Jev Vandegrift wrote in alt.food.barbecue
> http://www.pigstands.com
Hey Jev, I live in San Antonio and here we have a place called
Pig Stand. Here's a story on it. Just thought you might be
interested.
The fast-food industry of today owes its start to a Texas pig
that continues to "fly high" in the Alamo City.
Folks went hog wild when the first Pig Stand opened in Dallas
in 1921. Agile "car hops" leaped onto running boards of Model-
Ts to deliver "curb service" to a generation on the go. It was
the age of the automobile, and Pig Stands multiplied across
America faster than you can say "soooo-eeee." It took the
Great Depression of the '30s to slow "The Pig" down. Pig
Stands, pioneers in franchising, pared down to concentrate on
company-owned Texas stands, which continued to lead the way in
dining innovations. Besides offering the world the first
drive-in dining and drive-through window, Pig Stands
introduced the taste buds of the world to onion rings in the
'20s, "Texas Toast" and the chicken-fried steak sandwich in
the '40s. Of course, their best-known offering is their
original, trademarked "Pig Sandwich," featuring tender, sliced
barbecue pork with relish and sauce on a bun.
San Antonio's "three little pigs" (1508 Broadway, 801 S. Presa
and 3054 Rigsby) continue the proud Pig Stand tradition of
serving tasty American staples, such as hamburgers, chicken-
fried steak, fried shrimp, chopped steak, club sandwiches,
fried chicken, malts, shakes and banana splits (all of those
tasty favorites you grew up with) in settings that make you
feel you've stepped back in time. Slide into a booth and flip
through the song selections for the jukebox. Doesn't that
bring back memories?! Nostalgic black-and-white photos of Pig
Stands past line the walls (with carhops in full regalia and
vintage cars lined up for "America's Motor Lunch"), and
"pigobilia" is everywhere. Pigs of all shapes, sizes and
composition pack display cases and smile at you from
multitudinous perches.
The South Presa Pig Stand boasts the biggest porker of all,
with a pig statue/building (with door and windows), which is
thought to have served as a carhop shelter in days gone by.
"The Big Pig" evidently escaped his pen and was discovered in
the early '90s, sitting forlornly on a vacant lot near the
Missions, where he had been serving as living quarters. He was
moved, spiffed up and now dons seasonal decor next to the
South Presa location. The Broadway Pig Stand (built in 1921)
is one of the city's oldest eateries and was refurbished in
the late '60s with all of the sleek lines and mod colors of
that era. On Friday nights, cars that might have pulled up at
the eatery in years gone by return for "Cruise Nights" from 6
to 11 p.m., featuring nostalgic curb service, music from the
'50s and '60s, and mascot Charlotte the Dancing Pig. Sometimes
classic movies, presented drive-in style, are added to the
mix. The Rigsby Pig Stand on the south side is popular for its
porcine population as well as good eats, and the newest
endeavor, Hailey's Family Restaurant at 4411 E. I-10, near the
Coliseum, is a favorite hangout for rodeo attendees during
that season. All four dining spots are open 24 hours daily.
Richard Hailey, Pig Stands president, is as famous as his
porcine sandwiches. His popular country swing band, Richard
Hailey & the Neon Stars, plays dance halls statewide,
including Sunset Station downtown, and hit No. 2 in the
Netherlands with its catchy single, "Call 911 Margarita,"
(which Hailey co-wrote) from the album, Everything from Texas.
He is not the only famous Hailey though, as dad Royce (who
started as a Pig Stand carhop in 1930 and went on to run the
company) invented the chicken-fried steak sandwich and helped
create "Texas Toast."
Any way you slice it, Pig Stands and their family fare are as
American as, well, a Pig Sandwich. Rev up your jalopy and
cruise on over.
--
BigDog,
To E-mail me, you know what to do.