This came from a completely different place than yesterday’s basketball post. It’s a contract, and one so weird I was gobsmacked when I read it:
Honestly, it had never crossed my mind that we would have to bring our own bleachers! This is an earlier image, circa 1930s, but I’m fairly sure the layout was basically the same. I guess the thinking was that the seats that were already there were too far from the action.
Bonus: Loyal reader John Wolda blew my socks off with this picture from the game I wrote about yesterday. That’s Dean Smith with the ball.
Gene Swinger is going for the basketball that Dean Smith is dribbling.
I don’t recognize Rice #26.
I never saw City Auditorium.
The picture of “City Auditorium” fascinates me, noting the configuration of the court; the players lining up for the “jump ball” — which began each quarter back then (changed when either Alcinder or Chamberlain was playing); the width of the free throw lane, which was widened because of George Mikan (?sp) with the Minneapolis Lakers [sic]; the padded goal supports, etc.
My only memory of the City Auditorium (where Jones Hall is now) is that’s where Friday Night Wrestling happened.
Houston City Auditorium
http://www.scottymoore.net/houstonAud.html
BTW: the last pic on that site shows (maybe) Ray “Red” West. He went to Humes High School in Memphis, TN, and was Elvis Presley’s friend — some said his “bodyguard”.
He became an actor in Hollywood, along with Elvis, and even continued there after Elvis’ death. (I think: all my remembrances are subject to question.)
“Red” and I played baseball on a team in Memphis in the mid 1950s. I spent that summer in Memphis, home from Rice.
Elvis picked Rat up in his purple (or pink) Cadillac after a game one night. Everyone there (in Memphis or surrounding area) was excited, BUT I had never heard of Elvis Presley at the time.
When I returned to Rice in the Fall, one of my apartment mates, George Randolph, informed me of who Elvis was — George even sang me all Elvis’ songs sans guitar.
George, as all 1956 Owls remember, was Willene’s bartender and jack-of-all-trades at Kays’ Bar & Grill.
“GONE IS OUR YOUTH AND THE SYMBOLS THEREOF”
a remembered newspaper cartoon after Babe Ruth’s death.
“Ray”, NOT “Rat”.
Sorry
That’s Gene Schwinger, our All American, reaching for the ball and #26 is “Buzzy” Bryan.
More SWINGER, Gene.
His sister, Elaine (?) also attended Rice in those years.
https://scholarship.rice.edu/handle/1911/64571
John Wolda, our non-pereil right-handed pitcher of 1952-1956 has now left us to go to his own corn-“Field of Dreams”. R.I.P, John, we loved knowin’ ya.
An image of a game in 1926 or 1927, shot from the floor. Audience on the left, and the basketball band is in the front row. Taken from the 1927 Campanile.
And I forgot to paste in the link to the image…
https://grungeworthy.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/1927basketballbandcityauditorium.png