My family moved to Phoenix from Los Angeles in 1952. The population of the city proper was just over 150, 000 at that time, and Brophy Prep, having closed down during the Depression, reopened that year. Four years later I was a member of its first graduating class. In those days, (before the huge expansion of the city limits), Phoenix's other high schools were Xavier, St. Mary's, North High, West High, Phoenix Union, Phoenix Tech and Carver. Phoenix was officially segregated then, and Carver was the school the Black kids attended. (It was closed in '54, as I recall, and most of the students were absorbed by Phoenix Union, which was the oldest and biggest of the local high schools.) My teen years in Phoenix had a definite "American Graffiti" feel to them. By my junior year at Brophy, a lot of the 35 of us in my class had cars and the "cruising" up and down Central Ave. began in earnest! I had a 1950 Ford convertible that sat about three inches off the ground and its very cool, seriously loud exhaust made me quite popular with the local cops. There were four drive-ins we favored: The Polar Bar, which looked like a big igloo, complete with plaster icicles, etc; The Village, and the new Bob's Big Boy. All three of these establishments were close to one another, near Thomas and Central. The other popular joint was The Three Palms, on Seventh Ave., just south of Camelback. I knew more than a few couples who met at those drive-ins and later married. (Folks got married young in the '50s!) I'm 85 now and sometimes have trouble remembering what I had for breakfast...but I have very clear, vivid and fond memories of "mid-century" Phoenix!

@ArizonaPBS

9 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing your memories with us!

Only had 2 freeways. Gilbert and Chandler were farms and ranches. Cental was the MAIN DRAG.

@Victorylap-fy4ke

10 ай бұрын

I recall only 1 in the 60s called Black Canyon Freeway, which ran through the middle of Phx.

Born and Raised in Gila Bend Az. Coming into Phx. back in the 60s was such a treat for us. Today, not so much. Ill take Legend City any day. I so miss Old Arizona.

Thank you Mr. McMahon for the wonderful memories.

@ArizonaPBS

11 ай бұрын

So glad you enjoyed it!

Born @ Good Sam Hosp 1960, came home after 2 days to LaSalle St in south Phoenix. Moved north to 16th St & Cheery Lynn in 1965-2014. Attended Longview Elementary, Phoenix Union HS, North HS. Scholarship to Northeastern A&M College (Okla) graduated 1980, came back to Univ of AZ in Tucson, left for USAF 1981. Stationed at Luke AFB, AZ 1994-2001 retired to the West valley (Sun City). I've seen soooo much change, yet Maricopa county will always be my location. My resting plot & is all ready @ Greenwood Cemetery on Van Buren. Our family(s) have been here since the 1940s and are sleeping now @ Greenwood. Today my heart longs for Legend City! I'm very thankful for such wonderful sweet memories of a great life in this location!

@ArizonaPBS

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing!

@bluegrassgal

11 ай бұрын

Legend City & that crooked room..marbels run uphill! Lol. Tempetown Lake. North HS class of 66. Now west Peoria. Miss old days 😢 Western Electric.... downtown capital with person ran elevator. Had a cooler...then air conditioner. Farmland near. 😢

@kaygibbs8639

11 ай бұрын

Oh yeah! Big Surf, Scottsdale Rodeo Parade, swimming in our backyard flood irrigation waters, yellow slippin slides, backyard BBQs, homemade hand crank ice-cream/frozen watermelon slushes, Popcorn & 8MM Home Made Movies, Wallace & Ladmo & Pat Mac/Gerald), Encanto Park live concerts, Lookout Point @ South Mountain & Schlitz Beers under the starts, cruizen Central Ave, horseback riding trails @ South Mountain, Japanese Rose Fields @ Baseline Rd, Saltriver tubing, MetroCenter/Christown malls, Tower records on Central, Macayo's Resturant on Central, North High Class of 77, Go Mustangs". Bluegrass all the way-Ole! Flatt & Scruggs, Hee-Haw, George Jones, George Strait, Chris Stapelton, Loretta, Dittie Rambo!😁Take Me Home Country Roads" John Denver, hahaha :) @@bluegrassgal

@DanielRamirez-li6zc

5 ай бұрын

WOW Love your story.. Heartfelt! Thank You 💕

My family moved to Arizona from Illinois in 1959, I was 5 years old . We lived in the Catlin Court area of Glendale the first few years. My favorite place I ever lived . Then over near 59th Ave and Bethany home rd. Graduated from Glendale high. So many memories of cruising central, going up on South Mountain, hanging out at Chris Town mall . I can't imagine a better place to grow up.

@ArizonaPBS

5 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing your memories!

I miss Arizona

@philkearny5587

3 ай бұрын

Phoenix is just East L.A. now.

Thanks for the memories! I grew up in Carefree/Cave Creek back in the 70's.

@ArizonaPBS

3 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

Excellent documentary!

We’d drive 90 minutes north from Ajo to Phx to the state fair in 64/65.. Miss the times❤

Was a nice place to live ,but it over grew and became just another big city !

💕 I was born in Phoenix in June 1964 😇

Wow, I remember listening to KRIZ and KRUX radio when I lived in Phoenix in the early 70's. There was also another radio station called KUPD. I lived right off Central and Holly and who knows I might of seen Alice Copper pass by. Remember Criss Town, Thomas Mall and the downtown area.

@smplfi9859

Жыл бұрын

Alice Cooper is on the radio here almost everynight now! He is a great disk jockey here

@bluegrassgal

11 ай бұрын

I remember all. Legend City?

@atatterson6992

9 ай бұрын

No, it was called KUUUUPD. :-) And don't forget "KDKB - Roooccckkksss Arizona" 7th Ave & Northern myself... (way north Phoenix)

@jgstargazer

9 ай бұрын

@@atatterson6992: Had a great time in Phoenix. First time away from home while attending trade school. Worked at "la Pinata" Restaurant when they were located on 19th. Ave. just south of Osborn. Now they are located on 7th. Ave just north of Missouri. Hope to visit the city soon and say "hi" to my old boss and see if he still remembers me and pass by where I lived and went to school. Memories.

@KevinHaddock-vs5bg

7 ай бұрын

@jgstargazer DeVry at 24th. Street and Highland near Camelback? I worked at Lansdale Transistor & Electronics and A-1 TV and Appliance. Sold a television to Alice Cooper's Dad!@@jgstargazer

Well, at least we know who started this insane city growth.

I love this and the q950s and 1970s documentary. When did it initially air?

@ArizonaPBS

Жыл бұрын

This one was made in 2002, and the others date from 1999 and 2008, respectively. We dusted them off last year to make them available again. Glad you enjoyed them! (And apologies for missing your comment until now.)

@villuminatibeats

10 ай бұрын

​@@ArizonaPBSyou guys did an excellent job. Is there anything about vanburen street? I would love to see some history on it

@bluegrassgal

8 ай бұрын

@@villuminatibeats hooked lol!

Frank was a key Apollo astronaut..... Apollo 8.

Cruising....what a great way to meet hot guys!

IN 1980...I WAS A WAITER AT BESIDE THE POINT RESTRAUNT AT THE POINT RESORT ON 16TH STREET SOUTH OF NORTHERN AVENUE...ONE NIGHT PAT MCMAHON SAT AT ONE OF MY TABLES...I SHOOK HIS HAND THANKING HIM FOR THE WALLACE & LADMO SHOW...HE TOLD ME IT WAS THE 25TH ANIVERSARY SEASON FOR THE SHOW...SUPER NICE GUY..EASY TO TALK TO...

@ArizonaPBS

3 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing your memory!

"however you slice the pie" come on AZ PBS. He was stating facts.

This film is mistitled. It should not say Arizona, but rather Phoenix -- Phoenix Memories from the 1960s. I am surprised that Arizona PBS would mislabel the film so badly. No complaints about the film, just the title. The name Phoenix is mentioned perhaps a hundred times, with a little Scottsdale, Tempe -- all nearby cities. But nothing about Tucson, Yuma, Flagstaff, and so on.

@ArizonaPBS

9 ай бұрын

That's a fair point -- clearly there are lots of Arizona stories left to tell! Thanks for watching.

@JohnWogan

Ай бұрын

I was thinking the same thing. I was born in Phoenix...raised in Scottsdale. Brophy...Saguaro High...Mockingbird Lane...Safari Hotel...Goldwaters Department Store/ Fashion Square. Asu football games - when I was a kid. However, I graduated from the UofA!! Lived in Tucson for 8 years. That opening video on Sun Devil football of the stadium is not Sun Devil Stadium but, it is actually Arizona Stadium on the UofA campus. I recognize the east side curve stands and Coffins Corner in the end zone. This video is not going to mention this - because this is ASU's T.V. station. Also, Frank Borman was from Tucson.

1960s Arizona and no mention of super popular places like- Beeline and Mel Larsons dragways plus, Mazanita and no mention of cruising on Main st in Mesa. disappointed

Unfortunately $$$ has a hard time getting to Tucson. Roads are crap. Tucson probably wouldnt use the money wisely anyhow. Tucson is hole. People come here to die.

PBS protects the swamp creatures of dc