A look at what life was like in Tucson in the 1960s
These archive photos were captured in Tucson in 1964 and 1965.Β
Tucson Mayor Lew Davis
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Tucson Mayor Lew Davis, city councilmen and other city officials conduct a walking tour south of West Broadway Boulevard near South Stone Avenue to survey conditions buildings on December 9, 1964. The area surveyed was south of the downtown area and part of the urban renewal project.Β
Tucson Rodeo Parade
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A Tucson Police officer holds kids at a safe distance while watching the 1964 Tucson Rodeo Parade in downtown Tucson.Β
Tucson Veterans of Foreign Wars
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The Tucson Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post No. 549, building at 124 E. Broadway in Tucson in June, 1965. It was organized in January, 1921, as the Joe C. Salazar Post No. 549.
UA Stadium
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Arizona Stadium starts to take shape as 10,000 new seats are added to the west side along Vine Street as part of the University of Arizona's $1.4 million addition to structure on April 16, 1965. The completion date for the addition to the stadium was extended a month to October 2, 1965. The Wildcats were scheduled to play New Mexico after opening the season with three away games against Utah, Kansas and Wyoming.Β
1965 in Tucson
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Nearly 1,000 University of Arizona students rioted on May 6, 1965, after male students demanded "panties" at women's dorms. Rocks and bottles were thrown. Sixteen students were arrested.Β
The Arizona Hotel
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The Arizona Hotel, center, to the left of Sears, in 1965.Β
1965 University of Arizona Homecoming Queen
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Finalists for the 1965 University of Arizona Homecoming Queen. The theme was "74 Years with the Right Women." Emily Sult, seated at right, was elected Queen.
'Reward' filming
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"Reward". June 15, 1964."Reward" June 15 1964. A section of the Old Tucson movie set in Tucson Mountain Park was remodeled to depict a street in a small Mexican town where "The Reward" action takes place. Director is Serge Bourguignon who directed part of the movie from the saddle as he is an expert horseman. Reward was Bourguignon's first American-made movie. The leading roles are played by Max von Sydow, Efrem Zimbalist Jr. and Yvette Minieux. Two of the movie's scenes were filmed at Old Tucson. Tucson and Jan Burcham was the Tucson stand-in for Minieux. The food was catered by the Santa Rita Hotel, whose staffers served the food for the cast. Zimbalist said "Why waste the Tucson sun?" as he soaked up a tan between scenes. "The Reward" is bieng produced by Aaron Rosenberg for a 20th Century-Fox release.Β
Sen. Barry Goldwater
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Sen. Barry Goldwater visits with the Tucson Boys Chorus in March, 1964.Β
The Boneyard at D-M AFB
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The first two Navy aircraft to be transferred to the Boneyard at D-M from Litchfield Park near Phoenix for storage arrive Jan. 13, 1965. The planes, F9F Cougars, were the first of several hundred that were brought to Tucson as the Litchfield Navy storage facility was phased out. The 2704th Aircraft Storage and Disposition Group became the storage center for obsolete Navy, Marine and Coast Guard aircraft as well as Air Force planes.Β
Nogales Highway
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Photo by Hopkins Mar. 20, 1965 The first four-mile stretch of the Nogales Interstate Highway now is open to local traffic. This view of the new expressway is from Irvington Road north toward downtown Tucson. "A" Mountain is on the left. This first phase of the interstate, costing $3 million, run from the Freeway to Valencia Road.
Tanque Verde Guest Ranch
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Swank western layouts like this one at Tanque Verde Guest Ranch (now Tanque Verde Ranch) on East Speedway are a big magnet for winter visitors. Advance reservations are running far ahead of the year-earlier pace, report guest ranch owners. Guest ranchers are just one segment of the Tucson economy expected to boom with this year's tourist rush.
1965 in Tucson
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Sargent Shriver speaks at the National Conference on Poverty in the Southwest in Tucson on Jan. 25, 1965. Shriver was the founder of the Peace Corps and a force behind Pres. Johnson's "War on Poverty."Β
City official walk
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Tucson Mayor Lew Davis, city councilmen and other city officials conduct a walking tour of the Bible Way Mission Foundation at 275 S Meyer Ave., to survey living conditions of the Old Pueblo District on December 9, 1964. The area was south of the downtown area and part of the urban renewal project.Β
Cliff Valley Golf Course
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Storm clouds appear over the mountains as duffers take in a little putting practice before getting on the course at the Cliff Valley Golf Course, 5910 N Oracle Rd., on August, 25, 1964. The 18-hole, par 3 public course featured narrow fairways and large greens. They also had electric carts, club rentals, snack bar, a pro shop, lessons and beer.Β
Las Posadas
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People sing during Las Posadas procession in a Tucson barrio in December, 1964.
South Meyer Avenue
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The long-abandoned business district, possibly on South Meyer Avenue which was south of downtown in the proposed urban renewal project area on February 4, 1965.Β
South Meyer Avenue tatters
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Strips of tattered fabric dangle from the awnings along South Meyer Avenue (The Skylark Grill down the street was at 149 S Meyer) which was south of the downtown area and eventually part of urban renewal project in this February 4, 1965 photograph.
O'Rielly Truck Center
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February 1, 1965 the O'Rielly Truck Center was opened at 22nd Street and Park Avenue. Courtesy O'Rielly Chevrolet
Tucson Rodeo Parade
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A couple young cow pokes walk the Tucson Rodeo Parade route with mom in 1964.Β
Pima County Fair
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Best rear ends? Winners of the 1964 Southern Arizona International Livestock Show at the Pima County Fair.Β
Wallace and Humphrey 1964 campaign visit
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Crowds gather as Sen. Hubert H. Humphrey, the 1964 Democratic nominee for vice president, makes his way around a reported 7,000 spectators during an outdoor rally at the Tucson Sports Center on November 1, 1964.Β
Tucson shopping in years past
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Tucson's second Sears store at 5950 E. Broadway, a day before opening on Sept. 1, 1965. The property is now Park Place.Β
Tucson shopping in years past
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The Sears store on 6th Avenue in downtown Tucson in June, 1965.Β
Snow in Tucson
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Snow on the El Con Mall sign in Tucson on March 3, 1964, ironically welcoming the Cleveland Indians for Spring Training.
Snow in Tucson
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Snow and ice clinging to the telescope structure at Kitt Peak National Observatory west of Tucson on March 3, 1964.
Carl Hayden Community Hospital
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View of Carl Hayden Community Hospital at Congress Street and Granada in Tucson, looking towards A Mountain, in 1974. Photo was taken from the Federal Building. Southern Pacific Railroad opened the hospital orginally as a tuberculosis sanitarium for railroad workers in 1931. It was one of many railroad hospitals around the country. It was opened to all residents in 1964 and renamed in honor of Sen. Carl T. Hayden. It closed in 1974 and was demolished in 1979. It is not the site of the U.S. District Courthouse. The El Paso and Southwestern passenger train station is behind the hospital, to the right. It is still standing.
Tornado in Tucson
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Rubble from a destroyed building after a tornado touched down near Mission San Xavier del Bac on the Tohono O'Odham reservation on Aug. 27, 1964, and killed a mother and child.Β
Sam Levitz Furniture Company
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Tucsonans flock to a sale at Sam Levitzβs furniture store on East 18th Street and South Euclid Avenue in 1965.
Tucson International Airport
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Tucson International Airport manager Charles Broman interrupts welder Paul Allison while admiring his work on a new Tucson airport sign on Valencia Road in 1964.
Free parking
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Free parking was available in the downtown area at the Park and Shop behind the Steinfeld's department store in August 1964. West Pennington Street is on the right as is the edge of the Pima County Courthouse.Β
Tumacacori National Historic Park
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A Mass at Tumacacori National Monument honoring Father Eusebio Kino, founder of missions at Tumacacori and San Xavier, by the Nogales Knights of Columbus in 1965.
Wallace and Humphrey 1964 campaign visit
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Alabama Gov George Wallace appears to be talking to local media while on a visit to address an audience at the University of Arizona on January 9, 1964. Months before he had already announced his intention to be the presidential nominee for the Democratic Party in the 1964 elections. A year before, Wallace famously declared during his oath of office as governor,"...segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever." During his speech at the UA he said the Civil Rights Bill would blot out personal liberty and establish total federal control over individual lives.Β
Winterhaven Festival of Lights
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Winterhaven Festival of Lights in Tucson in December, 1964.
