Let me point you to this very attractive book by Alec Williams and Leslie Coulture about Denton’s legendary Fry St. entitled The Fry Street Neighborhood 1977-1986: A Photographic Memoir. About the book by Williams and Coulture, who works for the Denton Public Library:
Fry Street earned its greatest notoriety in the early 1970s when it is rumored that Willie Nelson, while on the Johnny Carson show, said that the best dope he ever got was on Fry Street in Denton, Texas. Or maybe it was the police officer, who, while on the Johnny Carson show, said that Denton was the drug capitol of the world. It’s hard to say.
The origin of these accounts started in the late 1960s. Growing and selling illegal drugs had become widespread in Denton County and drug arrests peaked on October 31, 1970, when 132 persons were arrested throughout the county.
Whatever the case, Fry Street had always been a place of lively activity. It borders the University of North Texas, and old storefronts have mirrored the changing times. It was a good place for students to try their hands at a first business, a great place for a group of musicians to start a band, and a fun place to hang out.
If you want a taste of what to expect in the tome, check out Williams’ Flickr page which is chock full of historic images.
Image: Gilbert Olivarez, the owner of Fry Street Classics at the 1985 Fry Street Fair (via Williams’ Flickr)
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4 comments
Peter, Alec does not work for the Denton Public Library. Leslie Couture does. Alec is retired.
Must see Bohemia Rising…
I just found the site for their book and looked at the photos. Lots of memories. I hope the next book will cover those drug years from the late 60′s thru the late 70′s and the effect drugs had on a small North Texas community. Before the universities and college students, there were people living in Denton, TX for generations and that may or may not have had a relationship to the schools or what has become the infamous “Fry St.” For good or bad, they were the heart of the town. What effect did the newly established drug culture have on the town? That would also be an interesting story.
Hi Jim Lott. I remember you and the bar. It was awesome. Lots of memories for us on Fry Street. We lost Red Bear though. He passed last year. Hope you are fine. So many of us didn’t make it.