How do you remember Phoenix? Stories from long time residents...

[roosevelt]

Here are two rare photos taken in 1938. Keep clicking on images to get maximum size.

[Westside Willie]

Great shots Roosevelt. Where did you find these?

[Westside Willie]

Originally Posted by ArizonaBear

I doubt it: note the lack of 'belt molding' trim just below the roof and too in both of WW's pics; the windows were/are double hung..........not casement (crank out with steel frames) style as in your pic. Casements were rarely retrofitted into older buildings that I am aware of.

Good points AZ Bear, however I do believe he is right. Thats Murphy Park across the street. That building has undergone boatloads of renovations over the years. Here are 3 more views of it.

BTW It was originally called The Gillett Building.

[Arizona Mike]

Yet another film made in Phoenix:

I was watching the classic 1953 George Pal production of "War of the Worlds" - in the "making of" featurette, they mention the first battle scene between the Martian war machines and the military (supposedly taking place outside Corona, California) was filmed just outside of Phoenix, with the Arizona National Guard playing the army. I wonder what part of town it was filmed in - it could be around what is Shea Road now...

I know "Oklahoma" (1955) was actually filmed in Arizona, around Elgin (the train station), Patagonia, Amado, and Nogales.

[Dave Bob]

Originally Posted by roosevelt

Here are two rare photos taken in 1938. Keep clicking on images to get maximum size.

Attachment 50290

Attachment 50292

Those are neat old photos.
Is that the Westward Ho without an antenna? (in the second pic, looking north with Squaw Peak on the horizon)

[roosevelt]

Originally Posted by Dave Bob

Those are neat old photos.
Is that the Westward Ho without an antenna? (in the second pic, looking north with Squaw Peak on the horizon)

These photos were taken in 1938; the one with the Westward Ho (the antenna went up in 1949 I think with one station KPHO, Mehagians on Central used to leave their TV sets on all night and people would stand in front of the store watching) looks it was photographed from the top of Penney's old building on Washington and 3rd Ave. looking north. On the photo I can see Culver Radio Service lower right; you can also see on the far right the back of the Orpheum Theater.

The other photo is of the court house but shows the parking lot that later became the city bus terminal. You can barely see an arrow sign that says "Orpheum" that pointed the way to the theater.

[azfrybaby]

Originally Posted by Westside Willie

Really. You forgot about Wallace & Ladmo. Really.

Thats like saying you forgot to breathe.

I cant remember what I had for lunch yesterday, but if I live to be a million zillion years old, I could never forget W&L.

Here's a clip of what is arguably the quintessential moment that shall forever be seared into my memory of the show. The Human Bagpipes.

Enjoy


YouTube - Human Bagpipes from Wallace & Ladmo

Ha Ha too funny You just made my morning.
Anyone who grew up in the valley would also remember The Buster Brown Show, "Plunk Your Magic ******* Froggie" Squeaky the mouse, Midnight the cat and Andy Devine who was actually the second host of that show. I have a tape of the show and I can't believe how mean Froggie was. No wonder I'm warped.

[Westside Willie]

Originally Posted by roosevelt

These photos were taken in 1938;.

Attachment 50292

That's First Baptist Church on the left (3rd Ave & Monroe) and First Methodist Church visible at right of center (2nd Ave & Monroe) - in front of the Westward Ho.

Heres a recent pic of First Baptist.

First Methodist is long gone. Heres an old pic. Its a parking lot now - just west, across the street from the US Bankruptcy Court.

Not visible in this image is First Presbyterian Church on 4th Ave & Monroe.
3rd pic. Its still there and fully functional. Preserved very nicely. Went there awhile ago with my camera and a very nice church lady came out and took me on an hour long guided tour inside & out.

Can anyone ID that beautiful 3 story structure in the center of Roosevelts image?

[Westside Willie]

OK folks. Heres a few moldy oldies from KPHO.
BTW - It only took me 40 years to figure out that the PHO stood for PHOenix. duh.

1. Sandy Gibbons hosting Dialing for Dollars.
Nice hair-helmet Sandy!
Notice that mind-boggeling, life style altering jackpot on the tally board! $330.00
My god what will we do with all that money! I know , it was the mid sixties which probably makes that worth about 9 grand by now.

2. The weather girl. Can anyone tell us her name?
I love the graphics on the "map". Did they really do it like that? Magic Markers on plate glass? Its a good thing she has a 4 foot long pointer because otherwise she might not reach the board that's 6 inches away.

3. Banana Lady. Is that Marge Condon? Anybody? The cooking show lady?
Im trying to figure out if she won the trophy for collecting the most bananas or just went shopping for 200 bananas and a trophy.

4. Rare photo of Ladimir Kwiatkowski (Ladmo) out of character on the set.
God rest your soul Ladmo.

[David Welch]

Originally Posted by AZ Tracy

It HAS been awhile...you are right - Hi Jolly Date Gardens.

I was just for of hunting around in preparation for my first visit to Phoenix in VERY many years and stumbled on the above. I was born in Phoenix (at Good Samaritan) in 1951, move away in '56 or so and one of my fondest small boy memories is of trips to Hi Jolly's date farm. They had a petting zoo of sorts that included a spider monkey with whom I was utterly fascinated. I can also remember trips to Camelback mountain as an adventure involving a drive out into the desert - I gather it's well and truly surrounded by city now? My dad had been a civilian technician for the Air Force and was one of the first repair techs at Luke Air Force base if I remember correctly.