Tag: Memphis Memoirs

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Pancho’s in the 1950s

CREDIT: PHOTO BY JERRY DAWS

Panchos on South Bellevue

  • PHOTO BY JERRY DAWS
  • Pancho’s on South Bellevue

My pal Bonnie Kourvelas recently sent me two wonderful images (originally Kodachrome color slides taken by her parents, Jerry and Edna Daws) showing the exterior and interior of the old Pancho’s Mexican Restaurant that was located on South Bellevue. That’s the Daws family in the pictures, but don’t ask me to identify all of them. It was a private affair, and I wasn’t invited.

To tell you the truth (as I am prone to do, from time to time, mainly when I am drunk), I wasn’t familiar with this location. I knew Panchos’ had (and still has) a restaurant on the outskirts of West Memphis, and I knew there was also a branch at Union and McLean, and later at Poplar and White Station.

But sure enough, from about 1959 until about 1972 (those dates are guesses, based on city directory listings, which are not complete, for some reason), Pancho’s was located at 1670 South Bellevue, just across the street from the entrance to Forest Hill Cemetery. That building is gone now, so I’m glad to see these photos. I especially like the wonderful mural, and the terrific neon sign. And I’d certainly like to have some of those fine cars out front. And below is a shot of the interior. It’s rather dark, and I certainly don’t know WHAT the photographer was aiming at, but you can get a sense of the “authentic” Mexican clutter inside.

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WKNO-TV to Feature “Ask Vance” — Tune In!

Southern Routes Airs Thursday

  • “Southern Routes” Airs Thursday

After years of turning a deaf ear to movie directors, television executives, and purveyors of cheap pornography, I finally gave in to the persistent demands of WKNO-TV and will now make a regular appearance on their popular Southern Routes series.

It’s true! The first show airs on WKNO this Thursday, February 4th, at 8 pm.

So plop yourself in front of the television, set your TIVO, or just wander around the appliance section of your local Target store. If you still miss it, the show will repeat on Saturday, February 6th, at 2:30 pm and again on Sunday, February 7th at 12 noon. After that, well, I really can’t help you.

I won’t tell you what topic I’ll be discussing on the premiere episode; you’ll just have to watch. I guarantee you it will be a good show, since it’s produced by a super-talented gentleman named Kip Cole, and the “Ask Vance” segment (no, the whole show isn’t about me — not yet, anyway) will be produced by my pal Bonnie Kourvelas, who has produced and hosted many of WKNO’s wonderful Memphis Memoirs specials. If you saw “Beyond the Parkways” or “At the Movies” — well, that was some of her fine work, so I’m in good hands.

Don’t worry; I’m not leaving the world of magazines or blogs or books or calendars; I’m just spreading out a bit, that’s all.

Of course, this is only the first step. Next: Billboards, iTunes, and podcasts. I’m trying to get some of my colleagues to wear those old-timey sandwich boards — adorned with a stunning portrait of me, of course — and walk up and down the Main Street Mall. So far, no takers, even though I’ve offered them a fistful of nickels. How lazy can you be?

(And yes, that IS me on the TV screen in the photograph here. Don’t squint at the image; click to enlarge it, for goodness’ sake. Gosh, what a cute tyke! I think I was only 35 or so, singing in the school play.)

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Look Who’s 50

We interrupt this space, normally devoted to going out, for this important advisory: Stay home and stay tuned to WKNO-TV Channel 10 for the latest installment of Memphis Memoirs, airing Monday, December 4th, at 7 p.m.

WKNO’s Memphis Memoirs is a documentary series that serves up a heaping of local nostalgia — covering everything from “Lost Memphis” to the movie industry. For Monday evening’s episode, the camera is turned around, so to speak, for “WKNO — The First Fifty Years.” The documentary examines the station’s pioneers, such as local businessman and civic leader Julian Bondurant, who led fund-raising efforts for the station, and Frank Laubach and Pauline Hord, who were responsible for Streamlined Reading, the first program in the United States to teach reading and writing. And, of course, Elvis might get a mention or two.

All those who grew up with All Aboard with Mr. Be and now watch Hello Mr. Chuck! with their children, who discover great things about the area from Southern Routes, and who keep up with the latest health-related developments through Smart Medicine know what an important role WKNO plays in the community. Here’s to the next 50 years.

“Memphis Memoirs: WKNO — The First Fifty Years,” 7 p.m., Monday, December 4th, WKNO Channel 10