A look at what life was like in Tucson in the early 1960s
Continue our trip down memory lane with these images of Tucson from 1962 and 1963.
Traffic tie-ups
Traffic tie-ups like this one are repeated several times at day on 22nd Street near the Southern Pacific switching yards. When the freight train at the left had passed through this intersection, the engine at right moved out onto the tracks, again tying up traffic. Most of the motorists in this picture were lelayed for 10 minutes or more by the two-train switching operation.
Driver Frank Townsend
A copy of personal photo showing driver Frank Townsend after winnning a race at the Orange Grove 1/4 mile dirt track in 1962.
Atlas SM-65 missile
An Atlas SM-65 missile on display at Davis-Monthan AFB, Tucson, during Aerospace Days in 1963.
H. Porter's western store
The new H. Porter's western store, at 828 N Stone Ave., was set to open at its newest site on April 5, 1963. The store moved from its previous spot next to the Pioneer Hotel to make way for the new Union Bank.
1963 La Fiesta de los Vaqueros
A steer wrestler brings his steer to a stop during the 1963 La Fiesta de los Vaqueros.
Gayle Hopkins
University of Arizona track athlete Gayle Hopkins high-jumping in 1963.
'Lilles of the Field'
"Lilies of the Field" filming in Tucson with Sidney Poitier, December 1962.
Downtown buildings
Downtown Tucson buildings taken in 1962.
Saguaro mishap
This car was on the losing end of a tumbling Saguaro cactus near Tucson on Jan. 22, 1962. It's not known the circumstances of the incidence, however there were high winds that day that caused damage elsewhere around Tucson. Coincidentally, a Salpointe High School football player was paralyzed the day before, on Jan. 21, when a Saguaro fell on him when he and his friend were trying to cut it down with a machete.
Supreme Cleaners
Supreme Cleaners explosion on March 29, 1963.
University of Arizona graduates
University of Arizona graduates file onto the football field at Arizona Stadium during commencement in June, 1962. The university presented 1,831 degrees. The speaker was the assistant U.S. Secretary of Defense.
Groucho Marx
Groucho Marx accompanied his wife, Eden Hartford, to Tucson in April, 1963, to perform the stage play, “Time for Elizabeth.”
New TIA terminal
The car ramp at right leads from the passenger unloading area at the new Tucson International Airport in 1963.
University of Arizona Homecoming
Floats head down Stone Ave. near Steinfeld's Department Store during the 1962 UA Homecoming parade.
University of Arizona Homecoming
Sigma Chi's "Cough it Up!" float in the 1963 UA Homecoming Parade, with reference to UA alumni donating money to start a medical school. The College of Medicine was founded in 1967.
University of Arizona Homecoming
Nothing like a little deadline pressure in 1963: Gamma Phi Beta sorority members Carole Martin, left, Jackie Ellis and Sharon Boles prepare parts of their Homecoming float for the next day's parade.
Stone Avenue
Stone Ave in Tucson, including Arizona Land and Title, Pima Savings, Jacome's and Steinfelds, looking south from Alameda Street from the northeast corner in 1962.
Kiddyland
Children take a ride on small-sized tractors at Kiddyland, 3943 E Speedway near Alvernon on Dec 1962. In the era before television Sam and Ruth Cohen opened Kiddyland in 1949 and operated the playland for children until 1958. They had a Ferris wheel, roller coaster, train, cars on two-and-a-half acres. By 1962, Luverne Hicks took over the operation and had 10 mechanical rides and for a flat rate of $11.85 a birthday party of eight could be entertained with cake, ice cream, party favors, and eight rides apiece.
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
An October 1962 photograph of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 3750 E Fort Lowell Rd. The First Ward LDS Chapel was built in 1928 and over the years enlarged. According to news reports, more than $225,000 and 6,000 hours of volunteer labor went into the improvements. It was also the meeting place for the Fifth Ward.
Broadway underpass
Spectators watch as city officials, civic leaders and the Tucson High School marching band dedicate the new shorter and wider Broadway underpass on October 4, 1963. It was reported nearly 1,000 spectators were on hand to watch the ceremony.
John Wayne
John Wayne chats on the set of "McLintock!" at Old Tucson in 1962.
Tucson Rodeo Parade
The 1962 Tucson Rodeo Parade.
Parkview Hotel
This is the former Parkview Hotel at 159 W Pennington in March 1962 which at the time housed the Tucson Police Department's detective division.
Sabino Alley
Photo of Sabino Alley in downtown Tucson on August 23, 1962. The area was torn down to make way for the urban renewal project. The Phoenix Title building is on the far left in the background.
Supreme Cleaners explosion
A priest stands by to administer last rites as rescue workers dig into steel and rubble at Supreme Cleaners, 2232 N. Stone Ave, in Tucson, after a gas explosion on March 29, 1963.
Baum & Adamson Tire Co.
The main Baum & Adamson Tire Co. at 296 N Stone Avenue in Tucson, in August, 1962.
Titan Missile sites around Tucson
A Titan Missile section arrives at Davis-Monthan AFB in Nov. 1962.
Roadwork
In January 1962 the Tucson city maintenance workers repaired some of the potholes on East Broadway and Tucson Boulevards. At the time, supervisor Milton Dumm cited the reason for the holes was that the old strip pavement was less than an inch thick.
Original Broadway underpass
The original Broadway underpass at the Southern Pacific RR tracks east of Tucson in January, 1963. Photo taken looking East. It was reconstructed and opened again in October.
See what Tucson residents saw and experienced in 1960-61.
These archive photos were captured in Tucson in 1964 and 1965.
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Do you love local history? Geek out over old photos of downtown Tucson?