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

[roosevelt]

Originally Posted by SluggoF16

Betty Crocker's Tree House was open in the early 70s on the east side of Scottsdale Road just south of Osborn, about where the Drinkwater turnoff is now. There was a similar place farther south called The Drumstick, on Scottsdale near McKellips. They were a chicken joint, served Texas toast with pretty much everything, and had a model train suspended over the dining area which circled around continually. It was open from around 1971 to the mid-70s.

I remember that place with the train that ran around the ceiling. Didn't stay open long, I think it later became a nightclub called Sterling? The outside was all chrome or silver walls.

Circles on Central was in the old Studebaker dealership. I think maybe the name came from the circular turntable that rotated a car by the front window where the showroom was. I was in there once and the manager turned it on, it still worked.

[roosevelt]

Originally Posted by hubblejim

Does anyone remember a club called Sonny's? I went there in the 60's, but can't remember where it was! Also, what was the name of the club on 7th Street and Indian School, where the Vibratos played?

I lived in Phoenix from 1955 to 1970, moved away and came back 40 years later. Wow--what happened?

Jim

There was a nightclub on 7th Street north of Indian School with the strange name of Seventh Street Buffet.

[roosevelt]

Originally Posted by SluggoF16

....does anybody remember SFS being open-air with Goldwater's at one end and Diamond's at the other!!???? - azdr0710


My mom worked at Leonard's Gifts and Luggage on the west end of Fashion Square in the 70s. When Sakowitz opened in the early 70s it was a big deal, and she and a whole lot of retail workers in the old Fashion Square took jobs at Sakowitz. She still has some old Sakowitz bags (as in the kind your purchases are contained in).
We were amazed at the "technology" employed at Sakowitz, the high-tech (at the time) registers... they needed a two or three day class on how to operate them. The marble floors were a first for the area... Diamonds and Goldwaters had carpet which was great if you were a ten-year old kid tormenting your sister with static electricity during the dry months (most of the time).

The old Fox Theater had the best carpet for shocking. All the theater seats were iron so sliding your feet all the way down the aisle to the front row and then touching some kid's ear looked like a Tesla Coil because a blue spark jumped about 3 inches, then the scream.

Sakowitz had that odd pit area in the mall area with seating. There was an antique show there about 1976. Some dealers were set up in it and someone in a wheelchair tried to get down there and fell over; after the lawsuit, no more shows.

[SluggoF16]

The Drumstick was a Denver-based chain, no longer in business; not sure why The Tree House failed. Maybe too many fake birds?

[SluggoF16]

Anyone remember a TV ad from the 60s for a local Phoenix business, "Keith's TV"? Their jingle was low-budget... it featured a couple guys singing the business phone number over and over, voiced over a static picture of the business logo and number. If, as an example, the number was 246-5600, then the jingle went something like this:
"2-4-6-5-6-oh-oh"
"2-4-6-5-6-oh-oh"
"Keith's TV is the place to go"
"2-4-6-5-6-oh-oh"
It lasted perhaps 15 seconds, was definitely not taking a big chunk out of the company's bottom line. Was on Channel 5 a lot. Catchy and still vexes me (it's stuck in my head as we speak... guess I better play some Foghat to get rid of it, "Stone Blue" works every time.)

My apologies to anyone whose number that actually may belong. In 1982 it was fashionable to call a Deer Valley number, 867-5309, and ask for Jenny. Yeah, I know, hilarious.

[roosevelt]

Originally Posted by SluggoF16

The Drumstick was a Denver-based chain, no longer in business; not sure why The Tree House failed. Maybe too many fake birds?

The Tree House wanted live birds but the city would not allow it for health reasons so they went with mechanical birds.

I think the place failed because the food they served was not recipes from the Betty Crocker cook book. I thought every dinner they had was too fancy and too rich in fat and calories. I seem to remember they served international dishes instead of the basic American cooking from the cookbook. It was fun to eat there though. The building is now a thrift store I believe.

[roosevelt]

Originally Posted by SluggoF16

Anyone remember a TV ad from the 60s for a local Phoenix business, "Keith's TV"? Their jingle was low-budget... it featured a couple guys singing the business phone number over and over, voiced over a static picture of the business logo and number. If, as an example, the number was 246-5600, then the jingle went something like this:
"2-4-6-5-6-oh-oh"
"2-4-6-5-6-oh-oh"
"Keith's TV is the place to go"
"2-4-6-5-6-oh-oh"
It lasted perhaps 15 seconds, was definitely not taking a big chunk out of the company's bottom line. Was on Channel 5 a lot. Catchy and still vexes me (it's stuck in my head as we speak... guess I better play some Foghat to get rid of it, "Stone Blue" works every time.)

My apologies to anyone whose number that actually may belong. In 1982 it was fashionable to call a Deer Valley number, 867-5309, and ask for Jenny. Yeah, I know, hilarious.

The Val-ley Lum-ber chant to the sound of a hand saw was the most irritating commercial of the 50's.

[billyincaneyville]

flumes toward Lake Pleasant

[desert lover]

I remember Fashion Square from that time, especially the children's clothing store, where occasionally my mom would get me something. It was on that west end. Funny story-told some Wisconsin friends to go to the 'mall' in Scottsdale to eat, at AZ88. I meant downtown Scottsdale, the pedestrian mall. They ended up in Fashion Square after asking for directions, which I hadn't though of in years.

The place I still miss when visiting the Valley is Cafe Casino, which closed before I left town in '84. One was on Scottsdale Road around McDowell, the other near Town & Country. Best place ever to nurse a cappuccino and eat a unique dessert in cool air con, before specialty coffee was available in the USA.

Oh, there was someplace over around maybe 3rd Ave in the 1960s with cages and cages of birds, outside. Parrots, parakeets. The owner sold them, but he really cared about them as well.

[SluggoF16]

Haven't thought much of Town and Country in a long time. When I drove by in November I was tempted to go in and see what's changed. Town & Country had a great forerunner of the modern mall food court; my dad worked there briefly in 1970 when the construction business was down for a few months. Some of the best ham sandwiches around, though nowhere near as good as Mag's.