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Sunday, February 16, 2014
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10 comments:
The man on the left of Irvin is Roy Hoffienz, who put up the 7 1/2 million to buy Ringling.
Harry in Texas
He actually signed the notes
But after a few years wanted out
which promted the sale to Mattel
Judge Hofheinz Also built the Astrodome. Interesting character.
Yup Dave it opened as the Harris
County Dome in 65 & closed in 06
A part of it was demolished last
year & this year it was granted
Historic Site Registry status
As part of Feld's incentive for
the judge to become a partner
the 2nd unit was offered to fill
the place for the empty summers
This scheme ended in disaster
The judge & his son & daughter
are in the historic signing photo
with the Felds & JRN in Rome
Friend Chic. The Astrodome was not where the Blue Show performed in those two years. We worked in the "Astrohall" alarge bldg. of some 15000 seats right adjacent to the big dome. It was also the place of big leauge rodeos, etc. The big dome was doing quite well with baseball and then football during those times. MR and I went to huge parties hosted by "the judge" and his young very nice personable wife with stars of the circus [we went with Gene Mendez and wife and othyer prominent guest were Lucy Johnson and some big leauge astronaut, cUNNINGHAM I believe. Had the judge not had the stroke he would have been much more involved in the circus [he loved it] and Irvin would have been more involved in selling tickets. Both Irvin and a few weeks later "the judge" both came to CWM the summer before we joined the GSOE. It was an exciting time for us.
A side note. On july 4th in 71 we were doing a sold out matinee in this Astrohall and the Houstron Astros major league baseball were playing a huge sold out series in the Dome [45000] and the big "Astroworld" theme park [adjacent] was packed. All controlled by "the Judge" He also owned every gas station for some ten miles adjacent to and the Astroworld Hotel [adjacent] of which one party he hosted was in his personal sweet that was the penthouse. The balcony surrounded his huge living room and had a 7 piece Dixie land bandplaying music. Each bedroom was themed,such as the Tarzan room had a small pool and a balcony whereby a guest could swing off a vine and land in the pool. The DSadie Thompdson room was the decor of a Hywyan notch nh0ouse. His personal room had a huge bottom of a circus wagon as a King size bed, g0old leaf,scrolled and all. The hall ways wetre all kinds of circus lithos that he bought on his visit to Baraboo and bought out the Gift shop there.On a wall in the socalled living room was an exact miniature of the famed animated score board at the dome and was tuned into the exact scoreboard at the dome when games, etc. were on.
Now on this 4th of july the Judge was all dressed up as "uncle sam" top hat, stars and stripes, and in a wheel chair. He had had a stroke and was physically paralyzed in some arm and leg. Pushed by his black valet and accompanied by his wife and seated directly in front of the center ring. The whole area wa jumping, you can be sure and I could imagine him sytanding and yelling "and its all mine" He also got a ten dollar parking gfee from every attendee on the grounds. All of the rides and attractions had covered waiting lanes that were Air cond. It is unbeliuevable hat in Houston in the summer. He was the youngest law appointed judge in the history of Harris county and I believe that later his son would also become a judge. Quite a guy. Imagine what he would have done with the GSOE. johnny
The Judge had also hired Mel Miller who had built the backyard display at the Ringling Museum. They had purchased some of the older Ringling wagons from Goodman's in Sarasota for the circus park. I don't remember if it was to be part of Astroworld or what. Anyways, the Judge had the land, hotels, parking lots, etc already there and had learned from others about having the hotels and such and that was where the big money was at. Disney made that mistake in Calif having the park, but not the hotels,etc. Disney never made that mistake again.
He never did recover from his illness and the oil embargo (early 70's) at about the same time did him in.
p.j.
Thanks John as I had forgotten
the Astrohall which is likely to
be the part that was demolished
The main circular building seems
to remain intact
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