On Dec. 23, 1973, it wasn't the low price causing these drivers to wait in line for gasoline at the Holiday Shell station at Interstate 10 and West 22nd. Street; it was a shortage of gasoline. The Arab oil embargo had been in place since October, and President Richard Nixon had implemented a series of measures to deal with the crisis, including asking stations to close on Sundays to discourage travel. Because it was not an order to close, five Tucson stations stayed open on that particular Sunday. At one time, more than 300 cars were lined up at this station waiting for gas. The owner said he sold about 6,000 gallons before closing at 4 p.m. Read more about how the gas shortage affected Christmas 1973 in Tales From the Morgue, at go.azstarnet.com/morguetales
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