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Phoenix, Arizona - rising out of the ashes
Historical images of Phoenix, Arizona
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Downtown Phoenix looking south 1939. From The Westward Ho Hotel at Central Avenue and Fillmore Street. At the far left is the original Valley National Bank Building (called The Professional Building) on Monroe Street. The building just behind it is The Adams Hotel, which must have had a nice view of the valley until all of the other buildings grew around it! 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. At Central and Polk Street is a Texaco, the sign below it says "Michener's Storage". The Building across the street says "Fisk Tires" on the vertical sign and "Motor Company" across the front. The billboard says, "Automobile Financing". The elegant three-story building on the far right of the photo, at First Avenue and Van Buren, is the Salt River Valley Water Users’ Association building. Across from that is the Western Auto Supply Company, and just to the south of that is The American Red Cross. And just to the north of that is Valley Paint. And in the far lower left the sign says "Mac's Liquors".
Downtown Phoenix looking north 1939. This is Central Avenue looking north from Jefferson Street. The building in the center was the Valley Bank Building. The sign saying "Valley National Bank" wasn't up yet, apparently. The sign on the criss-cross scaffolding on the top of the building just to the right says Hotel Adams. This was the second Adams Hotel, which replaced the original which burned down in 1915. The current hotel in this spot is the Wyndham, which was built in 1975. The banners down on the street say "Phoenix Shines in '39, Arizona Welcomes You". The American Bus Depot is just to the right of that banner, on the east side of Central. On the northwest corner of Washington and Central is Walgreens. The sign that is backwards says, "Tovrea's Tender US Graded Meats". On the northeast corner is "Lerner Shops", the the building on the southeast corner of Adams and Central is The First National Bank, one of the competition! The banner flying over Central at about Monroe says, "Football". Off to the left, at Van Buren and First Avenue is a sign that says "Montgomery Ward". The sign in the lower left says "Famous ABC" - which is for The Arizona Brewing Company. In the lower right is the Hotel Luhrs. Further north up Central is the Apache Hotel, and another sign that says, "Iris" - does anyone know anything about this? The building at the far right has a sign that says, "X-Ray Gas" and "Morrison the Dentist". The building directly across from it says, "Portraits, Kodak Finishing, Lower Prices". The billboard just to the right of the Adams Hotel, and slightly north, says "America's Finest, Seagrams". Behind that is a builiding that says, "Texaco". Way over on the left, slightly below the center, you can see the words "Kress", for the Kress Department Store.
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. Walking along the Central Avenue, going north, starting at the lower right corner of the photo, you go past a building that says "Hollywood Fur Studios" along the top front, "Furs" and "Repairing" across the front, and there is a sign sticking out that says "Furs". There is also a Florist in that building. After you cross the alley - look out for the truck! - you are at Western Union. On the second floor above them is Winship Loan Plan. JC Penney Company's storefront doesn't look very big, a little wider than the car parked in front. Then you come to Walgreen Drugs, which wraps around Washington Street. The banner across the Central says "Dons' Trek, Superstition Mountains, Sunday Mar 17, In Search of Lost Dutchman ... Mine". On the southwest corner of Central and Washington the sign says "Tovrea's Tender US Graded Meats". On the northeast corner is Lerner Shops, and just east of that is Bakers. At the left, just below center, is Greyhound. The sign off in the distance to the right says, "Crystal Ice". The building on the right, that seems to glow so brightly, is the Kress Department Store.
The Valley National Bank/Professional Building, Central Avenue and Monroe, circa pre-1935. This building was originally built in 1929 as a medical office, and was the headquarters for Valley National Bank before Valley Center, which is now Chase Tower, was built just across the street from it. Shown here, the building is Valley Bank and Trust, as 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. 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 Valley National Bank/Professional Building, circa early 1950s. This is what the Valley National Bank building looked like before the eagle/stopsign logo was installed on top of it, with 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 "stopsign" logo is on each side of the Central Avenue entrance. Note that they didn't rub out "The Valley Bank and Trust Co.". There is a barber pole in the left window. That's a 1950 Studebaker "Bullet Nose" parked right in front. On the Monroe Street side of the building, you can still see "Professional Building" under the flagpole. And below that, at street level, you can read "Wayland's Prescriptions" over the door and the Valley National Bank slogan "State-Wide Service". The building just across the alley, to the south says, "Gifts, Indian Jewelry, Western Souvenirs". 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 copyrights for Bob Markow's photographs now belong to his son, Paul Markow, who continues to do photography here in Phoenix. These photos are used here with permission from him.
The Valley National Bank/Professional Building, 1970. The Valley Bank sign, which was the largest rotating neon sign in the world, was created by Glen Guyett. Also, you can see the penthouse office area that was built along the top of the building and angled into the tower, which is where the presidents of Valley Bank, Walter Bimson, and then his brother Earl, had their office, which overlooked the valley, most of which Valley Bank had financed. A pretty insensitive addition architecturally, but that's how they did it back then. Behind The Valley Bank Building you can see a little of the old Adams Hotel, before the renovation in the 1970s. This photo is stamped "Tom Mitten Photography 533 W. Encanto Blvd., Phoenix, Arizona 85003. Ph. Al 3-9328. 1970. Photo © Mitten Photography.
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 1960s.
Valley National Bank eagle/stopsign logo. This is a glossy that was used for advertising. When I started working for Valley Bank in 1989, this logo had already been replaced with a more modern one. But some departments still wanted to use the old one, and the art department had to say "no". But, can you blame them for asking? It's a beautiful logo.
Removal of the Valley National Bank sign from the Professional Building, early 1970s. When the new building (Valley Center) went up in 1973, the old building was abandoned and 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 was taken by Dick Holland, who was a Vice President working for Bill MacAllan - first at the original Operation Center on Black Canyon and then later exclusively on the Valley Bank Center in the late 1960s.
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. See Merte Reade's original building in 1951 here. Photo of Mert Reade Advertising is courtesy of his daughter, Susan Reade Smith.
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 owned this sign since the early nineties. It was given to me by a printing sales rep named Jim from Modern Color printing. If you're part of the team restoring the Professional Building, please let me know. I will donate it as long as it stays on public display.
Professional Building/Valley National Bank Building painting from the cover of the 1964 Phoenix road map, which was specially printed for Valley National Bank. In those days the branches gave them out for free. At first I had thought that this depicted the construction of the tower, but it's about ten years too early for that. It is actually showing the construction of the entire city of Phoenix! It's not too much of an exaggeration, either, Valley National Bank financed a whole lot of what we see around here in Phoenix. At that time, the huge neon sign could have been seen from anywhere in the city. Painted in gouache and charcoal, copyright 1964 Rand McNally and Company and Valley National Bank, printed in CMYK offset litho, 133-line screen.
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 1974 when it was cheap? This building looks pretty much the same today (except for the Valley Bank signs). It is a Chase Bank Branch. Note the old Circle K sign in the lower left. That's where the Circle K Corporate Headquarters is now.
How Arizonans Live, a page from the 1957 Valley National Bank Annual Report. It looks like life was pretty good in Arizona in the 1950s. It still is! The boy on the couch has been tentatively identified as Robert M. Reade, the son of Mert Reade. The girl sitting on the floor has been identified as Joan ______? If you recognize anybody in this picture, please contact Brad.
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. 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 billboard advertises news anchorman Bill Close of KOOL TV. 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, which would be just across the street from where the Phoenix main library is now. 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. Read about Bob and Bea Markow here.
Mobile branch, Valley National Bank, circa 1960s. I think they were trying to be funny with this photo. That's an early 1960s Triumph TR3 and it probably didn't tow that trailer. Also Markow Photography, Neg. #10087-9. Photo © Markow Photography.
Valley Center (Later Bank One Center, now Chase Tower) was built in 1973 at Van Buren and Central, just across the street from 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, in 1992, the old-timers referred to it as "the annex" - and no one really knew what the building originally was and, of course, the sign was long gone by then. I worked on the 31st floor in the tower that you see here, looking out at the southwest valley, down on The Professional Building, The Hotel San Carlos, and The Security Building. The Tower is still a beautiful building. To me it will always be Valley Center, even though now it's Chase Tower. If you get a chance, go visit it. There is a Chase branch on the Monroe side of the building, and you can go look around on the concourse level, even go to the cafeteria, which is open to the public. Much of the flavor of the 1970s remains in this building, which has always been well-maintained.
Cover of the menu for the Prime Interest Restaurant, which was located on the concourse level of Valley Center in the 1970s. This is the lunch menu for Prime Interest, which included, among other things, beer, wine and cocktails. The menu says "Limit 3 per day" for the martinis. I sometimes wondered how people got any work done back in the 1970s! Pretty psychedelic art on the cover in a kind of Peter Max style. I wonder who the artist was? The back is completely blank and the inside is just text. Looks like this restaurant didn't last very long. All I remember from the '90s was the Coin Room Cafeteria, which is still there as of this writing.
Promoting Valley Center, circa 1970. This is before the tower was built. It's important to note that the new building was called "Valley Center", not "Valley Bank Center". Valley National Bank was always interested in promoting Phoenix, not just itself. These "Valley-ettes" are in Christown Mall, which is now called Spectrum Mall and is at Bethany Home Road between 19th Avenue and 15th Avenue. Directly behind the "Valley-ettes" is a store that says, "Bakers Qualicraft Shoes". That's a "Laura's Drapery and Fabric" store behind them on the right. 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. Lapel pins depicting the mascot of Valley National Bank, "The Valley Banker", designed by Mert Reade. The one on the right is from the ground-breaking ceremony for Valley Center in 1972. They were given to me by Len Huck, who knew that I was interested in the history of Valley Bank.
Valley National Bank exectutives in 1965. Top row, left to right: Andy Guthrie, Vic Swanson, R.L. Hailey, Jimmy Vance, Gus Johannes, R. G. Zepeda, Duane Hammon, Don Hammon, Harold Hansen, Gil Bradley. Second row, left to right: Norm Crockett, Ken Berry, Bernie Henderson, Ozzie Burton, Bill Ganz, Dean Pattillo, Art Wahl, Jo Abbott, Wayne Curtis, Jack Pond. Bottom row, seated, left to right: Jim David, Frank Guthman, Gibb Newton, Jim Patrick, Walter Bimson, J.R. Henderson, Bill Wilcox, Don Welker. Thank you to Richard David, son of Jimmy David, for the photo! Thank you to Mick Welsh for the identification of all of the names! Photo © Markow Photography.
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 Bank One 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 "Biltmore District" because of its proximity to the beautiful Biltmore Hotel, which opened in 1929.
Downtown Sunnyslope, 1950s, looking east along Dunlap from about 2nd Street. From the cover of the Sunnyslope & Cactus Business Directory, mid-1950s. The mountains are still in the same place now, 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 & Cactus Business Directory. On the north side of Dunlap is Sunny Furniture and Appliances. Further east the sign says "Golf". I wonder what that was? On the south side of Dunlap is AJ Bayless Markets, "Your Home Town Grocer". It looks like there is another furniture store there, too. There's Maxine's Beauty Room, which, according to their ad in the directory offered Hair Cutting and Styling, Tinting - Manicures and Permament Waves. They were at 337 E. Dunlap and the number listed is WI 3-5442. Next door, at 339 E. Dunlap, is Ace Sport Shop, which sold Live Bait and Fishing Tackle. Their ad also says, "Archery and Tennis, Spaulding and Wilson Athletic Goods, New and Used Guns". The telephone number was WI 3-9114. If you stand right there today, the only thing that is the same is the mountain, I know, I've tried it. And there is more traffic! If you want to see all the pages from the Sunnyslope and Cactus Business Directory from the 1950's, go here.
Sunnyslope area map, 1950s. From the back cover of the Sunnyslope & Cactus Business Directory. "North Phoenix Airport" is at the northwest corner of Cactus and Cave Creek Road. "Paradise Airport" is just south of Peoria at 19th Avenue. Note how Shea Boulevard went through to Northern. The community of Cactus was at Cave Creek and Cactus Roads and Paradise was way up north on Bell Road and Cave Creek. I didn't add anything to this map. The hand-written stuff is from the original printing. I guess they had to do it that way if they were in a hurry - no computer graphics in the 1950s!
Phoenix original townsite map, 1885. This is from a Phoenix City Planning Commission map. It's divided into areas showing the date of annexation of that area to the City of Phoenix. The latest annexation on this map, which is quite large, is in 1953. This area (pictured) is the original townsite from 1885. Personally, I find it amusing that it is written in such a matter-of-fact way as 3-11-85. As you can see, in the original townsite for Phoenix, Van Buren is the northernmost street and the railroad tracks are at the southern edge of town. The only other streets marked on this map are 6th Avenue, Washington and Jackson. You can see The Union, Depot, The US Court House, St. Mary's School, City of Phoenix, and to the right, just outside of the original townsite, is Monroe School. Keep in mind that these landmarks are showing what was there in the 1950s, for reference. None of these buildings were there, of course, in 1885.
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. Nowadays the city limits of Phoenix extend north beyond the boundaries of this map. Phoenix population in the Federal census for 1950 was 106,818.
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.
Maryvale, Arizona, 47th Avenue and Indian School Road, Phoenix, in 1955. This community was built by John F. Long, and named after his wife, Mary. Notice the people standing in line at what was the first home show in the valley. It must have been just amazing. You could buy one of these new homes for about $15,000. This photo is from "Phoenix, the First Century", a magazine that was published in 1970 to commemorate the first 100 years of Phoenix.
Twin Peaks, near Papago Park, April 1, 1934, Easter sunrise service. McDowell Road now runs right through here, and goes to Scottsdale. The Papago mountains are red sandstone that the wind has blown them into unusual and beautiful shapes. This photo is from "Phoenix, the First Century".
Glendale, Arizona map, 1957. This is from a Bekins map of the greater Phoenix area. Note that the names of the streets in Glendale were different back then. 59th is Central Avenue, at least through the middle of town. The avenues north of Glendale Avenue are A, B, C, etc., up through K. South of Glendale Ave, they are streets A-H. There are Avenues 1-15th east of Central Avenue (15 is 51st), and Streets West of Central Avenue 1-4th.
Modern art painting by Robert S. Oliver, from the Professional Building, circa 1950s, Valley National Bank collection. Special thank you to the current owner of this painting, Larry Cylinder of Los Angeles, California. 
The first president of Valley Bank, Walter Bimson, was an avid collector of paintings and sculpture and started the collection that grew over the years. When I worked in the tower downtown every single floor was filled with original artwork (31 floors!), plus all of the branches had original paintings and sculptures - plus there were even more in storage! The more valuable paintings have been retained in the JP Morgan Chase Art Collection, including Charles Russell's Indian Maid at Stockade shown at right. Thank you to Donna Ambrose, former assistant to Valley National Bank Curator Judy (Brown) Hudson.
Downtown Phoenix, Arizona, June, 2011. At left is Chase Field, originally Bank One Ballpark, where The Arizona Diamondbacks baseball team plays, and in front of that is part of The Phoenix Convention Center, which actually wraps all the way around this photo on the right. The tall building off in the distance, at 3rd Street and Jackson, is The Summit at Copper Square, which is new. The Building at the center of the photo is the new Bank of America Tower. Just west on Washington from it is Cityscape and the Alliance Bank Building, which are also brand new. Directly across Washington, at 1st Street, is the Comerica Bank Building, of which you can only see the very top. And next to that is The Renaissance Building, which I remember being built back in the 90's. The sign that says MLB All-Star Game Fox is on the back of The Phoenix Symphony Hall building. If you remember the Clint Eastwood movie, "The Gauntlet" from the 70's, that was the building that was supposed to be the Main Phoenix Police Station. The tall, skinny, white building behind it is the US Bank at 1st Avenue and Washington, and just below that you can see a little bit of The Wyndam Hotel, originally The Adams on Central and Adams Street. The Hyatt Hotel has a restaurant that revolves slowly, allowing for some spectacular views, well worth visiting. You can see a tiny bit of Phoenix City Hall behind the Hyatt. Directly behind The Hyatt, and towering above it, is Chase Tower, originally Valley Center. Next to that is the Westin Hotel, which is at Van Buren and Central, another brand new building in Phoenix designed by SmithGroup. The beige building at the far right is the Sheraton Hotel, another one of the spectacular new buildings in downtown Phoenix. Photo © Mick Welsh, used with permission.
Downtown Phoenix, Arizona, June, 2011, looking north. The building at the far left is Chase Tower, which was originally Valley Center. Next to it is the new Westin Hotel and in front of that is the Herberger Theater. The building just below Chase Tower is the parking lot for that building, by the way. The tall beige building is the new Sheraton Hotel and in front of it is The Arizona Republic, the local newspaper. The part of the building that you see in front of The Arizona Republic is more of the Sheraton. The beautiful old building in the foreground is St. Mary's Basilica, a Catholic Church that has been in downtown Phoenix for over 100 years. The tall building behind it is One Arizona Center, and behind that is The APS (Arizona Public Service) Building. Behind that is the T-Gen Building. The mountain off in the distance is Camelback Mountain, and the low building with the dome is The Diocesan Pastoral Center. Beyond that is The Mercado, which was originally a shopping center and is now used by ASU. The building in the background under construction is the new Bio-Tech Complex (ASU-U of A). The street in the foreground is Monroe. Photo © Mick Welsh, used with permission.
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