One Night Only! B-I-N-G-O Comes Downtown

B-I-N-G-O. Phoenix New Times culture blog Jackalope Ranch presents an evening of free bingo in the Lounge at Crescent Ballroom starting at 7 p.m. Monday, June 17. Arizona's resident Hip Historian Marshall Shore emcees the game night, complete with custom bingo cards by Phoenix artist Sarah Hurwitz.

Day: Monday, June 17, 2013
Time: 7p
Location: Crescent Ballroom, 302 N. 2nd Ave

Route 66 in Mesa

Yep, you read that correctly! Hip Historian, Marshall Shore will present a program on Route 66 during this week’s Arizona Historic Preservation Conference: “Making Preservation Relevant” at Hilton Mesa East on Wednesday, June 13.  On-site registration is available.

Marshall Shore, Arizona’s Hip Historian will present an insider’s look at the Arizona section of Route 66. He’ll share the history of America’s most iconic highway through a look at its place in pop culture and images of some of the famous sites along the way, including both the ruins and the preservation successes. This program was created for the celebration of Grapes of Wrath as part of the Big Read/ One Book Arizona. The multi-media presentation includes music, video clips, still photos, and storytelling magic by Marshall Shore wearing a one-of-a-kind Route 66 suit coat hand-painted by Phoenix artist Hugo Medina.
Day: Thursday, June 13, 2013
Time: 10:10-11, in Pueblo C
Location: Hilton Mesa East, 1011 W. Holmes Ave., Mesa

Peony On My Lapel

Why the big peony on my lapel?  It was part of my costume for a keynote presentation at the Pioneer Cemetery 30th annual Memorial Day observance. When they asked me to speak they said I could dress vintage, so I donned a snappy boater hat and my Arizona jacket, but the outfit needed a little extra something to make it pop. Perhaps a big flower? A poppy? An iris? My Mom reminded me that in Indiana we would clip peonies from our backyard and take them to grave sites. I happened to be at a local cafe and noticed they had peony bouquets on the tables, so I took it as a sign and borrowed one. While researching Memorial Day, I'd learned that it was originally called Decoration Day and the date was chosen because it was when the most flowers would be in bloom across the nation. That peony was just what I needed.

I was honored to speak amongst so much history and happy that I was able to personalize the experience with a nod to my own history by wearing the peony on my lapel.

Arizona by Design

Does Arizona have a design aesthetic worth remembering? Join Marshall Shore, Arizona’s Hip Historian, on Thursday, April 25 at the A.E. England Building in downtown Phoenix for his insights on the impact of three iconic Phoenix designers, including:

Lloyd Kiva New – He played an important role in revolutionizing Native American fashion design from the 1950’s on. Learn about his lasting impact in both Arizona and New Mexico. Get a glimpse of some of his important designs on living models.


Charles Harrison – He attended Carver High School in South Phoenix and became a successful product designer, who went on to create the iconic Viewmaster. Learn more about his unheralded impact in product design.

Glen Guyett – He is the man responsible for some of the most familiar business signs in the Valley, including Bill Johnson’s Big Apple, My Florist, Mr. Lucky’s, the Buckhorn Baths, and Courtesy Chevrolet, among others. His expertise in creating twinkling lights brought a new level of flash that still delights us today.

When: Thursday, April 25th, 2013, from 7-8 pm
Where: AE England Building @ 424 N. Central Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85004
What: A multi-media presentation by Marshall Shore, featuring found film footage,
old photographs, ephemera, live models and artifacts to share the stories of three
significant Arizona designers.

Cost: $7; get your tickets at http://azbydesign.eventbrite.com

A Bunny of a Different Sort

Now that Spring has arrived and that bunny business is over. Let's chat about the other Bunny. Yes, the Hugh Hefner inspired black and white Playboy Bunny. More specific the Playboy Club that was right on Central. Across from what is Park Central, at 3033 N. Central. Located at the very top, not the 8th floor, but squint and strain your eyes for a glimpse of the elusive penthouse on top of the 9th flr and it's large balcony.
Fifty years ago, in the valley, would have been the first time your classic cocktail have been served with the world famous Bunny Dip, by a young lady wearing her custom made suit donning a tail and ears. All the clubs had closed in mid 80's. Though, with it's live music venue that featured the likes of BB King, strict rules against customer/ server relations and a support female environment there are many fond memories of prior guest and former employee. In memory let's do the Bunny Hop

Celebrate the Valley's Mother Road: Route 60

Tonight is very special indeed. We are celebrating our own famous Route.... not 66, but 60. As the car began to move folks around to Vegas or LA They would venture Grand Ave, Apache Rd. and Main Street in Mesa. Those weary travelers needed a place to stay and Route 60 responded by becoming our motel row. You can see what the stretch looked like by driving out through Mesa and seeing the motels with the great signs. Which bring us to the reason of this post. The Diving Lady, a sign that went up in 1960 to let every passerby know that the Starlite Motel had a special amenity a... POOL. This was before every hotel, motel and auto camp had the luxury of a swimming pool. The neon diving lady sign was a blown down in a wind storm in 2010 and

Charles Phoenix

found and saved by the Mesa Preservation Foundation. And tonight she officially get energized and will be diving again. Come out, join my friend Charles Phoenix and myself  and join us as we celebrate The Diving Lady and our history. 


What: Relighting the Diving Lady
Where: Starlite Motel, 2710 East Main Street, Mesa, AZ
When: Tuesday, April 2nd 6-8 with a brief program at 6:30
Cost: Free

KJZZ's Here and Now interview

Here is the the link for the Wed, March 27 interview by Steve Goldstein of Marshall Shore and tour info.

Winnie Ruth Judd
When: Saturday, April  6th, 2013, from 1:30 - 3:30 pm
Where: Bus leaves from the Clarendon Hotel at 401 W. Clarendon, Phoenix.
What: A guided bus tour hosted by history raconteur, Marshall Shore, who shares
the hidden history of these sites. 
Cost: $30; get your tickets.

Haunted Phoenix
When: Saturday, April  6th, 2013, from 3:30-5:45 pm
Where: Bus leaves from the Clarendon Hotel at 401 W. Clarendon, Phoenix.
What: A guided bus tour hosted by history raconteur, Marshall Shore, who shares
the hidden history of these sites. 
Cost: $30; get your ticket.
 
Scottsdale's 'Most Western" Mid-Century Gems 
When: Saturday, April 20th, 2013 from 9:00 - 11:00 am
Where: Tour starts and ends at the Scottsdale Center for Arts
What: A guided bus tour hosted by well-known history raconteur, Marshall Shore.
Cost: $40; get your tickets. Don’t wait, this will sell out!


Arizona by Design
When: Thursday, April  25th, 2013, from 7-8 pm
Where: AE England Building @ 424 N. Central Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85004
What: A presentation by Marshall Shore, featuring found film footage, old photographs, ephemera, and artifacts to bring our state’s heritage to life.
Cost: $7; get your tickets.