More midcentury Phoenix

I continue to feed the endless appetite for photographs of Phoenix. The value I try to add on this site is telling some of the story behind the images. I get these from a variety of sources but one of the best is Brad Hall's History Adventuring on Patreon — pledge a dollar or more and you can get access to far more photography. Click on the image for a larger view.

Celebrity Theater, the city's main concert venue, built in the 1960s on 32nd Street north of Van Buren, a sign of the hollowing out of downtown.

Here's the southwest corner of Central and Osborn in the 1970s before the two bank towers were built. This was when the city was still litigating its long battle against billboards, hence the Eller sign advertising an early gated property around 27th Street and Osborn. Behind it is an old Phoenix stucco apartment. To the right are the Mayer towers, the short one with the Playboy Club on top and the tall one with the outside elevator, headquarters of First Federal Savings.

From when I was growing up, here's the Arizona Bank at Central and Cypress Street. The shady area to the north surrounds a beautiful building that now houses the Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona. Most of these trees were ripped out for palo verdes.

The Blue Cross-Blue Shield headquarters at Third Street and Indian School, completed in 1970. This midcentury masterpiece was lost, replaced by a gas station.

Going back to the 1950s, this is Central and Sherman Street looking north. Sherman is four blocks south of the Southern Pacific tracks and the Central underpass. The tall buildings in the distance are the Luhrs Tower and the Luhrs Building. Phoenix's bigger skyline was years away.

A wide-angle shot of the Greyhound bus depot on the northeast corner of First Street and Van Buren in the 1950s, with Stults' Drugs facing Van Buren. To the right is the Republic and Gazette building.

The YMCA building at First Avenue north of Van Buren Street, circa 1950. It replaced the downtown Y a block south.

Jumping back to later years, a monorail was contemplated to run along Central Avenue. This rendering was circa 1960 before the taller Mayer tower was built. Monorails are much more expensive than light rail, hence we have today's LRT system (WBIYB).

Osborn looking east as it crosses Central in the early 1970s. The "punch card" building at left, Today the Veterans Affairs building is on the opposite corner. Note the abundant shade trees heading east.

Here's a closeup of the southeast corner of Central and Indian School in the early 1970s. Earl Scheib was a ubiquitous chain of auto painting and auto body shops. North is the Der Wienerschnitzel. Those 18 cent hotdogs cost about $1.12 in today's dollars. My favorites were the chili dogs and chili fries.

Right across the street was McDonalds, which held three "firsts": First McDonald's in Phoenix, first franchised McDonald's outside California, and first with golden arches. The building was modified with more shade and tables in front. Those 1954 hamburgers cost $1.43 in today's dollars. This iconic building was demolished around 1980 for a skyscraper that was never built.

This aerial view of Central and Osborn from the 1960s shows the "punchcard building" before it was raised with extra floors. The turquoise Guaranty Bank building was the tallest in the city, surpassing the Hotel Westward Ho, when it was completed in the late 1950s. With a new skin, it now is headquarters of the marketing agency OH Partners. Farther north is Del Webb's Townhouse, part of Rosenzweig Center, the Camelback Towers, and very clean air.

Farther south is Diamond's at Park Central in the 1960s. Diamond's and Goldwater's, both created by Phoenix merchant princes, were the original anchors.

Not every photo is a midcentury masterpiece. But people of a certain age remember when Kentucky Fried Chicken in Phoenix came from Harman's. To the left is A.J. Bayless, along with Bashas', one of the areas two homegrown grocery chains. 

This is the motorcade of President John F. Kennedy on Central Avenue in 1962. After making a circle around KPHO (below), it will end up at the Westward Ho for "Carl Hayden Day." Vice President Lyndon Johnson was there, too. The senator's top aide Roy Elson devised it as a way to "re-introduce" the long-serving lawmaker to a state with so many newcomers. Hayden was facing Republican Evan Mecham in a state that was growing more Republican. I watched this from my mother's office in the Greater Arizona Savings Building (Heard Building), the one with the radio tower on the left.

Like most of America, Phoenix was once filled with bowling alleys. The Melrose Bowl was at 4327 N. Seventh Avenue and was regrettably lost.

This is a familiar 1960s shot of Washington and Fourth Street. But we rarely see the stores on the north side of Washington, blessedly shaded by real "shade structures," and Olson's Leather and Tackle signature horse. Back then, Phoenix was not far removed from the Old West.

Click on this for a wider view, nearly the same spot and same era. At far right is the Fox Theater building with Dr. Pease's dental office on the second floor, the hamburger stand, and remnants of the old city fabric falling to parking lots. The steelwork going up at right is the new county complex. Note the Southern Pacific billboard in an era when Phoenix generated much more rail freight than today.

The Safari Hotel swimming pool at 401 N. First Avenue downtown.

Here's the spot at Adams and Central where my grandmother and I would pick up my mother every day after work. The Raskin Jewelers clock was distinctive and the pedestrians were dressed like adults.

The details make this photograph from circa 1964. The Busy Bee Cafe is still there. The green is part of the shady oasis of the City/County building. And behind the new Municipal Building, the Arizona Hotel is still standing. It was soon demolished and now is the site of a city garage. The 1929 City/County building remains, but the shade trees, palms, and grass were ripped out, replaced by dirt and palo verdes.

Meanwhile, in the 1960s John F. Long's Maryvale was new and modern. Among the amenities was Maryvale Community Hospital, which became Maryvale Samaritan, at 51st Avenue and Campbell. It closed in 2017. It was renovated and reopened two years later as part of the county's healthcare system.

RELATED: Photos from Phoenix in the '50s and '60s.

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My book, A Brief History of Phoenix, is available to buy or order at your local independent bookstore, or from Amazon.

Read more Phoenix history in Rogue's Phoenix 101 archive.

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[100 Octane]

Nice to see a seldom seen view of South Phoenix (Central and Sherman), in color at that. Some of those buildings are still there. The Model A Ford is probably long gone, though.

Much appreciated.

[Kevin in Preskitt]

Gee whiz, a monorail would've been neat!

I remember going shopping with my mom at the A.J. Bayless store at 51st Avenue and McDowell as a kid. It wasn't nearly as big and nice as the Smitty's at 43rd and McDowell.

There were no Bashas' stores in Maryvale that I can remember, although Bashas' lower-end Food City stores are ubiquitous there now.

I worked at Bashas' in Flagstaff while attending NAU. I liked working there.

Thanks for invoking a few memories!

[David H]

Thanks for the memories, Jon (and Brad). The first photo of JFK's motorcade included a sign for a western wear store with a reference to the long-out-of-use term "squaw dresses". That's a cringe-worthy term these days - kind of like Squaw Peak. Oh well ...

[Calvin E Lash Jr]

Jon. Thanks for these. I recall most all those. Especially the photo of McDonald's where i and my buddy, Buckeye Jim had our last for fun non profit fight with three losers in the dirt lot behind McDonald's.
The fight ended when one guy hit Jimmy in the back of the head with a 2 by 4 and then they all ran off.
A deceased friend, Bob Cosgrove worked at McDonald's before moving on to a government job in DC. I recall burgers being 18 cents and free at closing time.

[Sandra Clark]

I love the memories these photos elicited! Thank you so much, Jon.
I was brought to Phoenix during the 40’a and 50’s during the Arizona Legislative Sessions by my grandparent from Clifton, Arizona. Then I attended ASU and lived in Phoenix for the next sixty years. Lots of memories there.

[Phil Motta]

Great, Jon! Brings back memories of my early ad agency located in the "punch card building," on the first of the later-added floors. Panoramic views to the north and NE through floor-to-ceiling glass. My first radio DJ gig was at KRIZ, the studios of which were on the top floor of the same building (pre-addition) back when I was a 19 year-old ASU student, as well.

[Cal Lash]

I have been informed by a friend that she recalls pay 10 cents for a McDonald's burger.
Other people that i ran with in the 50's have asked to see cruising photos. If you know of such perhaps you could share?

East side.
Claudia T
Are you out there?

[Cal Lash]

Yep Mid Century Phoenix. i watched American Graffiti and dreamt of Leave it to Beaver and The good ole days of Mayberry. But i am awake again to the big world of Orange Nightmares and Orwellian jabberwocky. I delve into ancient Roman policing and their handling of Runaway Slaves. I want to ask Plato what to do. But instead think I'll re-read Camus Plague and at nearly 80 roll the rock back up the hill, Agin. Right after i look to my denizen pals. The Gecko, the Verdins and Quail. The Rabbits and that red headed hummingbird hanging out in the Great Sonoran Desert Summer.

[Cal Lash]

Odds of making to 80 are slim
so before I exit stage Left/Right?
https://www.gq.com/story/climate-change-david-spratt

[Ramjet]

I can certainly comment on this post. I was born in Phoenix in 1937. I have seen more change than most. I lived at 7th Street and Portland until 1949 in the house my Grandparents bought in 1920.
We moved to 17th Ave and Elm St (19th Ave & Camelback) in 1949. I used to shoot a limit of doves in the backyard before going to school in the morning.
The northern city limit was at Thomas Road at that time.
The 50's was my happy time. We cruised Central and several others on a regular basis.
I, like Cal, was involved in a fight or two. I did hit somebody with a 2X4 once but it was by Madison Square Garden and we were very badly outnumbered.
I, obviously, could go on forever and tell many tales and even talk about a "skeleton" or two. i won't continue to bore any longer.
Roger Simpson AKA Ramjet

[Cal Lash]

Madison Square was at 7th ave and Adams?

[Cal Lash]

Skeletons. I recall in 59 when they found my hod carrier Rudy in a shallow Sonoran desert grave south of Phoenix.
His 6 foot, 3 inch, 235 pound body was identified by the full back tattoo of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Some mention was made of the Cabrone Bro's.
At the time i was manning a hose for the Hopper plastering and drywall company pouring a rubber like roof on a piece of the old Goldwater store. I cant recall if it had become Dillards.
Around those times a friend,Bob Cosgrove an ASU architecture student that had worked at McDonald's was helping design and build the first truss joist in Arizona. As i recall it ended up with John F Long. Bob went onto DC and was the ladt last word on problems with VA construction problems. He died in Waco.

[Cal Lash]

Meantime i heard rumor that Trump is headed out to see Jon in Seattle to formulate a plan to annihilate those
anti fascist commies occupping the town?

[Ruben]

Since we're headed back in time, word is that a pandemic brought down the Roman Empire.

I think it was Covidicus XVII

P.S. I wish we could go back to the time of the Donna Reed show, but I'm afraid we can't.

[Cal Lash]

Ruben:
Never saw her tv stuff.
Only movie i saw was
From here to Eternity.
Not my type.
To pale and from Iowa.
Glad to hear your
still with us, young man.

[Ramjet]

Cal,
7th and Adams is right. Some citizens of a latino persuasion took exception to our car club jackets "Sidewinders" with a snake logo. we felt it necessary to show them that snakes were dangerous. The next installment will deal with being a "bootlegger" in 1956 Phoenix.

[Cal Lash]

I recall those jackets.
And a few Rumbles.
Has been a while since i saw a female hand with two tattoo dots
or a car attena fashioned into a zip gun.
One could always find a fight at Ciots, Sarges Cow Town or Riverside.

[100 Octane]

"I, obviously, could go on forever and tell many tales and even talk about a "skeleton" or two. i won't continue to bore any longer.."

Please do. All the big things, for better or worse, are recorded history. These personal anecdotes are all that are left.

[Cal Lash]

"The Fire Next Time"

[Ramjet]

I was supposedly a student at the U of A.in 1956. It really was an excuse to be close to Nogales. Two trips with 4 guys a week = 32 bottles of Oso Negra at $1 a bottle.
Saturday night in back of the Three Palms we sold them for $10 per and no ID required. The profits were reduced by having to give the off-duty Phoenix PD guard 3 bottles every time.
I am pretty sure that the statute of limitations is over so Cal, can't arrest me.

[Cal Lash]

Roger U take a time out at Maria's Cantina back room?
And Lunch at the Caverns?

56, I recall the time the US border patrol tore the headliner out of my car.
They still didnt find the booze but they found my black jack (a sap) under the dash on top of the radio. 12 years later i passed on getting a sap at Johns Uniforms at 1800 East Van Buren.
In 68 uniform pants came with a sap pocket.
Which reminded me again in the 50's when i watched a cop sap a drugged up man probably 6 times in the head before he went to his knees in front of the Zombie Drive up on Central Avenue.
Must have been my philosphy reading that got me the "Lash is a social worker with a badge" designation from my fellow officers. There was only one policeman that i talked philosophy with.
He went onto be Dallas,Texas police Chief.
Ben and i ran a lot of miles together. Times we would run the dirt forest road from Munds Park to Mormon Lake (14 miles) for lunch at the lodge. Or ride bicyles from Phoenix to Flagstaff via Payson an Happy Jack.
Yep dem der twas da days.

But given all the current turmoil, tonite think I'll watch Edward Olsmos in Zoot Suit. Always reminds me of Gruber Underwear factory in Glendale. Back when we welcomed immigrants.
Hasta luego

[Rogue Columnist]

Got my ambulance uniforms and duty boots at John's, when it was on McDowell. And also a sap, which saved me more than once and I still have.

[Cal Lash]

Jon, Take with you on your next trip downtown.

[Ramjet]

Nogales was always 25 cent screwdrivers at the B29 and the occasional trip down Calle Canal.
I once saw Danny Zapien sap a guy 5 times before he went down at the Riverside.

[Cal Lash]

Hitting someone on top of the head is the least effective way to gain control of a situation.
The current demonstrations world wide and recent comments by US military personnel may have as much to do with Trumps undoing as the addled words spewing from his pursed lips.
Will be interesting to see how handing over more responsibility to unarmed social workers and other professionals goes. Oregon has successfully had such a program in place for many years.

[Chuck Albertson]

Phil Motta, I remember hearing you on KRIZ. KRIZ and KRUX were the only stations playing the music we wanted to hear, and they also promoted concerts when the bands came to town. Who was it that got into that backstage dustup with Dave Clark of the Dave Clark 5 (at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum, if I recall correctly)?

[Joe Schallan]

I went to the same high school as Phil Motta, though he was a couple years ahead of me. As I recall, he was singer in a local group called P-Nut Butter, and prior to that the Playthings (which was at first the Playboys, but then they heard from the lawyers for Gary Lewis and the Playboys...) I could have this wrong. Some background here, source and veracity unknown to me.