. Both were fun and welcomed Horned Frogs. We'd go to the Pancake House at 10 p.m. and then to the park up the way on University to ride, talk, socialize and neck.
Pat Snodgrass Irvin '66

As to hangouts and gathering places, it was often at married veterans' residences (often garage apartments near campus) and occasionally night clubs on the Jacksboro Highway (The Casino and Skyliner). We also hung out at the Drug Store and golf course just off campus as well. It was a different time during which the GI bill allowed many to attend TCU at a time when to entrance outside your state of residence was difficult.
George A. Nilson '51

TCU Pharmacy (The Drugstore). Coffee was a nickel and you could get one "warm-up." Behind the counter was Ernie, who scowled at everything, but would sneak you a free cup if you were broke. The juke box featured Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey and not much else anyone wanted to hear.
Raley Dunn, '42

Half a century ago my best friend, basso Walter Homes and I on Saturday nights would return our dates to their respective dorms (Martha to Waits and Carolyn to Foster) and the two of us would beat a direct path to Duke's Hi Hat Lounge, the local watering hole across the street from Brite Divinity School. Walt and I would enter through the door singing, "To the Inn We're Marching" from The Student Prince. For the remainder of the evening we sang solos and duets for free beer. We each knew at the time these were indeed golden days.
Richard Roden '55

My favorite place to hang out was at my family's restaurant, Perrotti's Pizza. Being from Boston, it gave me a taste of my family's wonderful Italian cooking, and my cousin Richard always had a Redsox game on. They were the reason I chose to go to TCU and made a wonderful hangout spot.
Christina Chang Riley '95

There were many, but I'd have to say University Pub. Our names are probably still on the wall unless they've painted. One night we didn't feel like walking from Shirley dorm to University Pub so we called a cab. It cost less than $3 to get there -- well worth the cost!
Martha Mitovich-Leiss '84

Chip In for dancing with the ranch management boys; Spaghetti Warehouse where you could get a lot to eat for very little money; the Oui Lounge, where the Delta Gamma girls frequented.
Karla King Chapman '78

Burger's Lake. There was a high dive, water slide, trapeze, sand, shade, changing rooms, grill, shade, spring-fed water.
Glenn Gillaspy '75

Would you believe the roof of the cafeteria? Yes, we had no place to paint scenery, so we could step out on the roof from the third floor of the admin building. Drama and art classes were on the third floor, so from windows on the West we could go out there and paint flats. We brought hamburgers from the drug store across the street on University Drive and cold drinks from the tiny bookstore in the basement of the admin building. So the roof was a place fine arts students could hang out on good days. Times have changed but we thought it was fun.
Ann Pugh '45

The place to be for lunch was Summerhill House down in the hospital district. It was a tiny nondescript building with eight barstools and two narrow tables where people would stand and wait outside just to get a seat. Pete and Dorothy were the grandparent-like owners and served home-cooked hot meals with the best rolls I've ever tasted. After one visit, they knew your name when you walked in the door. My friend David Rotman and I would go there religiously once a week for three years, and when the money ran out on our TCU meal cards toward the end of a semester, we'd visit Summerhill every day!
Allison Fisher Speer '91

It's got to be the Oui Lounge.  Every Thursday night.  Of course we wouldn't even get ready to go there until 10:00 pm. That's what time I go to bed now. There were others too, like I Gotchya, Pink Elephant Club, the beer joint right next to the Ballet building which for some reason I can't remember the name, and Top Hat. I also bought a lot of hamburgers at Merry Go Round!
Laura Wilde Greenwood '77

My freshman year (1979) a number of us "lived" at Daniels, a bar and grill located just off University Drive south of the old Holiday Inn.  Many of us tried tostadas and salsa for the first time.  One of the assistant managers, Kenny Winters, lived in Brachman with us so he often comped at least part of our meals while regaling us with tall tales that, as freshmen, we believed.  Kenny also gave everybody free beer mugs for dorm use.  Sometimes there would only be three or four of us or other times we'd have twenty or thirty show up and we'd take over a whole section of the restaurant.  And every major event was celebrated that year at Daniels. Another fun place we would hang out was the Brachman second floor lounge.  Late at night people were always debating the great issues of the day, from the war in Afghanistan to the best flavor of pop tarts.  The only large refrigerator and kitchen were in this lounge.  So every year Claire Spangenburg (now Roth) would host her red beans and rice party for the dorm there.  She even had chicory coffee that she kept in liquid form in the refrigerator with a large "Poison" sign on it.  No one ever stole her coffee. It was from the second floor lounge that someone would emerge yelling "Skaggs Run" at midnight (or 2 a.m.) and we'd all be off to buy Blue Bell, Pop tarts ("pop tarts ala mode"), Pepperidge Farm cookies, and cheap pizzas.  No matter what the time of night, people were always hanging out in the lounge.
Eddie Weller '83

A favorite of ours was The Hop on Berry St.. They had great fried okra !  Being "Yankees" we loved that !  They also had lots of great bands that came to play.  It was a lot of fun to go there hang out, drink some beer and run into lots of friends.
Steve '80 and Meff (Brennan) Lebar '80

By far, my favorite hangout was "the Pub".  By the time my junior and senior year rolled around, it was a place "where everyone knew your name." I can't count how many times I went in there without a dime andfound a couple bucks under the juke box to help buy a few beers.  Good times indeed. 
Luke Small '95

The Hop & The Plaid Pig. The Hop was half of what is now The Ardvark and The Plaid Pig was between the Pub and the Stage West Theater. The biggest night to go was always Thursday night.
Bobbie Shosty '95

The Stables,  "where incredible friendships begin."  Ah, what a great place that was.  I spent a lot of time there.
John Stuckey '75

My favorite place to hang out was the Spudnut Shop on University Drive.  They made wonderful hamburgers and spudnuts (donuts made with potato flour).  Krispy Kreme has nothing better.  It was a great place to meet and eat!  I miss it to this day, and I still talk about it!
Laura Lisle Sanner '57

The hangouts I remember fondly all are soaked in non-conducive beverages.  You probably want to soft-pedal (or un-pedal) that kind of place.  But, just for the record, I must say that the best beer I've ever tasted in my life is the ice cold draft Michelob at Duke's (official name The High Hat Lounge, but nobody called it that).  The best time for that best beer was around noon, just before we began putting The Skiff to bed on Wednesday afternoons.  No wonder The Skiff in those years (1954-57) was so cool! Another The Oui Lounge --  it may still be going strong. This was primarily a late night, dance-to-the-jukebox, get-all-misty-eyed, kind of place, but it could be pressed into afternoon service as well if you wanted to blow-off your classes or other responsibilities. And of course there was The Casino, out on Lake Worth.  Ah, those miniature rotating silver moons!  Many a short-term troth was plighted at this venue, to the strains of local favorites such as Curly Broyles or big-timers like Ray Anthony, Ralph Flanagan, and Louis Armstrong.  Everclear from a 7-up bottle was the preferred libation (to be mixed with set-ups). Of course you ran the risk of having the potent stuff swept up by a bus-boy. For dining and drinking al fresco, who can forget Inspiration Point, The Eagles Club, and Benbrook (now, I understand, nothing but water).  Hot dogs, potato chips, marshmallows, and gallons and gallons of non-conducive beverages . . . everything saturated with woodsmoke, including the old army blankets upon which we sat and sang and chanted and made out.
Dale Edmonds '57

By far and away has to be The Yellow Rose Saloon which used to be on the corner of University Drive and Bellaire.  I worked there as a bartender for two and a half years, and when I wasn't working I was hanging out there. So many of the people I met at TCU became friends through The Yellow Rose. What a great place "The Rose" was.  No mixed drinks, just beer and wine. Some of the best memories were of Little Kings nights on Wednesdays where you could get two 7 ounce Little Kings for $1.  And just before closing every night we would turn off and reset the jukebox to wipe out the memory. Then we would play Sinatra singing "New York, New York" and Van Halen singing "Happy Trails" as the last two songs to send everybody home with.
Charlie Potts, '85

About midnight, after an evening of studying in our suite at Pete Wright Hall, someone would announce "its T-time".  Frederic Forrest, Warren Rudolph, David Baker and Ed Barry would jump in David's Old's (the only one who had a car) and go to the Toddle House, a few blocks off Berry street.  Hash Brown potatoes, butterscotch pie and milk would revitalize us to tackle the books again. We did not know what the future held for us but now 50 years later we can look back on the paths that each of us took.  Frederic (or Frog as we called him) became an actor and appeared in over 100 movies, including "The Rose," for which he received the Academy Award for best supporting actor, "Apoclypse Now," "Lonesome Dove" and "Hammett."  Warren became an attorney and worked in the savings and loan business. David Baker has retired from the ministry. I owned a wholesale meat company, oil and gas company and in 1990 received a masters in psychology and worked as a counselor before retiring.  We are all thankful that our University was able to prepare us for such diverse career paths. Truthfully, I even enjoyed the TCU snack bar -- they made great shakes and malts.  It played a major role in my learning how to study.  Those of us in Dr. Winesankers Music History classes would study alone in our rooms over our notes, then around 8:45 in the evening we would gather at the snack bar, order our drinks, and begin our group review.  Surely because of the ice cream treats, I looked forward to these study sessions very much, and I look back on them for having given me a real boost in a critical stage of my academic life. Another treat was having enough money to go to the Toddle House, which was at the southern edge of the campus, for breakfast.  It was a particular treat because the cafe layout let one look over the shoulder of the cook while one's meal was being prepared. There are some other places that are but a haze, now, which I remember more in terms of food than their names.  There was a drive-in north of the campus about a mile.  Also, there was some place we went on Sundays to get fried chicken and loaded baked potatoes.  I also remember a large indoor dance pavilion west of campus where there were great dances -- but the name is just too far away in memory.
Myra Alexander-Starr '61

The greatest place was The Hop -- live music and great food!  My favorite food was the fried okra and fried eggplants, both best eaten with some parmesan cheese.  The cheesecake and magic bars were also superlative. 
George Gould  '59

Peter Couser, Keith Bunch, Stuart Smith and many others often enjoyed some crazy games of bowling at Don Carter's over off Bryant Irvin.
Rick Waters '95

I've heard that The Hop is gone, but in my memories it is alive and definitely a favorite hangout. 
Chris Miller '77

Who could ever forget Jack's out on the Mansfield Hwy?  On the weekends there was always a long table or two populated with Horned Frogs.  I was introduced to Jack's as a high school senior (1955) when Johnny Crouch, the captain of the Horned Frog football team, and his roommate, Bill Alexander, along with Harold Pollard, "the Golden Toe," took me and several other recruits to the popular dance hall.  I danced with Marci Martin, the beautiful cheerleader from San Antonio.  Marci probably would not remember dancing with a potential Horned Frog from Itasca, but, I sure was impressed. Jack's was fun, safe and inexpensive.  During my four years at TCU (and Jack's), we were introduced to such innovative dances as the North Texas Push and the Poly Cross-step.  Perhaps most important, while dancing with one of the Frogettes, whose name will remain anonymous, I first spotted my future wife, the Drop-Dead-Gorgeous (DDG) Ginger Levey, sitting at a nearby table.  After 45 years, two kids, and two DDG grand-daughters, what can I say?  I can never forget Jack's!  Honorable Mention goes to Eagle Mountain Lake, Burger's Lake, the 19th Hole, the Fortune Room, and Suite 225.
Walt Ince '59         

One of my favorite places to hang out was at O'Leary's in the 1849 Village (currently where Panera's & Hoffbrau's is now).  O'Leary's was an ice cream parlor and it was the first place I remember that when it was someone's birthday, they would bring out this huge sundae and march around and sing to the birthday person.  It was just a fun place to go and hang out.
Nancy Plumbley Styles '74