How do you remember Phoenix? Stories from long time residents... (Mesa: nursery, to work)

[roosevelt]

Originally Posted by John64mv

I don't remember the exact address. But, I know for a fact that it was on Washington between 1st. and 2nd. STREET. Over on 1st Ave. was I believe 'The Phoenix?'
John

P.S. the last movie I saw there was SUPER FLY.

The Phoenix Theater was on the corner of 3rd Ave and Washington at the site of the old Elk's Opera House.

[jack swilling]

I recall the Strand Theater. No offense to anyone, but my grandma said it was too dirty a building and she would not let my grandpa take me to see westerns there. We snuck in anyway. I was a kid, and the seedier, the cooler.
I remember going to the American Kitchen. We were of the school of thought that anything Chinese or nearly Chinese was clean, safe eating...
but never sit down to your eats in a joint you could not see into and out of. I can't recall whether the A.K. had windows.
I also recall the two Sing-hi Restaurants. My mother ate five plum puddings for dessert at one of them the night before she delivered me in 1945. I recall the Chinese in the long robes and the queues, and the beads on long strings separating one room from another. It all was not for effect or atmosphere, but it was just the way it all really was.
The story of the name Sing-hi is said to be like this: In the 20s or 30s, the Asian man wanted to start his restaurant and wanted a sign. He did not read English and hardly spoke it. He hooked up with a sign painter who did not know geography. He told the painter that he wanted the sign to say
"Shanghai," but he said it with a great accent. The sign he got and went with simply said "Sing-hi." The rest is history. Now and then, the venerable eatery was discovered in the process of aging skinned cat on its premises. I'd give my front teeth to have been lucky enough to eat some.

[desertratz]

Originally Posted by jack swilling

I remember going to the American Kitchen. We were of the school of thought that anything Chinese or nearly Chinese was clean, safe eating... Now and then, the venerable eatery was discovered in the process of aging skinned cat on its premises. I'd give my front teeth to have been lucky enough to eat some.

Sorry, but I have to throw in this link.................


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmXxrMC5Pv4

[desertratz]

And this.............................

[roosevelt]

Originally Posted by jack swilling

I recall the Strand Theater. No offense to anyone, but my grandma said it was too dirty a building and she would not let my grandpa take me to see westerns there. We snuck in anyway. I was a kid, and the seedier, the cooler.
I remember going to the American Kitchen. We were of the school of thought that anything Chinese or nearly Chinese was clean, safe eating...
but never sit down to your eats in a joint you could not see into and out of. I can't recall whether the A.K. had windows.
I also recall the two Sing-hi Restaurants. My mother ate five plum puddings for dessert at one of them the night before she delivered me in 1945. I recall the Chinese in the long robes and the queues, and the beads on long strings separating one room from another. It all was not for effect or atmosphere, but it was just the way it all really was.
The story of the name Sing-hi is said to be like this: In the 20s or 30s, the Asian man wanted to start his restaurant and wanted a sign. He did not read English and hardly spoke it. He hooked up with a sign painter who did not know geography. He told the painter that he wanted the sign to say
"Shanghai," but he said it with a great accent. The sign he got and went with simply said "Sing-hi." The rest is history. Now and then, the venerable eatery was discovered in the process of aging skinned cat on its premises. I'd give my front teeth to have been lucky enough to eat some.

Yes, the Strand Theater across from the court house. There was a ticket office in front with green tiles around it. I went to see Roy Rogers, Lash LaRue, Johnny Mack Brown and a zillion others every Saturday. They had an odd balcony inside. You walked in on the ground floor and about half way in the balcony slanted up like bleachers. My parents ate at the American kitchen from the 1930's up to the 50's when it closed. It was started about 1915. I vaguely remember there was a second floor open in the center with stairs behind the cashier.

[Westside Willie]

Originally Posted by roosevelt

The Phoenix Theater was on the corner of 3rd Ave and Washington at the site of the old Elk's Opera House.

And here it is. Thanx Roosevelt, I was wondering where it stood.

[roosevelt]

Originally Posted by Westside Willie

And here it is. Thanx Roosevelt, I was wondering where it stood.

The opera house was heavily remodeled in front. Just flat with a marquee. Really strange because when you entered, there were offices 2 stories high in front then a long corridor to the theater. There were 3 women painted on the ceiling of the theater, maybe Indians.

[roosevelt]

Originally Posted by Westside Willie

And here it is. Thanx Roosevelt, I was wondering where it stood.

I was wondering about the Cigar sign on the Elk's building. Took a while but it says Capadura Cigars. The company was famous for its comic baseball trading cards about 1900, they are not worth nearly as much as other baseball cards that showed actual players.

The Phoenix Theater was in the wrong location. During the 40's and 50's, Phoenix shifted east so stores west of 2nd Avenue had no business. The Boston store, later Diamond's was on 2nd Street and that was as far east as people would walk. After that heading east there were 3 Spanish film theaters, Ramona, Azteca and I think Rex.

[jack swilling]

Does anyone know who is the real and venerable Jack Swilling, of whom I am the namesake? Happy Christmas, Jack Swilling, wherever you are. You truly were a great man. Every one of us thanks you.

[desertratz]

Originally Posted by jack swilling

Does anyone know who is the real and venerable Jack Swilling, of whom I am the namesake? Happy Christmas, Jack Swilling, wherever you are. You truly were a great man. Every one of us thanks you.

Does this help?

Jack Swilling - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia