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Shreveport
#1 , Louisiana --
2012 Greenwood Road |
OPENED
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OWNERSHIP
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AMENITIES
- 1948 |
STATUS
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- 83
rooms†
- 50%
air conditioned
- ceiling
fans
- private
tile baths
- room
telephones
- Beautyrest
mattresses
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Shreveport
was one of Alamo Plaza's most successful markets. It was the
only city to boast more than one location, and by the middle
1960s had three! Located on an important East-West highway,
Torrance built his first Shreveport property, and the third
Alamo Plaza, in 1935. He installed his nephew, W. G. McGrady,
to run the Plaza. Later, McGrady went on to found the Alabama
branch, called St. Francis Hotel
Courts.
No
trace of the original Alamo Plaza remained at 2012 Greenwood
Road in 2000. Curiously however, a two unit section had apparently
been moved west to 4707 Greenwood Road and served as storage
for a truck driving training school. |
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Shreveport
#2 , Louisiana --
1280 N. Market Street |
OPENED
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OWNERSHIP
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AMENITIES
- 1948 |
STATUS
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- 82
rooms†
- 50%
air conditioned
- ceiling
fans
- private
tile baths
- room
telephones
- Beautyrest
mattresses
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Save
for one section of guest rooms, nothing but foundation remains
existed in 2000 of Shreveport's second Alamo Plaza. A pawn shop
had come to occupy the last section, and evidence of "tile
baths" were lined up in the vacant lot that had once been
the sprawling complex of 82 rooms. Amazingly, the last bit af
Alamo facade still had its decorate wrought iron in place. |
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†
Number of rooms in 1959 |
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Shreveport
#3 , Louisiana --
2136 (2134) Greenwood Road |
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The
last Alamo Plaza to open, and Shreveport's third, was
a fully modern and up-to-date Interstate highway location.
It employed the updated Alamo Plaza look that had been
devised by a Waco, Texas architect to bring the Plazas
into the 1960s. By the middle to late 1960s the "Hotel
Court" moniker had been dropped in favor of "motel,"
and in the 1970s, Shreveport #3 became the Alamo Inn.
Although its name and decorated half circled facade referenced
its past, a new logo was devised that prominently featured
a version of the Texas state flag.
Attesting
to its thoughtful and forward design and excellent location,
the former Alamo Plaza operated in 2000 as a Travelodge.
Perhaps
this last Alamo Plaza represents what almost was--what
could have been... |
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OPENED
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OWNERSHIP
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AMENITIES
- 1977 |
STATUS
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Most likely Lee Torrance or his family |
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- 200
rooms
- two
pools
- landscaped
mall
- 12-
channel television & HBO
- shuttle
to airport
- conference
facilities
- popular
Alamo Restaurant open 24 hours
- lounge
open 10AM to 2 AM--happy hour 5 PM to 7 PM
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operated
as a Travelodge in 2005 |
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Matchbooks:
circa 1940s, 1959, 1965 |
Brochure
circa 1970s |
Photographs:
2000 |
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