How do you remember Phoenix? Stories from long time residents... (Scottsdale: installing, supermarket)

[observer53]

Originally Posted by SluggoF16

What I find of interest in the picture of T&C is how plainly visible the Four Peaks are in the background. No smog or haze layer.

I thought of this post while I was on the 101 this past Friday, by the Cardinals stadium. Beautiful day, and Four Peaks were clearly visible, as were every other mountain surrounding the Valley. I agree that the haze/smog is worse than back then, but this winter, in particular, has been relatively free of big temperature inversions like we often see. So, we still have days when it looks like that picture, at least as far as the visibility is concerned.

[Westside Willie]

Originally Posted by aviator7777

Remember the large Big Boy holding the burger above his head by the front door? !

They have one of the originals here at the Arizona Historical Society Museum.
Its huge.

go here:

Arizona Historical Society

[Westside Willie]

Originally Posted by roosevelt

Bob's was opened in 1954 at Central and Thomas, across the street from the Village Inn Drive In and just north of the Polar Bar drive in. .

I remember it. We cruised Central around 70-71 and Im pretty sure it was still there then (with the carhops) It had (like you said) the rock facade very similar to what SPR used on many of their "irrigation canal gate thinghys" all over the valley.

[roosevelt]

Originally Posted by Westside Willie

I remember it. We cruised Central around 70-71 and Im pretty sure it was still there then (with the carhops) It had (like you said) the rock facade very similar to what SPR used on many of their "irrigation canal gate thinghys" all over the valley.

There was a rock motel on Van Buren next to a rock yard business. The man who owned both is the one who did the rocks at Bob's. As I remember the inside of Bob's: the cashier and hostess was on the left as you entered, on the right was a sitting area and restrooms. Further on the right there was the sit down counter and at the end the strawberry pies on display. The rest was all booths along the windows and tables in the center.

Sometimes my uncle would take me to the Amsterdam House up near Camelback.

By the way, the word - carhop. Back in the 30's when drive in restaurants started, cars had running boards. The 'food server' (PC) would hop on the running board and direct the car to a parking space. The carhop name stuck, but not the running boards.

[Westside Willie]

Speaking of Az Days & Ways, here's a scan from my (precious) copy .

[roosevelt]

Originally Posted by Westside Willie

They have one of the originals here at the Arizona Historical Society Museum.
Its huge.

go here:

Arizona Historical Society

There was also something similar that was huge in front of Humpty Dumpty's on north central. I wonder if anyone ever photographed it. Humpty Dumpty was sitting on a wall right in front of the restaurant.

[trillcatz]

Originally Posted by roosevelt

Bob's was opened in 1954 at Central and Thomas, across the street from the Village Inn Drive In and just north of the Polar Bar drive in. Bob's put both out of business. At first Bob's had carhops but gave it up because of vandalism and drive offs. Not many people remember what Bob's looked like. There was a rock wall entrance and above that a large Kachina 'sand painting'. I mostly remember the strawberry pie, I had never seen just large strawberries before.

Carnation was one block north of Indian School Road and opened their restaurant in the 40's.

That's right...my first job was at the Bureau of Indian Affairs in about '69 or '70, just down Thomas about 2nd or 3rd Ave (approx location). We used to have lunch at Bob's and I think people would park there during "the cruise" on Friday and Saturday nites. Does that sound familiar? Thanks.

[trillcatz]

Originally Posted by SluggoF16

Farrell's is an interesting business example. In the 60s it was founded in Portland, OR and expanded rapidly. It's mentioned earlier in this thread, and the Pig Trough, parodied in "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure" and the Zoo were popular at the Scottsdale and Indian School location. In the 70s Marriott bought the chain and expanded reach. However, in the 80s Marriott sold the franchise and it became a family restaurant, with less emphasis on the ice cream. I went to one in Little Rock in 1986 and in Escondidio in the late 80s and the change was very noticeable. My sister in CA says there are now just a couple left and they're back to their roots.

Sometimes change is good, other times it just trashes everything. Think New Coke.

Yuk on New Coke! I remember when it came out and I went down to Mexico to bring back a few cases of the real stuff...pretty silly but I didn't want any of that new stuff.

Farrell's used to be such a fun place...can't remember where the ones in Phoenix were but wasn't there one over in old town Scottsdale? Or was that something else?

[trillcatz]

Originally Posted by Westside Willie

I remember it. We cruised Central around 70-71 and Im pretty sure it was still there then (with the carhops) It had (like you said) the rock facade very similar to what SPR used on many of their "irrigation canal gate thinghys" all over the valley.

I thought I remembered car hops back in the late '60's but wasn't sure if it was there or Carnation. Were they on roller skates?

[trillcatz]

Originally Posted by Westside Willie

Speaking of Az Days & Ways, here's a scan from my (precious) copy .

I grew up in south Phoenix with the Watanabe kids (Watanabe Flower Gardens) and I so remember the flower gardens...driving through them on a nice warm spring Sunday afternoon...down Baseline...and then there were the groves and when the oranges were in blossom boy would my allergies kick in but they sure smelled nice. I went back to southside last year and now when I come back I guess I need to drive down Baseline...I'll probably cry.