How do you remember Phoenix? Stories from long time residents... (Tempe: windmill, football)

[roosevelt]

Originally Posted by jukebox47

I worked at the Rodeo Drive-In Theatre (12st St & Henshaw). Henshaw was later changed to Buckeye Rd. The Rodeo, at that time was $1.00 per car. People could pack the car, on the way in, and then the extra people could sit in the wooden seats near the snack bar.

Always two full length movies and two of the old cartoons with all the cute ads at intermission. Hotdogs and corn dogs were 25 cents, soda was 10-20 and 30 cents.

Most of the old drive in movie theaters had a floor trough urinal, wall to wall.

Years ago at a movie, my girlfriend went to the restroom and came running back laughing. She said a man walked in on her, but then she realized she was in the men's room. She said "I wondered what that ditch along the wall was."

[jukebox47]

Originally Posted by roosevelt

Most of the old drive in movie theaters had a floor trough urinal, wall to wall.

Years ago at a movie, my girlfriend went to the restroom and came running back laughing. She said a man walked in on her, but then she realized she was in the men's room. She said "I wondered what that ditch along the wall was."

The Rodeo Drive-in was no exception to that. We had one with a brass pipe running the length to drip water along the entire length. This kept it sort of flushed and freshened. One night a customer was filling a cup from the dripping pipe. We had a strange crowd and water and soda was not the only beverage being consumed.

One evening a lady went to sleep in the restroom and got locked in until morning when the closer did not thoroughly check the bathrooms before locking the door.

[desertratz]

Originally Posted by Arizona Mike

That was my favorite take-out food as a kid. I still eat it now. Here's the old sign they had in the late 1960s at the original location.

Oh Wow! The window under the sign that says Pizza King was a walk up where you could buy pizza by the slice and there was a guy in the window hand tossing the pizza dough. We would make pilgrimages from Mesa to grab some pizza there and sit the parking lot and savor it while sucking some suds purchased at the local Circle K. (which was on our way)

[SluggoF16]

On another C-D forum there is a link to a LandSat time-lapse site. The two links show a 30-year time-lapse of the East Valley. On the first, the outlines of Falcon Field and Apache Wells are apparent at the center; note how all the citrus groves around Val Verde and Greenfield at McKellips are gone. The second one is of Chandler and Gilbert; the old Williams AFB is on the right. Again, a lot of old agricultural fields and citrus groves are gone, replaced by gray urban areas.

It takes a bit of time to load but is a fascinating study in the Valley's growth. It doesn't zoom in fully, you'll have to do that after it loads.

Google Earth Engine

Google Earth Engine

[tiger08]

Originally Posted by aj661

Why did this legend city shut down? Looks like a neat place that could have evolved into another disneyland, with the proper management and funding.

[jukebox47]

Originally Posted by tiger08

Why did this legend city shut down? Looks like a neat place that could have evolved into another disneyland, with the proper management and funding.

Many of us anticipated the opening of Legend City Amusement Park. My friends parents invested a significant amount of money into it; foregoing the airplane they had anticipated buying.

I worked there for several weeks until the first (I think) bankruptcy. I heard many reasons for its demise but I am sure others have a better knowledge than I. Reasons were discussed such as the intense summer heat, bad management, several accidents, but just plain poor attendance (for whatever reason) seems most likely to me. It was a good idea and they really tried to make it go but, sadly it just didn't.

When it closed several of us went for the opportunity to purchase some of the items. I was interested in the soda fountain but found it was too large for our home. I ended up with some neat advertising for amusement rides from a manufacturer. Then it was gone, just as was the downtown Fox Theatre.

[SluggoF16]

Originally Posted by jukebox47

Many of us anticipated the opening of Legend City Amusement Park. My friends parents invested a significant amount of money into it; foregoing the airplane they had anticipated buying.

I worked there for several weeks until the first (I think) bankruptcy. I heard many reasons for its demise but I am sure others have a better knowledge than I. Reasons were discussed such as the intense summer heat, bad management, several accidents, but just plain poor attendance (for whatever reason) seems most likely to me. It was a good idea and they really tried to make it go but, sadly it just didn't.

When it closed several of us went for the opportunity to purchase some of the items. I was interested in the soda fountain but found it was too large for our home. I ended up with some neat advertising for amusement rides from a manufacturer. Then it was gone, just as was the downtown Fox Theatre.

It's addressed in another thread as well, but it was hard to compete with the LA and San Diego attractions. Magic Mountain, Knotts, Disneyland, Sea World, all relatively close by, even with I-10 not completed yet. The attractions at Legend City were tame compared to the Magic Mountain rides. Also, the price for what Legend City offered seemed high; I was fortunate that the place I volunteered at provided us with free admission the re-opening day in the summer of 1973, when they introduced the new flume ride.

The heat is a given, but Fiesta Texas (San Antonio), Six Flags (Dallas-Arlington), Astroworld (Houston), Frontier City (OKC) and Disney World (Orlando) are all in hot, more humid areas, and still have strong summer attendance.

[Arizona Mike]

Originally Posted by jukebox47

Many of us anticipated the opening of Legend City Amusement Park. My friends parents invested a significant amount of money into it; foregoing the airplane they had anticipated buying.

I worked there for several weeks until the first (I think) bankruptcy. I heard many reasons for its demise but I am sure others have a better knowledge than I. Reasons were discussed such as the intense summer heat, bad management, several accidents, but just plain poor attendance (for whatever reason) seems most likely to me. It was a good idea and they really tried to make it go but, sadly it just didn't.

When it closed several of us went for the opportunity to purchase some of the items. I was interested in the soda fountain but found it was too large for our home. I ended up with some neat advertising for amusement rides from a manufacturer. Then it was gone, just as was the downtown Fox Theatre.

jukebo47, would you mind taking some pictures of those and posting them for us?

[Arizona Mike]

Originally Posted by SluggoF16

It's addressed in another thread as well, but it was hard to compete with the LA and San Diego attractions. Magic Mountain, Knotts, Disneyland, Sea World, all relatively close by, even with I-10 not completed yet. The attractions at Legend City were tame compared to the Magic Mountain rides. Also, the price for what Legend City offered seemed high; I was fortunate that the place I volunteered at provided us with free admission the re-opening day in the summer of 1973, when they introduced the new flume ride.

The heat is a given, but Fiesta Texas (San Antonio), Six Flags (Dallas-Arlington), Astroworld (Houston), Frontier City (OKC) and Disney World (Orlando) are all in hot, more humid areas, and still have strong summer attendance.

That's true. I went to Disneyworld in the summer and felt like the humidity was going to kill me.

[jukebox47]

Originally Posted by Arizona Mike

jukebo47, would you mind taking some pictures of those and posting them for us?

I will see if I can find them. We have collected "stuff" for 45 years and I don't want to say we are hoarders but maybe "Jr. Hoarders". As I remember them they are unusual because they portrayed equipment that seemed much older than the Legend City era. A lady who claimed to be (I believe) the daughter of one of the founders had a massive amount of paperwork from Legend City. I sent her to Bo's Funky Stuff and I believe he did purchase it all. This was a few years ago. I wish I would have had room for it but.....