How do you remember Phoenix? Stories from long time residents... (Tucson: automobile, toxic)

[SluggoF16]

Originally Posted by roosevelt

Will all this car talk, here is a picture that will bring back memories of the good old days in 1970 but there is another picture if you click on 'related image' and gas is only 33 cents so maybe the date is off; it is mislabeled Phoenix, it is Tucson but reminds me of Phoenix because a lot of the same businesses were here too. Be sure to click on image to enlarge, it will fill your screen.

If any of you were around in the 50's and 60's you will flip when you see the following pictures of downtown Phoenix:
Washington Street
Central Avenue

Yes, that's not Phoenix. It's Speedway Blvd in Tucson, once referred to as "America's Ugliest Roadway" for its plethora of signs. It was still like that when I lived there in the 90s but there were some improvements.

On the flip side, there's Scottsdale. In the 70s the city changed their sign ordinances, which were fought by the billboard companies. The new signage ordinances mandated a smaller and esthetically-pleasing "blended" sign, which certainly made it hard to find a business, even for us locals, and every year snowbirds would drive around aimlessly looking for them.

[roosevelt]

Originally Posted by SluggoF16

Yes, that's not Phoenix. It's Speedway Blvd in Tucson, once referred to as "America's Ugliest Roadway" for its plethora of signs. It was still like that when I lived there in the 90s but there were some improvements.

On the flip side, there's Scottsdale. In the 70s the city changed their sign ordinances, which were fought by the billboard companies. The new signage ordinances mandated a smaller and esthetically-pleasing "blended" sign, which certainly made it hard to find a business, even for us locals, and every year snowbirds would drive around aimlessly looking for them.

Yes, Scottsdale went way overboard on sign regulations. Many stores signed their rental agreements without checking on what kind of sign they could put up back in the 70's and found out they were not only small, but had to be 'pleasing' and match other signs, which basically meant you couldn't tell what they said from the street. Flashing lights were also banned, not only outside but inside the store. Add the landscaping requirements and you ended up with a tree in front to boot.

[SluggoF16]

Originally Posted by roosevelt

Yes, Scottsdale went way overboard on sign regulations. Many stores signed their rental agreements without checking on what kind of sign they could put up back in the 70's and found out they were not only small, but had to be 'pleasing' and match other signs, which basically meant you couldn't tell what they said from the street. Flashing lights were also banned, not only outside but inside the store. Add the landscaping requirements and you ended up with a tree in front to boot.

As I remember McDonald's attempted to fight the ordinance so they could keep their visibility at Scottsdale and Thomas. Some locations with historical significance were granted waivers, such as LuLu Belle's.

During Western Week there would be mock shootouts in front of The Belle.


Across Scottsdale Road (south of Indian School, west side) was a trading post/shoe store called The Wigwam. It was going out of business for most of my youth. When I left the Valley in 1982 the "Going Out Of Business" signs were still there. It HAS since folded, any ideas when it finally did close?

[1937Gal]

Originally Posted by Artliquide

I had forgotten about Goldwater's. I'm not a big shopper, but the visual of the big sign on Fashion Square just popped into my head.

I also remember when Fashion Square was a typical mall, not fancy like it is now. And, I remember when Camelview was a separate shopping center, which you had to cross the street to get to, before it was assimilated by Fashion Square.

Ooooh, and I remember the real Cine Capri, not the wannabe Cine Capris popping up here and there.

And, I did also watch Wallace and Ladmo and even got to see them live one time. Never got a Ladmo bag though. My mom used to watch that show as well (she was here from the late 50s).

When Cine Capri opened at 24th/Camelback, you could sit and smoke during the movie. The President of my company bought tickets for everyone to go see The Blue Max with George Peppard and Elizabeth Ashley. We all smoked (the 60s ya know) and we thought it was quite a deal to sit in the theater, watch the movie and smoke. Shudder...!...

[desertratz]

Originally Posted by 1937Gal

When Cine Capri opened at 24th/Camelback, you could sit and smoke during the movie. The President of my company bought tickets for everyone to go see The Blue Max with George Peppard and Elizabeth Ashley. We all smoked (the 60s ya know) and we thought it was quite a deal to sit in the theater, watch the movie and smoke. Shudder...!...

When the movie Easy Rider came out in 1969, we went to see it at a late show at the theater that was across Camelback Rd. from Fashion Square. (can't recall the name) There was smoking in that theater also......some tobacco and some funny stuff.

Ahh! the 60s. Buying it by the matchbox or lid.

[Westside Willie]

Originally Posted by roosevelt

"Drive a little - Save a lot at the oldest Dodge dealership in the valley."
Attachment 79874

I bought my first car in 1972 at Valley Dodge.
1966 Corvair Monza/3 on the floor!
That location (which now has a new name) used to have the most massive American flag I've ever seen on a pole. It was gigantic.
Most of the car lots on west Glendale (and their used to be gobs of them-include the infamous Mecham Pontiac) are all gone now with this one exception.
Maybe being just inside the Phoenix border is somehow the reason? dunno.

[roosevelt]

Originally Posted by desertratz

When the movie Easy Rider came out in 1969, we went to see it at a late show at the theater that was across Camelback Rd. from Fashion Square. (can't recall the name) There was smoking in that theater also......some tobacco and some funny stuff.

That was the Camelback Mall Theater. They had some weird movies there, I recall one that was X rated involving nuns with Oliver Reed.

[Westside Willie]

Too cool Roosevelt. Thanks for finding this.

Heres one from the collection of him in front of the Westward Ho after giving his speech. He really liked those convertibles.

[SluggoF16]

Originally Posted by roosevelt

That was the Camelback Mall Theater. They had some weird movies there, I recall one that was X rated involving nuns with Oliver Reed.

I remember that place... there was a kids' matinee once there, had to take my little sister to see the very low-budget "The Wonderful Land of Oz" in 1969. That movie sticks in my head because it was the first "stinker" I ever saw. I also remember that it was hard for a 9 year-old to explain to his sister and her friends the poster to "Midnight Cowboy" and how it really didn't seem like a western such as they showed on Channel 5.

The Camelback played X-rated films that were artistic and provocative, such as "Midnight Cowboy" and "Last Tango in Paris". Downtown Scottsdale had the Kiva, where the X-ratings were more traditional. The Kiva always seemed so out of place, among the jewelry and art stores and with Flagg's candy and gift shop across the street. Probably would have fit in better in the county island between Scottsdale and Tempe off of Rural/Hayden.

[roosevelt]

Originally Posted by SluggoF16

I remember that place... there was a kids' matinee once there, had to take my little sister to see the very low-budget "The Wonderful Land of Oz" in 1969. That movie sticks in my head because it was the first "stinker" I ever saw. I also remember that it was hard for a 9 year-old to explain to his sister and her friends the poster to "Midnight Cowboy" and how it really didn't seem like a western such as they showed on Channel 5.

The Camelback played X-rated films that were artistic and provocative, such as "Midnight Cowboy" and "Last Tango in Paris". Downtown Scottsdale had the Kiva, where the X-ratings were more traditional. The Kiva always seemed so out of place, among the jewelry and art stores and with Flagg's candy and gift shop across the street. Probably would have fit in better in the county island between Scottsdale and Tempe off of Rural/Hayden.

I'm trying to remember the other businesses next to the shopping center, which may have been owned by the Herbergers; there was a Russ Lyon real estate building that looked like a red and white barn and a Ford dealer on the corner of Scottsdale Rd. and Camelback that later was a Chinese Restaurant, and not a very good one at that. There was a Thrifty Drug Store in the shopping center, a Safeway and Laffites, whatever that was.