Phoenix, Arizona - rising out of the ashes
Historical images of Phoenix, Arizona
Downtown Phoenix looking south 1939, from The Westward Ho Hotel at Central Avenue and Fillmore Street. Many of these buildings are still around as of 2010. To the far left is the original Valley National Bank Building (called The Professional Building) on Monroe Street. The handsome building in the center of the photo is The Security Building, which was used in the 1970s and 80s for Valley Bank's Trust Department Operations and Credit Card Processing Operations Department. In front of it the sign says "Walsh Brother's Office Equipment". The Luhrs Tower is to the right of the Security Building. Directly in the center: Goodyear tires. The elegant three-story building on the far right of the photo is the Salt River Valley Water Users’ Association building. At the far right, center, is the original Phoenix main post office. In the lower left, "Mac's Liquors". See detail of old buildings on the east side of Central Avenue.
Downtown Phoenix looking north 1939. The building in the center is the Valley Bank Building. The sign saying "Valley National Bank" isn't up yet.The banners say "Phoenix Shines in '39, Arizona Welcomes You". See close-up detail of the banner. In the lower right is the Luhrs Hotel. Lower left says "Famous ABC" - The Arizona Brewing Company..
Downtown Phoenix looking southwest, circa 1940. The building in the middle is the one that Janet Leigh and John Gavin were in at the beginning of Alfred Hitchcock's movie "Psycho". Well, the window at least. The building is still there, looks much smaller now. The Alfred Hitchcock movie "Psycho" has some great shots of 1960 Phoenix at the beginning of the movie, by the way. To the right, the tall building is the Luhrs Tower, also still there. The banner across Central Avenue says "Dons' Trek, Superstition Mountains, Sunday March 7. That's Tovrea's Meats on the southwest corner of Central and Washington. More about the Tovrea family. The popular Bacon Grill cafe was owned and operated, as were four other Phoenix restaurants, by Gene Doyle. The Vista Theater, owned by Fox Theater Co., was built in a former automotive repair garage in the Summer of 1944. It was demolished when construction began on the 40 story Valley National Bank Building in 1972. Kenneth Kirkman was the first manager of the Vista Theater.
The Professional Building, originally built in 1929 as a medical office, was the headquarters for Valley National Bank before Valley Center was built. This beautiful Art Deco building still stands although it was gutted out in the mid-nineties. The entry to the elevators is original and intact. I own one of the original cast-iron signs for this building which says "The Professional Building". This photo is from a postcard, circa 1950s.
The Professional Building, circa pre-1935. The building is Valley Bank and Trust, this is prior to the November 1934 purchase of Consolidated National Bank. The car is a 1931 LaSalle which may have belonged to Valley National Bank president Walter Bimson. Detail of the hood ornament. The back of the photo says "Merge Studios, 2115 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles 6, Calif. Phone 389-2458. Photo © Merge Studios." Special thank you to Gregg Dudash of Chicago for helping to identify the car!
The Professional Building, circa early 1950s. This is what the Valley National Bank building looked like before the eagle/stopsign logo was installed, just the words "Valley National Bank" in plain block letters on the top and in the beautiful art deco letters on the sides. The "new" Valley National Bank logo is on each side of the Central Avenue entrance. Note that they didn't rub out "The Valley Bank and Trust". That's a 1950 Studebaker Bullet Nose parked in front. Facing Monroe Street, you can read "Wayland's Prescriptions" over the door and the Valley National Bank slogan "State-Wide Service". The photo is stamped "Bob Markow Photography, 1832 N. 7th Ave., Phoenix, Arizona, ALpine 2-3327, when ordering please refer to Neg. No. VV07-1" and "Press Relations Department, Valley National Bank". The words "Prof. Bldg. is hand-written in pencil.
The Professional Building, 1970. When the new building (Valley Center) went up in 1973, the largest rotating neon sign in the world (as seen in this photo) was dismantled and junked. On the other hand, when Bank One bought out Valley Bank in 1992, the VNB signs from all of the buildings were carefully removed and given to stockholders, customers, employees and museums. I even got one (a little one - about 10" wide) - that's it below. This photo is stamped "Tom Mitten Photography 533 W. Encanto Blvd., Phoenix, Arizona 85003. Ph. Al 3-9328. 1970. Photo © Mitten Photography.
Valley National Bank sign. An early version of the "eagle/stop sign" logo. In 1952 Valley National Bank president Walter Bimson asked the Advertising Manager, Mert Reade, to develop a logo that would be used on signs, letterheads, etc. When Merte Reade presented the "eagle" logo, Walter Bimson was so pleased that he gave Reade a $2,000 bonus! The original design included a saguaro cactus on the left and pine trees on the right to represent Arizona. The octagonal shape was to remind you to stop at a Valley Bank. When Bank One bought Valley National Bank in '92, all of the VNB signs were carefully removed, inventoried and then distributed to stockholders, employees and even some museums. I remember the day I went to pick it up. Now it hangs on my wall in my home office.
The original sign from the Professional Building. This is one of the signs that was originally on the Professional Building in the twenties and thirties. Valley National Bank took them down when they took over the building and it became known as the Valley Bank Building. I've had this sign since the early nineties. It was given to me by a printing sales rep named Jim from Modern Color printing. I took the photo in my back yard. If you're part of the team restoring the Professional Building, please contact Brad. I will donate it as long as it stays on public display.
1957 Valley National Bank Annual Report Cover. Painting of the Valley National Bank sign on top of The Professional Building. Artist unknown. I am fortunate enough to own this 1957 annual report, which had been untouched since its printing and has been in a fire safe since I received it in 1993. It even has the original map. In those days, banks gave out free maps. The reason that a sketch was used was that the actual sign wasn't installed until the 60s.
Removal of the Valley National Bank sign from the Professional Building, early 1970s. Copyright of photo unknown.
Valley National Bank Branch, Camelback and 44th Street. The photo is marked "4-4-74, FLT 13-23". Don't you wish you had bought all of that empty land back in '74 when it was cheap? This building looks exactly the same in 2010 (except for the Valley Bank signs). It is a Chase Bank Branch. Note the old Circle K sign in the lower left.
How Arizonans Live page from the 1957 Valley National Bank Annual Report. It looks like life was pretty good in Arizona in the 1950s. It still is!
Downtown Phoenix looking southeast on Central, 1967. This is the site of Valley Center (now Chase Tower). In addition to the coffee shop on the corner, I can see a photo shop, a stamp and coin place and the Vista Theater. This photo is stamped "Tom Mitten Photography 533 W. Encanto Blvd., Phoenix, Arizona 85003. Ph. Al 3-9328. Handwritten it says "Expansion Block Nov - 1967" . Photo © Mitten Photography.
Willetta and First Street Office, Valley National Bank. downtown Phoenix. 1400 N. 1st Street. Close-up detail of the “Drive-In Teller” window. This photo is marked on the back with the stamp of Markow Photography, 741 E. McDowell Phoenix, Arizona 85006 ALoine 8-5191. Copy Neg. No. 25840-3. Photo © Markow Photography. Bob Markow did a lot of photography for Valley Bank through the years. His son, Paul Markow, teaches photography at Phoenix College. Read about Bob and Bea Markow.
Mobile branch, Valley National Bank, circa 1960s. I think they were trying to be funny with this photo. That's an early '60s Triumph TR3 and it probably didn't tow that trailer. Also Markow Photography, Neg. #10087-9. Photo © Markow Photography.
Valley Center (as of 2010, Chase Tower) was built in 1973 at Van Buren and Central, just north of the old building. This photo is a good contrast of the old and the new (well, if you consider 1973 new!) Note the San Carlos Hotel in the lower left. The building to the right is, of course, the original Valley National Bank building, which was used by Valley Bank for many years. By the time I started there, the old-timers referred to it as "the annex" - and no one really knew what the building originally was. Of course, the sign was long gone by then.
Promoting Valley Center, circa 1970, Christown Mall. That's a "Laura's Drapery and Fabric" store behind them on the right. I can't read the writing on the sign directly behind them, can you? There also appears to be some hanging lights in the background. This photo has a stamp on the back that says "Camera Arts Studio, 4525 N. 24th Street 266-3976, Phoenix, Arizona. Negative No. 2475-B-6. Photo © Camera Arts Studio.
Promoting Valley Center, circa 1970. The name tag for the woman standing says "Chris". The name tag for the other woman is not visible in either photo. Does anyone recognize these lovely ladies? I would love to give credit to them on this page! This photo has the same stamp on the back and is Negative No. 2475-A7. Photo © Camera Arts Studio.
Valley National Bank pins. Tie pins depicting the mascot of Valley National Bank, "The Valley Banker". The one on the right is from the ground-breaking ceremony for Valley Center in 1972. I believe that they were given to me by Len Huck (see below), who knew that I was interested in the history of Valley Bank.
Valley National Bank executives pondering the model of the new Valley Center building, circa 1970. I remember seeing this model in the mid-nineties, it was stored in the basement of Valley Center. Pictured left to right: Jim Patrick, Wilson Barrett, Chip Uren, Les Goldberg, Earl Bimson, Earl Brunken, Len Huck. This photo is marked on the back with the stamp of Markow Photography, 741 E. McDowell Phoenix, Arizona 85006 258-6191. Neg. No. 29848-13. Photo © Markow Photography.
Valley National Bank executives, circa 1970. Pictured left to right: Chip Uren (standing), Dow Ostland (seated in front of him), Wilson Barrett (standing), Earl Brunken (seated), Len Huck (seated on chair back, fingers folded together), Les Goldberg (seated on chair back, leaning), Jim Patrick (seated), Earl Bimson (standing). The painting behind them is a Frederic Remington (although I haven't yet identified which one). Valley National Bank had an outstanding collection of original western art. The artwork was displayed in branches throughout Arizona and on every floor of the Valley Center tower. The very best and most valuable works of art were on the top floors, where the executive offices were. I had the opportunity to visit this area a few times in the nineties and the original paintings and sculptures were astonishing. This photograph was probably taken in the professional building, as it was taken before Valley Center was built. Photo stamped Camera Arts Studio, 4525 N. 24th St., 266-3976, Phoenix, Arizona 85016. Negative No. 1950, 1950-A.
A new Phoenix neighborhood in the 1950s. From the 1957 Valley National Bank Annual Report. Camelback Mountain is in the distance. Detail of the street sign. It says E. Elm Street and N. 27th Place. This is a beautiful older neighborhood in Phoenix, called the "Arcadia District". This is the definition of "Arcadia" that I found that seems to fit nicely - Greek landscape which because of its purity and beauty, came to represent virtue, insouciance and happiness in literature and art in the Modern Age.
Downtown Sunnyslope circa mid-1950s, looking east along Dunlap from about 2nd Street. From the cover of the Sunnyslope & Cactus Business Directory, circa 1950s. The mountains are the same in 2010, but that's about it. Very few places in the valley have changed as dramatically as Sunnyslope. This picture is from the cover of The Sunnyslope Business Directory, circa 1950.
Phoenix map from 1939. On the outskirts of Phoenix; North Phoenix High School on Thomas Road, The State Fairgrounds, Encanto Park and golf course. To the east of the city, The Arizona Hospital for the Insane, Phoenix Sky Harbor airport. The way to get to Los Angeles in those days was to take the road out of town, Grand Avenue (Route 60), north by northwest up through Wickenburg. The original town site of Phoenix, Arizona Territory, was seven blocks wide by seven blocks deep. The "road out of town" was at Van Buren and 7th Avenue. That's why it's at a 45-degree angle. The very old churches along Van Buren Street face south, because that's where most of the town was when they were built.
Phoenix, Arizona 1950. In 2010 the city limits of Phoenix extend north beyond the boundaries of this map. Phoenix population in the Federal census for 1950 was 106,818 - World Almanac and Book of Facts 2007 edition on page 597.
Map showing Paradise City and Cactus. From the back cover of the Sunnyslope Business Directory. "North Phoenix Airport" is at the northeast corner of Cactus and Cave Creek Road. Circa 1950s.
Surprise, Arizona, 1964. This is from one of the many maps that I have from Valley National Bank. Also a very young Sun City and Youngtown.
Downtown Phoenix, 1957. If you are familiar with the Alfred Hitchock movie, "Psycho", that's the road that Janet Leigh's character drove on when she left Phoenix. In those days, that was how you began your journey from Phoenix to California, going north by northwest.