44 photos show what living in Tucson was like in the early 1980s
A look at Tucson in the early 1980s.
University of Arizona Homecoming
University of Arizona mascot Wilbur the Wildcat tries to lead cheers at a 1980 Homecoming Pep Rally on the UA Mall. Under the Wilbur head? Sophomore Nancy Benedict.
Ugly But Honest
Clyde Wanslee, owner of Clyde Wanslee Auto Sales in March, 1980.
American Meat Company
Reuben Islas (left) and his younger brother, Filiberto, working at the American Meat Company on South Fourth Avenue, which Reuben started with his older brother, Alex.
'Star Wars' fans
Anxious Star Wars fans wait in line to see Darth Vader who visited Levy's Department Store at El Con Mall on June 7, 1980. Among the parents and children waiting in line for two hours was Linda Gross who was wearing "The Empire Strikes Back" t-shirt. Leaning against the ropes was Michael Cutter, 9, middle, wearing the ball cap, Brian Cutter, 6, and Ronnie Chapman, 9, also wearing a ball cap. Vader came to visit prior to the opening of The Empire Strikes Back which appeared in theaters here on June 18.
Tucson Rodeo
A calf roper reaches for the pigging string in his mouth as he sprints towards his calf on February 22, 1980 during La Fiesta de los Vaqueros.
El Parador
El Parador in Tucson in 1980.
Miners in San Manuel
Miners watch as material drops down a chute underground at the Magma mine in San Manuel on August 7, 1981.
Aerospace and Arizona Days
A member of the Air Force Academy's Wings of Blue parachute team drifts to the ground leading a trail of smoke at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base as spectators watch from a distance during the annual Aerospace and Arizona Days at the base on March 15, 1981. In a two day period more than 180,000 visitors were able to view vintage aircraft, transports, plus other types of aircraft on display as well as the famous Thunderbirds as they flew across the skies.
Ford Firearms commercial filming
Check out the vintage equipment being used for this Ford Firearms commercial that filmed at Old Tucson in 1980.
'Stir Crazy' filming
Actor Sidney Poitier filming "Stir Crazy" on location in Tucson on April 10, 1980.
El Casino Ballroom
El Casino Ballroom at 437 East 26th St. in May of 1980.
University of Arizona Band
141 members of the University of Arizona band practice their letters on Sept. 24, 1980.
The Nantucket Lobster Trap
John Soper, waiter at the Nantucket Lobster Trap, 6958 E. Tanque Verde Road, on February 14, 1980.
Penneys at El Con Mall
Shoppers crowd around Penney's at El Con Mall in December, 1980.
Musicland
Shoppers scour a Musicland store in El Con Mall for albums and cassette tapes in December, 1980.
Farrell's Ice Cream
Brian Goodluck serves up a float to customers at Farrell's Ice Cream at El Con Mallon March 31, 1980.
Fencing at San Xavier
Fencers promote a "Duel at Dawn" on the hillside east of Mission San Xavier del Bac on April 11, 1981. Bill Johnson, left, challenges Robb Holmes, while local kids watch.
Picacho Peak war museum
John Furrer Sr. next to a 1917 Renault tank on May 29, 1980, at his war museum at Picacho Peak, Ariz.
University of Arizona Homecoming
The fashion of the times in 1980 during a UA Homecoming Pep Rally on the UA Mall.
University of Arizona Homecoming
UA students donned homemade soda cans of Orange and Grape Crush (and little else) in keeping with the 1981 Homecoming Parade theme of "Crush Washington State."
Swan and Sunrise
From the cutline: Commerical growth at the intersection of Swan and Sunrise roads has been almost frantic as developers rush to meet the demand of the rapidly increasing population in the area. A shopping center at the southeast corner anchored by a large Safeway store is about 80 percent leased."
Johnny Gibson
Johnny Gibson, cutting hair in his barber shop in 1980.
La Fuente
A relaxing lunch at La Fuente restaurant in 1980.
Las Posadas
Las Posadas led by Father Vicente Lopez at Tucson Museum of Art in December, 1981. The group sought refuge for Mary and Joseph at the homes of Barbara Grygutis and Julia Valdez before being welcomed in at La Casa Cordova, one of the oldest homes in Tucson.
Grant Road Lumber
Tucson Firefighters at the scene of a fire at Grant Road Lumber on Aug. 25, 1980.
The Outlaw bar in Tucson
Couples swing and two-step to country music at The Outlaw Bar, 144 W. Lester St., in Tucson in 1980.
KXEW radio studios
Ernesto Portillo talks to Margarita Robles in the KXEW radio studios in Tucson in March, 1980.
Christmas carolers
Christmas carolers on horseback and on wagons on Sorrel Lane near Tucson on Dec. 21, 1980.
East Grant Road traffic in 1981
Traffic on East Grant Road in February of 1981.
Bopp Health Food Store
A funeral wreath on the door of the Bopp Health Food Store in downtown Tucson on Jan. 21, 1981. Owner Walter Bopp was a longtime Tucson businessmen. He was tied up and beaten in the back of his Speedway store in December of 1980. He died from his injuries in January of 1981.
Downtown Tucson looking east
Downtown Tucson looking east from the Chase Bank Building at Congress (left-center) and Stone Ave. in August, 1980.
Congress Street looking east
Congress Street in Tucson, looking east from the Chase Bank building at Stone Ave. in August, 1980.
Downtown Tucson looking west
Downtown Tucson looking west from the Chase Bank building at Congress (right side) and Stone Ave. in August, 1980.
Downtown Tucson looking northeast
Downtown Tucson looking northeast from the Chase Bank Building at Congress (lower part of photo) and Stone Ave. in August, 1980.
Transit strikes in Tucson
Eleanor Hershey got three local donut shops to donate three dozen donuts to feed hungry union members on the picket line at Sun Tran in Tucson on January 17, 1980.
Barry Goldwater
This is a 1980 file photo of Sen. Barry M. Goldwater, R-Ariz., as he arrived by plane, to Tucson.
Robert Redford
Actor Robert Redford was in Tucson to attend Rep. Morris K. Udall's fundraising party held at the Doubletree hotel on September 25, 1981.
Fox Theatre
People waiting for their bus to arrive in front of The Fox Theatre on West Congress St., December 30, 1980.
Searching for a body
Searchers work to free the body of a flash flood victim pinned beneath rocks in the raging waters of the Tanque Verde Wash northeast of Tucson in 1981. At least five victims had been recovered as of Tuesday, and another three people who disappeared in Sunday's flood were being sought.
Tucson Rodeo
The action in the bleachers was as hot as in the Tucson Rodeo arena Wednesday as these unidentified youngsters played out their Old West fantasies during Rodeo Week in Tucson on February 21, 1980.
Roller skating through Tucson
Los Angeles roller skater Ron Mossler, 20, (left) claims he has broken the world roller skating distance record by skating 4,901 miles from Los Angeles to Philadelphia and back. He says he broke the record north of Tucson on Interstate 10 in an effort to raise money, an expected $15,000, for muscular dystrophy. He plans to skate to Phoenix today and then back to Los Angeles. Accompanying him on the trip, is Steve Watson, 22, (holding bike) who also drives a van and pulls a camper.
Sunset Lumber fire
Soaking it Down- Firefighters douse the charred wreakage left this morning by a million-dollar midnight fire, which destroyed lumber and roofing materials at Sunset Lumber Distributors Inc., 970 S. Cherry Ave.
Charlie Daniels fans
Two female Charlie Daniels fans dance in the aisle at the Tucson Community Center on July 27, 1980.
Devo in Tucson
The music group DEVO performs at the Tucson Community Center. December 17, 1981.
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