Parade of Homes 1956

At the ephemera estate sale on Saturday, we found a booklet titled PARADE OF HOMES PLAN BOOK 1956 for a Houston subdivision that we had never heard of or seen.



That's not unusual since Houston is spread out and full of hidden subdivisions. We were excited to see that the majority of the homes in the booklet were modern. We decided to drive around there on Sunday to see if we could find the model homes from the booklet which gave exact addresses. Although not a bad neighborhood, it was not exactly the greatest either. We were disappointed to find that several of the homes had been knocked down to build a track for a high school. In most cases, the drawings and descriptions sound and look better than the actual houses. I've included a few of the many features that are written about each home.


Constructed around a typically South American patio which is centered by a palm tree. Most revolutionary is the living area which can accommodate 70 seated people. Open shadow boxes suspended from the sloping beamed ceilings found throughout the house float over serving or dining bar. The bar top is charcoal grey and the cabinet doors are a flaunting flamingo.


Casa Manana Today



Originally built in Park Forest, Illinois. Price range $18,000. 1270 square feet. The living areas as well as the separate dining area are given character by esthetic cathedral ceilings.


Parent's Magazine Home Today



Massive glass wall in the living room and another family room both give views of patios attractively arranged for outdoor living. Price range $19,000.


The Parade Queen today.



An electronic range. Solar windows throughout that can be left open while it's raining without any rain coming in. Also burglar proof. A patterned glass panel wall separates the hall from the family room. 1458 square feet.


Greener Pastures today.



Huge outside entertainment area protected by a pink Ther-Mo roof. It's a house with an angle. In the living room, windows extend from floor-to-ceiling. In the formal dining area, separated from the kitchen by a mahogany-based bar, there is one semi-circular wall with mahogany paneling that catches the natural wood tones in the Higgins wood block flooring. Color used throughout the house extends into each bath, one carring out a pink beach theme and the other a yellow and aqua theme. $19,000 price range.


Magnum Manor Parade Home today.



Flick-a-switch air conditioning, an intercom system, and power driven garage doors. Planters for the beautification of the home with flowers are ample. Exposed brick in the combination living and dining room walls terminate in a planter.


The Shamrock today.



Children's own wing. Solid glass wall in the den and living room give a view of the patio. A desert theme is carried out with Yucca and Century plants placed at vantage points. $20,000 price range. Nationally recognized, designed by a senior student at the Rice Institue. (We could not figure out what happened with this house. We think they altered the front and due to the odd lot and fence, it was difficult to see what it actually looks like.)


The Texan Americana today.



Vaulted ceilings in a 12 x18 formal living room enhanced by indirect lighting. Through an eight foot sliding glass door, one can go to the 21 foot patio with its generous terrace, filled with plants. The concrete patio is covered with an eggcrate type of lattice. $17,000 price range.


Tex-O-Rama today.



The new openness in contemporary styling is incorporated in the combined spacious living room, kitchen, and family room which are separated only by a circular bar. From these rooms and one of the three bedrooms, one can look out onto the patio and covered terrace. 1438 square feet.


Suburban Styline today.



Wide separation of formal living room and den for families with kids. Two luxurious baths with picture windows that look out on their own private, landscaped terrace. The terrace is enclosed with a seven foot redwood fence. The windows are effected by a solid glass wall in the shower bath and another expanse of glass above the tub in the second bath. The kitchen overlooks a scored cement patio which is enclosed by a dramatically curved brick wall. Price range $18,000.


The Young in Heart today.