Charles’ 
Slide of the Week: July 6th, 2007
Tucson, AZ, 1956
A lovely lady tourist models her best metallic ric-rac trimmed western dress with the “Sunshine” City’s cactus cowboy spokes-character. I wonder if she had as good of a time in Tucson as I did. I was there last weekend.
First it was breakfast served poolside at Tucson’s timeless classic Arizona Inn. This oh-so-charming desert town and country style resort is homespun and family run and has been since they opened the rustic doors in 1930. Being there, I felt like I walking through he pages of a 1930s Sunset Magazine.
Then it was high-time for some kitsch culture so I was off to the Magic Carpet Miniature Golf Course where I quickly baked in the blazing hot sun. This is not your ordinary windmill-castle-style mini golf course, oh-no! This late-60s extravaganza of creativity looks like some crazy grandpa fashioned the giant mini-golf-scale monkey, Texas long horn, three story tall Easter Island head, and other folk art-style obstacles and challenges along the course, from scratch.
From there I checked into a past-its-prime late 70s hotel on Congress Street in heart of downtown Tucson. Within moments I was on my way to have some lunch the nearby hip ‘n trendy Hotel Congress, a railroad-side landmark since 1919. Walking two short blocks there I scampered in and out of several interesting shops including the legendary Chicago Music Store, the Wig-O-Rama wig shop, a fun-smoke filled smoke shop, a Goth clothing store and a couple of struggling art galleries with dead mannequins in the window.
After lunch it was back in the air-conditioned car for a quickie trip ‘round town to see vintage motel signs. There are several stunner’s including the Tucson Inn and the Tiki Motel. Speaking of Tiki. It was then time for a tasty ‘n tangy Tiki cocktail at Tucson’s premiere Tiki bar restaurant, the Kon Tiki, serving since 1963. What can I say? It was intoxicating!
The cocktailing continued at what is now my favorite bar EVER!!!! …The Shelter. This freestanding 1961 lounge is legendary for supposedly being a built as a cocktail bar that could double as a bomb shelter if need be. The spellbinding semi-circular booths and free form bar of this well-seasoned watering hole are enhanced by more multi-colored lighting than I have EVER experienced in one place and a SPECTACULAR collection of mid-century memorabilia crystal clearly curated by some one with razor sharp good-bad taste. My imagination was inspired and my spirit soared!
Tucson is no exception to my rule…no matter where you go there is something interesting around every corner.
You’ll always find me where classic meets kitsch in the land of Americana!
Cheers!
Charles Phoenix
Los Angeles
July 2007
6 Comments on “Tucson, AZ, 1956”
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July 6th, 2007 at 1:43 pm
Sir Charles Phoenix Tucson! How are ya buddy? This place sounds like a rocking good time. Old West meets Tiki? This sounds like a cocktailing playground. Well after seeing “Christine” pulled from the mud bog I think you need some Americana refreshment! Take care and always looking forward to your next adventure. Red C.
July 6th, 2007 at 5:08 pm
Intrepid Traveler Charles!
Although I do have a collection of old Sunset magazines, they proved to be too intoxicating to quickly flip through in order to find something to correspond with your slide today. Honestly – is anything more beautiful than the 1950s southwest lovingly photographed by a dedicated Sunset Magazine photographer? Even a tourist in a Western-styled dress takes on a glow when placed in the happy beams of Tucson’s mascot! (Although he is an odd mascot at that – I swear that’s a grapefruit head and not a sun on his cactus shoulders!)
Now we all know my book collection is truly out-of-date, but I did find among my “famous places” cookbooks a few mentions of some hot spots in Tucson:
Better Homes and Gardens’ Famous Foods from Famous Places (1964) recommend the Old Adobe Patio
The Ford Treasury of Favorite Recipes from Famous Eating Places (1950) adored El Merendero
Great Restaurants Cookbook, U.S.A. (no date, perhaps 1970s) trumpeted the Arizona Inn
I don’t know if any of these places still exist (El Merendero exists, it appears, in some form but not at the address listed in the book and it seems as a drive-in), but the books all offer recipes to the reader so that you too can recreate that Tucson goodness! And though I’m tempted to leave you the recipe for the Arizona Inn’s Cold Monterey Avocado Soup which includes a ¼ teaspoon of MSG, I have decided instead to give you a great idea for a sweet, cooling treat! We turn our attention now to El Merendero, run in 1950 by Marian Waggener who offered a sundae sure to tempt even the most jaded of palates!
Crème de Menthe Sundae
Peppermint flavoring or crème de menthe
½ cup crushed pineapple and juice
1 cup sugar
½ cup white corn syrup
1 cup water
Dash of salt
Few drops of green food coloring
Boil all the ingredients together – except flavoring – until pineapple is clear. Add a few drops of peppermint flavoring or crème de menthe and pour over vanilla ice cream. Garnish each dish with a sprig of mint. Ice cream lovers will be delighted with the unusual dessert. This recipe makes enough topping for 6 ample servings.
And may we all have a crème de menthe weekend!
Miss Sharon
July 6th, 2007 at 7:39 pm
A friend turned me on to your web-site. Thank you so much, I love it. I grew up in Arizona during the 50’s & 60’s and so much of what I see on your site brings back so many great memories. I wish I could contribute, but hundreds of family slides of that time were lost to me in family feuding over wills/probate. I know that’s not an unusual history, but more times than not the people who do get those things end up throwing them away out of spite. Oh well…. At least through your site I can live those times over again with someone else’s memories. Loved today’s Tucson photo & the squaw dress - opps, I mean the indigenous native American dress…
Thanks again, Victoria
July 9th, 2007 at 5:16 pm
This lady looks like a Dale Evans wanna be–with a certain charm and elegance, of that era.
July 10th, 2007 at 8:57 am
Love the Tucson memories. I was born and raised there, and got my clarinet at Chicago Music Store…so happy to hear it’s still there. I’ve been in LA for 35 years now, but I always enjoy my visits back to Tucson!
Thanks for memories, even the scary bomb shelter ones.
July 12th, 2007 at 12:47 pm
Charles,
You are the man! I enjoy mini golf, family vacations, and old motel signs. I remember playing mini golf for the first time in Mackinaw City, Michigan in 1982 at O’brien’s Miniature Golf across from Momma Mia’s Pizzeria. The pizzeria also housed the free Mackinaw Bridge museum above the shop, where you could watch a documentary on the building of the Mackinaw Bridge.