Drive-ins in old Phoenix

Midcentury Phoenix was remade by the automobile age. One of the keystones was drive-in restaurants. Sit in the car and eat. Or sit on benches. Drive-ins were essential to the tradition of Cruising Central — an essential way for teenagers from different high schools to meet each other and find new steadies.

Regular readers know that the McDonald's at Central Avenue just south of Indian School (above) was the first franchise location outside of California and the first with Golden Arches. Opened in 1954, it was the only McDonald's location in Phoenix for years.

Let's visit a few, from the 1930s to the 1960s.

The Coffee Pot Drive-In at Seventh Street and McDowell in the 1930s.

The Village Inn at two-lane Central and Thomas in the 1940s.

Gizmo at 13th Street and McDowell Road in the late '40s. Not much business when this photo was taken.

An ad for the Polar Bar with a car-hop taking orders from kids cruising Central in the 1950s. The zombie craze 1.0, predating "The Walking Dead," and tastier, too (for the living).

Another Polar Bar ad (Brad Hall collection).

Over on Seventh Avenue, the Three Palms offered a varied menu in the '50s.

McDowell Road was full of drive-ins, including Sandy's at 32nd Street, shown here circa 1960.

Dick's Drive-In, lit up in neon, at 17th Street and McDowell.

Ranch House Burgers.

Phoenix was full of Tastee-Freez franchises. The closest one to me was Seventh Avenue and Roosevelt, later a Dairy Creme, then El Norteño Mexican food.

Burger Chef was another chain. This one is in Sunnyslope in the 1960s.

Out of Dallas came Jack in the Box, which proliferated much faster than McDonalds in the 1960s. This one, in Midtown, is in its original styling. Pull through and place your order at a small Jack in the Box, "Jack Will Speak to You." The location on McDowell east of Third Avenue was the turnaround point for cruisers. This location closed in 2021.

Even as McDonalds expanded, some independents hung on. Here's Patty Ann's at 39th Avenue and Indian School in the 1970s (Brad Hall collection).

Another view of Patty Ann's with different paint.

A long way from London was Little Big Ben, also on the west side, on Camelback Road.

For a time, Wallace and Ladmo's stood at Seventh Avenue and Glenrosa, product placement for Phoenix's legendary "kid's show" (Brad Hall collection).

Right across from McDonald's on Central in the '60s and '70s was Der Wienerschnitzel, with a drive-thru and tables. In addition to all sorts of hot dogs, the chili cheese fries were yummy.

Bob's Big Boy at Central and Thomas was the center for cruisers for years. The construction in the background is the tall Mayer tower for First Federal.

Sonic still remains. This is my favorite location, on McDowell east of Seventh Street. The tater tots are dreamy. It features in my David Mapstone Mystery, South Phoenix Rules.

And Lenny's in Midtown, with a '50s vibe and great chili dogs inside, alas with heat-radiating gravel outside.

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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]

Outstanding. So much local culture, gone forever. Thank you.

[DoggieCombover]

Interesting how the cruising culture sort of emerged organically and almost simultaneously across the whole country. And the cruising route was inviolate but everyone knew it.

[Mariam Cheshire]

First meal in Phoenix in 1963 at Jack in the Box on McDowell & Third Ave; Many hamburgers at Bob's Big Boy throughout the years. Thanks for the nice memories!
Mariam Cheshire

[Joe Schallan]

"Der Wienerschnitzel" represents a pretty significant mauling of the German language and culture. "Wiener Schnitzel" means "Viennese cutlet," and refers specifically to a type of breaded veal or pork cutlet. Nothing to do with American hot dogs. Also, "Schnitzel" is a neuter noun, so it is "Das," not "Der."

My German prof at ASU hated two things: this, and "Hogan's Heroes," not because the latter was hard on Nazis but because of its stereotypes.

I realize Germans are not being singled out -- I can imagine what French people think of Mimi's Cafe and Mexicans of a host of cultural misappropriations and outrages committed on the Spanish language.

Stereotypes work both ways, of course. My young German cousins think America is all mafiosi and cowboys.

Let's not forget Pete's Fish and Chips:

https://petesfishandchips.com/history.html (history and photos)

[Bobson Dugnutt]

Funny thing about Wienerschnitzel (now without the Der and the logo no longer uses that gothic script font): They did have a limited-edition "wiener schnitzel" breaded chicken sandwich to try to correct for the appropriation.

Needless to say, it wasn't brought back. :) (Wienerschnitzel was cashing in on that trend where Popeye's introduced a chicken sandwich that everyone went crazy for, causing a shortage.)

[Helen Highwater]

Before Culver’s came along, Bob’s Big Boy had the best burger in recent Phoenix history.

Did you know that a chicken McNugget is now $1.25 per nugget?

Did you know that a 2” x 3” potato cake at Jack in the Box is $2.25?

Arriving soon at drive thru’s, a Capital One finance window.

[B. Franklin]

Let us not forget Lucky Boy on 16th street, just north of Osborn.

Been there since the '50's.

Strictly old school.

[hotplants]

I am convinced that Patty Ann's and Big Ben are the exact same building. How could they not be? Look at all the details!

[Carole Lowe Beath]

I especially love the photos of Polar Bar with my classmates in the car, and Three Palms on N. 7th Avenue. Both of these photos I had taken from my 1954 West Phoenix High School Annual from the back advertising pages. I still have lunch with two of these classmates, 69 years later.

[John B.]

It was a Dairy Queen at 7th Ave. and Roosevelt, not a Tastee-Freeze. I used to go there all the time with my grandma, who lived on Portland just west of 7th Ave.

[Marilyn Belzner]

When I was in high school, The Village Drive Inn, Polar Bar, Three Palms and then Bob’s Big Boy were all hang outs!,
Everything now is so different!

[Calvin Lash]

I think i saw all you guys at Nelsons Pool.
I Graduated 1958 from
Washington high school.
Got a loud pipes citation at Bob 's Big Boy from officer Jon Seller in 1960.
Photos of my 1959 Chevy parked at Woody's El Nido have previously been posted on this column.

[Jerry Rose]

We'd cruise Central every weekend, 1981 to 1985. McDonald's was our parking spot, and as you say Jack-in-the-Box was the turn-around. It sorta floored me when just a few years later it died away.

I grew up out in Avondale, and when I was young there was an A&W Root Beer stand on Buckeye (Hwy 80). My dad would take me there for chili dogs and floats. The waitresses would put the tray on the window and serve up the floats in a frosted glass mug. Those were the days.

[GWPDA]

After decades living in North Central, when I retired out of Honolulu, I went straight to Tucson. Why? BLAKE'S LOT-A-BURGER of course - three of them! Phoenix couldn't keep a Lot-a-Burger, in the 1980s close to the Capitol, but Tucson can and does. It saved me having to move to Deming. You all can visit and get a couple of green chile cheeseburgers, but don't stay - no room for you here in the Old Pueblo.

[Helen Highwater]

"but don't stay"

That admonition didn't work on the Conquistadors in 1515 and it didn't work on the midwesterners last century and it isn't working on the Califruitlanders now. (:-(

[Calvin Lash]

OCTANE email For club coffee. I lost you.

[Joey S]

This Rogue Columnist article takes me back! It's interesting to see how these drive-in restaurants were not only a place to grab a bite, but also a social hub for teenagers during midcentury Phoenix.

The accompanying photos of the resorts and restaurants are a real treat, especially the pre-construction view of the Arizona Biltmore and the heart-shaped pool at the Royal Palms Inn.

This article focuses on the midcentury era. Are there any examples of historic drive-in restaurants or similar landmarks from this era that are still operating today in the Phoenix area?