How do you remember Phoenix? Stories from long time residents... (Glendale: spider, stucco)

[SluggoF16]

Originally Posted by roosevelt

Here is another view of Sun City. The full circle drives are a nightmare because they have continuous house numbers completely around the circle. You never know where to start or which direction you are driving.

Attachment 116574

In 1982 before I left for the AF I delivered medical supplies, with a couple of clients in Sun City. What a nightmare... waiting on golf carts, the speed bumps, and the numbering system that did not follow the logical and easy-to-find format of the rest of the Phoenix area. It took at least a half hour the first time to find one place... round and round and round.

[learicalAZ]

Originally Posted by toextra

New member here. Not a Phoenix native but lived here 57 years.
In reply to a discussion from a couple years ago, I remember Herman Spoot. He was on a show called "Easy Does It" (I think) on Ch. 12. Easy, the host, was Gene McKinney (sp?). I don't know what his previous position was at 12. My mom remembered that it was sort of a "thinking-man's kids show", as some of the humor was topical and way over kids' heads. Based on where we lived at the time, the show would have been on in 1957-1958.

I knew somebody besides my brother and me had to remember Herman Spoot. I do recall a photo of my brother and me wearing Herman Spoot t-shirts standing in the front yard of the John F Long home we moved into 11/57. Since I just turned 2 that same month, I figured if I could remember the show, I would have to have been about 4 years old. That's why I guessed 1959-60-61. Anyway, thanks!

[learicalAZ]

And now for Mitch Miller and the gang, as they sing:

"Wake up and live in Sun City,
For the active new way of life.
Wake up and live in Sun City,
Mr Senior Citizen and wife."

Don't remember any more. (yes, I know it wasn't really mitch miller. I just wanted to have "A simple sing-a-long, loud and strong.")

[learicalAZ]

Originally Posted by toextra

New member here. Not a Phoenix native but lived here 57 years.
In reply to a discussion from a couple years ago, I remember Herman Spoot. He was on a show called "Easy Does It" (I think) on Ch. 12. Easy, the host, was Gene McKinney (sp?). I don't know what his previous position was at 12. My mom remembered that it was sort of a "thinking-man's kids show", as some of the humor was topical and way over kids' heads. Based on where we lived at the time, the show would have been on in 1957-1958.

"TV historian Gary Grossman also found that Phoenix had a program known as Easy Does It, starring one Gene Kinnery, but again, no further information on it has been located."
from the book Hi There. Boys and Girls! America's Local Children's TV Programs by Tim Hollis.

[toextra]

Does anyone remember, or (better yet) have any information on Valley National Bank's automated parking garage which was downtown until the late '50s?
It was basically a forklift sort of thing that picked up your car and placed it in a pigeonhole up on a wall, and retrieved it when you came to claim the car. My mom's cousin bought a new '57 Plymouth which was too low to the ground and the forklift wouldn't go under the car. Seems they closed the garage around that time.
I have searched the net but only found a brief mention of it in an article about a similar garage in Portland or Seattle.

Thanx!

[1937Gal]

In the 60s, there was a bank robbery downtown. I believe it was a First National Bank. The teller or employee was termed as "kidnapped". There was a time when he was determined to be part of the robbery. The officials brought in Peter Hurkos to see if he could find out where this kidnapped man was as, I believe, his family was caught in a bad situation of no income, and unable to claim any insurance, etc. Peter Hurkos said he 'saw' the man 'off of a dirt road'. He did not say the man was dead or alive, however. I do recall that Hurkos had a show at the Flamingo Hotel (2501 E. Van Buren), and we went to see him. I believe it was several years later they found the bank employee's remains just off the old old highway to Globe, AZ. Does anyone remember this?... I can't find any details online and I want to tell myself "good memory, girl..."

[AZDesertBrat]

Originally Posted by 1937Gal

In the 60s, there was a bank robbery downtown. I believe it was a First National Bank. The teller or employee was termed as "kidnapped". There was a time when he was determined to be part of the robbery. The officials brought in Peter Hurkos to see if he could find out where this kidnapped man was as, I believe, his family was caught in a bad situation of no income, and unable to claim any insurance, etc. Peter Hurkos said he 'saw' the man 'off of a dirt road'. He did not say the man was dead or alive, however. I do recall that Hurkos had a show at the Flamingo Hotel (2501 E. Van Buren), and we went to see him. I believe it was several years later they found the bank employee's remains just off the old old highway to Globe, AZ. Does anyone remember this?... I can't find any details online and I want to tell myself "good memory, girl..."

Peter Hurkos was a good friend of my grandparents. He was at their house often and he always made me very nervous. I was living with my grandparents at the time and was only 17. I don't recall how they met him but they said, after he moved to CA, he got caught up in the 'celebrity crowd'. He wrote a book and my grandparents names are in it. They owned a mine and he kept telling them it was a vein of the Lost Dutchman. Yeah, right.

I do remember one time when he, my grandparents and myself were out to dinner together and he told the waitress and LOT of stuff about herself. Talked about her recent surgery and the fact that she'd had a house fire and lost everything. I think he scared her. lol

[roosevelt]

Originally Posted by toextra

Does anyone remember, or (better yet) have any information on Valley National Bank's automated parking garage which was downtown until the late '50s?
It was basically a forklift sort of thing that picked up your car and placed it in a pigeonhole up on a wall, and retrieved it when you came to claim the car. My mom's cousin bought a new '57 Plymouth which was too low to the ground and the forklift wouldn't go under the car. Seems they closed the garage around that time.
I have searched the net but only found a brief mention of it in an article about a similar garage in Portland or Seattle.

Thanx!

I have a photo of the place but as usual too lazy to name it properly so it is just a number in my computer. I believe it was on the northeast corner of 1st Street and Monroe. I remember a picture in the newspaper showing a car hanging halfway off the first level.

[roosevelt]

Originally Posted by learicalAZ

And now for Mitch Miller and the gang, as they sing:

"Wake up and live in Sun City,
For the active new way of life.
Wake up and live in Sun City,
Mr Senior Citizen and wife."

Don't remember any more. (yes, I know it wasn't really mitch miller. I just wanted to have "A simple sing-a-long, loud and strong.")

'Mr. senior Citizen and Girlfriend' would have worked too. I went to many garage sales in Sun City and the woman selling the stuff was the widow and way too young to be living out there.

[goldwing66]

The Mexico Cafe was on about 13th St. and Van Buren. That was the first restaurant I ever went to. About 1950.