How do you remember Phoenix? Stories from long time residents... (Parker: lawnmower, weight)

[deraffe]

Originally Posted by desertratz

No not Tower Plaza. This place was on the north side of Thomas and the building, if I recall correctly, looked similar to the photo Roosevelt posted. This was back in the mid-late 50's and early 60's.

Ah, well that pre dates me being established, circa 1972.

[Donalumni]

Originally Posted by desertratz

No not Tower Plaza. This place was on the north side of Thomas and the building, if I recall correctly, looked similar to the photo Roosevelt posted. This was back in the mid-late 50's and early 60's.

I remember watching the roadrunners practice at the ice rink at Tower Plaza in the back towards the east end. They had junior league hockey tornaments for kids there also. I remember kids moving from the east to town and talking hockey and us local native kids asking "what's hockey?" We thought they were a bunch of sissies ice skating around.

[Donalumni]

Originally Posted by roosevelt

I got it wrong, Rollerland was on 23rd Ave. and Thomas.

Rollerdrome was on 29th Street and McDowell.

The oldest roller rink I can think of was where Brunk's Auction was on 7th Street south of Indian School.

If anyone remembers Beaty's Playpark on 1st Street and Roosevelt you are older than dirt.

Yeah Roosey, that pic is of Rollerdrome west of the canal on the north side of Mcdowell. It had the round roof like in the pic. My mom would drop my sister and I off there for the afternoon in the summer cuz it was halfway cool inside. They had circles with numbers on the rink floor and would have a drawing a couple times a day. If you swere standing on the the number they called out, you got a free pass or a coke. Was a big deal to a 6 year old in 1961.

[Donalumni]

Anyone remember a riding stables west of 32nd St. on the south side of McDowell in the early 60's? I remember it being next to the canal so people could rent a horse and ride along the canal all day. I thought it was directly across from the RED Devil Pizza on McDowell. I think they later moved it up to the Papago Park area because of encroachment of businesses and homes and complaints about flies and smell. People used to ride their horses right into the canals to cool them off before they lined the canals with concrete. Of course people kept riding into the canals and SRP had to bring out a crane with a special sling to get the horse out of the canal because of the concrete. The canals back then were great places on a hot summer day because of the huge cottonwoods and the (relatively) cool air from the water in the canal. We used to regularly see people waterskiing in the canals being pulled by a car or pickup along the bank. Things were alot different then no doubt

[roosevelt]

Originally Posted by Donalumni

Anyone remember a riding stables west of 32nd St. on the south side of McDowell in the early 60's? I remember it being next to the canal so people could rent a horse and ride along the canal all day. I thought it was directly across from the RED Devil Pizza on McDowell. I think they later moved it up to the Papago Park area because of encroachment of businesses and homes and complaints about flies and smell. People used to ride their horses right into the canals to cool them off before they lined the canals with concrete. Of course people kept riding into the canals and SRP had to bring out a crane with a special sling to get the horse out of the canal because of the concrete. The canals back then were great places on a hot summer day because of the huge cottonwoods and the (relatively) cool air from the water in the canal. We used to regularly see people waterskiing in the canals being pulled by a car or pickup along the bank. Things were alot different then no doubt

Speaking of old canals with no cement, here is the Arizona Canal being scraped, I don't know if that means building it or cleaning it. Gov't picture.

[observer53]

Originally Posted by Donalumni

Anyone remember a riding stables west of 32nd St. on the south side of McDowell in the early 60's? I remember it being next to the canal so people could rent a horse and ride along the canal all day. I thought it was directly across from the RED Devil Pizza on McDowell. I think they later moved it up to the Papago Park area because of encroachment of businesses and homes and complaints about flies and smell. People used to ride their horses right into the canals to cool them off before they lined the canals with concrete. Of course people kept riding into the canals and SRP had to bring out a crane with a special sling to get the horse out of the canal because of the concrete. The canals back then were great places on a hot summer day because of the huge cottonwoods and the (relatively) cool air from the water in the canal. We used to regularly see people waterskiing in the canals being pulled by a car or pickup along the bank. Things were alot different then no doubt

I don't remember it ever being at 32nd, but if it moved to the Papago Park area, it was Weldon's Rdiing Stable, later to be famous, (or infamous) when a young woman was kidnapped nearby and horrifically murdered in the Superstitions by someone who worked there and an accomplice.

[Westside Willie]

Heres another. I think that's Roosevelt in the foreground with the palo verde branches. Zing!

[trillcatz]

Originally Posted by roosevelt

I got it wrong, Rollerland was on 23rd Ave. and Thomas.

Rollerdrome was on 29th Street and McDowell.

The oldest roller rink I can think of was where Brunk's Auction was on 7th Street south of Indian School.

If anyone remembers Beaty's Playpark on 1st Street and Roosevelt you are older than dirt.

There was one down in south Phoenix too...Skateland I think...up about Central and Roeser.

[trillcatz]

Originally Posted by Donalumni

Anyone remember a riding stables west of 32nd St. on the south side of McDowell in the early 60's? I remember it being next to the canal so people could rent a horse and ride along the canal all day. I thought it was directly across from the RED Devil Pizza on McDowell. I think they later moved it up to the Papago Park area because of encroachment of businesses and homes and complaints about flies and smell. People used to ride their horses right into the canals to cool them off before they lined the canals with concrete. Of course people kept riding into the canals and SRP had to bring out a crane with a special sling to get the horse out of the canal because of the concrete. The canals back then were great places on a hot summer day because of the huge cottonwoods and the (relatively) cool air from the water in the canal. We used to regularly see people waterskiing in the canals being pulled by a car or pickup along the bank. Things were alot different then no doubt

I don't remember the one on 32nd/Mcdowell but I worked at one out Van Buren towards the Buttes...I was in high school so I think it was about '69. Trail rides were led out through the desert w/ the Buttes in the background. I think a man named Ray Kady owned the stable. I can't remember the name of it. Maybe on the north side of Van Buren...going towards Tempe...before the river...close to the go carts???? At one time there was a palm reader located out on Van Buren somewhere near the stable too.

[observer53]

Originally Posted by trillcatz

I don't remember the one on 32nd/Mcdowell but I worked at one out Van Buren towards the Buttes...I was in high school so I think it was about '69. Trail rides were led out through the desert w/ the Buttes in the background. I think a man named Ray Kady owned the stable. I can't remember the name of it. Maybe on the north side of Van Buren...going towards Tempe...before the river...close to the go carts???? At one time there was a palm reader located out on Van Buren somewhere near the stable too.

That was Weldon's, the name of the owner may have been different by then.