Author: Robert C. Trumpbour Publisher: U of Nebraska Press ISBN: 0803295707 Category : History Languages : en Pages : 272
Book Description
When it opened in 1965, the Houston Astrodome, nicknamed the Eighth Wonder of the World, captured the attention of an entire nation, bringing pride to the city and enhancing its reputation nationwide. It was a Texas-sized vision of the future, an unthinkable feat of engineering with premium luxury suites, theater-style seating, and the first animated scoreboard.Yet there were memorable problemssuch as outfielders inability to see fly balls and failed attempts to grow natural grass which ultimately led to the development of Astroturf.The Astrodome nonetheless changed the way people viewed sports, putting casual fans at the forefront of a user-experience approach that soon became the standard in all American sports. "The Eighth Wonder of the World"tears back the facade and details the Astrodome s role in transforming Houston as a city while also chronicling the building s pivotal fifty years in existence and the ongoing debate about its preservation."
Author: Robert C. Trumpbour Publisher: University of Nebraska Press ISBN: 1496211782 Category : Sports & Recreation Languages : en Pages : 277
Book Description
2017 Seymour Medal from the Society for American Baseball Research 2016 Pete Delohery Award for Best Sports Book from Shelf Unbound When it opened in 1965, the Houston Astrodome, nicknamed the Eighth Wonder of the World, captured the attention of an entire nation, bringing pride to the city and enhancing its reputation nationwide. It was a Texas-sized vision of the future, an unthinkable feat of engineering with premium luxury suites, theater-style seating, and the first animated scoreboard. Yet there were memorable problems such as outfielders’ inability to see fly balls and failed attempts to grow natural grass—which ultimately led to the development of AstroTurf. The Astrodome nonetheless changed the way people viewed sports, putting casual fans at the forefront of a user-experience approach that soon became the standard in all American sports. The Eighth Wonder of the World tears back the facade and details the Astrodome’s role in transforming Houston as a city while also chronicling the building’s storied fifty years in existence and the ongoing debate about its preservation.
Author: James Gast Publisher: ISBN: 9780990528210 Category : Stadiums Languages : en Pages : 198
Book Description
In the summer of 1960, a group of men in Houston, Texas set out to build the largest room in the world. That room would have to be large enough for a baseball game, sunny enough for grass to grow, and with air cool and clear enough for thousands of smokers to puff away in air-conditioned comfort. Led by a brilliant and colorful politician, this collection of architects, engineers, oilmen, scientists, and ballplayers created the Astrodome. What they built forever transformed the way baseball and other sports were played and viewed-for better and for worse. More importantly, theirs was a uniquely American achievement that reflected the place and extraordinary times in which it was constructed. This is the story of the creation and early days of the first domed stadium, highlighting the people who participated and the unprecedented solutions they developed for problems that had not previously existed. It places the building in its historic context among worldwide architectural and engineering accomplishments, as well as its cultural setting in mid-century America. It is the result of more than a year's research using both primary-source archival material and interviews with the participants.
Author: Jason Bruce Chrystal Publisher: ISBN: Category : Languages : en Pages : 720
Book Description
This dissertation explores the creation of the Houston Astrodome, the first domed stadium built in the United States, from its earliest history of planning in the late 1950s to its construction and completion in the mid-1960s. It is during the time frame of 1957 to 1967, I argue, that we can see an example of the change in Houston and American society from one of an era of optimism and prosperity to one of pessimism and scarcity. By examining the arguments of stadium supporters and opponents, the alterations in design, the selection of certain technologies, and the changing opinion of what the stadium was to various individuals, we can obtain a clearer picture not just of Houston or Texas, but of the United States. Although the histories of baseball and football are important to the story, the Astrodome was conceived as more than just a sports stadium. In an era of ebullient optimism, Houston leaders championed a multiple purpose stadium that could house an almost infinite number of civic events. Even better to these stadium enthusiasts, a domed stadium would symbolize the vigor of Houston and obliterate the perceived stigma of the city as merely an oil town.
Author: Gregory H. Wolf Publisher: ISBN: 9781943816330 Category : Sports & Recreation Languages : en Pages : 306
Book Description
Recaps of the greatest baseball games ever played in the "eighth wonder of the world," the Astrodome, along with information about Astros history and the building of the Dome. Some of the games and chapters included: September 13, 1965: Mays Clouts Number 500, GREGORY H. WOLF August 26, 1966: Aspromonte's Walk-Off Slam Lights Up the Sky for Astros, THOMAS RATHKAMP June 15, 1967: The "Toy Cannon" Blasts Three Shots in the Astrodome, GREGORY H. WOLF June 18, 1967: Unhittable: Wilson Tosses First No-No in Astrodome History, GREGORY H. WOLF July 2, 1967: "Wynning" Reaction for the Winning Run, JOHN BAUER September 27, 1967: Cuellar Outduels Bunning, NORM KING April 15, 1968: The Astrodome Marathon, RICHARD RIIS August 23, 1968: The Heady Heights of Seventh Place, JOHN BAUER May 27, 1969: Rader's Walk-Off Slam Sinks Phillies, THOMAS RATHKAMP September 19, 1971: Trailing 4-0, Houston Scores Five Unanswered Runs, and Wins on Joe Morgan's Walk-Off Homer, GORDON GATTIE June 18, 1972: Reuss Spins One-Hitter, RICHARD A. CUICCHI June 10, 1974: Mike Schmidt Wallops a Tremendous...Single? CHIP GREENE September 22, 1974: Grffin's Unlikely RBI Single Stifles Braves in 14, THOMAS RATHKAMP June 15, 1976: Rainout in the Astrodome, RICK SCHABOWSKI July 9, 1976: Dierker Tosses a No-No, GREGORY H. WOLF June 24, 1977: Watson Hits for Cycle; Cruz Belts Walk-Off Double in 11th, RICHARD RIIS July 17, 1978: Cruz's Walk-Off Homer Preserves Niekro's Extra-Inning Complete-Game Gem, GORDON GATTIE April 7, 1979: Ken Forsch Hurls Earliest No-Hitter in History, CHIP GREENE August 3, 1979: J.R. Richard Strikes Out 15 for Complete-Game Victory, T.S. FLYNN October 11, 1980: Wild Extra-Inning Playoff Game, JIM SWEETMAN October 12, 1980: Astros Fall Short of the World Series, FREDERICK C. BUSH September 26, 1981: Ryan's Fifth No-Hitter, FREDERICK C. BUSH October 6, 1981: Ashby's Walk-Off Preserves Ryan Two-Hitter in the NLDS, GREGORY H. WOLF May 9, 1983: Winning Run Scores While Heep Argues with Ump, MARK S. STERNMAN July 13, 1983: Bjorkman Knocks in Five in Cup of Coffee, GREG ERION April 8, 1984: Dickie Thon and the Shadow of Ray Chapman, BILL MCCURDY July 15, 1984: Ashby's Walk-Off Single Ends it in the 16th, ALAN COHEN April 9, 1985: Morganna Smooches Ryan, NORM KING July 15, 1986: Roger Clemens Returns to Hometown Houston for All Star Game, Wins MVP, MICHAEL HUBER September 23, 1986: Eight Straight Strikeouts for Jim Deshaies, BRENT HEUTMAKER September 25, 1986: Mike Scott No-Hits the Giants, FREDERICK C. BUSH October 15, 1986: Staving Off Scott, RORY COSTELLO September 9, 1987: "Ryan Express" Whiffs 16, including No. 4,500, GREGORY H. WOLF June 3, 1989: "The Game that Would Never End" JOE THOMPSON June 8, 1990: Mike Scott Strikes Out 15, MICHAEL HUBER September 8, 1993: Darryl Kile Tosses No-Hitter, CHIP GREENE September 17, 1993: Harnisch's Losses No-Hitter on Controversial Call, ALAN COHEN June 24, 1994: Bagwell Homers Three Times, Twice in One Inning, FREDERICK C. BUSH June 13, 1997: First Interleague Game in the Astrodome, STEVE WEST September 25, 1997: Astros Clinch NL Central, FREDERICK C. BUSH August 28, 1998: The Big Unit Fans 16 in Third Straight Shutout in the Dome, GREGORY H. WOLF October 1, 1998: Spiers' Walk-Off Single Ties the NLDS, PAUL GEISLER May 11, 1999: Beat-Down at the Dome: Astros Spank Bucs While Setting Team-Record For Runs and Doubles, MATTHEW HENSHON June 13, 1999 / July 23, 1999: A Scary Situation for the Houston Astros, BRENT HEUTMAKER September 11, 1999: "It's Lima Time, Baby" CHAD OSBORNE October 3, 1999: Astros Clinch NL Central in the Last Game at Astrodome, FREDERICK C. BUSH October 9, 1999: Astrodome Goes Out With a Whimper, GREG ERION Astrodome as the Home to Sports Other Than Baseball, ALAN REIFMAN 50 Years and Counting: What Does the Future Hold for the Astrodome? JUSTIN KRUEGER The Astrodome the Numbers, DAN FIELDS The Astrodome: Back to the Future, Part 4, BILL MCCURDY
Author: Alanna Stang Publisher: Princeton Architectural Press ISBN: 9781568984810 Category : Architecture Languages : en Pages : 208
Book Description
From the arid deserts of Tucson, Arizona to the icy forests of Poori, Finland to the tropical beaches of New South Wales, Australia to the urban jungle of downtown Manhattan, critics Alanna Stang and Christopher Hawthorne have travelled to the farthest reaches of the globe to find all that is new in the design of sustainable, or "green" homes. The result is more than thirty-five residences in fifteen countries, and nearly every conceivable natural environment, designed by a combination of star architects and heretofore unknown practitioners including Santiago Calatrava, Shigeru Ban, Miller/Hull, Rick Joy, Lake Flato, Kengo Kuma, Glenn Murcutt, Pugh & Scarpa, Werner Sobek, and many others. Projects are presented with large colour images, plans, drawings, and an accompanying text that describes their green features and explains how they work with and in the environment. The Green House is not only a beautiful object in its own right, but is sure to be an indispensable reference for anyone building or interested in sustainable design.
Author: Margaret Parker Publisher: Xlibris Corporation ISBN: 1499054289 Category : Juvenile Fiction Languages : en Pages : 36
Book Description
At the time I wrote this story in 1987, the Houston Astrodome was a fully functioning, vibrant sports arena. It was the first domed stadium and sometimes dubbed the “eighth wonder of the world”. It was the home of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and also the Houston Astros baseball team and the Houston Oilers football team (as they were then called). When I chose the Astrodome as Nick’s home in the story, I remember thinking that it was a ludicrous idea that the Dome could ever be empty and available. I even thought that was more unbelievable than a person who could be as tall as his age! But at this time in 2014, the Astrodome stands empty and is the subject of many local arguments and speculation over what its fate should be-demolition or repurposed facility. Who knows what will happen?
Author: Edgar W. Ray Publisher: ISBN: Category : Biography & Autobiography Languages : en Pages : 616
Book Description
This book reflects Hofheinz's many faceted interests and his versatility and talents. Son of a poor Texas truck driver, his talents led him from a life to poverty to much wealth.
Author: Anna Mod Publisher: Arcadia Publishing ISBN: 9780738585246 Category : History Languages : en Pages : 132
Book Description
Founded in 1836, Houston is now the country's fourth-largest city. In the early 20th century, Houston's economy shifted from agriculture to oil, fueling the city's explosive growth in the following decades. Houston grabbed the reins and saw a building boom in commercial, residential, and civic architecture redefine the city and skyline. Modernism was a new and fresh architectural expression and the perfect complement to the city's can-do entrepreneurial spirit. The 1960s brought ground-breaking ceremonies for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) headquarters, while residents and tourists alike lined up to tour the revolutionary new Astrodome. Building Modern Houston tells the story of Houston's architecture during its transformation from "Bayou City" to "Space City."
Author: Robert C. Trumpbour
Author: Robert C. Trumpbour
Author: James Gast
Author: Craig A. Doherty
Author: Jason Bruce Chrystal
Author: Gregory H. Wolf
Author: Alanna Stang
Author: Margaret Parker
Author: Edgar W. Ray
Author: Anna Mod