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A look at what life was like in Tucson in the early 1970s
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A sampling of what life in Tucson was like in the early 1970s.
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Looking North on Fourth Avenue
Looking north on Fourth Avenue toward the Balcony Saloon, an 'in' place for beer, wine, sandwiches and huge hot dogs, one sees an unbroken string of establishments catering to young members of the 'counter culture.' This is the corner of 4th Ave & 5th St. looking north in 1971.
Gary Gaynor / Tucson Citizen, 1971Pioneer Hotel Fire
Firefighters apply a steady stream of water during the Pioneer International Hotel fire , that resulted in 29 deaths.
Tucson Citizen fileCrescent Smoke House
Thornton F. Huff, otherwise known as Huffy, stands in the Crescent Smoke House in dowtown Tucson on Saturday, May 27, 1970. After 34 years of selling magazines, cigarettes and other items Huffy was retiring at age 64.
Scott Braucher / Arizona Daily StarEl Rio Golf Course protest
Marchers organized by the El Rio Coalition Front swarmed onto El Rio Golf Course on Aug. 15, 1970, to demand the city turn the course into a community park.
Dan Tortorell / Tucson CitizenUA Student Union remodel
The Student Union at the University of Arizona had just been renovated by June 23, 1971. The addition of 130,000 square feet in the new sections of the building more than doubled the previous space. The cost for the renovation was $3.5 million.
Art Grasberger / Tucson CitizenTucson Convention Center
Aerial shot of the Tucson Convention Center under construction, taken November, 1970.
Art Grasberger / Tucson CitizenAerospace and Arizona Days
Some of the estimated 122,000 visitors find some shade as they walk around a transport plane at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base during the annual Aerospace and Arizona Days at the base on March 15, 1970. The visitors were able to check out the B-52 bombers and watch as the famous Thunderbirds flew across the skies.
Tucson Citizen fileCelebrity sightings
New York Jets quarterback Joe Namath, left, and actress Ann-Margaret arrived at Tucson International Airport on April, 10, 1970, and were greeted by a "posse" who branded them as horse thieves. The two were in Tucson for filming of the movie, "C.C. Ryder and Company," written by Ann-Margaret's husband, Roger Smith (a University of Arizona graduate). Photo by Manuel Miera, Tucson Citizen 1970
Manuel Miera / Tucson CitizenPioneer National Title Insurance Building
The Pioneer National Title Insurance Building, on 45 W Pennington at North Church Ave, was renamed from the Tucson Title Company on Mar 1, 1971.
Bruce Hopkins / Tucson CitizenThe Pirate's Den
Still under construction on July 9, 1971, the new Pirate’s Den, at 6475 E Golf Links Rd., is starting to take shape. At one time the popular nightclub became a venue for entertainers such as Chubby Checkers, Fabian and the Platters.
Gary Gaynor / Tucson CitizenJohn Wayne and the Tucson Toros
Oscar winner John Wayne looks right in character for a role as a baseball manager in this scene from last night's Pacific Coast League game between the Tucson Toros and Portland Beavers at Hi Corbett Field. Wayne and banjo strummer Eddie Peabody were special guest in the Toro dugout as 3,372 fans turned out for Shrine Night. The Toros treated The Dukes to a free-swinging come-from-behind victory 11-8.
Gary Gaynor / Tucson Citizen"C.C. & Company" filming
C.C. and Company was filmed at Golder Ranch, April 29, 1970. Here we see some motorcycle racing with local extras as spectators.
Tucson Citizen fileThe Bridal Boutique
The Bridal Boutique, a wedding service, was located in the building at right while a barber shop and a beauty salon occupied the spaces left of that at the Broadway 7000 shopping and service center at East Broadway Boulevard and North Kolb Road on July 8, 1970.
Manuel Miera / Tucson CitizenRodeo Parade Pictures 1971
Tucson Rodeo parade downtown in 1971
Tucson Citizen fileBridge over Santa Cruz River
The old bridge on West Congress over the Santa Cruz River had to go and be replaced by a new bridge.
Ross Humphreys / Tucson CitizenCopper State Chemical fire
An injured person taken to an ambulance (70 were sent to hospitals) during a fire at the Copper State Chemical Co, 748 E. 16th St., Tucson, on July 2, 1970.
Tucson Citizen fileUniversity of Arizona Homecoming
The 1971 UA Homecoming Parade featured the first float entry from the College of Nursing. Coincidentally, the Homecoming theme was, "We've Only Just Begun," a homage to the hit song released a year earlier by The Carpenters.
Tucson Citizen fileHobo Joe's
Hobo Joe's coffee shop at 2701 E Broadway Blvd., opened to the public on February 24, 1970. It was operated by Broadway Restaurants Inc.
Gary Towner / Tucson CitizenIce House fire in 1970
The heavy roof collapsing likely caused the balls of flame during a fire at former Pacific Fruit Express warehouse (known as the Ice House) at 802 E. 12th St. on April 7, 1970.
Tucson Citizen fileIce House fire in 1970
Tucson Fire commanders at former Pacific Fruit Express warehouse (known as the Ice House) at 802 E. 12th St. on April 7, 1970.
Tucson Citizen fileJC Penney
Work continues on the JC Penney's department store at El Con Mall on East Broadway Boulevard on March 18, 1971. Bill Hopkins / Tucson Citizen
Bill Hopkins / Tucson CitizenTucson shopping in years past
A sign offering cashews for only 50-cents and something about a $100 bill as shoppers hunt for deals at Tucson's first K-Mart at Broadway and Kolb in June, 1970.
Tucson Citizen fileTucson shopping in years past
Shoppers line up at Tucson's first K-Mart at Broadway and Kolb in June, 1970.
Tucson Citizen fileOro Valley Country Club
This is a January 1970 photo of the 11th hole at the Oro Valley Country Club Golf Course.
Tucson Citizen fileSnowball fight
Residents of an apartment complex at 210 N. Maguire in Tucson get into a snowball fight with two residents in the pool after heavy snow on Dec. 8, 1971.
Gary Gaynor / Tucson CitizenValley National Bank
The intersection of South Sixth Avenue and East 29th Street on January 13, 1971.
Dan Tortorell / Tucson CitizenSummerhaven sawmill
The sawmill in Summerhaven, Ariz., on Aug. 8, 1970.
Tucson Citizen fileTucson Federal Savings thermometer
The digital thermometer at Tucson Federal Savings read 115-degrees on June 25, 1970.
Tucson Citizen fileGarcia's Cleaners at 205 E. 22nd Street
Garcia's Cleaners at 205 E. 22nd Street, Tucson, in November, 1970.
Manuel Miera / Tucson CitizenTucson International Airport
Tucson International Airport control tower in 1971.
Art Grasberger / Tucson CitizenTitan II Complex 09- Launch Control Center
Titan II Complex 09- Launch Control Center. August 15, 1971.
Tucson Citizen fileNew Clown's Den
Henan Thomas serves up beer in the New Clown's Den at Main and St. Mary's. Photo by
Bruce Hopkins / Tucson CitizenAnderson Chevron gas station
Anderson Chevron gas station at 745 N. Park Ave. was located near the University of Arizona main gate at Third Street on June 25, 1971.
Bruce Hopkins / Tucson CitizenTucson Convention Center
Construction of the Tucson Convention Center arena, background, is in progress as a pedestrian waits for traffic to clear as he crosses South Main Avenue near West Simpson Street on December 4, 1970.
Art Grasberger / Tucson CitizenValley National Bank at Broadway and Country Club
Construction workers build the Valley National Bank on the northwest corner of East Broadway Boulevard and North Country Club, on March 18, 1971.
Bill Hopkins / Tucson CitizenWest Congress Street
Traffic along West Congress Street near the Santa Cruz River moves along on July 24, 1970. City authorities had decided to replace the bridge starting in the fall.
Ross Humphreys / Tucson CitizenWinterhaven Festival of Lights
Entrance to the Winterhaven Festival of Lights in Tucson in December, 1971.
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