I found this the other day and my first reaction was that it was taken in Austin. Then I understood what it was: a very rare shot taken looking west inside the old Rice stadium after it had been expanded in the late ’30s. I can’t remember ever seeing one before. The houses off to the right are Southgate:
For comparison here’s a 1949 aerial that I found in Herbert Allen’s papers. That’s clearly the same place.
Note the work had begun on filling in Harris Gully but the little footbridge is still there. That’s how I know it’s 1949.
The picture was labeled semi-helpfully: “Oil Bowl circa 1947.” Rice hosted this bowl game twice. In 1946, Georgia beat Tulsa 20-6 and in 1947 Georgia Tech defeated St. Mary’s 41-19. Click here for an interesting article about defunct bowl games that includes a discussion of the short-lived Oil Bowl.
Correction: An alert reader points out regarding yesterday’s Swivel Hip Six that there was no Baker College in 1952. He is obviously correct. The Rice History Corner regrets, but is not particularly surprised by, the error.
Bonus: I had a very busy day today and covered a lot of ground. The highlight was a detour over at Abercrombie where I found myself trapped in a place I’d never been before. Here’s the door that sucked me in, an innocent looking door that I hadn’t realized existed until this afternoon:
Of course (of course!) when I went to go back in it wouldn’t open. And you see that fence? It goes all the way around. Naturally there’s a gate on the other side:
My companion, who is blameless in this episode, got us out by banging on a window:
I have rarely experienced such delight. I still can’t quite wipe the smile off my face.
A fresh angle:
