Valley of the Sun, 1960s 

My dad was a milk man from 1962 to 1967, I used to go on his route to homes in the summers sometimes. He would just walk into people's unlocked doors with no one home. He made a lot of money doing this. I loved growing up in Phx in the 60s and 70s.

I just love the innocence of the time. Even the difference between the early 80s to now is a huge change. My parents still live in the house I grew up in and it used to be surrounded by open farmland. Still amazing to see how much it has changed. Still wrapping my head around and 11 to 17500 thousand home..I can only imagine what an original Biltmore mansion costed then...

It’s amazing to see how my city grew from a small desert town to the 5th largest city in the US. A lot of the buildings in that video are still there. But Phoenix today is absolutely unrecognizable.

Remember those great days. Hello Cortez High, class of 1970.

It’s so different now, great memories of the old Phoenix metro area. Moved here in the late 60’s , was 7 years old.Coming from back East it was so different.

and now the open land is a Phoenix suburb.

Our house on Culver St. was 2 streets over from the Phx. Madison Square Garden. My brother told us one night (when our mom wouldn't get home from her job until after dark), that the wrestler on TV (Gorgeous George) was at this arena. So he walked us over and we stood outside the front door on the porch... every time the door opened we could see the boxing ring towards the back. That place seemed old even back in the 60s.

I was born in 94, I would have loved to see my city during this time

Thanks for posting this video. Brought back a lot of memories.

My family and I arrived here in, 1969. Originally from, Warsaw, Poland. We first lived in NYC, for about 8 or 9 years. Back then, the border of the City of Phoenix, was Hayden Road and Indian School, there was absolutely nothing but pristine desert, and rows upon rows of those orange poppy flowers. Where has it all, disappeared, to,..? Why couldn't they leave this desert the way, that it was,..?? It s almost all, gone now,..!

Its an incomplete documentary. They did not mention Legand City and Wallace and Ladmo.

20:10 I live in Cave Creek! My hometown since I moved here from the Bay Area when I was 7! So cool to see what AZ looked like in the 60s and especially cool to see Cave Creek mentioned!

Wow! That brought back some memories. I lived in Scottsdale 62-71. In fact my me and mom and dad used to watch that travelog with Jack Douglas. I don't know if it was a local program or network syndication or even what the show was called.

I love everything about this film!

It is at least ten times bigger now. I could only wish that it was still as friendly today as it was from 77 to 82. Is a very hard city to break into now days

holy crap thats downtown?? LMAO i live out there..man what a difference

I move to Phoenix in 1981. The change in those years...

Cool video but it reminds me of how nice Phoenix was in the 60s and 70s. Its sad how its changed so much in a bad way.

cool! love arizona

At the time, the Financial Center tower (the one with the vertical slot windows that resemble an old-school computer punch card, or a player-piano roll) was only half its present height.

I recall seeing this as a kid when it first aired. What I don't recall is the name of the travel show it was from. Please jog my brain! :-)

When I grew up Scottsdale had a big tourist district all cowbows and Indian sops were everywhere it was Soo cool then we used to go up North to a certain highway that had a lookout point to overlook Phoenix they had creeks that ran along the road then jerome once you leave jerome back side had a beautiful forest you drove thru all gone now I mean all of it it's a shit hole in the desert now what they wanted

My dad Sandy coached Vonda Kay Van Dyke. He was a Local entertainer.

2050 suppose to be like150 degrees Fahrenheit, fuck Arizona is so beautiful

"Gam-auzh" auditorium?! Who directed this?!!!

They destroyed Mountain Shadows 🌵🌵🌵

Del Webb. Wow, been here 45 years and have heard that name countless times. Think that's the first time I've actually seen video of him. He did do a lot for the Valley. A lot of families got their first affordable simple homes in areas like Maryvale. Especially minority families who may never have had the opportunity. Maryvale was once a vibrant srea, lots of Hispanic families living the American dream. Not so much anymore sadly. With the manufacturing that used to be close to the area gone now, it has declined much like rust belts towns. But, still a lot of good hardworking people there. The damn fentanyl epidemic has hit it really hard in just the last few years and it breaks my heart. But...these are the results of open borders and our national leaders failing us...and them!

It was way better back then. I wish it was still that way. It suk here nowaday. Way too many people.

It grew too fast and changed too much and not all for the better. After 33 1/2 years I left in 1990 and don't miss it. Sure like these wonderful memories of the 1960s.

I think I saw the house they dropped aunt Edna off at in national lampoons family vaction.

This is the city Los Angeles California, 8 million people live in the city, with a population like that there is bound to be a few bad eggs. Thats where I come in. I carry a badge, my name's Friday, partner's name is Gannon, the boss is Captian Thad Brown, we were working the day watch out of Bunco Division....

Back when every new home had Green Grass instead of more natural and what works better in this Climate. In 1960 700K in Phoenix Metro Area, in 2024 5.2 Million

Now too many damn Interstate Freeways being built in the State are ruining it a lot. The City Phoenix and Arizona i remember Early Spring 1973 when vacationing staying in Phoenix Motels and visiting my Aunt, Uncle and Cousins who lived there was much different much better in my personal humble opinion than the next time in late October 1996.

born n raised. north phx. humans are impressive and this video is proof but I don’t believe a desert should/can sustain a LARGE population... water has too much calcium... sun city took a phat L! being built on a dry river bed😹

Back when the South West border was nice.

10-17k for a house. What the hell happened?

This first aired in 1966.

10:29 sun city looks exactly the same! 2022

Would manifest destiny be excepted today?

Was this narrated by Snagglepuss, even?

No mention of the Yuma yummies??

Who still loves Arizona??😀👍🌵🌵🏜️🏜️🏜️🏜️♥️♥️♥️♥️

We full. Go back to California

Nice documentry on Phoenix Arizona. too bad the haters in the comments had to ruin it for everybody.

"Good afternoon, It's hotter tf in Phoenix"

Our sunsets are so beautiful! Love Arizona!

Moved to az in 89 crazy to watch a video 14 yrs before I was even born wow..... That Indian chief shop is awesome!!!! 60s would have been a fun time to be alive not one cell phone in site every one just paying attention to the sites! 😀

Yeah back when everyone drove the same direction on the freeway.

My parents moved here in 1963 I was 10 years old ,went Tavan Elm. school and Arcadia High . Who remember Thomas Mall ?

Born and raised in az ! Love this place

Wow... now here it is the year 2020 and Phoenix Arizona is the fifth largest city in the United States with about 7 million people

Cost of living here is ridiculously overblown. My rent went up literally 50% in two and a half years. Thanx, Californians.

I moved here in the early 90's. It was a great place to live. Not anymore. There are a lot of great people in CA but they are not the ones who moved here.

My family moved from St. Louis to Phoenix in 1962. I was a third grader and was so thrilled to live in Phoenix. We could play outside year around and go swimming in the hot summer months. Everything was so new to us and we sure made use of every opportunity to try a new and fun adventure. I live in Texas now and somehow still miss Arizona, at least the Arizona of the 1960s.

The girl at the KOOL switchboard mentioned Mr Lane. That would be Homer Lane. I did contract work at his home in Echo Canyon. The man was such a wonderful considerate man that at the mention of his name in this vidio I feel the need remind everyone he was a great man. The impression has lasted 37yrs. RIP Mr Lane

"Will have a population larger than Boston or Philadelphia." Well, he ain't wrong.

Phoenix is uninhabitable now. The heat island effect will only get worse. I grew up here and it was a magnificent place in the 70s. Now the homelessness is out of control. It’s too hot 6 months out of the year. And all the character is gone. It’s crowded. People will be making an exodus from PHX in the coming years.

Can't believe how much Phoenix has changed and grown over the last 50 years amazing, I knew it would be a desert metropolis.

That was a nice walk through my childhood. The 1960’s and 70’s were a great time to grow up in Scottsdale. I miss that time and place, but am thankful for the experience.

Why does this seem like an old Disney movie?

This year Phoenix did surpass Philly. Phoenix is now 5th largest and Philly is 6th largest in US. AZ is 15th in population and 75% of people living in Metro Phoenix or Metro Tucson. Mesa is largest US suburb.

This makes me proud of my city

Why aren't the house prices still $17500.00!! 😡

Notice at 1:05 the AZ flag is upside down. It was a great place to grow up in the 60's and 70's. All that is gone.

Back when Aunt Maude would make Ladmo cry and Boffo the Clown wasn't much help.

So sad to see what’s happened to Phoenix. Now just overpopulated and crime infested. Wish I could have lived in Phoenix during these times.

Thanks for posting this amazing time capsule of my beautiful state 🏆

"In a few years, may have a larger population than Boston or Philadelphia." Population as of 2018 - Boston: 694,583 Philadelphia: 1.584 million Phoenix: 1.66 million

Yep my family started Phoenix in the 70ties, my childhood memories are so much different than how its ran today... miss my out door swap meets

This is such a delightful film. I grew up in Phoenix and it brought back many memories. You might see things you've not thought of for a long time!

Actually it took 50 years not a few years to surpass Philadelphia! But yeah the city finally did it!

Wow Phoenix looked so wide open back in the day!! Now everything is crammed and outdated :(

Born and raised in PHX. Amazing city.

Pweeblo Grandy!

That indian looks 98%european to me....

I was born in Phoenix in 1932. Population was 65.000 +/-. Attended Washington School, Wilson and Monroe Elementary then PUHS. These were the High Schools in 1946. PUHS, St. Mary's, North High, Phoenix Tech and Carver High for the blacks

I live in arizona 😊😊😀

Truly at the tail end of the "good old days" in America .

I was born and raised in Phoenix and have lived her all my life. Its amazing and very sad to see how much it has changed.

Very cool to see Mountain Shadows revived and back running again. Really and enjoying perspective...and there’s still some of its historical footnotes around the town. Hidden mid-century gems...regardless of freeways and housing development. It’s still is amazing.

In the USAF, I was stationed at William AFB, Chandler, AZ from 1965-1968. Loved and miss the Superstitions Mountains.

Blast from the past! Bred, born 1961 and raised on Mummy Mountain. I remember Phoenix and surrounding cities like this, went to most of the places in the video! I remember when the sign entering Phoenix driving West from Scottsdale via Camelback Road (at about 64th st) said Pop. 176,000. Those were times you actually traveled between cities, it wasn't a giant paved metropolis. It was a town, and everyone knew everyone. Now it's just another glass ghetto of traffic, californicated anonymity. It was a privilege to grow up in Arizona. Phoenix doesn't feel like 'home' anymore, however other parts still do!

All Californians that disrespect Arizona should be banished..

Phoenix was good from the 50’s-90’s it seems like.

Ha...this is the phoenix I saw in 1960 when my parents packed us into the studebaker and drove from san Diego...saw Jerome that same vacation...ended up in Tucson a few years later in 1975👍

Lmao, Cherokee chief in AZ. No Cherokee in AZ, and that guy looked like an Italian lol.

the best time to have resided there was in the 70s, imo. even by the time I resided there full time in the late 80s, early 90s, the bloat was getting out of hand. today? it's so sprawling and populated you may as well reside in LA...

Stop moving here, y'all don't know how to drive!

WE ARE FULL STAY OUT. *STAY. OUT.*

Love how no chem trails existed in archived footage.

Phoenix is a nice los angeles suburb

Phoenix I consider to be my family's spiritual home 1965 to 1977 plus returns by Mom and have family buried in Sun City, the parents are scattered in Lake Pleasant. As a kid, I biked from Greenway Road to Squaw Peak, hiked the mountain and rode home. It was definitely an easy breezy place to grow up and it is impressive to see the city mature.

Born in Phoenix in '71, moved in '73 to CA, moved back in '78 for 3rd grade, then left again to CA the next year. Dad got transferred a lot. Went to Sunburst Elementary in '78-'79. Sister went to Greenway HS. We lived out in what was "remote" N. Phoenix back then off N. 38th Drive, out by the old dog track &the waffle house. Next stop was Carefree. Went back &cud'nt believe the change. Had great times there &would love to reconnect w/some of the kids I knew. Msg me if you might be one! :)

Phoenix is a mini LA now ruined aggressive and angry

Watched and loved. crazy to look at it in this day an age. And the prices 17,000 for a house wow

God I love how this old ass video keeps getting mad hits. It's the gold standard for 60's propaganda that brought my grandparents out here. Thanks "The Valley of the Sun" for being the gift that keeps on giving.

It’s boring it’s not like anything around homeless all over sad

people who makes fun of Phoenix are like frogs living under the rock !!!

My goodness! The prices of homes in Sun City back then!

I wish Phoenix was still like that. Its just a big rat race now with yellow taco joints on every frickin corner.