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Forum: Places from our Past

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Created on: 01/21/14 02:50 PM Views: 3551 Replies: 7
Rinky Dink
Posted Tuesday, January 21, 2014 02:50 PM

I've been to Google and to a classmate of the  '62 class. We missed something. We want to know about Rinky Dink on Airline where so many have said they hung out. Will someone please enlighten us?

Thanks, Lynda Voswinkel Boehm 1962

 
RE: Rinky Dink
Posted Tuesday, January 21, 2014 04:03 PM

I will try my best to give you history on the little dancehall that is referred to as "Rinky Dink"

In 1963 I was a 6th grader at Inez Carroll Elem. School, in Aldine ISD. One of my best friends there was a boy named Bobby Corral. Bobby's dad had some expendable income, at the time, and leased a little building on Airline at Hill Rd. He opened up a slot car store, selling slot cars, which were very popular at the time, and renting tracks for people to run their cars.

Well,....slot cars weren't making him a whole lot of money, so he took out the tracks, put in a few soda booths, a small dance floor, and a slightly raised platform for local bands to come in on weekends to play. He called the place "The Fun Corral",.... a little play on his name.

By 1966, the place was getting pretty popular for the young crowd, [no alcoholic beverages], so it kept out the over 21 crowd. Mr. Corral was bringing in local bands, like The Thirteenth Floor Elevators,and  Fever Tree...[ a few of the band members from a couple of these local groups went on to form a new group,......called themselves "ZZ Top"]

Rumor at the time had it that Johnny McKay, a '66 grad of SHHS, came in one night, and made the statement that this was some kind of a rinky dink joint,..........and so the name stuck!!!!!!

It was extremely popular for SHHS students, from the mid '60s to the mid '70s

Funny thing is that even though it sat in the Aldine school district, I don't recall ever seeing any AHS kids in there,.........kinda odd.

That's about all I know.....hope I have "enlightened" you.

 

 
RE: Rinky Dink
Posted Tuesday, January 21, 2014 05:34 PM

WOW! Have ypu ever enlightened me! Thank you so much. It was after my time a few years. We used to go to the VFW Hall to dance. I would have been at Rinky Dink maybe....if my folks thought it OK. Ha ha. They helped give rides to some of the other kids so they checked things out. :)

We had such fun at Rainbow Roller rink, VFW, school dances. After that, if we did homework or worked after school there was no time for troubles.......usually.

 
RE: Rinky Dink
Posted Thursday, January 23, 2014 11:36 AM

Lynda, I went to the Rinky Dink 1964-65 (I think) with Debbie Husband, Doris Brooks, Sandra Hewlett and several others.  It was Great!  I always wanted to be one of the girls dancing by the band stand...There was one guy Johnny Giavontie (mis-spelled) that everyone watched dancing.  He knew all of the latest dances.  Was a safe place to go as you could not go in and out and no drinking - so parents did not worry.  Some of my best memories were going there......Debby Hudson Grace

 
RE: Rinky Dink
Posted Friday, January 24, 2014 01:18 AM

I remember a date was going to take me there, I think it could have been John Lucas, and the place had burned down. I was so disappointed, because some famous groups had come there to play...who sang, "Goin on a jet plane...won't see my babe again...leavin on a jet plane....won't be back again"?  This may have been around 1967-68. Then we were on to thenCatacombs, Luv Street Light Circus, etc.

 
RE: Rinky Dink
Posted Wednesday, July 16, 2014 12:35 AM

Boy does this bring back some memories!  Thanks for this post.  My friends and I went there many times from about 1966 - 1968.  It was fun and safe, good bands, and a good place to meet people.  It was very popular in spite of its goofy names.  I knew it as The Fun Corral, and had forgotten that it was also called Rinky Dink.

 
RE: Rinky Dink
Posted Thursday, July 24, 2014 05:12 PM

What a great history of the Rinky Dink.  That little joint was a very important place in my life as a young teen....I should say THE PLACE.  I was surprised that someone else remembered Johnny McKay, who went on to own Montrose Skate Shop, just around the corner from work, in fact, he recently visited our shop. Thanks Ron.

 
RE: Rinky Dink
Posted Monday, December 15, 2014 12:39 PM

Connie Redden69
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