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Bill Leggett

OK WHAT WAS THE NAME OF THE PIZZA PLACE  NORTH MAIN 

Patrick Riley

Bill ... Carmello's Pizza (if I spelled it right).

To much information here but it's easy for me to remember the restaurant name as (the bad news) I was arrested in their parking lot one night for "relieving" myself in public. In my defense, it was a heavy beer night.

The good news, though, was that the arresting officer was Demo Metarelis'  older brother, George (a Chavez County Sherrif Officer at the time). He was kind enough to cut me a break (ie: turned me loose with no charges).

Demo, if you're reading this, thank George for me!

Another Carmello's memory that ties in with scrimping together coins for gas ... most nights a whole pizza was above our collective means. But, Ann Topley worked at Carmello's and if a customer would leave a couple of untouched pizza slices on their table, she would take them to the back and warm them up for us.

Ann, if you're reading this, thanks!

Rex Booth

Yep, Carmello's. It was good place as Pat mentioned to have cup(s) of coffee so as to sober up before going home. It was also a place where some guys would go after their dates and compare notes for the evening...

Here's  another George and Demos Metarelis story.  When George was a Senior at RHS, Demos and I were sophomores.  George owned a 1953 Ford. On serveral occasions he'd take Demos and I down to  the American Cafe which his parents owned on the 100 block of  West 2nd. A cheeseburger with all the fries you could eat for 25 cents a coke 10 cents. One day a couple of older girls who put a quarter in the juke box were arguing over some flyboy.  The girls walked out and a fight ensued next to the restaurant. They were slapping, yanking... and pulling each other's hair out! It was rather entertaining to hear the the jukebox blariing "Tequila" while the gals duked it out in the alley!! Those were them-thar days!

John Doyal

Rex, Demos name brought back memory of when He and I were drafted.  We rode the bus to Ft. Bliss where we were given our enlistment physical and sworn in to the army.  We had been told not to bring anything and to wear old clothes that would be thrown away when we got our uniforms.  We were to fly out the following morning to Ft. Leonardwood in Mo.  He had someone to spend the night with and I stayed at the Y.  Since I was staying at the Y I was given the Chit money for food for both of us.  The next morning he got to the plane fine, but I was still waiting on my ride from Bliss.  After several calls the driver arrived and I had to keep waking him up through 2 red lights.  He got me to the airport just as the plane was flying off, so I had to make more calls to get the next flight.  I don't know if Demos got anything to eat,  but no one would take the Chits(might have been that I looked like I was homeless with a patched shirt and patched blue jeans)  so I didn't either.  I did not see him again until years later.

Rex Booth

John D

Our Sophomore year, Demo’s parents bought a brand-spanking new metallic blue 1960 Pontiac Bonneville. It was the cat’s meow in those days… A big beautiful car! One Friday night around 8 o'clock Demos borrowed the Bonneville heading out with a trio of friends to El Paso… but wound up in Juarez by accident. We hailed a taxi to a nightclub “Four Roses” for a cocktail or two. The problem was a real catch 22. We had to get back to Roswell by 12 midnight so Demos wouldn’t get in trouble… and it didn’t leave much party time! A new “world’s record (roundtrip)” was set by Demos that night... pulling into his folk’s driveway in just under 3 hours, 59 minutes, 59 seconds!!  Pat R, do you recall this road warrior adventure?

Joe Treat

I have non idea how my parents washed our clothes and my diapers when we lived without electricity.  They must have washed in the bathtub or a tub , but I have no memory of that.  When we moved across the creek nto our new house we eventually had a wringer washer.  I remember it well, as they were a few time I had to rescue my mom from getting her hand caught in the wringer.  I knew where the release was and how to do it.  I also remember my dad helping with the laundry and hanging the wet laundry on the line.  I once told him I wanted to be a cowboy like Roy Rogers or Gene Autry and NOT the hanging up laundry kind..  My folks laughed about that for years.  

Patrick Riley

Rex, I don't recall a Juarez trip with Demo ... must have been on the B-List for that adventure.

I do recall our late-night round-trip to Carlsbad in your Studebaker ... there was certainly some kind of World Land Speed Record set that night! If I recall correctly, ~90 miles in under an hour.

I further recall that Don Hayes, sitting in the back seat, wished he'd worn his brown pants that night (if you get my subtly here). I was riding a "shotgun," and, as typical in those days, there were no seatbelts.

Oh, to be young and not quite so dumb again!

Rex Booth

Pat,

I recall the Carlsbad event very well. Each time we hit the series of "tickle bumps" just south of Artesia we'd catch air and upon each hard landing, a shower of sparks flew behind us! I figure that road race probably helped prepare Don for any hair-raising "emergency" landing he may have experienced... both as a USAF & Southwest pilot!

"Forever Young"  Right Pat!!

Paula Carl (Cowee Miller)

We kids loved when Daddy hit those Dips at a high rate of speed!  Fun!  Our cousins from Louisiana experienced those dips one evening as they came up from Carlsbad!  Don't have those in LA and for the rest of his life he always talked about going airborne south of Artesia. Great memories. 

John Doyal

Happy mothers day to all.  I also remember that rollercoaster ride.  I had an aunt who lived at Lake Arthur so we went there several times a year.  Later we went fishing at Mcmillan lake.  We all rode in my dads GMC pickup (in the  bed of course) and would almost get thrown out.  When I got out of the army my first job was as a state police dispatcher and I sent a lot of officers to wrecks due to high speeds and drunk drivers at those dips.   The high speeds usually resulted in deaths except for the drunks.  Later during a pursuit as an officer I had one wreck in Dexter and the second one on the first dip.  He was drunk so he survided the wreck,  his brand new car did not.   Rex we were trying to remember all the bars and can't recall the name of the one just south of the Hondo on the east side of Main

Rex Booth

Rex Booth

John D

There was the La Bonita and Star Bar with the Satellite behind them, but they were North of the Hondo.  I recall a drive-up package store/ tavern just south of Hondo river at the corner of  Albuquerque & South Main. I believe Ferrell mentioned his Dad may have worked there? Ferrell might remember the name.

Patrick Riley

Rex, thanks for remembering Forever Young ... still my favorite song ... Bob Dylan's writing and Joan Baez's performance ... absolute artistry.

At our collective ages, this should be the RHS Class of 1962's anthem!
 

Patrick Riley

I remember all three bars Rex mentions and also recall the Main Street bar in question but, damn, can't remember the name???

I also remember Roulons on Second and McGaffy (I think) and Jacques (?) at Hobbs and South Main (again I think).

Jacques particularly stands out as it's the only bar I've ever been thrown out of. Actually, our whole group was asked to leave but not for the reason you might expect.

We were home from college for Christmas break in 1962. With me were Howard Holt, Don Hayes and one or two more (maybe John Denton and/or Tom Parsons and/or Tom Mangham and/or Bamby Childress). Somehow a story came up about an unnamed hapless individual setting his face afire attempting to drink a "flaming Everclear". In case you don't know, Everclear is pure 190-proof grain alcohol ... very flammable.

"He just did it wrong," I stated, actually knowing nothing about shooting one of these. "You just have to gulp it quickly, which will extinguish the flame with no oxygen present."

"Sure, would you do it?" someone countered.

"If you'll buy it, I'll shoot it!" I replied (being, of course, young and dumb).

Someone quickly ordered a double shot of Everclear (a double was not in the challenge).

It shortly arrived and looked like a very generous pour. Someone reached over with a lighter and set the glass ablaze.

I looked a it for a long minute as this now seemed a bit more of a challenge than I'd originally imagined. But I certainly wasn't going to back down now and become the "pussy" of the evening. I slowly reached over, picked up the burning glass, and lifted it to shoulder level.

It was at that time that my thumb and forefinger realized the glass was very hot ... I dropped it with a scream.

The glass fell to the table, turned over, and spilled still flaming Everclear everywhere. Alcohol burns with a blue flame, and it was actually a pretty cool sight! In the dim bar, the burning liquid cascaded off the table in all directions, creating a bright blue flaming waterfall.

Our group just scooted back from the table and watched the show while the bar staff rushed over with wet towels and stomping feet, ending this unplanned entertainment.

Management wasn't as impressed with this fire show as we were and threw us out without even allowing us to finish our partially-consumed beverages.

A ruined evening? Not really, we just took our fake IDs and went to another bar.

PS - I can only now safely mention the fake IDs as the statute of limitations has run!

John Doyal

Rex, the Star was the one by the La Bonita and it was the only bar that cops had to enter back to back to keep from beiing stabbed in the back.  The other bar was by what used to be a mechanics shop and had an unusual name.  

Rex Booth

John D

That's right. The La Bonita was on the the southeast corner of Man & Alameda with Star Bar next door.  One Saturday night Bill Turley, Bob Gilmore, I, and another buddy walked into the Satellite. And found we were the only white guys in the place. We got some mean stares from patrons telling us we were not invited. One menacing patron got in our face yelling if we didn't leave we be in a lot of hurt! Now...If it hadn't been for Parker ('59 RHS) sitting in the back we might have wound up bleeding out at St. Mary's! . But everything was cool when Parker came to the rescue... so we sat in a booth with Parker and his girl. 

After a while we noticed Bob Gilmore was missing! We looked everywhere! Men/Women's restrooms, out in the parking lot, and alley! Bob was no where... we were getting worried!  On a lark we walked though the back door of the Star Bar and found Gilmore.... Selling AAA Car Insurance!!! 

Bob you need to jump in here and correct any embellished part of the story... that is, if it wasn't told right.... Footnote: AAA towing insurance was around 19.99 per year back in the day!

Rex Booth

As per Pat's escapade at Jacques... and fake I.D.'s.  A buddy and I were able to get a couple of older guys get I.D's for us. They worked for GDA  building all those missle silos in 1961.  It cost us a case of Coors each for an "official" GDA picture ID card. They then drove up to the window at Papa Bear's with us sitting in the back seat handing over the cash once the goods were in hand.  The rest is history and histrionics!!

Fred Miller

Speaking of bars,, wasn't there a bar at the bottom of the hill on No. Main across from the ball field?  The name Gay Ninties comes to mind.

Rex Booth

You are correct Fred,

It used to be 'Gay NIneties' but was re-named "Papa Bears"  by the new owner. Mindful of the Roswell 'good ole boy' mentality, the owner didn't have to use a crystal ball to figure against continuing with the same name for their establishment... roughly some twenty years before words were changed to fit those who were of a different persuasion.

Bob Gilmore

Let history rest, other respected citizens of the area and visitors to the La Bonita, Crazy Joe and Steve Looney.

Including Crazy Joe's cousin Bobby!  

Rex Booth

Sherry Hester (Trasp)

Here You Go!! Just Sayin'

Picture is not showing... for help posting picture,  see above post

Rex Booth

A few folks have said they have had difficuly posting pictures on the Message Forum.  Some have tried to copy the picture and then paste it on the forum response page. Some have not always had good results pasting the image this way. 

I suggest, first "saving" the picture to a file on the laptop, PC, or mobile unit. 

Click Post Message

Click on “Image Icon"  (top row 2nd from right) A page appears which allows you to include a picture (image) with your post. At the top left click on “Choose File”.  A window appears to allow you to choose the location of the picture. Double click on that picture. The name of your picture will appear next to ‘Choose file’. Click on “Upload”. Your picture appears on the posting page. Type any information above or below the picture.  At the bottom of the posting page click “Save Changes”.  You have completed a post with picture!

Good Luck!

Bill Leggett

THIS WAS TAKEN JULY 4TH MANY YEARS AGO, 

SOUTH MAINSTREET. MY WIFE AND I WERE VISITING

A LITTLE HISTORY

Rex Booth