Bejeweled girls and the boys of summer

Right out of a Hollywood set. But it was real – and ours.(tsdhof.org)

Palm trees and cabanas. Movie stars lounging around a 15 acre tropical resort. That’s summer.

“You could go there and pretend you were on the French Riviera, complete with dashing pilots and beautiful stewardesses staying over between flights connecting Houston to Europe.” (Guy Hagstette)

We always whispered wondering who was behind those Foster Grants in front of the private poolside cabanas. (“Was that Marilyn? Dorothy Lamour, Ginger Rogers, Lana Turner? “JFK and Jackie stayed in the penthouse last night – Did you see them leave?” )

Season’s opening day.1950’s.(Hou.Public Lib)

Built by oilman “Diamond Glenn” McCarthy (the man James Dean’s movie character in Giant was based on), the Shamrock was the largest hotel built in the United States in the post-war era between 1946 and 1949.

Called the “Houston Riviera” it cost some $21 million to build, the 18-story, 1,100-room hotel and was pretty over the top with its’ own parking garage of 1,000 spaces. (The only part still there and in use.)

ABC even broadcast a radio program, “Saturday at the Shamrock”, from the hotel between 1949 – 1953..

Those that wished to be seen, and the one others wished to see, swarmed the elegant clubs: The Emerald Room and the Cork Club (at the top where mixed drinks could be served). If you to there at there tight time, you could spot celebrities getting out of their limousines. To be able to tell you friends at school that your parents attended some event over the weekend at the Shamrock – that was something.

Yep, found a photo to prove it. Sometimes one of the girls balanced on the shoulders of the other two. If that’s not Hollywood, what is?(tsdhof.org)

Summer’s place to be was the pool: “the world’s largest hotel swimming pool”

The world famous Shamrock Hilton pool was 50 meters (55 yards) long and almost as wide.

Motorboats would pull water skiers who precision water skiing exhibitions rivaled those of Florida’s Cypress Gardens.

As big as the ocean, but no salt and gritty sand in the suit.

You begged to have your birthday party there – if you were lucky enough to be a member or know one.

And this performance is for…. (“Please meet me for a Coke, later. Of course, I can get my you into this pool anytime. Fan club privileges.”) (tsdhof.org)

If that wasn’t enough, in the deep end were two one-meter diving boards, two three-meter boards and a stacked five- and 10-meter platforms for Olympic diving.

Those concrete platforms were really high and scary…I never made it to the top one, but could manage a back flip off the bottom two levels. Nothing compared to my older cousin who was a competitive diver for the Shamrock Swim team.

Corkettes, synchronized swim team based at the Shamrock. They performed around the nation and world, traveled with the USO, and were instrumental in getting synchronized swimming into the Olympics.(c.1950. Publicity photo)

The Shamrock Hotel’s Corkettes prepariing for a benefit performance (1960’s.Hou.Chron/tsdhof.org)

Astronauts, celebrities, and vacationers casually relaxed around the pool and provided an audience for practice sessions featuring the Shamrock Hotel’s swim team with their award winning high divers, and the Corkettes, the Shamrock’s synchronized swim group who also served as hostess for many events at the hotel. The name came from the club at the top of the hotel.

Decorating the sidelines – far from splashing distance – were the aloof, posh girls in rhinestone embellished, glittery bathing suits that never touched the water. The ones the boys all watched and wanted to impress.

Our own little Hollywood.

The elegance. The glamour.

Lolling amid shimmering summer days brings that all back.

Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge.

Related post about the Shamrock’s history and destruction “Shamrocks and Wildcatters”

Shamrock Hotel lobby illustration, Dec.1948. Won’t tell you what Frank Lloyd Wright said upon seeing it, but you can guess as excess wasn’t exactly his style. (Houston Pub.Lib.)

On the illustration’s back: “This is the lobby of The Shamrock Hotel, largest since the Waldorf…Typifying the ‘International Modern” design created for the 24 million dollar project, are a blend of regency, Empire, Chinese and Grecian. Honduras mahogany paneling in the lobby – all 22,000 sq.ft. off it is from a single tree. Draperies matching the panels in tone, are hand painted in Chinese tree design. The ceiling fixtures are lucite and resemble masses of floating clouds. The floor covered in Vinyl, a rubber plastic material by Goodyear, has rugs woven especially for the Shamrock by Bigelow in shades of green in a pattern created by the designer, Mr. Harrell.”

The hotel’s decor was elegant, but this is where all the drama happened. Life Guards were always having to rescue kids from the high dive platforms after they froze. The “dare ya’s” flowed like the cocktails. (Houston Pub.Lib.)

Anything he can do, I can do better. Watch! Not even a glance by the girls full of studied ennui. (tsdhof.org)

Shamrock Hotel/McCarthy Center postcard. That’s the parking garage on right. (USPD/Commons.wikimedia.org)

 

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