How do you remember Phoenix? Stories from long time residents... (Mesa: mobile home, puppies)

[Dave Bob]

Saw George Carlin at Celebrity in the 70s.

That night one of the cords that ran from a mike to the edge of the round stage kept twisting and tangling as the stage revolved. The audience started watching it and giggled as it curled and flopped.

Finally George put his hands on his hips and glared at the cord with an expression like an irate parent and said, "Why can't you be straight like your brother?"

I think that got the biggest laugh of the night.

[roosevelt]

Star Theater. I seem to remember an aerial photo showing the roof and there was a huge star on the roof and it looked like one of those 1950's star-burst clocks. Maybe I'm wrong.

[slowesthand]

Originally Posted by roosevelt

Star Theater. I seem to remember an aerial photo showing the roof and there was a huge star on the roof and it looked like one of those 1950's star-burst clocks. Maybe I'm wrong.

Attachment 101980

Looking at that postcard, 2 things struck me.
1...all the white cars in the parking lot
2...how did they drain the water off an inverted roof like that?

[baby sinister]

Originally Posted by all_along_the_watchtower

Remember when a ticket to the state fair meant a ticket to s Suns game if they were playing that night in the coliseum?

You are right...walked into the coliseum during team practice and saw Lew Alcinder aka Kareem Abdul Jabbar and the rest of the Milwaukee Bucks.

[baby sinister]

Originally Posted by Arizona Mike

Much later (and after it became the Celebrity Theater), I snuck in for a late night New Year's show/party at the (then) illegal drinking age of 18 (at that time, you could drink at age 19 but I was still a year too young) with George Clinton and Parliament/Funkadelic - I think I was the only white kid in there, but drank a lot of free champagne, danced spasticaily with what were probably some pretty amused older women and had a great time.

I also saw them at the Celebrity...had to be about 1983. Had seats next to where the performers came out, and I remember George standing just below me watching the show and doing some 'caine from a spoon.

[desertskies]

Originally Posted by Arizona Mike

...we neighborhood kids sometimes casually drifted back in with the paying crowd, without buying a ticket. You would then hang out and look for an empty seat next to a family with kids so you could use them as camouflage from the ushers.)...

I was able to see Jesse Colin Young using those tactics. Just hung by the columns and when the crowd came out for intermission, we (a girlfriend and myself) just mingled with the crowd and wandered in. I went in first and she came in a few minutes later (hanging by columns on the other side of the entrance.

Also saw Cheech and Chong perform there. The presence of Phoenix PD on the perimeter of the inside (quite heavy too) didn't really persuade anyone in the audience from enjoying some local herb during the show. I recall some officers having a frowny facial look of "damn hippies, if I could just...".

[roosevelt]

I have hundreds of Phoenix motel postcards but this one looks especially crummy, even in the 50's, at 19th Ave. and Van Buren.

[FLIP66]

OK need to pick your brain..going back to 40's or 50's in Mesa does anyone have any info or pictures on a couple places I am looking for...Nutmeg Motel 3247 E Main Mesa and a motor court that was located on the SE corner of Main st and Horne in mesa..possibly went by the name of The Glen

[jfi2112]

Originally Posted by observer53

I get to chime in here. I saw Elton John at Big Surf (yes, Big Surf) in 1973. I mentioned that to someone about 20 years ago and he looked at me in awe as if I'd been in the front row at Woodstock.

The tickets were $5.00. We sat on the sand. It was great.

Saw Pink floyd, Ten Years After, Stevie Wonder at Big Surf probably more but memory ain't what it used to be. Anyone remember A Star is born Concert at SUN Devil stadium.

[roosevelt]

This was one strange dog track, located between Mesa and Apache Junction long time ago.