How do you remember Phoenix? Stories from long time residents... (Tempe: attorney, retiree)

[Magnum Mike]

Good pictures, thanks for posting them.

I remember the intersection of Central & Indian School Rd. and the McDonald's that was there.

[pbenjamin]

Originally Posted by Valley Native

I can recall a few vintage Phoenix memories of my own that don't exist anymore:
* Drive in theatres
* Furr's Cafeterias

There are drive-ins in Glendale and Scottsdale, and there is are 3 operating Furr's Cafeterias in Arizona, one in Sun City and 2 in Tucson.

[Magnum Mike]

Originally Posted by homlish560

Found some old pics of Phx., they look like they date back to the 1940's and 1950's - very interesting. Should bring back some good memories for the old-timers!!!!!!!

http://www.acmeron.com/puhs/central%20&%20indian%20school%20birdseye%20south%2 01964.jpg (broken link)

One thing to note about the picture above. Homlish mentioned that the pictures are from the 1940's and the 1950's, and that's true, most of them are, but the picture of Central & Indian School above, that had to be from the mid 1960s because I know the office towers that are in there were built no later than 1965or 1966. I'd say that picture was taken sometime around 1965.

[AZDesertBrat]

Originally Posted by fcorrales80

LOL, no in the old black and white where cars and buses are seen traversing the street. It just looks like a busy workday in downtown.

The colored picture is obviously a parade crowd, LOL!

I do remember when downtown was that busy. My grandmother used to take me once a week for shopping. Lots of people and traffic. I always thought it was pretty 'exciting' but I was just a little kid.

My family probably saw EVERY parade but I think that was mostly because we had other family that always rode horses in them.

[AZDesertBrat]

Originally Posted by pbenjamin

There are drive-ins in Glendale and Scottsdale, and there is are 3 operating Furr's Cafeterias in Arizona, one in Sun City and 2 in Tucson.

There used to be a Furr's in Flagstaff too but I don't know if it's still around or not. Haven't been up there for a long time.

[Arizona Mike]

Here's kind of a sad photo I found today. I took it circa 1993 while they were tearing down Thomas Mall (at 44th Street and Thomas) - you can see the 2 levels of Dillard's (formerly Diamond's) where they have torn away the side wall. I took this from the parking lot of the Saguaro Branch Library next door, looking off to the west. I miss that mall.

[ArizonaBear]

Arizona Mike: that pic is indeed sad.........and, I do not remember that place personally (I arrived here in 1990 and lived in Queen Creek til 1994).

Bummer that the Thomas Mall could not have been renovated with just Costco added on as a standalone building (I love that place ).

[observer53]

I remember when Thomas Mall was built. The first indoor mall on the "east side" of town. Two friends of mine and I walked there from their house. It wouldn't have been a particularly short walk, either. What an adventure. Spent lots of time shopping there over the years.

[Java Jolt]

Not really in the category of vintage but I remember Luby's cafeterias were plentiful when I came here about 14 years ago. Where did they all go?

[Westside Willie]

Does anyone out there remember the old head-shop: The Inner Sanctum?
It was on Central. Who remembers exactly where it was?

Back in the early 70's me and my buddy used to ride our 10 speeds out there all the way from 43rd & Bethany just to look at all the exotic stuff.(couldn't afford to buy anything but incense and the occasional black-light poster)

Cant figure out why it is I cant remember where the old head-shop was.Hmm.

And speaking of old hippies here's a couple of Phoenix classics from KCAC.
Toad Hall & William Edward Compton. I was looking through my collection of these images and noticed that WEC never smiled in any of his photographs. (except one-barely). Anyone out there know him personally?