Comments on: Lost – Shamrock Hotel (1949-1987) http://losthouston.wordpress.com/2007/01/15/shamrock-hotel/ Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:07:09 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: M. Bennett http://losthouston.wordpress.com/2007/01/15/shamrock-hotel/#comment-719 M. Bennett Sun, 30 Nov 2008 03:18:00 +0000 http://losthouston.wordpress.com/2007/01/15/shamrock-hotel/#comment-719 I remember the Shamrock well. As a young teen, I would "sneak" in to use their pool. You had to go thru the dressing area to get in. If the attendant was on duty - you didn't get in. If he/she was on a break, you could get past the stand and jump in the pool. You took your chances. I'd estimate we were successful 50% of the time. Another story I recall about the Shamrock was told by an old professor at the U of Houston (Richard Ackerman) He told of the "Grand Opening" of the Rice Hotel back in the 30s (?) when the city "rich & famous" invited many big shots from Hollywood and the like. They deliberately did not invite a prominant Houston business man named Glem McCarthy (oil man) because they considered him crude and too gruff to attend the Rice's grand opening and his attendance would embarrass the city fathers. Glen McCarthy was offended by this and vowed to build a hotel that would put the Rice out of business. He did - he built the Shamrock. (this story has not been confirmed). I remember the Shamrock well. As a young teen, I would “sneak” in to use their pool. You had to go thru the dressing area to get in. If the attendant was on duty – you didn’t get in. If he/she was on a break, you could get past the stand and jump in the pool. You took your chances. I’d estimate we were successful 50% of the time.

Another story I recall about the Shamrock was told by an old professor at the U of Houston (Richard Ackerman) He told of the “Grand Opening” of the Rice Hotel back in the 30s (?) when the city “rich & famous” invited many big shots from Hollywood and the like. They deliberately did not invite a prominant Houston business man named Glem McCarthy (oil man) because they considered him crude and too gruff to attend the Rice’s grand opening and his attendance would embarrass the city fathers. Glen McCarthy was offended by this and vowed to build a hotel that would put the Rice out of business. He did – he built the Shamrock. (this story has not been confirmed).

]]>