Gerald McLeod
In 1956, Jeff McKissack was issued a building permit for a beauty parlor on the lot next to his house in a quiet neighborhood in southeast Houston off Telephone Road and the Gulf Freeway (I-45). Sometime later he added to the bottom of the permit the words, “Beauty parlors going out of style – have better idea – The Orange Show.”
Over the next 23 years he single-handedly built a mazelike monument to his favorite fruit, good health, and hard work. The former postman expected his amusement park made of found objects to rival AstroWorld. Although the Orange Show never attained the popularity of its competitor, it has outlived the mega-amusement park.
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