Going to Super Test on Weekends
Super Test was an amusement park located on Dale Mabry and Columbus Drive. Admission was free and rides were free when you presented tickets. Tickets were earned during that time when you purchased gas from Super Test Gas Stations. Gas at the time, usually cost from .16 to .19 cents per gallon and during what was called “gas wars,” the prices would go lower. With the tickets you were allowed to ride any ride that was in the amusement park. Included were animals, like the lion that became very annoyed when you stared at him and would try to urinate on you when standing too close. There were mirrors to make you look tall, fat, or short along with many other items such as food or what you usually found at a fair.
“The train and Carousel”
The Super Test Amusement Park carousel on Dale Mabry & Columbus Drive, in 1951; there were many times we would ride this carousel.
Salty Sol Fleischman
Salty Sol Fleischman and his Best Bet Segment on Channel 13 WTVT during the 1960s. (He was always viewed on Channel 13) I remember going to Ferman Oldsmobile back in the late 1960’s, checking up on a car I was to purchase. I smelled fish and made a joke that Salty Sol must be nearby since we were not at any beach. As soon as I said that, here he comes around the corner. To this day, I still get a chuckle from that! The last time I saw him (not that I knew him) was on Anna Maria Island in the 1970’s. His fishing reports were often watched and at the end of the week, he would give away a new fishing rod and reel, if you could locate where he was that week by his clues.
Holsum Bakery
Holsum Bakers was a favorite place to visit at Christmas! They would allow free visits of the bakery and bake small loaves of bread with butter to give out to all that visited. After the tour, you were given several small loaves of bread, candy, and toys.
The Franklin Theatre
The Franklin Theatre shown above along with the Palace Theatre and the Park Theatre were popular movie houses; that I would attend on weekends while in elementary school. One of the movies I attended with Joe and Jr. (in the 1960’s) was there or at the Tampa Theatre.
It was called Wild River. It depicted the story of how the TVA changed the face of people’s lives in Tennessee and it made a huge impression on me: as to how government can take land. I realize it probably was for the better, but it did give you a real sense of how people’s lives can become disrupted when forced to move.
Storyline: Norris Dam Link – (click to view)
A young field administrator for the TVA comes to rural Tennessee to oversee the building of a dam on the Tennessee River. He encounters opposition from the local people, in particular a farmer who objects to his employment (with pay) of local black laborers. Much of the plot revolves around the eviction of an elderly woman from her home on an island in the River, and the young man’s love affair with that woman’s widowed granddaughter. I believe Jr. took me to this movie and it made a huge impression on me. Later on in life (2012), I asked our movie buff neighbors (Don and Opal Prater) in Farragut, TN, if they knew about it. Opal Prater, Don’s wife, found a copy for me and showed it for us in their movie room.
Cuesta Elementary
This picture shows my second grade classroom at Cuesta Elementary with Mrs. Messina. What a wonderful teacher and lady! I clearly remember how awkward I felt taking the picture in such a small chair. I had many good friends there including Gaston Fernandez and Jimmy Giovenco. (Both located in the back right hand corner). Marco Polo was a good friend and he is the one in the striped shirt. There were others, but I can no longer remember their names. I am on the left side with my legs spread.
Desoto Elementary
I attended Cuesta and Desoto Elementary Schools, as my Dad decided which school I attended, depending on the teacher that year. This was Mr. Leto, one of my favorite teachers. He later began teaching science on TV (WEDU) and I was invited to be on the show to help him with a science demonstration, hence my first television debut! I had many great friends in this class and enjoyed going to school. I am on the top left section. (The second girl on the first row was my first crush, Wilma Fernandez).
Macfarlane Park
Macfarlane Park is located at 1700 N. MacDill Ave. Even though it did not play an important part in my life, our parents took us here a few times for Easter Egg Hunting. The pavilion on the top of the hill was my favorite memory as Mom and Dad found a cardboard box and I used it as a sled to slide down the hill. It was at this park that somehow Uncle Pepe found my stolen bicycle, recovered it and brought it back to me while I was at Nonna’s house.
Mal-function Junction as seen in the 1960’s before traffic:
During the 1960’s, work began on the Interstate 4 of which divided up West Tampa and caused many people to move. It was a blessing, as well as a not wanted road. Along the high point in the early 1960’s (before traffic) is where we would take our skateboards and ride downhill. We would find large pieces of cardboard and slide down the hill as well.
Christmas in downtown Tampa was fun! On weekends, I would spend time with Aunt Francis much of that time in Maas Brothers. In the picture below left is Wolf Brothers along with others, Wolf Brothers had excellent clothes and Mom often made us buy our clothes there. One of my best pair of shoes was purchased there (they were so good), I had new soles put on them when they wore out.
Shown on the upper right picture was the third floor (toy section of Maas Brothers) where I spent time playing while my aunt shopped on Saturday’s. All the toys were left out and kids could play with them and try them out! Salespeople did not bother you and it was a safe and fun place to spend a morning. Down on the first floor, we would purchase some of the best brownies I ever ate!
Inside Wolf Brothers; clothing was considered expensive, but they would last and stay in fashion for long periods of time. Sweaters and London Fog Trench coats were among the most popular items we would purchase. During high school, many of my shirts were monogrammed as that was the style during the 60’s.
The Maas Brothers building was torn down in 2006, when it was to be replaced by a high rise luxury condominium. The deal fell through and was sold again to become a parking lot, that may feature electrical plug in’s for cars in the future.
One of the more modern stores of the time was Sears Roebuck, which was built in the 1950’s and was a popular destination for shoppers. It was one of the first stores outside of downtown Tampa. It was easy to get to, with easy parking, as well as offering many items.
Sears Roebuck and Company
Here is where Dad purchased the Elgin boat. It was a popular place for buying car parts and clothes. Sears and other shopping centers probably led to the failure of downtown Tampa, due to the new buildings and one stop shopping.
The store opened in Hillsborough Ave. North Tampa, Florida and was a huge success.
Ben T. Davis / Courtney Campbell Causeway picnic shelter, 1957.
We never really spent much time here other than boat riding once in a while or skiing a few times. It was considered dangerous at the time, as the bay had many holes; therefore, not a great place to swim. In the evenings, people were known to go look for what was called the “submarine races”.
I wanted to include this picture to show the amount of trees along the Causeway at that time. There were many picnic tables to enjoy along with bar-b-que pits.
Davis Causeway as it looked in 1941.The right picture is more how it looks today.
Grand Central Ave
This represents Grand Central as I knew it growing up as a young boy. After the assassination of John Kennedy, it was renamed Kennedy Blvd. This picture was taken in the 1940’s. People like my Uncle Pepe never referred to it as Kennedy Blvd; as they grew up with the name of Grand Central all their lives and never acknowledged the new name. It was not of disrespect, but honoring a life they knew.
Buying a Boat from Sears
In the late 50’s our father decided to purchase an Elgin 15’ boat with a 30 hp outboard engine. It had inlay mahogany on the deck and was built completely out of wood. Around that time, Dad would enjoy fishing with some of his friends, one who owned a wholesale grocery and Woody, who lived next door to us that installed floors. His wife Margaret did most of her grocery shopping at our store. Most of the time Dad and his friends would go to the Causeway or to a lake to fish for bass.
At times I would get invited, even though I did not enjoy the fishing, I did enjoy the driving and since no one else seemed to like that part it worked out well. They enjoyed the fishing; I loved the company and really enjoyed being out on the water driving a boat.
Later on, he gave up the fishing and our parents purchased a lake place on Lake Anne. This was the place we spent many happy years on weekends with many family members including our Aunt Mary’s family, Uncle Paul’s family, and from time to time Uncle Meme along with Nonna, Nonno, Jennie, Francis and Pepe. Many others would come by on a Sunday and each would bring various dishes. We would bar-b-que or have a meal prepared by Mom.
There were many huge and tasteful meals of chicken, chicken and yellow rice, bar-b-que beans, sausages, flans, cakes, bakery items from the Housewife Bakery, hamburgers, and hot dogs, but not to forget pasta as well.
One of the most memorable times was when our cousin, Phyllis, would bring her girlfriends and we would have horse fights in the water. Everyone enjoyed those although, I’m not sure how we all managed without drowning each other. There were many times I did not think I would breathe air again.
About this time there were some young boys renting the cabin and since we had the boat; they offered to teach us how to ski which led to a pastime that I would continue for years.
A funny story happened as the oldest told me how to get up and when I did to stay in a low position. I took him literally following his instructions. I got up on the 2nd try and went around the entire lake, but kept low. Kneeling between two skis and the wake of the water was like having my first natural enema! I guess you can figure it out from here. When I got back, I had to go to the restroom and everyone enjoyed a good laugh (including me). I was proud of staying up the entire time; I was embarrassed with the other incident!
Our Sunday gatherings continued for years, but later began changing. Now, we were into our teen years and began inviting friends more our age, who lived in the neighborhood.
The Boat from Sears:
This is a picture of the boat and Elgin motor that was purchased by Dad at Sears. It is on the right side of the yard at our house on St. Louis St. It was used for many years and I had tons of fun driving it from the time he purchased it. Many times Dad’s friends would go fishing; I went along not to fish, but just to drive the boat. This gave them full-time fishing and me full-time driving, it was a win/win! Note the skinny tires and rims at that time. This made launching the boat difficult (at times), as there were few boat ramps and much of the time it had to be pushed through the sand.
I would like to add my love of boats and the water along with skiing started with this boat. I just knew from that time on, I would always have a boat in my life. Even while working at my parents’, store I would say to myself,.. I am lucky that I do not want to smoke, so I can save money for buying a boat later on in life. To this day, I still enjoy boating on the open water or the inter-coastal waters of the Gulf, as it brings peace and tranquility to me!
If you look closely at the picture of the boat, you will find our television antennae on the back side of the house. This indicates we had television at the time and there were no cable stations. All channels (usually three) were picked up via airwaves. They were free to watch and it would be difficult (I think) today to have people of that era pay for television. Usually, we adjusted the antennae to get a clearer reception. If there happened to be what was called “snow” on the set, someone would go outside and rotate the antennae for a better picture. No one complained, as it was just a part of the times.