Alexandria Landmark Identification Log

Thank you for visiting the Alexandria Retrospective Web site and helping identify some less-than-obvious Alexandria landmarks. Shown below are the most recent entries made by visitors to the Retrospective.

View pictures of the entire "Landmarks" Series

No. 12 in the Landmark Series
Water Tower, corner 5th and Lee Streets, Downtown Alexandria

No one has identifed this landmark yet!

No. 11 in the Landmark Series
Water Tower, corner 5th and Lee Streets, Downtown Alexandria

Rick Herring (rdherring@comcast.net)
November 27, 2009
City: Atlanta, GA

Comments: Tower looking east from main Fire Station downtown. Johnny Keisevieter (sp?) and Robert Jordan, two Bolton AFROTC guys older than me joked that it was an ICBM silo... :)

Bob
June 28, 2009
State: LA

Comments: Between Washington and Lee streets.... near old KALB radio studios and Library.

I worked on the FM side of KALB radio as a kid out of high school in '65.

Marion "Snooky" Givens
November 23, 2008
Mansfield, TX

Comments: Hokus Pokus liquor Store Lee St. Made many stops there. Legal and illegal.

Dr. Lanny G. Maddox
November 16, 2008
Ruidoso, New Mexico

Comments: Hokus Pokus Liquor

Kent Ryder
November 2, 2008
Cumberland, Virginia

Comments: Hokus Pokus Liquor. I would purchase liquor here duing the 80's for my father Paul Ryder then owner of Poor Paul's Steak-N-Spirits.

Patrick Mathews
October 10, 2008
Dallas, TX

Comments: Hokus Pokus. Driving to church every Sunday down Lee street, we would pass this fascinating store with the COOLEST sign ever. It would be years later after attending Calvary Baptist and later going to Louisiana College would I know what laid behind those doors. If it is not still in place, I would like to know what happened to the sign. It is one of the BEST advertisements I've seen.

Charles Brady
October 6, 2008
Baton Rouge, LA

Comments: The photo is the Hokus Pokus Liquor Store on Lee Street. Had the neon sign that had the ghost whose wings and tail would flap.

Linda Oliver
September 30, 2008
Anchorage, Alaska

Comments: Hokus Pokus

Dean McKay
August 11, 2008
Louisville, KY

Comments: the side of the Hokus Pocus building... I remember being scared of the sign as a kid... thought it was a monster or something!

Daivd Lemoine
August 6, 2008
St. Louis, MO

Comments: Hokus Pokus Liquors on Lee St. Used to go there with my dad on the rare occasion when he would get whiskey for a "high ball"

Franklin
August 4, 2008
Alexandria, Louisiana

Comments: Original Hokus Pokus on Lee Street

Marie Miller (shopinmacheen@aol.com)
July 28, 2008
Mulberry, FL

Comments: Hokus Pokus (the old one)---I always loved the flashing signs!

Louise Harper (louise71@bellsouth.net)
July 22, 2008
Marietta, Georgia

Comments: Hokus Pokus Liquor Store

Sam Damico (sdamico44@sbcglobal.net)
July 10, 2008
Houston, TX

Comments: Hokus Pokus Liquors

Shirley Daniels Collier
July 8, 2008
Baltimore, MD

Comments: This is the Hokus Pokus Liquor Store. I remember driving by as a teenager and being fascinated with the exterior. I went there one time with my father but he made me remain in the car while he went in to shop, furthering the mystique.

I am currently living in the Baltimore region. I was born in Cabrini Hospital in 1953 and went to St. Rita's, Menard, Bolton AND Alexandria Senior high before moving to Baton Rouge to attend LSU.

Mike Robbins
June 30, 2008
San Antonio, TX

Comments: That is the facade of the Hokus Pokus Liquor Store on Lee Street. I had my first summer job there in 1972, and my father was born in 1924 in a house (no longer standing) located across the street. The store's flashing neon sign was mentioned by A.J. Liebling in "The Earl of Louisiana."

Melissa Phillips
June 30, 2008
Alexandria, LA

Comments: Hokus Pokus store on Lee St

Michael Parham
June 28, 2008
Alexandria LA

Comments: Hokus Pokus on Lee Street ... I have no memories! Ha!

Linda Morris
June 25, 2008
Fairfax VA

Comments: It is the Hokus Pokus Liquor Store. I can't exactly remember the exact location, but I think it is on Lee Street.

Lucy Parker
June 25, 2008
Deville LA

Comments: The Hokus Pokus location on Lee Street. Wish it was still open there :(

No. 9 in the Landmark Series
Site of the Alexandria Fire Station, Rapides Avenue, at the corner of 13th Street and Levin Street

Francine Vanderhoeven Butler
April 8, 2008
City: Athens
State: Texas

Comments: I remember the old fire station on that triangular-shaped piece of land on Rapides Avenue.  Many a time I walked from my maternal grandmother's house on Monroe St. over to my paternal grandfather's feed store, which is that faded red brick building in the current picture.  The small white building next to it, I think, was my Uncle Jesse Vanderhoeven's drug store.  He was a pharmacist & his son, Jimmy, too.  I used to help my grandpa Edmond Vanderhoeven, check on the baby chicks in the incubator with the lights.  I made him bury a chick we found dead & he never let me go back again.  He always made an excuse or kept me away from that area. I also remember the Glorioso's grocery store on Rapides Ave.  What a wonderful memory!

Ernest Bowman
March 3, 2008
City: Columbus
State: Georgia

Comments: Looks like what I know as a patch of land between Levin Street and Rapides Ave. Papa Glorioso's store used to be in that area and also Mrs. Hattie Williams Cleaners was next to that tan building in the far back......(I am just 33 but I think I know A-town as we call it pretty good)

No. 8 in the Landmark Series
The Alexandria Public Library, now home to the Louisiana History Museum
503 Washington Street 
   see picture      link to the Museum

SHANNON BLACKWOOD
November 11, 2007
City: ALEXANDRIA
State: LA

Comments: THE OLD LIBRARY NOW MUSEUM AT WASHINGTON / 5TH. STREET

No. 7 in the Landmark Series
Don Theater, Bolton Avenue
see picture

Richard J. Wiliams SR.
June 23, 2007
City: New Iberia
State: LA

Comments: the Don Theater on Bolton Avenue.

Glynn Chevallier
June 22, 2007
City: Alexandria
State: LA

Comments: Isn't this part of the sign on the Don Theater on Bolton Ave.?

Joseph Adams
June 21, 2007
City: Houston
State: Texas

Comments: This is the Don Theatre, located on Bolton Ave. One of the first in Alexandria and once turned into a club by Raymond Rosenthal

Byron Shaw
June 16, 2007
City: Fairfield
State: CA

I know this as the Don theater that was on Bolton Ave. I saw the movie "Grizzly" there That was 1976 and I was 11......how did I get into a rated R show?

Donna Morgan Lukas Hall
June 6, 2007
City: Gulfport
State: MS

Comments: The Don Theater on Bolton Ave. I worked there during my high school years in the early '70's and even went on to work at the Showtown Drive-In (same owner). Smell of fresh Popcorn, sticky floors and getting to see a new movie before most of my friends did.

Mary Methvin
May 29, 2007
City: Boone
State: NC

Comments: Don Theatre on Bolton Ave. My siblings and I would walk to the matinees from our house near Prompt Succor, eat candy like fiends, and often sit through the movie twice.

Jenni Lamm
May 29, 2007
City: Pineville
State: Louisiana

Comments: This is the Don theatre. I have heard stories of when my mother Shirley Baudoin worked there back in the mid 70s

John Hunsaker
April 9, 2007
City: Alexandria
State: Louisiana

Comments: The Don Theater on Bolton Ave, near intersection of Jackson Street

Harper Levy
April 8, 2007
City: Alexandria
State: LA

Comments: This is the Don Theater on Bolton Avenue! I've passed this abandoned theater for years, and my parents have told me stories about it.

Debra Ducote
April 1, 2007
City: Alexandria
State: LA

Comments: It is the Don Theatre on Bolton Ave. I was raised in Marksville and sometimes when coming to Alexandria, we would go to the movies there. I remember seeing the Exorcist when it was first released at the Don Theatre.

debbie boudreaux
March 30, 2007
City: boyce
State: la

Comments: the don theater on bloton ave

Harry Smith
March 23, 2007
City: Winter Park
State: Florida

Comments: The Don Theatre, on Bolton Avenue; I could walk there from home. Jimmy Dunn and I were excused from English class to see Laurence Olivier's Henry V there.

Christopher Bordelon
March 21, 2007
City: Alexandria
State: Louisiana

Comments: That's the old DON Theater on Bolton Ave. I saw Star Wars back in 1977 there like 3 times. Given the fact I was only 3 at the time I still remember that vividly as well as the Paramount Downtown and MacArthur Village Cinema and Cinema 1 and 2 that was at the mall before they remodeled in 1986.

Margot Kiesewetter
March 19, 2007
City: Greenville
State: NC

Comments: The Don Theater!!! Walked to it from my home on Olive St. Sometimes, a movie would so capture my attention, I would sit and watch it over and over ... you can't do that anymore!!!!

Malcolm Ingram
March 14, 2007
City: Cathedral City
State: California

Comments: The old DON Theater on Bolton Ave. Spent many Saturdays there in the late 50s - early 60s w/ the neighborhood pals.

Richard Boudreaux
March 13, 2007
City: ALEXANDRIA
State: LA

Comments: don theater on bolton ave. pack-o-fun club, loads of movies

Sam Damico
March 11, 2007
City: Houston
State: TX

Comments: Don Theater on Bolton Ave.

SHARON
March 10, 2007
City: PINEVILLE
State: LA

Comments: Don Theater on Bolton Ave. When I was young, I would walk 10 blocks every saturday morning to watch a movie. It had several cartoons before the movie began. No fear of walking the streets alone as a young child

Linda Oliver
March 8, 2007
City: Anchorage
State: Ak

Comments: This was the Don Theater on Bolton Ave.

Victor Daigre
February 25, 2007
City: Pittsburg
State: TX

Comments: The old Don Theater on Bolton Ave. I watched a lot of great movies back in the 50's.

Joey
February 22, 2007
City: Pineville
State: LA

Comments: Don Theater on Bolton Ave

Sharon White
February 20, 2007
City: Peekskill
State: NY

Comments: The first time I set foot in the Don, at 12 years of age, was the day when my parents went to see "God Created Woman". I don't think they knew what the movie was all about, because as we left, my Mother said to my Father, "If I had known there was going be nakedness...I wouldn't have brought Sharon to see this movie". My parents must have thought it was a movie about Genesis in the Bible.

Ronald Dupuis
February 15, 2007
City: Shreveport
State: Louisiana

Comments: Don Theater -- As a child i used to go here on saturday mornings. admission price was 7 bottle caps and 25 cents.

JOEY CLARIUS
February 13, 2007
City: PINEVILLE
State: LA

Comments: OLD DON THEATER ON BOLTON AVE

Hank Mudge
February 10, 2007
City: Binghamton
State: NY

Comments: it's the Don Theater, on bolton ave - it had a triple setup of those old carbon-arc lamp projectors, and i was learning to run film when it was slow and the guy (can't remember his name any more, but that was before jfk was shot); couple doors down from a car lot and then the Western Auto store... i used to earn 50 cents an hour sweeping the floors between the seats and general cleaning after the movies ended and before they started again the next day if necessary. worked weekends, sometimes friday nights, while i was in school at ajhs and then at bhs... those were the days... last time i was by there in '88 to bury my dad in pineville, the don was long closed, and the rest of the avenue looked kinda dismal, too. wonder what it would look like to me if i went back again?

Eldrick Hall
January 30, 2007
City: League City
State: Texas

Comments: Don Theatre! I miss home so much!

Billy Wagner
January 15, 2007
City: Altamonte Springs
State: FL

Comments: Looks like the Don Theatre on Bolton Avenue.

Mary Ann Martin
Monday, January 15, 2007
City: Boyce
State: Louisiana

Comments: That is the Don Theater. My friend's dad ran the projector there. She got in free because of that. We didn't pay either because we were under the age of twelve and could get in free also.

David Michiels
January 15, 2007
City: Alexandria
State: La

Comments: Don Theatre, Bolton Avenue (near Intersection with Jackson Street)

Marvin E. McDonald
January 11, 2007
City: Mancos
State: CO

Comments: We probably didn't see the Don Theater sign when we rushed into the Pack-o-Fun club on Saturday mornings, but it was certainly a visible sign on Bolton Avenue. Mr. Averitt would give a pre-show talk about the evils of sailing flattened popcorn boxes, and it looked like a New York ticker-tape parade right after he turned his back. They hosted the Pack-o-Fun Club as a public service.

Carol Mason
January 6, 2007
City: Louisville
State: Ky

Comments: This is the Don Theatre that my daddy worked as a Projectionist and where I went to many, many movies..

Cindy Hasty
January 3, 2007
City: Pineville
State: LA

Comments: Don Theatre...used to love to go to!

Elizabeth Grigsby Reimer
Monday, January 1, 2007
City: Alvin
State: TX

Comments: That is the top of the Don Theater sign on Bolton Avenue. My brother, Lane and I often walked to the "Pack Of Fun Club" on Saturday mornings to see several comedies, a serial, usually a Captain Marvel or such, and a full feature leangth movie, often a western.

Sponsers were the Cotton Brothers Holsum Bread Co, who gave birthday cakes to those who had birthdays that week. I remember getting one when I was about 8 or 9 years old. I was so proud of it. Having a birthday close to Christmas time meant that my birthday cake was usually a fruit cake! I sat all morning with that cake on my lap and proudly presented it at dinnertime to my family.

Dan Simonsen
Friday, December 29, 2006
City: Ruston
State: LA

Comments: The Don Theater. I remember my neighbors taking me there for a Disney "Herbie" movie. There was a VW Bug in Herbie colors in the lobby.

Julia James
December 29, 2006
City: Montgomery
State: La

Comments: Don Theater

Name: Alma Dixon
December 29, 2006
Address: 5413 Downing
City: Alexandria
State: LA

Comments or questions: This would be the Don Theater located on Bolton Avenue.

Name: Don Phillips
City: Lansdale
State: PA
Date: December 28, 2006

Comments or questions: Saw many a good movie at the Don Theater. Always loved seeing my name in neon.

No. 6 in the Landmark Series
Methodist Church on Jackson Street
see picture

Name: George F. Roberts
City: Garland
State: Tx
Date: August 21, 2006

Comments or questions: The picture above is of the front entry steps of the First United Methodist Church on Jackson Street. My wife, Bennie Mae Henry Roberts, and I were married there fifty years ago this next November. We have many fond memories of the church and Alexandria. Thanks, George

Name: Anna Hammock
City: Deville
State: LA
Date: July 25, 2006

Comments or questions: This is Emmanuel Baptist Church.

Name: John Sweeney
City: East Wenatchee
State: WA
Date: June 8, 2006

Comments or questions: Main Entrance to First Baptist Church on Jackson Street next the former Trailways bus station--last viewed in April 1966. Being a "good catholic child" at the time, I would sneak off the children's functions with Richard Quinn and gain a different perspective of religion.

Name: Kevin Brough
City: Pineville
State: LA

Comments or questions: Emmanuel Baptist Church

Name: Les Woods
City: Arlington
State: TX

Comments or questions: 1st Methodist Church

Name: Mike Robbins
City: San Antonio
State: TX

Comments or questions: This is a picture of the church at the corner of Jacskon Street and Foisy Avenue (Seventh Street).  My father was Dr. Ralph Robbns, and his medical office was at 633 Jackson Street, directly across from the church.  He practiced medicine there from about 1953 until 1975.  The building where his office was located has been torn down and replaced by a parking lot, but the church is still there - although the congregation has changed - and Hixson's Funeral Home is also still on that corner.

Name: Lance Williams
City: Pineville
State: LA
Date: March 13, 2006

Comments or questions: Calvary First Baptist church on Jackson St. downtown

Name: Patty
City: Alexandria
State: LA
Date: March 6, 2006

Comments or questions: Old methodist church on Jackson street

Name: Bob Dale
City: Pensacola
State: FL
Date: March 5, 2006

Comments or questions: I believe it is the Methodist Church downtown on Jackson Street. I have not seen it since pre 1969 when I left Alexandria as an 17 year old, Bolton High graduate. I never attended the church but it is familiar.

Am I right?

Name: Mike Eskew
City: Apache Junction
State: AZ

Comments or questions: Church is located at the corner of Foisy and Jackson. I think originally it was First United Methodist, but was occupied by a different religion later in its life.

Name: Dick Geiger
City: Berlin
State: Germany

Comments or questions: If I'm not mistaken, that is the entrance to what used to be the Methodist Church on the 600 block of Jackson Street.

No. 5 in the Landmark Series
The fifth landmark was the Cathedral on 4th Street

This looks like part of the Cathedral on 4th Street. Was this St. Rita's Academy at one time? The dormers are the familiar looking part. MEM

Marvin McDonald
Mancos, CO USA - Thursday, April 28, 2005 at 17:43:12 (GMT)

No. 4 in the Landmark Series
This was identified by many alert viewers...the remains of the twin theater at what used to be the North Traffic Circle

It's a marquee for one of the drive in theatres. I would guess the Joy Twin on MacArthur drive.

Tony Damico
Alexandria, LA USA - Saturday, February 12, 2005 at 04:35:45 (GMT)

Drive in movie theater -- MacArthur and Bolton Ave. -- Hwy. 1 side by what is now overpasses but used to be North Traffic Circle.

Debbie
Alexandria, LA USA - Wednesday, February 09, 2005 at 22:16:46 (GMT)

this the old drive-in

malcolm lanius
ponchatoula, la USA - Monday, February 07, 2005 at 14:59:45 (GMT)

This the old Showtown Drive-in sign on Hwy 1 N (Bolton Ave). I remember going to a couple of shows there!

Albert Parr
Alexandria, LA USA - Wednesday, February 02, 2005 at 12:40:52 (GMT)

I believe that is the sign for the Showtown Drive In.

Charles Ward
Alexandria, LA USA - Monday, January 31, 2005 at 04:31:01 (GMT)

Showtown Drive-In?

Susan Gremillion West
Costa Mesa, CA USA - Wednesday, January 05, 2005 at 03:50:56 (GMT)

I'm a tad late to this; but, how I remember Showtown Drive-In! I particularly remember seeing Franco Zeffirelli's "Romeo and Juliet" (1968) there, on a sweltering summer night. The temperature was still over 100 degrees at the time of my curfew, 11:30 pm. Although the movie was memorable, the staggering heat and the "aroma" wafting from the nearby Hodges Livestock Co. cattle barn were overwhelming. ;-) My date was Richard Daigre (may he rest in peace), and intermittently we'd shut the doors of his fab GTO (that night, open windows weren't nearly enough!), start the engine and turn on the air conditioning. How stubborn we were! We were determined to see that flick to the end, even if we swooned in the process... which we almost did!

Elizabeth Weber Levy
Alexandria, LA USA - Sunday, January 02, 2005 at 18:04:53 (GMT)

This appears to be the Show Town marquee. It has two screens and the "Now Showing" signs at the bottom posted the pertinent offering for each screen. I think the first movie I saw there was "The Good The Bad and The Ugly", but "Barbarella" was quite memorable also.

Marvin McDonald
Mancos, CO USA - Thursday, December 16, 2004 at 23:53:22 (GMT)

This is the old Showtown Drive In sign.

Gregg Griffin
Dry Prong, LA USA - Saturday, December 11, 2004 at 22:38:24 (GMT)

Is this the Showtown Drive In? In the early 70's we would ride our bicycles there at night, park on the outside and watch the movies. When we got bold, one of us would sneak in the back and turn up one of the speakers so we could hear what was going on.

Brian Smith
Greenville, TX USA - Friday, December 10, 2004 at 02:24:16 (GMT)

Looks like the "Showtown" drive-in "theatre"...(I think Showtown was the name!) Located off MacArthur drive near the north circle. I lived on Sabine Drive, right off England drive, in the early 60's. We were close enough to the drive-in that we would get dad's binoculars, go to the end of Sabine, and watch the movie. Not a bit sound could be heard, but we thought we were really getting something for nothin'!!!.

Phil Bordelon
Lafayette, LA USA - Saturday, November 13, 2004 at 02:03:11 (GMT)

What a great landmark! The DRIVE-IN! I knew it right off the bat - that should tell you something! Of course I looked to make sure - great memories - some hidden in my heart forever.

Linda Mark
Colorado Springs, CO USA - Wednesday, October 06, 2004 at 15:40:50 (GMT)

This is the old Showtown drive-in sign.

Donnie Gauthier
Alexandria, LA USA - Sunday, September 26, 2004 at 18:53:17 (GMT)

No. 3 in the Landmark Series
The third landmark was a tough one...only one viewer below correctly identified it as being on the base of the old power plant's smokestack

Looks like the entrance to the old smoke stack downtown near Bayou Rapides and across from Rapides Hospital.

Franklin O. "Mike" Mikell
Alexandria, LA USA - Monday, July 19, 2004 at 21:36:17 (GMT)

No. 2 in the Landmark Series
Thanks to all the viewers listed below that correctly identified our second landmark as the steps leading downstairs to the Mirror Room at the Hotel Bentley

This looks like the staircase leading to the Mirror Room of the Hotel Bentley!

Jason Long
Alexandria, LA USA - Tuesday, April 27, 2004 at 18:10:27 (GMT)

It's the entrance to the Mirror Room at the Bentley!!!!!!!!

Misty Bradshaw
Pineville, NC USA - Friday, April 16, 2004 at 18:26:38 (GMT)

These steps lead to the Mirror Room at the Bentley Hotel.

Mary Bardwell
USA - Friday, April 02, 2004 at 20:12:41 (GMT)

This is the entrance to the Mirror Room at the Hotel Bentley in Alexandria. I really enjoy your web site and have sent it to all of my Classmates of the Bolton High School Graduation Class of 1948.

Ned Berlin
Alexandria, LA USA - Saturday, March 20, 2004 at 18:48:03 (GMT)

Could this be the below street level entrance to the Mirror Room at the Bentley Hotel?

Bill King
Houston, TX USA - Monday, March 15, 2004 at 16:00:18 (GMT)

No. 1 in the Landmark Series
Thanks to all the visitors listed below that correctly identified our first landmark as Effie's on south MacArthur Drive