 | Faye Graves, a native Wichitan, attended school at Friends and Wichita State, concluding at Midwestern Theological Seminary. He has been active in media for many years with Channel 12, KIRL, KFDI, KOOO AM & FM (Omaha), KFRM & KICT 95, as an owner, manager, producer, director and announcer. He has served as President of the Haysville Board of Education. He has also served on several national boards of the Southern Baptist Convention. Faye currently serves as Executive Pastor and Director of Administration and Education at Immanuel Baptist Church, 1415 S. Topeka, Wichita. You may contact Faye by e-mail fmgraves@amenibc.org, or by phone at (316) 262-1452. |
Nostalgia
2011-05-01 13:04:00
Remember...
Answer: Thank you for your questions. They bring back great memories. Horseshoe Lake is just off of 2lst St. north as you enter Sedgwick Co. Park. The ballroom? I had to do some research to answer this one.
Many performers who played at the old Forum Auditorium and the Arcadia Theater located in the same building would also play for a dance there. I called Bill Boggs who played with the original Ark Valley Boys band on KFH radio many years ago. He told me the ballroom was the MOP Ballroom. It was located directly across from the old Missouri Pacific depot on West Douglas and thus the name “MOP.” As you drove by, you could look through the many windows upstairs and see the people dancing. My wife remembers sitting on a bench against the wall when see was a young girl, watching her parents dance there.
Another ballroom on West across the bridge was called the CEC Playhouse. Also, do you remember others such as the Blue Moon, the Trig Ballroom and the present Cotillion on West Kellogg? The current TV show, “Dancing with the Stars” brings back many memories of dancing.
I’ve also received a note all the way from California asking if I remembered where Wolf’s Cafeteria was located. Wolf’s was the first downtown cafeteria and was located right in the heart of the business area across from the Beacon building, one half block south of Douglas on Main St. Wolf’s was a very complete cafeteria. It had a varied menu. The tables were all adorned with white table cloths. Mr. Wolf was usually there dressed in his restaurant coat with his name on the front. Today, there is a parking lot for Century II that occupies part of the space where Wolf’s was located. Another cafeteria was Gentry’s Cafeteria, on the south side of Douglas and west of Main St. The other cafeteria in downtown Wichita was on South Market. It was named the Forum. The Forum was the newest of the three cafeterias and was located alongside of Jenkins Music and across the street from the Innes Department store which later became Macy’s.
I also remember school letting out at the end of May. That meant time to do some part time chores…or have fun being with your friends. In later years…slicking up and fixing up your cars. Then driving them on Douglas for everyone to admire your new hubcaps…
“Hollywood hub caps” as they were known, how you leaded your doors…or set your licence plate…or changed the muffler system to sound good.
Yes Spring was always lots of fun. It’s still a very beautiful and exciting time of year…to get out of the house and enjoy the special holidays, graduations, weddings and all of the other events. I hope you have a great and safe spring.
