Oak Cliff...Journey Back In Time (Randy Virgil)

I was born and raised in Oak Cliff. My family sold our home after I graduated in 1971 and we moved to Richardson. I often think of my childhood and teenage days growing up in Oak Cliff so I created a video of my Oak Cliff memories. Oak Cliff...Journey Back In Time.
Randy Virgil
7-11-2017

[@JWimpy]

So many wonderful memories. This video made me cry. I wish we could go back in time. These were such great times.

[@CoolBreezeAnthony]

I grew up in Oak Cliff. Our family moved to Oak Cliff in 1964. I was 7 years old when we arrived. I never left. Still living in The Cliff. I knew the people who ran Austin's Barbecue. I have lived over 60 years in this city. I have seen many changes take place over the years. Yet, the memories remain. Most of the people I grew up with and even members of my family and neighborhood have all moved away with a few exceptions. I went to Henderson elementary and W E Greiner Jr. High and graduated W H Adamson. Thanks for sharing this video. Peace.

[@JM-rs7io]

😷🤔😀The ONLY thing you can depend on is Change!😏R.I.P. Old Oak Cliff!🥲😢😭😷

[@marilynnorrell5065]

Thank you for sharing all these photos , such wonderful memories of a much more simple time in my childhood !

[@reginalddurley4162]

Oak Cliff when it was all white. Everything started leaving once we moved in

[@frankallen6459]

The most amazing photo to me was Burnett Field. As a little kid my uncle use to take me there to watch the Dallas Eagles play. It was completely made of wood.

[@KreativeKeepsakes]

Awesome video! I grew up in Oak Cliff and graduated from DW Carter in ‘82. Friday nights at Austin’s barbecue, Saturday nights at Astro Theater, Sunday afternoons at Bronco Bowl...And you knew it was Christmas when you saw the Christmas tree on the bank! The nostalgia is too much!

[@Anonymous-ms4ex]

I miss the old dallas too I lived on Montreal in brooklyn and burlington 807

[@mariarios9154]

Wow oackliff beautiful

[@kellycoleman715]

My folks grew up in Oak Cliff and graduated from Adamson high school. My maternal grandfather lived at 2118 S. Beckley (house no longer there) and my paternal grandparents lived at 446 W. Greenbriar Ln. near Methodist hospital. My grandfather built their house which still stands. I love Oak Cliff and enjoy visiting a couple of times a year. I’ll miss the old El Fenix by Lake Cliff though.

[@wandadaniel8914]

Born in Dallas, grew up in South Oak Cliff. Rode the bus downtown to the movies at the Palace, Majestic or Tower theaters. The Palace had an organist that played a beautiful organ that rose up from the floor during intermission ❤️

[@homlehomer8205]

I gew uo in SOC also went to Lisbon elemetry, Zumwalt Jr high SOC high school Like you I remember the Palace and Tower and the Majestic theaters I worked at the Majestic as an usher until I went into the Army in 1967. I now in South Dakota don't miss Dallas at all.

[@thejrm420]

Memorys of a more simple time that can't be forgotten by the ones that lived it.

[@grantstevens8988]

Well that was a blast from the past!!! I grew up on Jefferson Blvd. I went to Sunset for one year then graduated in 1971 from Kimball High school. Btw I have photos to share.

[@tarusprentice7782]

Wow. Very awesome

[@NickCager]

A nice reminder that all good things must come to an end...

[@emmarobbieus9107]

My grandma graduated from sunset in 1950 and I graduated from sunset in 2003.

[@1952creswell]

1950 was the year that Sunset won the state championship in football.

[@mima8862]

I miss the old day in the seventies in Dallas 😢 not the same now! Too crowded

[@ronnie1276]

Love oak cliff iam was born in Dallas Texas in the oak cliff area really miss it I wish I could go back .sometimes I drive around to remember my old times miss it a lot

[@xecukc7010]

I lived in Oak Cliff until we moved to Pleasant Grove. A lot of these pics remind of it. I can remember going to the Jack-n-Box and a drive-in somewhere in Oak Cliff in 1964-65. I went to Jefferson Davis Elementary. I bet they changed that name years ago! My first job was on Jefferson, right across from the theater that Oswald was caught in. Thanks for the memories.

[@rwolfson1935]

I graduated Richardson H.S. in '77 and used to drive to Oak Cliff! Still love it. Thanks!!

[@patricialemmons3361]

Thank you Randy. I grew up in Oak Cliff, Lancaster an graduated Desoto HS in 1960. This video brings back SO many memories! Thanks

[@mwmann]

Thanks Randy. I recognized everything. I grew up on 2939 Shadow wood Dr in Oak Cliff. The original OC. Went to Jefferson Davis Elementary School, W E Greiner Junior High, WH Adamson HS. Lived in our great hometown of Dallas 53 years. Hope to move back before I die. Been living in Broken Arrow Oklahoma since 2007 65 years old. Thanks again partner appreciate it great video.

[@xecukc7010]

I went to Jefferson Davis too. About the same time as you (I'm 65). Loved it! I remember we had square dances on the black top. I also remember that Texas history was a BIG thing. We had to remember the "Alamo" song by heart! Moved to Pleasant Grove and attended Spruce.

[@mwmann]

@@xecukc7010 Yes those were memorable times and great times. I definitely remember Spruce HS. I had a terrible accident running track for Adamson there. I kept telling coach Cristoff that I had an upset stomach and couldn't run that day. He made me run anyway on the 440 sprint 🏃‍♂️relay. 2nd leg. And it happened just like I felt it would. Luckily no one in the stands noticed when I s*** myself. But anyway, that's gross but when you said Spruce that popped into my mind. I'm 66 now and Coach Cristoff was at our 10 year reunion in 83. Believe me he remembered. Everybody on that track team remembered because they all were having a good time on that bus back to Adamson at my expense. Finally I took my gross soiled jock strap out of a bag and tossed it at a group of my friends. It was hilarious watching those boys scatter that day. Boys will be boys. Good luck to you and God bless. I never thought I'd find someone from Jefferson Davis elementary school in Oak Cliff on youtube.

[@mariantreber8055]

They did change the name of Jeff Davis school...can't have traditional if it's from the civil war. My good friends went to school there. We all met at Greiner and still friends. They went to Adamson. ..I went to Sunset. I miss the OC from the 50s & 60s. Most of Mexico lives there now. Reagan okd 12 million illegals and it's never stopped. Only light shades need to follow the laws. So, here we are. Welcome to minority, courtesy of commies. The deep state govt is commie. Truth usually gets deleted.

[@Rocky-ji6cj]

@@mariantreber8055 Reagan spear headed the destruction and Brandon is brining it back? It's currently turning white again

[@LilMinaK]

Carter High Class of 2017! Cliff changed so much.

[@sylvanahernandez1264]

Perfect Song. Thank You Randy

[@travisfultz169]

Bronco Bowl and Austin's bbq.... I mean honestly, it will never be that good again!

[@garionbush5906]

I remember the bronco bowl and the astro drive-in movie

[@ggilstr]

Thank you, Randy! That was a great look back and places and times I cherish. Great memories!

[@texxxasron]

I always liked cruising Keist park Sat and Sundays!!

[@1952creswell]

Ron, what high school did you go to and what year did you graduate?

[@barrykaiser5560]

My aunt and uncle had a car lot in OakCliff..the Red Moore Used Cars...

[@1952creswell]

I used to know a man named Red Moore who owned a coin shop on Jefferson Blvd.

[@marqibarra]

Thanks for making this video. I miss oakcliff dearly

[@Douglas_Stevens]

I miss the Bronco Bowl

[@Aboveall1313]

Thanks for VD Randy gd. song go with it" moved bk yrs ago ; sad when pass by see thu places gone""

[@sallydavila863]

I miss when I was a lil girl I'm from west Dallas la vahada good memories miss u dad it's not the same with out him r.I.p dad Raymond Davila bka.mundo gone but not forgotten never dad 😥

[@indrag13]

La Vajada

[@ianspenyoung6129]

Sad to see how it is today.

[@tywolfe2091]

My mom went to T.W. Browne then Kimball class of 74, Aunt's went to Bishop Dunne and Tyler St. My sis and BIL are now gentrifying Oak Cliff by moving back in 🤣

[@LadyWeasel]

The sad thing is they are completely fucking up Oak Cliff with condos. I am scared places like Safety Brake will be driven out by developers.

[@Aboveall1313]

Exactly " f it up I knw things change progress all that sh%%&% but its SaDdddd! Developers from out a state buyn all shtt up"

[@jordangordan8980]

All over the country!!!

[@josephforest7605]

@@jordangordan8980 Toronto ,Ontario way up in Canada also .

[@josephforest7605]

Toronto , Ontario way up in Canada , also . They are building like crazy, but there are still homeless all over the streets of Toronto .

[@zeldasmith6154]

This is the area to buy in because it's accessible and has architecture still that's not pretentious. I don't know if you can buy liquor today but when I lived there, you couldn't. So, we all drove into Dallas to buy beer. People are going to drink.

[@trevorjameson3213]

You can not buy liquor in Oak Cliff, it is still a dry area. Which is good. If people want liquor they can cross the river and buy it there.

[@rickyruiz2560]

Damm miss the old days like crazy. So much. Fun. Growing. Up w my cuzions. Had girls like crazy. Going too 15ths. Hooping. It up. Playing. Football at. Kid springs. Never. Grew up mentally fuck up life. Fucking drugs. Any youngters. Out. There stay out of. Trouble fuck them. Drugs me. Just keeping. It real

[@DrOlds7298]

That house at 3:10 looks familiar. Perryton & Saner maybe?? (Parents house was/is about 100 yds away to the Northwest off Tennessee?)

[@thatsoboy1871]

They forgot about Red Bird Mall 🤷‍♂️💭????

[@ronlarsen5463]

The chicken-fried steak at Austin's was delicious. Go Adamson leopards.

[@indrag13]

The chicken fried steak at Ginny's Bishop Grill!!!

[@rwolfson1935]

Chicken fried steak at Roscoe White's near Inwood and Lover's Lane was the bomb. Torn down years ago. Bob White's was outstanding, too. I think they were brothers. Bob White's was off Military Drive way out, I think. Been a long time and I am old.....

[@1952creswell]

So was the banana creme pie.

[@1952creswell]

So was the banana-creme pie. And boy, they sure could smoke a Thanksgiving turkey.

[@EricCox4848]

The only time I had dinner with family was around 1994 or 1995. They closed around 2000 and by the end of 2001, Eckerd bought the land and built their store there. Today it's a CVS.

[@Anonymous-ms4ex]

Sunset high school

[@joelgalvan8358]

Forgot, Griff's burgers and Webb's ice cream and hot dogs.

[@thewriteactor]

Randy, you must have known my brothers Billy and Robby Dougherty. We all went to Jefferson Davis, eventually to Carter, then Browne and Kimball.

[@rayespinoza9509]

the bronco bowl

[@1952creswell]

Anyone remember Jeff-Davis Shopping Center? A&P grocery store, M.E.Moses & Jay's Cafeteria?

[@lionstandingII]

loved the cornbread at Jay's....

[@1952creswell]

@@lionstandingII Jay's Cafeteria was my brothers first job. He made 50 cents an hour plus tips as a busboy.

[@naenae5287]

I think that I remember you Randy. Didn't you live in the Colonial Gardens and played football with us Fawn Ridge Girls?

[@playamadekilo7720]

What’s the song name??

[@VICTOR86OAKCLIFF]

Where was the whataburger and jack in box pictured here located at?

[@missg1727]

I always believed that the location of that picture is on the corner of Ledbetter and University Hills formally Houston School Road. I may be wrong, but that sure does look like the Singing Hills neighborhood..

[@alexconladocerola9008]

Did I see my middle school @stockard 😍😍

[@sirjhonson8218]

You didn`t show Young Bloods Chicken . The best chicken place in Texas . LOL

[@LadyWeasel]

Austin's 😭

[@indrag13]

Ginny's Bishop Grill, Nick's BBQ, Rockefellers, Slim's BBQ, Norma's Cafe!

[@1952creswell]

I used to eat at Genie's Bishop Grill. Best home cooking I've ever had.

[@Superstardark]

*plays thats on me*

[@Aboveall1313]

Bronco bowl Fridays & Sat. Nights . Astro Mondays sitn early summer in line of cars sippn cold one waiting get in.Saaaadd there gone""""

[@lionstandingII]

Aunt Stelle's...yesh....Wynnewood Theater.....yesh....first 7-11 in the world on Ferndale.....Austin's- great ribs back in the day; always there for a short stack with bacon Saturday mornings with mah dad.....The Astro....Jack in the Box........Kip's...yesh...Red Bryan's, father of Sonny.....Norma's....yesh....T. W. Browne- sister went there, 1975...so much trouble with a certain ethnicity that school was let out a half hour early for a specific race.....Whataburger...yesh...What about S and H Kresge's?

[@ltc214]

Whats the songbin this video

[@1952creswell]

It's a rearranged version of Unchained Melody. I gotta say I like the original version better.

[@jennifercole281]

World's worst mangling of Unchained Melody ever recorded...oh my God!