During my first trip to the Las Vegas strip, I didn’t gamble, see a
show or eat at a buffet. I wanted to see signs—big neon signs
with cowboys and cowgirls, flashy wedding chapel signs and famous signs
like those at the Golden Nugget.
Alas, I saw the Eiffel Tower, the Statue of Liberty and dancing
waters. Those are great sights, but where was the Las Vegas of
yesterday?
As the city modernized, many of the old signs were discarded, put
into the trash like spoiled leftovers. Luckily, I did see some of the
neon treasures downtown on Fremont Street. Old-style Vegas, baby.
Hurrah, the past had not completely vanished.
Here in Tucson, the city is working on a Historic Landmark Signs
Preservation Program that would help restore, reuse and maintain
historic signs. The city is finally realizing that saving its past
culture is a good thing.
On a grassroots level, Vanishing Tucson—a Yahoo! group with
nearly 1,000 members—is working to both save and remember our
city’s past. Vanishingtucson.com is “a place to
share memories and pictures of the Tucson which is rapidly slipping
into the past, and the Tucson that is gone forever.” The site offers
discussion topics plus an extensive collection of old photos and
postcards—from the early 1900s to the 1980s—posted by
members. A YouTube channel contains slideshows and videos.
Started by Carlos Lozano in 2004, Vanishing Tucson showcases
anything that is in decline or has disappeared—including old
buildings, landmark signage and former establishments.
“If someone had a question about Tucson, the normal thing would be
to go to the library or historical society and get a scholarly answer
to your question,” explains Lozano. “I wanted a place where regular
people could go to ask questions about the recent past and document
that. The … Web was easiest and most accessible to the (greatest)
number of people.
“I want to try to document these things before they slip away. I
want to collect people’s remembrances in one place. They don’t have to
be eloquent. … Thousands of little memories are what forms a mosaic
image of what Tucson used to be like.”
Lozano says there used to be 12 active drive-in movie theaters in
Tucson. After the De Anza closure, now we have none—but Lozano is
fighting to change that.
“We’ll try to get the new owners to consider adaptive reuse. Most
likely, that won’t happen. Then we will attempt to move the screen and
projection equipment to another location so we can have (at least) one
screen out of four.”
Lozano is also involved in preserving old signs and is the chair of
a subcommittee of the Tucson-Pima County Historical Commission. “There
used to be a lot of spectacular neon signage. … We are working on an
amendment to the Sign Code so the few remaining signs we have will be
preserved.”
Preservation is more commonplace on the East Coast; Lozano says part
of the culture of the West is to grow and expand with little respect
for the past. “Tucson has destroyed a lot of its history. In terms of
historic preservation, I almost think of Tucson as a
historical-preservation disaster zone. We have so few old buildings
left.”
However, Lozano sees positive signs. “The trend is actually
reversing. Most people in city government realize that the few
remaining structures and historic landmarks are something that is a
draw to people. … The quirky things that make Tucson unique should
not be torn down and paved over.”
City-owned property is more likely to be saved, while private
property is more at risk. “You can let property owners know that there
is a great interest in keeping their property and encouraging them to
do adaptive reuse rather than demolishing and rebuilding. … The most
important thing you can do is let people know you appreciate Tucson’s
past.”
At Vanishing Tucson, Lozano says topics are wide-open. It’s up to
members to decide what they want to discuss—from preservation
efforts to remembering that old drive-in burger joint they used to
visit.
“I’d like people to know that their memories are important, and
other people are interested in the things they remember. There are
people doing scholarly oral histories … that prove these memories are
very important.”
Lozano says nostalgia and sentimentality are not sappy things.
That’s good to hear, because I yearn for a little more yesteryear in
Tucson. The past doesn’t have to be demolished. And here’s hoping I’ll
get to see more old-style neon and quirky signs without traveling to
downtown Las Vegas.
This article appears in Oct 8-14, 2009.
Bravo Carlos! We need to preserve more of the history that makes Tucson unique and special.
All the info Carlos gives about Tucson was provided by members of Vanishing Tucson. He hardly participates on his own site anymore. The work and memories of others have boosted Carlos’ ego and reputation. Yay.
drscar,
your comment seems unnecessarily harsh. This article is about Vanishing Tucson’s site, not about the history of Tucson. Carlos didn’t even use any info from V.T in this article.
Carlos is obviously someone who has volunteered hundreds of hours of his own time on Historic Preservation. He invented Vanishing Tucson because nobody else did. He deserves a good reputation. You are just bitter for some reason, you should look into that.
G-Lu,
I have a personal history with Carlos and have learned through experience how he exploits people. The truth can sound harsh at times.
How can this article be about Vanishing Tucson yet not about Tucson’s history? Isn’t that the point of Vanishing Tucson? Are you a member of the site?
It isn’t at all obvious that Carlos has contributed “hundreds” of hours to “Historic Preservation”. What I have seen that is obvious is that he is an expert at inserting himself into a project, publicizing it and then claiming credit for it.
I think your personal attack on me was unnecessarily harsh, and perhaps you would do better to inform yourself before you tell someone their firsthand experiences are wrong.
drscar, you can dish it out but you can’t take it. How incredibly ill-mannered of you to wage a personal attack on a public forum. Shame on you. You obviously don’t know Carlos as well as I do, and I know for a fact he works tirelessly for Vanishing Tucson. Do you? What are you doing for the community? Yes I’m a member. The Carlos I know has no ego. Now why don’t you run along and pick on someone your own size. (tiny)
elyk,
Your post is a fine example of unintentional self-parody. It is ludicrous that you would try to take the high ground by denouncing my post with such a vitriolic personal attack on me. Shame on you.
I wonder what fantasy world you live in where Carlos has no ego? Perhaps you are thinking of a different Carlos.
I am a member of Vanishing Tucson and have spent many hours adding features to the site. I don’t know how tireless Carlos has to be to work on a site that has almost no traffic these days and which has been in decline for the better part of a year.
I think your starry-eyed devotion to Carlos has affected your ability to assess reality.
The only thing I said of a personal nature towards you is that you are rude for bringing this stuff up on a public forum. If you have a problem with someone why don’t you talk to him about it in person? You know, it’s called manners.
Only bullies use public forums to trash decent people. I will pray for you.
It’s so obvious that you are jealous that Carlos was mentioned in the article and you weren’t.
I’m not going to respond to your personal attack on me, you don’t know me and you never will.
elyk
elyk,
You took several personal swipes at me in your previous post such as the last line about running along and picking on someone my own size. Your current post does the same such as your arrogant, condescending comment that you will pray for me.
What makes you think that I would ever want to know you?
Growing up here was so wonderful. The smell of the desert after a rain, the sunsets or doves cooing. I grew up up around Alvernon and Ft. Lowell. I was 2 years old when my dad and mom moved here in 1957. After many years in the military I moved back here, only to find my old neighborhood was infestered with more than it’s share of drug houses, crime and streets littered with garbage. Homeless people were standing on most street corners looking for a handout. I was so disappointed. I don’t remember seeing this much litter on the streets like now. Who is trashing Tucson?