The things that mattered to Houston 25 years ago

1990: Red Adair (at right)– “He was big enough for John Wayne to portray him on the screen in "The Hellfighters." Houston's Red Adair is not your average fireman. When a well blows out, guess who gets the first call after the insurance company?” 2015: Gone but not forgotten. His mark remains on the industry he helped revolutionize. less 1990: Red Adair (at right)– “He was big enough for John Wayne to portray him on the screen in "The Hellfighters." Houston's Red Adair is not your average fireman. When a well blows out, guess who gets the ... more Photo: Larry Reese, Chronicle File Photo: Larry Reese, Chronicle File Image 1 of / 45 Caption Close The things that mattered to Houston 25 years ago 1 / 45 Back to Gallery

While doing research on the filming and world premiere of “Robocop 2” in Houston 25 years ago this week, we discovered a list that the Houston Chronicle published at around the same time (July 1990): The 101 things that Houston “will never give up on.”

Features reporter Steven Long's piece is a fun peek back at Houston pop culture 25 years ago. The city looks and sounds quite different from the one we know in 2015.

RELATED: When 'Robocop 2' ruled Houston

It turns out that lists aren’t such a new thing after all, granted this “listicle” didn’t have 101 photos attached to it like we’re all used to today. There was no website to speak of 25 years ago, obviously, to drive traffic to.

Some things on Long’s long list have changed drastically and some things have not changed at all. There are some standouts that we didn’t so much give up on as tastes just changed and people moved on or passed on. A few people, places and things gave way to bigger and better.

At number 44 on the list, Long mentioned “our ethnicities” noting that more than 90 languages were currently being spoken in Houston. Officially the city of Houston still says that’s true but you have to think by now all these years later that figure is conservative. A study earlier this year revealed that one out of every four Harris County residents are foreign-born.

RELATED: Houston legends Urban Animals skate down memory lane

Back then, we were enamored with roller skating crew the Urban Animals. Houstonians also enjoyed the Goodyear Blimp, University of Houston quarterback Andre Ware, country radio redoubt KIKK-FM, Eddie’s Country Ballroom in Manvel, Kaplan’s Ben Hur and local country crooner Clint Black.

Houston in 1990 was still very much – according to the list – hanging on to its country heart a decade after “Urban Cowboy” premiered. Gene Mann’s Wild Game Cook-off, Stelzig’s, beef jerky and big Texas hair all got nods.

Here in 2015 the Urban Animals swap war stories on Facebook, the blimp is long-gone, Ware does Houston Texans radio, KIKK is a pop station (Hot 95.7 featuring T. Swift etc.), Eddie’s burned down, Clint Black is a classic country artist, and Kaplan’s closed in 2005 to make way for condos – an undeniably modern Houston happening.

RELATED: Kaplan's Ben-Hur bids farewell

Like Tracy Lawrence sang, time marches on.

A handful of the things that remain from Long’s list? The Astrodome (though on life support), air conditioning (eternal, really), The Orange Show, the Beer Can House, The Hat Store, Dr. Red Duke (retired but not ever-visible), oil refineries (cha-ching), the Houston Zoo, Old Town Spring, ZZ Top and Mr. Joe Jamail.

See the gallery above for highlights from the best of Houston 25 years ago.