Vacation in Phoenix. 1958. (Ranchero revisited)

Submitted by Markydoodle February 13th, 2012
Certifikitsch Winner

It was only today that I came to the realization that the Toy Ford Ranchero that I’d posted here November 16, 2010 was being held in my hand in this old slide that I’d digitized from a picture Dad took of Mom and me.  https://www.awmok.com/?s=ranchero&x=0&y=0

I remember a few of things about this trip, even though I wasn’t yet 4.

I wouldn’t let them put a bib on me in Knock Kneed Lobster in Phoenix-I was too old for a bib.

I remember playing shuffleboard at the motel, but only for a little bit at a time, because the old guys (who scared me) played all day.

My parents bought me a chrome flashlight that took D batteries with a red bezel.  I loved to stand in front of the mirror at night and turn it on with it stuck in my mouth.

It’s a long drive from Nebraska to Arizona in a ’57 Desoto Wagon.

Dad dressed up for a job interview while we were on “vacation.”  He sold the farm the next year, and we moved to town.

5 Responses to “Vacation in Phoenix. 1958. (Ranchero revisited)”

  1. Allee Willis

    Love that photo with mom. And your haircut and pants length are killing me!

    Of course, I’m crazy about the webbed lawn chairs. And that metal umbrella is something I still look for.

    Is the Knock Kneed Lobster still around? No doubt I would have eaten in a place named that. Though I would’ve kept the bib on no matter what age I was. I still get my food all over me. I used to buy boxes of vintage lobster bibs and carry them in my purse.

    I was absolutely obsessed with shuffleboard as a kid.

    I love that you remember your flashlight with fondness. I was always partial to shiny chrome ones.

    The Desoto station wagon is killing me. Of course, you know I have a 55 DeSoto Fireflyte. A planter these days but one day will be back up and running, The Caddy ain’t bad either. ’58?

  2. Mark Milligan

    I think it is a ’58 Caddy.

    Knock Kneed is still there, or at least it was a few years ago. Not the kind of place I’d go now either!

    I wish I had a picture of the pattern on the headliner of that desoto. It was off-white, with millions of tiny dots in it, I’m going to see if I can find a picture somewhere.

    I love those umbrellas, and ironically, we have the same umbrellas, only blue, at our Palm Springs condo.

  3. Mod Betty RetroRoadmap.com

    The Knock Kneed Lobster – love that name!

    Allee – I remember reading on RetroRenovation.com that you can still buy the metal umbrellas – here’s the link for your files:

    http://retrorenovation.com/2009/09/26/sundrella-aluminum-patio-umbrellas-in-production-since-1956/

    Seeing these color drenched slides of peoples vacations makes me wish that we had gone on vacation when I was growing up, but then again maybe if I had, I would not be creating RetroRoadmap.com :-)