Monday, March 19, 2018

Matchbook Monday

Welcome to Matchbook Monday.  Several matchbooks of Jackson's past are posted below.  Feel free to add your stories or any information about them in the comments section.  Judging by the traffic on last week's post, readers really enjoyed this bit of nostalgia. They can email copies of any old matchbooks they might have to kingfish1935@gmail.com. 


This first matchbook is from the storied Alamo Plaza.





Next up is The Lighthouse.  Its matchbook is probably the plainest one in the collection.  There is nothing on the inside and the back of the matchbook looks the same as the front.


Did someone say Sheraton Regency?  The building is now home to DHHS but once upon a time it was a Sheraton Hotel that was complete with a lounge and convention center.




Last but not least is this matchbook of Gibbs' Pizza that was submitted by a reader.


26 comments:

Anonymous said...

It’s my understanding that Elvis stayed at that Sheraton when he played in Jackson.

Nathan Hunt said...

Was Traces the club in the Quarter on Lakeland that had 2 level?? I remember some good times their in the early eighties.

Anonymous said...

WOW!! really miss Gibbs!!!

Anonymous said...

If I am not mistaken, that Sheraton began as a Hilton. WAPT used to occupy a lot of space there when it first began.

Anonymous said...

Gibbs had some great pizza! Alamo Plaza was near the Varia Drive-In. If you stayed too long at the movies you could spend the night at the Alamo Plaza. It even had vibrating beds!

Anonymous said...

I miss having a local pizza parlor like Gibbs. I remember the one in Canton Mart fondly. I never made it to Westland Plaza, but I ate at the one in Fondren.

Seems like they had a short-lived Mexican place called Senor Tony's (maybe?). Whatever it was called, I remember the TV ad voice was Willy the Wizard from Y16.

Now THERE'S a batch of memories for you Jackson longtimers!

Shazam said...

I think the club in the Quarter you are thinking about is Adrian's. It is Wine & Spirits now.

Anonymous said...

DHS was a Hilton, then changed over to a Sheraton sometime in the 70s, as I recall. Think it finally closed in the mid-80s. Anyone remember, for sure?

Anonymous said...

I keep waiting on a Zodiac matchbook.

Anonymous said...

Really miss Wayne at Gibbs Pizza. One bell of a guy and great place.

Anonymous said...

There was an Alamo Plaza at the corner of Terry and Hwy 80. The guy that ran it sold jet boats there as well.

Anonymous said...

I believe the Gibbs Pizza in Fondren was called Gibbs Pizza Palace at the Medical Center. At least that's what I recall the big guy who ran the register say when he answered the phone. I think his name was Skip.....they had the best red beans and rice in town. Little loaf of garlic bread. Man oh man...........

Nathan Hunt said...

Thanks Shazam.
Adrian's is the club I was thinking about. I was just divorced & had to get back into the dating thing. Spent a ton of money on drinks. The dancing was free. I must admit I was a crappy dancer. After a few drinks I became Fred Astaire (I'm my mind only). Didn't find a wife their. Found one at the health club. She could out dead lift me, so I had to marry her.

Anonymous said...

11:30, I checked an old 1979 phone book I have and it was still the Hilton then. Pretty sure it changed to the Sheraton shortly thereafter. We used to go eat the buffet there after church in the early to mid 80's. The chef from Lefleur's had moved over there (seem to recall his name was Bobby something???) and my dad loved his cooking. I think it made it to the late eighties but not much past that. Here's a good picture of it back in the day:
https://misspreservation.com/2012/12/05/before-and-after-hilton-hotel-jackson/

Anonymous said...

I remember eating at Gibbs on Old Canton, then walking across the street to watch the Egg Bowl in Veterans' Stadium. That was a LONG time ago! :-)

Didn't it become a Middle Eastern place before they tore the building down? Started with an "O" I think.

Louis LeFleur said...

I was so late getting to this one that pretty much anything I could say has already been said re Hilton/Sheraton and Gibb's, except adding that I believe that chef Anon 12:57 mentioned would have to be Bobby G, as in Ginn, if I remember correctly. He also ran The White House boarding house and restaurant on the corner of North & Boyd, about a block north of the hotel. That same poster also already provided the link to the Preservation in Mississippi website' story on the old Hilton, but here some additional information from the same source on Alamo Plaza.



Anonymous said...

I loved the ham po'boy at Gibbs! It was loaded with shaved ham and other toppings. Really wish I had one now.

Louis LeFleur said...

Just looked back over this and apparently no one comments on The Lighthouse. I'm pretty much drawing a blank on this one. Mostly likely was at a marina on the south Rankin side of the reservoir or, more likely, a short lived place across the parking lot from Cock of the Walk on the Madison County side. That latter one I ate at several times on the (then) company dime and it was awesome. Would have been late 80's and/or early 90's.

Anonymous said...

The Lighthouse was in the building across the parking lot from Cock of the Walk at the Reservoir. It's a party venue now and I think they call it Reservoir Pointe.

Anonymous said...

Pizza prepared, with pizza loving care, that's what you get when it's Gibbs!

Anonymous said...

Dayyyuumm!! If I had a time machine, I would go back and have a fantastic Gibbs muffaletta, then go by the Seale Lily ice cream place for a chocolate malt. Heck, I would even get out my fake ID and go into Skakey's Pizza in Fondren.................maybe even take another shot at that cute lil' redneck chick I took to the Sky View Drive In movie.............

Anonymous said...

known as Phillips for a while

Louis LeFleur said...

3/19 @ 4:22, thanks for the confirmation. I was feeling more and more strongly that was the one, across from Cock of the Walk. It is, in fact, now Reservoir Point (at Madison Landing). The website says, " Owned and operated by Catering by George’s for over 60 years", but that can't be correct because the res hasn't even been there for that long. Still, sounds like maybe the same folks owned it when it was a restaurant vs. a "venue".

Anonymous said...

Gibbs didn't hold a candle to Pasquale's Pizza on North State Street across the street from Primos Northgate.

El Burrito said...

I preferred Gibbs, but Pasquale's was a great place, too! I think there's still a Pasquale's in Greenville, but I don't know if it's the same people.

Louis LeFleur said...

Oddly enough, there's a Pasquale's in Greenville, another in Cleveland, then two in Laurel and one in Sanderville. Will have to try one of those sometime to see if they ANYthing like I remember as a kid and could get to Northwood Shopping Center by bicycle. Once I could drive, I went to Gibbs or who knows...



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Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

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In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


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This is definitely a Beaver production.


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If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

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