This oral history recalls three generations of Astrodome memories. Wilbur Thompson worked as a parking cashier starting in the mid-1970's. He was at the Astrodome for Astros and Oilers games, as well as the Houston Rodeo and Livestock show, plus various concerts. His children would often come to the Dome when he was working. Joseph Thompson (Wilbur’s son) was a big Astros fan. He and his school friends would attend the games. He thought it was very cool to have a dad who worked for the Astros. Susan Thompson (Wilbur’s daughter) recalls fond memories of spending a day at Rodeo and then going to the concerts each weekend on a $5.00 ticket. The youngest Joshua Hansen (Wilbur’s grandnephew) recalls attending games as a family and being amazed at the size of the Dome. The family agrees that the Astrodome is an important part of their Houston heritage.
Selley, Mikaela
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Ed Henderson is an animation artist and model maker who designed the animations used on the scoreboards in the Astrodome. Henderson describes the process of first designing the animations on film and the process of projecting the images onto photoelectric cells behind the light bulbs of the scoreboards. His designs included Chester Charge, the seventh inning stretch "Deep In the Heart of Texas" animation sequence, and many other cartoons. In this interview, Henderson discusses his career and his memories of events and people he met at the Astrodome over the years.
Acosta, Mike
Plummer, Danielle
Oral History of Susie Morris
Seth Morris was one of the architects for the Astrodome at the firm of Wilson, Morris, Crain and Anderson. He was also the coordinator of the contractors, architects, engineers and county. In this interview his wife, Susie Morris, shares some of her memories of the Astrodome. Many people thought the Astrodome was going to fall down and ribbed Seth about it. The air conditioning system was never done on such a scale, and there were concerns that it wouldn't work. Susie thought that Judge Roy Hofheinz was instrumental in promoting the Astrodome. He had a place behind the scoreboard which included a putting green, shooting gallery, fish pond and huge bathtub. She mentions some of the problems which arose, such as the leaks, the grass, and the glare from the sunlight.
Moore, Barry
Information Kit, Astros Season Tickets, Box Seats
ID 1971-002, Box 9, Folder 20
Special Collections, University of Houston Libraries
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George Kirksey Papers
ID 1970-001, Box 29, Folder 8
Fuermann, George, 1918-
George Fuermann "Texas and Houston" Collection
Photograph, Aerial View of the Astrodome
ID 1970-001, Box 8, Folder 50
Photograph, Aerial View of the Astrodome and Parking Lot, Image 1
ID 1971-002, Box 7, Folder 20
Photograph, Aerial Ciew of the Astrodome and Parking Lot, Image 2
ID 1971-002, Box 14, Folder 32
Photograph, Aerial View of the Partially Completed Astrodome
ID 1971-002, Box 14, Folder 49
Photograph, Astrodome Architectural Model
ID 1970-001, Box 8, Folder 49
Astrodome Baseball Seating Manifest, Chart
ID 1971-002, Box 7, Folder 19
Astrodome Baseball Seating manifest, List
Astrodome Football Seating Manifest, Chart 1
Astrodome Football Seating Manifest, Chart 2
Astrodome Football Seating Manifest, List 1
Astrodome Football Seating Manifest, List 2
ID 1971-002, Box 8, Folder 2
Report, Baseball Attendance by Day of the Week for the 1965 Season
ID 1971-002, Box 9, Folder 17
Report, Baseball Attendance by Month for the 1965 Season
Report, Baseball Attendance by Visiting Clubs for the 1965 Season
ID 1971-002, Box 15, Folder 21
Photograph, Billy Goodman Giving Walter Williams Tips on How to Hold the Bat and Batting Stance during September School
ID 1971-002, Box 15, Folder 25
Photograph, Billy Jurges Instructing Jim Todhunter on How to Take a High Throw
ID 1971-002, Box 15, Folder 2
Photograph, Billy Jurges Talking to Sonny Jackson During a Break for Lunch at Apache Junction, Arizona, Training Camp
ID 1971-002, Box 15, Folder 37
Photograph, Billy Jurges Working with Glenn Vaughn in Tagging Second on a Double Play
ID 1971-002, Box 15, Folder 34
Photograph, Bud Adams and Roy Hofheinz Standing in Front of a Model of the Astrodome
ID 1971-002, Box 9, Folder 2
Photograph, Colt 45's Baseball Players Standing in Front of Astrodome
ID 1971-002, Box 14, Folder 11
Ticket Stub, Colt 45's Opening Day Ticket, 1 of 2
Ticket Stub, Colt 45's Opening Day, 2 of 2
Photograph, Colt 45's Player Don Nottebart and Dodgers Pllayer Sandy Koufax
ID 1971-002, Box 14, Folder 39
Photograph, Colt 45's Players Ernie Fazio and Rusty Staub
ID 1971-002, Box 15, Folder 28
Commemorative Certificate Featuring an Inside View of the Astrodome
Photograph, Cot Deal Going Over Pitching Form with Darrell Brandon
ID 1971-002, Box 15, Folder 12
Autographed Photograph, Daniel "Rusty" Staub
ID 1971-002, Box 14, Folder 43
Photograph, Daniel "Rusty" Staub and Stan Musial
ID 1971-002, Box 14, Folder 40
Photograph, Dave Philley Giving Aaron Pointer Instructions in the Art of Bunting
ID 1971-002, Box 15, Folder 5
Photograph, Dave Philley Giving Bunting Instruction to Joe Morgan, Brock Davis, and Sonny Jackson, During September School at Colt Stadium
ID 1971-002, Box 15, Folder 26
Photograph, Eddie Robinson Giving Batting Instructions to Jim Cope
ID 1971-002, Box 15, Folder 17
ID 1971-002, Box 7, Folder 18
Kirksey, George Turner, 1904-1971
Envelope, Addressed to The Astrodome Club, Image 1
Envelope, Addressed to the Astrodome Club, Image 2
Envelope, Addressed to the Astrodome Club, Image 3
Photograph, Exterior View of the Astrodome
Exterior view of the Astrodome and parking lot
The Astrodome, Eighth Wonder of the World
Photograph, Exterior View of the Astrodome at Night
ID 1970-001, Box 8, Folder 51
Photograph, Four Members of the Colt 45's Staff Giving Instruction to Jay Dahl
ID 1971-002, Box 15, Folder 24
Photograph, Frank Gabler Demonstrating to Three Young Pitchers the Way to Break the Wrist
ID 1971-002, Box 15, Folder 6
Photograph, George Kirksey and Colt 45's Player Jacob Nelson "Nellie" Fox Looking up at the Dome
ID 1971-002, Box 14, Folder 82
Photograph, George Kirksey and Colt 45's Player Jacob Nelson "Nellie" Fox Standing Under the Dome
ID 1971-002, Box 14, Folder 17
Photograph, George Kirksey and R. E. Smith
ID 1971-002, Box 14, Folder 51
Photograph, George Kirksey with Colt 45's players
ID 1971-002, Box 14, Folder 15
Photograph, George Kirksey with Astrodome Visitors
ID 1971-002, Box 14, Folder 25
Photograph, George Kirksey Working Out With Players of the Colt 45's
ID 1971-002, Box 14, Folder 28
Photograph, George Kirksey, Reverend Billy Graham, Judge Roy Hofheinz Standing Over Architectural Plans, Image 1
ID 1971-002, Box 14, Folder 57
Photograph, George Kirksey, Reverend Billy Graham, Judge Roy Hofheinz Standing Over Architectural Plans, Image 2
Photograph, George Kirksey, Roy Hofheinz, and Billy Graham, Image 1
ID 1971-002, Box 14, Folder 83
Photograph, George Kirksey, Roy Hofheinz, and Billy Graham, Image 2
ID 1971-002, Box 15, Folder 58
Photograph, Grady Hatton Giving Ivan Murrell Batting Instruction During School at Colt Stadium
ID 1971-002, Box 15, Folder 22
Photograph, Harry Craft and Cot Deal Working with Young Pitchers in Spring Training
ID 1971-002, Box 15, Folder 4
Photograph, Harry Craft Giving Outfield Candidates Instructions in Throwing
ID 1971-002, Box 15, Folder 11
Photograph, Harry Craft Giving Pitching Instructions to a Group of Rookie Pitchers
ID 1971-002, Box 15, Folder 30
Photograph, Harry Craft Giving Young Colt 45's Players Baserunning Instructions
ID 1971-002, Box 15, Folder 10
Photograph, Harry Craft Going Over Some of the Finer Points of Pitching with Young Baseball Players
ID 1971-002, Box 15, Folder 7
1965 Houston Astros Schedule and Ticket Information
Photograph, Interior View of Astrodome Seating
Photograph, Jim Busby Discussing Outfield Play with Brock Davis
ID 1971-002, Box 15, Folder 36
Photograph, Jim Busby Instructing Brock Davis in Catching Fly Balls
ID 1971-002, Box 15, Folder 32
ID 1971-002, Box 14, Folder 46
ID 1971-002, Box 14, Folder 85
Photograph, John Paciorek Practicing Catching Fly Balls with Jim Bugsby
ID 1971-002, Box 15, Folder 8
Photograph, Judge Bill Elliott and R. E. Smith Standing in Front of a Model of the Astrodome
ID 1971-002, Box 14, Folder 44
ID 1971-002, Box 14, Folder 84
Photograph, Luman Harris Instructing Jerry Ard and Steve Hertz in Foot Position in Taking a Lead off Third Base
ID 1971-002, Box 15, Folder 20
Photograph, Luman Harris Working with Chris Zachary on his Curve Ball
ID 1971-002, Box 15, Folder 29
Photograph, Members of the Colt 45's Standing Outside Team Plane
ID 1971-002, Box 14, Folder 21
Photograph, Mike White Receiving a Flu Shot by Jim Ewell
ID 1971-002, Box 15, Folder 35
Photograph, National League President Warren C. Giles Inspecting the Construction of Astrodome
Giles, Warren C. (Warren Crandall), 1896-1979
ID 1971-002, Box 14, Folder 58
Report, Official League Admissions to Astrodome Games by Team
Photograph, Paul Richards and Hal (Skinny) Brown Giving Personal Instruction to Jay Dahl Before his First Major League Start
ID 1971-002, Box 15, Folder 23
Photograph, Paul Richards and Luman Harris Working with Jerry Grote on Receiving the Ball to Make a Play at the Plate
ID 1971-002, Box 15, Folder 9
Photograph, Paul Richards Giving Batting Instructions to Joe Morgan and Sonny Jackson, while Lou Fitzgerald Looks On
ID 1971-002, Box 15, Folder 18
Photograph, Paul Richards Giving Instructions to Young Catchers
ID 1971-002, Box 15, Folder 33
Photograph, Paul Richards Instructing Infielders on how to Touch Second Base on Double Play at Spring Training Camp
ID 1971-002, Box 15, Folder 31
Photograph, Paul Richards Instructing John Bateman how to Block Low and Wide Pitches
ID 1971-002, Box 15, Folder 3