I had a yen for a small bowl of menudo today and as I had just dropped off mys on for his summer job, I saw a sign for an El Charrito Restaurant off Central Boulevard and Jefferson where the old Lopez Supermarket used to be.
I sauntered in and sat while the two ladies waited on some diners. The place has a Mexican movie decor with black and white photos of the likes of Pancho Villa, Eiliano Zapata, Jorge Negrete, Pedro Infante, Maria Felix, male and female revolutionaries, even Vicente Fernandez astride a fine horse.
And then, there, just off to the side of the altar with the votary candles and aloe vera sprigs, I saw a photograph of a smiling man that looked somewhat out of place in the clutter. I thought I recognized the grin and longish hair and I walked over to the southern wall. It was him. It was an autographed studio black and white photo of Kris Kristofferson, one of the few Brownsville residents who went off to the Big Lights and actually made it.You know, the guy who wrote hits like "Me and Bobby McGee", "For the Good Times", "Sunday Morning Coming Down", and "Help Me Make It Through the Night."
What would his picture be doing on the wall of El Charrito Restaurant?
I asked one of the ladies if I could take a picture of it and she said to go ahead. The lighting was bad and I was slightly off focus but I took it anyway. The message that Kristoferson had scribbled on the photo
read: Thanks El Charrito, for taking care of my mom, Juanita, Peace, Kris.
The woman asked me why I wanted to take the picture and if I knew the man on it. I explained to her that he was a movie star composer and singer who had been born in Brownsville. She, of course, didn't know who he was but said that his mother (Juanita) came to eat there often and that out of appreciation and gratitude to the waiter help and the owner (one Walter Morton?), he had given them his autographed picture.
Like I said, the lighting was bad and I was off focus, but I would be willing to bet the small menudo I had that it has to be one of the few autographed photo by Kristofferson to people in Brownsville. Maybe next time I walk in I'll actually get to meet Juanita, his mom.
8 comments:
Kris went to West Brownsville School, which today is Russell. His younger brother also went there. There are still a few of us who remember Kris from "back in the day". I am glad he did well.
His home was 28 w leve ,his dadwork with Pan Am
I think there is a little fiction going on here. Kris's mother's name was Mary Ann. Kris is 77 years old. His mother, if she were alive, would be over 100 years old. Their family left Brownsville around 1950 and ended up in San Mateo, Ca. Kris's family later disowned him for leaving the military and joining up with the Hippies in 1960's.
Kistofferson went to school with my Dad. On top of my Dad was a cop, he wouldn't lie to me.
IG.
His mother isn't named Juanita. Does she live in brownsville?
I wonder if he ever made it as big as Zeke. I mean, he's living large and eating at the Salt Grass.
(as big as Zeke)
Keep it under your hat, as I know you will, but that was my Dad's name.
IG.
Juan for once i am glad someone from brownsville made it big,
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