ALLIGATOR JACKSON

SATURDAY NIGHT FLASHBACK  
“DeSoto’s” 
In the 80’s and 90’s, Huntington’s nightlife thrived. Pea Ridge was often The Mecca for more mature audiences who wanted a change of pace from the college bar scene of Downtown Huntington.  

JDB’s in The…

GATOR’S SATURDAY NIGHT FLASHBACK 

The 70s and 80’s were an era when nightlife ruled in Huntington. On weekends the bar and club scene was packed.  

Nowadays, I rarely drink or go out but there was a time when…

Anyone who grew in 1980’s Huntington had to be familiar with Cruise Avenue. Cruise Avenue was essentially a strip of land in the parking lot which is now Pullman Square. Teenagers from all over the area would park and…

MEMORIES of HUNTINGTON  
“Hart’s Family Centers” 

Big Bear grocery stores bought Hart’s Family Centers in 1954. Although the company had a couple of Big Bears in Huntington, they did not open a Hart’s until 1975.  
In October of…

HUNTINGTON MALL 

The Huntington Mall opened in 1981.  I graduated high school that year and bought my first sport coat there. 

  I have many memories of the mall.  Shopping with mom and dad.  Falling in love with…

HUNTINGTON: THEN AND NOW 
“Jake’s Bar” 

Who over 50 in Huntington that doesn't have memories from the old Jake's on 3rd Avenue? 

Jake’s Bar no longer lives on in Huntington but the memories will. The second Jake’s…

HUNTINGTON: THEN AND NOW 
“Robby’s/ The Market 

Pittsburgh Pirates hurler Don Robinson wanted bring something to Huntington that the city had never seen before. The star pitcher had graduated at Ceredo- Kenove High School.  

Robinson told friends…

For decades Davis’ Place was the place to be in the Southside of Huntington. Ice cold quarts of beer, hamburgers and hotdogs, all served by an icon nicknamed Blondie for years while patrons played shuffleboard.  

The man down…

Being a young rock fan and beer drinker in the 80s and 90s had its' advantages.  I was able to watch and listen to some great Huntington bands.   

One bar I used to frequent was The White Owl…

The legend of The Explosive Dynamiks started in Huntington in 1964.  A group of diverse young musicians started the soul band to perform in Huntington East High School's senior assembly. 

The band quickly gained a reputation in Huntington…

Archie Himonds was a child prodigy musically.  He could play piano by age 3 and drums by 5. He sang in church as a small child. He made his national tv debut in Huntington at age 8 singing on…

HUNTINGTON: THEN AND NOW 
“Ward’s Donuts/ Rocco’s Little Italy” 

It was September of 1981. My ugly Saddle Tan Brown Chrysler Cordoba was parked at a parking lot by the bus station. It was my first semester at Marshall…