MEMORIES: Special Mention
Most Exotic Birthday: Nine 13 year olds, a limo & Dick's
When our son, Dylan, turned thirteen my wife and I wanted to make his
transition from childhood to adulthood an unforgettable experience. We
invited nine of Dylan's friends to our home in the Shoreline area for
a surprise birthday party. At 7 p.m., after everyone was gathered in the
living room, there was a knock on the door. A beautiful, blonde young
woman, dressed in a tuxedo, smiled and asked to speak with Dylan, informing
him that his transportation for the evening had arrived. Puzzled, all
ten boys scrambled outside to gawk at a long, sparkling white stretch
limousine waiting for them. They wasted no time in climbing in and finding
a seat! A few popped their heads out of the sun roof and others made the
tinted power windows go up and down as they said "Cool, man!"
and "This is RAD!" The limo pulled away from our house, the
radio blasting, as the neighbors watched from their doorways and yards.
We grabbed the video camera and hurried into our car, racing to the pre-arranged
destination to videotape their arrival at Dick's Drive-In on 45th Street
near the University District. You should have seen the expressions on
the faces of the employees and customers when the limousine eased into
the busy parking lot! Everyone was curious to see who of importance would
be dinning at Dick's that evening. Fortunately, there was a spot to park
up close. The chauffeur exited and-in proper fashion-opened the door and
stood by as ten noisy, hungry boys piled out. Each one ordered his favorite
Dick's burger and drink, and of course, Dick's famous French fries! In
a few minutes they were back in the limousine, smugly giving instruction
to Carry on, driver!" The limo backed up very slowly, pulled up to
the street turned right, and disappeared into the night as the boys began
to feast on their dinner from Dick's Drive-In. It was truly a memorable
birthday celebration that no one would ever forget!
Jack Hayes Age: 49
The best snowball fight of all time
My Dick's story has to do with Dick's as being more of a meeting place
than an eating place. One night during the winter we didn't have any place
to go so we ended up down at Dick's with a bunch of people and got in
the biggest snowball fight I've ever been in. It's really a good memory
and was a lot of fun. Thanks.
Dennis Turner
Go Huskies!
My memory comes from the time when my wife and I were first married and
we stopped by en route to a Husky football game. We lived in the Wallingford
area. We really grew to love and enjoy the great Dick's hamburgers there.
It was a celebration after a Husky win or picker-upper if they happened
to lose. Thanks
Kruse
Out on our own
My memory of Dick's goes back to 1959 and '60 when on of my girlfriends
that I'd gone to high school with and I had an apartment at the Allview
apartments right there at NE 45th and 5th NE. At that time that was a
pretty fancy apartment and we thought we were living pretty high on the
hog. It was even furnished with brand new furniture. The trouble was that
we were mostly so broke we could hardly afford to eat. So our memories
were that we would go up to Dick's and SPLURGE! I think then that French
fries were ten cents. So we'd get a hamburger for 19¢ and fries for
a dime; a whole meal. It was wonderful. Those are very fond memories.
Now I can't drive past that place without remembering Jeannie and I in
that apartment and just about starving to death. But thanks to Dick's
we both made it.
Carol Biafotti
Tears of joy, tears of saddness, have some fries
I have many fond memories of Dick's on 45th from when I was in high school.
Dick's was THE place to go, had the BEST food, and I can't tell you how
many times I've cried in the parking lot because I had either just broken
up with a boyfriend or just gotten a new one. Dick's brings back many
fond memories for me. Thanks.
Ruth Peterson
My first date at Ricardo's Club 19
In June of '65 I met a young man and he asked me out to dinner. I asked
him where we were going and he said Ricardo's Club 19. He was kinda good
looking and had an Alfa-Romeo so I figured he was serious. I got all dressed
up and the whole load and he took me out to Dick's Drive-In.
Judy Booker
In memory of Alice Murphy, Miss Dick's 1954
My sister Alice would have been 59 years old but passed away May 1981.
She was a former employee and Miss Dick's Drive-In 1954. My memories of
Dick's go back to the very beginning when my big sister was employed as
one of the first "fountain girls" along with, I believe, Frances
Baumgartner. I was later employed by Dick's on Capitol Hill about 1959.
It was a good place to work with high standards. The photo above is when
Alice represented Dick's Drive-In in the 1954 Seafair Competition. The
family home is still just 5 blocks from Dick's on 45th. Our mother has
lived there almost 44 years now. Thank you for one of the best in fast
food drive-ins. You have kept the quality and good service. It isn't as
easy to do these days. I remember when the hamburgers were 19 cents, cheeseburgers
22 cents, fries 11 cents and pop 10 cents. People can hardly believe it
now. Dick, Warren and Dr. Thomas you really have done good work! Outlived
Gils, the old Dag's etc.
Hot-rodding a station wagon at Dick's
I was 16-a junior at Holy Names-when I finally got my license. Because
there were 9 children in our family (I was the oldest), my parents were
more than happy to have me "responsibly" run errands, that included
trips to the Broadway Dick's at least once a week. I had just broken up
with my first boyfriend. He and all our mutual friends (everybody on "the
hill") hung out at Dick's. I drove up to Dick's one fall evening
with some of my younger brothers and sisters, in the largest station wagon
any American car manufacturer ever made. I turned into the parking lot,
saw my "ex" boyfriend's car, turned that station wagon into
a hot rod and "roared" into a parking place. I smashed the huge
front end right into the wall, ricocheted and spent the next 10 minutes
trying to figure out how to get rid of my red cheeks and bribe my siblings
to keep quiet! How embarrassing.
PS. I am now married to that man and this story continues to be told.
Deborah Walters Age: 41
Do you feel lucky?
My first memory was when I was 3-4 years old and my dad's friend took
me in his new 1958 Ford sedan delivery to eat lunch at the 45th location.
Incidentally, this man was the owner of Elsco Electronics on Stone Way.
Another vivid memory if from 1971 at the Bellevue Dick's when a Bellevue
motorcycle officer, challenged by a man with a knife, pulled his .357
and told the people behind the man to move away because the bullet will
go through him and hit bystanders. The man dropped his weapon.
Mark D. Knowles Age: 38
Begging to eat at Dick's
I have enclosed a picture of our family in front of the Dick's in Lake
City. Our family has lived in the Seattle area since 1976. We have lived
in Ballard, Kirkland, Woodinville, and soon Everett. As you can see from
the picture, three of our children have been born during that time. Dick's
has been a part of our family's "eating out" tradition! Sometimes
our kids "beg" to eat at Dick's! In the picture from left to
right are: Pam, Lee Ryan, Erik, Chad and Molly (in front)! Happy Anniversary
to Dick's!
G. Lee Kluth
Dick's fries to the end
I grew up in Fremont. My family did not have a lot of money so for entertainment
my parents took us kids to Sandpoint Naval Station to play basketball
and swim. On our way home, we would drive past Dick's on 45th street.
I remember anxiously watching for the sign that said how much hamburgers
cost: if they had gone up 2 cents, I knew there was a chance we could
not afford to stop. This was in the early 70's.
My main memory of Dick's though, is how much my sister Michele liked
the fries. Michele was being treated for cancer this past year at Group
Health Center on Capitol Hill. When I visited her there, I always ask
if I could bring her anything and she would reply "How about some
Dick's fries?" So I bought an order of fries at Dick's on Broadway
and sped to the hospital so they wouldn't get cold. It was one small thing
I could do to make my sister happy-a good memory to have because Michele
died in July. Happy Anniversary Dick's. Wishing you many more. And thanks.
Cheryl Brush Age: 34
Twenty-second turn-around
I was a junior high in the early 50's and every day I rode the bus past
Dick's. We rarely ate in restaurants, but one day I got off the bus, walked
up to the window and ordered a 10 cent hamburger. I'll never forget how
surprised I was to have the clerk take my order, turn around, pick it
up and give it to me-all in about 20 seconds!
We lived out of state during the 70's, but no trip to Seattle was complete
without our visit to Ivars, Fredrick and Nelson and Dick's. Our children
grew up knowing Dick's was special. They're in college and it's still
a very favorite treat for all of us!
My mother, Louise Screen, is 92 and was a bookkeeper for Dick's for about
eight years in the 60's. We still stop at Dick's on Broadway about once
a week so Louise can have a hamburger, fries and "the best coffee."
Many years have passed, but Dick calls and stops by to see her to make
sure she's O.K. and to see if she needs anything. We sure appreciate his
care!
Bob and Janet Screen
The bachelor bus
The best Dick's memory I have most is one that I will remember forever
because it was the week before my wedding. My wife-to-be and I met while
in college at the UW and proceeded to date for the next seven years and
as most UW students do, consumed our share of hamburgers and fries at
Dick's on 45th. It was always me, my "girlfriend" and usually
about five or six of my other rowdy guy friends.
In honor of my last night as a bachelor, my best man rented a bus to
haul around 50 guys-stopping at numerous establishments, staying long
enough for a couple drinks, a few laughs, then loading back into the bus
for the next stop.
After about five hours of hopping from bar to bar, the bus driver suggested
"one more stop" before heading home. At about 2 am, as soon
as we took a right onto 45th off Stone way and we knew exactly where we
were headed--Dick's.
As usual, Dick's was packed at the hour and you should have seen everyone's
eyes as the bus pulled up and 50 guys piled out of the bus, heading right
for the nearest counter. A Police Officer, who seemed to be awaiting our
arrival, made it very clear from the get-go that what we needed to do
was "mellow out, enjoy those Dick's burgers, get back on the bus,
and head for home!"
Steve Marinkovich
Thanks again. What would all the high school years be without "Dick's."
I'm now taking my grandson there. Ha Ha.
Pat Wood Age: 52
Former Employee Broadway, 1959
This is the end of the 40 Years of Memories Book published
in 1993.
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