Inn Keepers  Adapted and installed at Smith/Martin Station

June of 1970, My wife and four kids arrived from Denver in the family station wagon.  It seemed like Hell on Earth. A triple digit day. Our destination - the Southeast corner of Apache Boulevard and Rural. Road.

I was to be the Innkeeper of Tempe's only "full service" hotel - The Holiday Inn of Tempe. Little did we know that would be my job for the next 36 years. or that we would grow to love this place.

Just west, across Apache was the Teepee Motel. Motel units shaped like Indian Teepees. Remnants of an earlier era on U.S. highway 60.

SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER     Installed at Dorsey Station - Youth Series (2 Medallions)

    The Sun Devil Disco Lounge at Apache and Rural was THE place to

see and be seen in Tempe.  Two levels of light shows and chest thumping sound.  The people watching was unbelievable.  The sign on the door said "capacity 875" but on a good Saturday night as many as 1200  would go through the turnstile.  The night Disco died in the early 80's so did the SDDL. The building was home to a succession of theme nightclubs for the next 20 years, but it was never like that again. 1976

1970s

CANAL ACCIDENT

    In 1962 my oldest son, James Ernest Johnson Jr., broke his neck diving in that swimming hole, out there in that canal (The Mesa/Tempe Canal at Apache Blvd).  I don't blame it on the canal.  I don't blame it on him.  There was a log or piece of board floating on top of the water that he struck when he dove in and broke his neck.  The diving accident left him a quadriplegic. He passed away in the spring of 1982, leaving two children and a wife.  His widow is associated with the flower business.  My daughter, Janiece Johnson Wilson and my son, David Lewis Johnson are bringing along the flower business with their husbands and their wives.  They each have six children and enjoying the farm life.  1960s

DISCO ANYONE?

My story is related to 1984 and the nightclub “After the Gold Rush”, which was located on the north side of Apache Blvd and about ? mile east of Rural.  The drinking age was 19 then, so the place was just packed with ASU students and anyone who was stylin.  This place had an upper stage you could dance on and a lower pit area…also for dancing..with the DJ smack in the middle.  On Saturday nights, he would put on an opening mix show, complete with all the laser, spot, color wheels…etc and tons of fog..  I would wear my black “parachute” pants and a matching red/black shiny shirt…I looked like a Michael Jackson video…”who’s bad”…

Previous to the “After the Gold Rush” club, the place was know as “Dooleys”…which was mainly a rock and roll venue with live local bands…more of a stoner hangout and lots of smoke from cigarettes..

Across the street…was also an “A and W” rootbeer drive in stand.  “”Ah the memory of playing racketball and then heading over there for a “Black cow”. As they had name it….aka rootbeer float.

1980s

TEMPE GARDEN CLUB PARTY  Adapted and installed at McClintock Station

We asked our tgc party hostess where all her beautiful roses came from.  She said, “I cut them at Birchett Park.  The Tempe Garden Club made that park, so those are our roses.

1960s

MUST- JOIN CLUBS  Adapted and installed at McClintock Station

My friend Virginia move to Tempe in 1060.  I moved back here at the same time.  We know there were 2 groups we just had to join:  Republican women & Tempe Garden Club.

1960

PETUNIA FOR TOWN FLOWER  Adapted and installed at McClintock Station

TGC proposed the petunia for town flower.  That seemed very

inapt to me, as if we were trying to recreate some Mid West fantasy here in Tempe.  The petunia might be an appropriate choice for Wichita, but not here.

1960s