Friday, October 4, 2024

Architectural Memories

 

I stopped at a shop that sells all kinds of gift items and decorator pieces and I saw these framed prints.  They commemorate unique places in Arizona most of which no longer exist.  The first two on the left, Cine Capri & Trader Vic's are long gone.  Cine Capri is where I saw the very first Star Wars movie and Trader Vic's was a tropical-themed night spot in Scottsdale.

In the middle row we have Camelview 5, the movie theatre that closed in 2015.  I featured photos from Camelview before it was demolished.  The Safari Hotel in Scottsdale closed and was demolished in 1998.

On the far right, is the Tropics Motor Hotel in Phoenix which happened to be an Al Beadle building.  It is also long gone.  The one below is the Starlight Motel in Mesa and it is still standing.  It's undergone numerous renovations but the one thing that remains the same is that wonderful "diving lady" neon sign.


I found this photo of the sign on line so you could see this wonderful piece of neon art.  Back in October of 2010, there was a really bad storm that took the sign down.  The city helped to raise the money to have it restored and as far as I know, that lady still takes that big dive every evening after dark.  


11 comments:

Travel said...

A neat collection.

RedPat said...

I love the prints and that motel sign too, Sharon.

Diaday said...

I love the bright, bold colors in all those prints.

Cloudia said...

Very pleasant walking through your memories. Stirs my own. Aloha friend

Cloudia said...

Very pleasant walking through your memories. Stirs my own. Aloha friend

Bill said...

The prints are outstanding. Would love to see the neon sign all lit up, it must be amazing to see.

Amy said...

I really like the old retro sign, it's a gliimpse into life back then.

MELODY JACOB said...

What a wonderful tribute to Arizona’s unique history! It’s always bittersweet to see these iconic places disappear, but how great that some, like the Starlight Motel’s diving lady, live on in restored glory.

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Spare Parts and Pics said...

If I'm not mistaken, we have a Starlight Motel on Beach Blvd. with a cool 50's neon sign, but no diving ladies that I recall.

Steve Reed said...

That's a fabulous sign. And I love those prints! The awnings on the old Camelview were really great. I'm sure whatever replaced it wasn't nearly as distinctive.

William Kendall said...

Quite a collection.