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HISTORY IS ALL AROUND YOU,
IF YOU KNOW WHERE TO LOOK.
HELLO, I'M TOM MCARTHUR IN
THE GREAT GALLERY OF THE
CHENEY-COWLES MUSEUM.
THIS IS ONE PLACE WHERE YOU
CAN FIND REMNANTS OF THINGS
THAT USED TO BE IN SPOKANE.
FOR THE NEXT HOUR
YOU'RE TV SET IS ANOTHER.
DO YOU REMEMBER RIDING
THE STREETCARS IN SPOKANE?
VISITING THE MANITO PARK
ZOO? - OR WATCHING CAP'N CY ON
TELEVISION?
WHETHER YOU ANSWERED "YES,"
OR "HUH," I THINK YOU'LL ENJOY
OUR NOSTALGIC WALK THROUGH
SPOKANE DURING THE MIDDLE HALF
OF THE 20TH CENTURY, FROM
ROUGHLY 1925 TO 1975.
WITH THE HELP OF OLD
PHOTOGRAPHS, OLD MOVIES AND A
FEW OLD TIMERS, THIS IS OUR
WAY OF REMEMBERING SPOKANE.
THE STREETCAR RAN UP BERNARD
AND THERE IS SORT OF A SLIGHT
INCLINE THERE.
AND IT WAS GREAT SPORT FOR
ME TO TAKE MY GRANDMOTHER'S
HOME-MADE LYE SOAP-GREAT BIG
BARS OF IT-AND GO OVER AND
SOAP THE LINE WHERE THE
STREET CAR STOPPED TO LET THE
PASSENGERS OFF WITH SOAP.
THEN HE COULDN'T
GET STARTED AGAIN.
THE WHEELS WOULD SPIN AROUND
AND HE'D HAVE TO BACK THE
TRAIN BACK DOWN THE STREET
AND GET A RUN TO GET OVER THAT
SOAPY AREA.
STREETCARS HERE DATE BACK TO
1888, WHEN A TWO HORSEPOWER
CAR CONNECTS BROWNE'S ADDITION
WITH DOWNTOWN SPOKANE FALLS.
STREETCARS SOON BECOME
EVERYONE'S FAVORITE WAY OF
GETTING FROM HERE TO THERE.
ODDLY, THEY ARE NEVER FITTED
WITH WINDSHIELD WIPERS, SO
INVENTIVE MOTORMEN TAKE TO
SMEARING THEIR WINDSHIELDS
WITH A *** OF CHEWING TOBACCO
TO SHEET OFF THE RAIN.
THE PAY AS YOU ENTER
FARE IS A NICKEL.
WE DIDN'T THINK
A THING ABOUT IT.
IT WAS OUR MODE
OF TRANSPORTATION.
IT HAD THE HANGING STRAPS
UP ABOVE AND IF IT GOT TOO
CROWDED YOU HAD YOUR
STRAP AND HUNG ON.
THOSE WERE THE DAYS WHEN THE
GENTLEMEN GAVE THE LADIES
SEATS.
AND I CAN REMEMBER THE
WOVEN COVERS ON THE SEATS.
THEY WERE SLICK AND SHINY AND
WHEN YOU WERE YOUNG ENOUGH YOU
SLID ON THEM.
WHENEVER THEY WOULD GET
SOMEWHERE AND THEY WERE
TURNING AROUND THIS CABLE THAT
WAS UP THERE BEGAN TO SPARK.
YOU KNEW THERE'D BE A SPARK
LIKE ELECTRIC SPARK WHENEVER
THEY WERE TURNING AROUND OR
EVEN WHEN IT WENT DOWN THE
STREET THERE WAS
AN ELECTRIC SPARK.
AND THAT'S WHAT FASCINATED ME
AS A KID SEEING THAT ELECTRIC
SPARK.
ASK GIRLS WHAT THEY REMEMBER
MOST ABOUT THE STREET CARS AND
THEY'LL PROBABLY
SAY RIDING THEM.
ASK BOYS WHAT THEY REMEMBER
MOST ABOUT THE STREET CARS,
AND THEY'LL PROBABLY
SAY PULLING THEM.
SEE, THE TROLLEY GOES, THERE'S
A LINE AND YOU PULL A TROLLEY
AND IT SLIPS OF AND IT
KILLS ALL THE ENERGY, THE
ELECTRICITY.
OH, WE'D PULL IT A LOT.
I REMEMBER PUTTING PENNIES AND
NICKELS ON THE TRACK SO THAT
THE STREET CAR WENT OVER
IT AND SMASHED THEM.
THAT WAS CHILD'S
PLAY IN THOSE DAYS.
GIRLS AS WELL AS BOYS COULD
DO THAT SORT OF THING.
THE BOYS USED TO PULL THE
LINE, THE TROLLEY LINE OFF THE
WIRING ABOVE.
I REMEMBER ONE TIME I PULLED
A TROLLEY RIGHT ON SPRUCE
STREET, WHERE COEUR D' ALENE
PARK IS, AND THE CONDUCTOR
CHASED ME CLEAR TO THE
WESTMINSTER HOTEL, WHICH IS A
BLOCK AWAY, WESTMINSTER
APARTMENTS, NOW; IT USED TO BE
THE WESTMINSTER HOTEL.
AND THEY HAD A DINING ROOM,
AND HE CHASED ME ALL THE WAY
THROUGH THE RESTAURANT IN THE
HOTEL BUT HE NEVER CAUGHT ME.
ON THE LAST DAY OF AUGUST
IN 1936, SPOKANE BECOMES THE
FIRST CITY ON THE PACIFIC
COAST TO COMPLETELY MOTORIZE
ITS PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEM WITH MODERN BUSSES.
STREET CAR NUMBER 202,
A VETERAN OF MORE THAN
1-MILLION-6-HUNDRED-THOUSAND
MILES--MORE THAN THREE ROUND
TRIPS TO THE MOON--TRAVELS ITS
LAST MILES TO THE END OF THE
LINE AT NATATORIUM PARK, WHERE
IT IS STUFFED WITH HAY BALES
AND SET ON FIRE.
FROM NOW ON, PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION IN SPOKANE
MEANS RIDING THE BUS.
IT IS STILL POSSIBLE TO DRIVE
YOUR CAR ALONG THE BOONE-ASTOR
LINE, AND IMAGINE THE SOUND OF
STEEL WHEELS ON THE RAILS, AND
PUT A PENNY ON THE TRACKS.
SPOKANE EMBRACES
TELEPHONE TECHNOLOGY!
IN THE BEGINNING, TELEPHONE
NUMBERS CONTAIN ONLY THREE
DIGITS, AND AN OPERATOR
MUST MAKE THE CONNECTION.
ROTARY DIAL TELEPHONES ARRIVE
IN THE 1920S, ALLOWING ONE TO
DIAL DIRECTLY-FIRST A LETTER
FOR THE OFFICE NAME, THEN A
FOUR-DIGIT NUMBER.
CALLERS RING THE 1950S BY
DIALING TWO LETTERS AND FIVE
NUMBERS.
AND TODAY, MOST CALLERS USE
TOUCH-TONE PHONES, MAKING THE
DREAM OF VOICE MAIL A REALITY.
AND THAT'S THE WAY IT WAS.
NATATORIUM PARK, WHERE SPOKANE
BURNED ITS LAST STREETCAR, WAS
MORE COMMONLY
KNOWN AS NAT PARK.
THAT'S ONE OF ITS
ORIGINAL SIGNS UP THERE.
NAT PARK WAS SPOKANE'S
PLAYGROUND FOR 79 YEARS.
ON ITS BEST DAYS, MORE THAN
60- THOUSAND PEOPLE WENT TO
NAT, TO PICNIC, TO
SWIM, OR TO DANCE.
TODAY, THERE ARE MORE THAN A
DOZEN PLACES WHERE YOU CAN DO
THOSE THINGS, BUT FOR A TIME
THERE WAS ONLY ONE--NATATORIUM
PARK.
I'D GO DOWN THE
SHOOT-THE-CHUTE INTO THE
WATER, GO ON THE CARROUSEL
(WENT UP AND GO DOWN THE
JACKRABBIT.
OH THAT WAS FUN).
AND SWAM IN THE POOL THEY
HAD A WONDERFUL POOL.
NATATORIUM PARK IS THE CONEY
ISLAND OF THE INLAND EMPIRE.
IT IS OPENED IN 1889 AS A
TROLLEY PARK-ENTICING OASES AT
THE END OF THE LINE-TO
ENCOURAGE RIDERSHIP OF THE
CITY STREET CARS.
NAT QUICKLY BECOMES THE
RECREATIONAL CENTER FOR THE
ENTIRE REGION, AND IS THE
CITY'S FIRST HOME FOR THE NEW
GAME OF BASEBALL.
A POPULAR TEAM IS
THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
THEY HAD ALL SORTS OF TRICKS
THAT THEY WOULD PLAY BEFORE
THE GAME.
THEY WOULD LINE UP OUTSIDE AND
THEY WOULD BE PASSING THE BALL
BACK AND FORTH SOMEWHAT LIKE
THE HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS DO
WITH THE BASKETBALL.
YOU NEVER KNOW WHERE THE
BALL'S GOING TO GO NEXT.
NATATORIUM IS THE LATIN WORD
FOR POOL, AND NATATORIUM PARK
TAKES ITS NAME FROM ITS
MOST POPULAR ATTRACTION-AN
OLYMPIC-SIZED SWIMMING POOL
FILLED WITH PURE WELL WATER
HEATED BY COAL.
SOME ARE CONTENT TO SPLASH
ABOUT, WHILE OTHERS SEEK A
THRILL FROM DIVING OFF
THE SECOND FLOOR BALCONY.
WELL, I DON'T KNOW
WHETHER WE DOVE OR JUMPED.
WE'D CLIMB UP ON THE RAFTERS,
YOU KNOW, THEY HAD SOME
TRESTLES UP THERE ON A BIG
BEAM, AND WE'D CLIMB UP IN
THERE AND JUMP
IN THE DEEP END.
IN THE 30S AND 40S, THEY
HAD SOMETHING CALLED THE
TILLICUM'S.
THE CHRONICLE SPONSORED IT.
I THINK IT WAS ONE DAY A YEAR
WHERE YOU COULD WRITE TO THE
PAPER AND GIVE THEM YOUR NAME,
AND THEY WOULD SEND YOU FIVE
TICKETS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT
TO GO ON A FEW RIDES AT NAT.
THE WILDEST ATTRACTION IN THE
PARK'S HISTORY IS ADDED IN
1920.
IT IS OFFICIALLY BILLED AS A
GRAVITY SLIDE, AND CALLED THE
JACK RABBIT.
BY ANY OTHER NAME, IT'S STILL
A ROLLER COASTER OF A RIDE.
AS YOU GOT UP THERE, THERE WAS
THAT MOMENT OF ANTICIPATION.
YOU KNEW YOU WERE GOING TO
GO OVER THE BANK, AND YOUR
MUSCLES GOT TENSE, AND YOU GOT
READY TO YELL, AND THEN YOU
WENT OVER THE TOP AND
SCREAMED LIKE MAD.
TO LET GO AND SCREAM, AND HAVE
THAT WIND WHIZZING THROUGH
YOUR HAIR.
IT WAS MARVELOUS.
NAT'S "GOLDEN AGE" COMES
DURING THE 1940S WHEN HUNDREDS
OF SOLDIERS FROM FORT WRIGHT
AND SAILORS FROM FARRAGUT HAVE
ONLY ONE PLACE TO GO FOR FUN.
THE BIG BANDS ARE A BIG
HIT, AND NAT BRINGS PEOPLE
TOGETHER-IF ONLY FOR AN
EVENING--WHO WILL SOON BE TORN
APART BY THE WAR.
AS PEOPLE FIND OTHER PLACES TO
GO, NAT PARK DIES A SLOW DEATH
AND CLOSES FOREVER IN 1968.
THE JACK RABBIT IS BURNED
AND THE SITE LEVELED.
TODAY, WHAT WAS NAT IS THE
SANS SOUCI MOBILE HOME PARK.
KAREN DESEVE AND MARK
BLUMHAGEN BOTH REMEMBER
VISITING THE PARK AS KIDS, AND
TOGETHER ARE WRITING A BOOK TO
PRESERVE ITS STORY.
THE ACTUAL PLUNGE IS
STILL BURIED DOWN HERE.
IT'S STILL HERE, PUMPS AND
EVERYTHING STILL UNDERGROUND.
THEY TRIED TO JACKHAMMER IT,
AND THEY TRIED TO BREAK IT ALL
UP AND ALL THEY DID WAS KNOCK
A FEW PIECES OF TILE OFF INTO
IT.
IT WAS SO WELL BUILT THAT THEY
JUST WENT AHEAD AND FILLED IT
ALL IN.
THAT WAS IN 1964.
IF YOU KNOW WHERE TO LOOK, YOU
CAN FIND OTHER SIGNS THAT NAT
WAS HERE.
OVERGROWN BY TREES AND SHRUBS
IS THE V-SHAPED STAIRCASE THAT
DELIVERED PATRONS
TO THE PLUNGE.
LEAN AGAINST THE RAILING HERE,
AND YOU'RE STANDING EXACTLY
WHERE THIS WOMAN PAUSED FOR A
PICTURE ALMOST A HUNDRED YEARS
AGO.
ANOTHER PIECE OF NAT
LIVES IN RIVERFRONT PARK.
THE LOOFF CARROUSEL, INSTALLED
AT NAT PARK IN 1909, OPENS
HERE IN 1975 AND DECLARED A
NATIONAL HISTORIC PLACE IN
1977.
THIS WAS TOP OF THE LINE.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT THESE
HORSES, EVERY ONE OF THEM IS
DIFFERENT, THERE ARE NO TWO
ALIKE, EVERY ONE OF THEM IS
VERY, VERY SPECIAL.
BEAUTIFULLY CARVED.
IT'S A SHOWPIECE.
SPOKANE OUGHT TO BE VERY,
VERY PROUD OF THIS ONE.
INVENTED IN SPOKANE!
THE FIRST TIME/TEMPERATURE
SIGN IN THE WORLD IS INSTALLED
IN DOWNTOWN SPOKANE,
WASHINGTON IN 1951.
NEED TO PARK DOWNTOWN?
LOOK FOR A PIGEON HOLE PARKING
LOT, WHERE AN ELEVATOR GENTLY
LIFTS YOUR CAR AS HIGH AS
THIRTY FEET IN THE AIR.
TIME/TEMPERATURE SIGNS ARE
NOW FAMOUS AROUND THE WORLD.
PIGEON HOLE PARKING IS NOT.
AND THAT'S THE WAY IT WAS.
"OUR NEXT STOP ON THE CITY
LOOP DRIVE WAS MANITO PARK,
NATIONALLY FAMOUS FOR ITS
SPECTACULAR FLOWER GARDEN."
SPOKANE PRIDES
ITSELF ON ITS PARKS.
THE MOST FAMOUS AMONG THEM
BEING MANITO PARK-MANITO IS
THE NEZ PERCE INDIAN
WORD FOR HIGH GROUND.
THROUGH THE YEARS, SOCIAL
CLUBS OF ALL STRIPES AND
COLORS MEET HERE, AND THE
TREES PROVIDE SHADE FOR MANY
CHURCH PICNICS.
WE'D TAKE THE BUS, WITH OUR
LUNCH AND EVERYTHING, CAN YOU
IMAGINE GETTING ON THE BUS
WITH ALL THIS STUFF, ALL YOUR
BLANKETS AND ALL THIS
STUFF-AND GOING TO MANITO
PARK?
THAT'S WHAT WE DID, ALL
THE WAY ACROSS TOWN.
BUT WE HAD A GREAT TIME.
OF COURSE, MANITO PARK
IN THOSE DAYS HAD A ZOO.
THEY HAD WILD ANIMALS, BEARS
AND COYOTES AND FOXES AND
THINGS LIKE THAT.
THAT WAS A BIG DEAL, THE ZOO.
IF YOU GO UP THERE, I THINK
ITS 24TH YOU KNOW WHERE THE
POND IS.
AND YOU GO UP IN HERE WAS
WHERE THE WHOLE ZOO WAS.
YOU HAD THE ELK'S PLACE UP
ABOVE, AND THEY HAD BEARS, AND
WE USED TO WALK A PATH AND IT
WAS REALLY SOMETHING WHEN WE
COULD GO TO THE ZOO.
THE MANITO ZOO STARTS WITH A
BEAVER FAMILY AROUND THE TURN
OF THE CENTURY, AND GROWS
TO INCLUDE A MENAGERIE OF
EVERYTHING FROM
BUFFALO TO GOATS.
I CAN REMEMBER MY TERROR WHEN
THE PANTHER AND THE COUGAR
USED TO GO UP AND DOWN.
WE WERE SO AFRAID
THEY MIGHT GET OUT.
AND THE STENCH
FROM THE FOX CAGES.
AND THEN THE TWO POLAR BEARS.
THE TWO POLAR BEARS ARE
ACTUALLY THE REASON MANITO
PARK DOESN'T HAVE
A ZOO ANYMORE.
IN THE SUMMER OF 1923, 9-YEAR
OLD MARY ELIZABETH HARRIS
GRABS A HANDFUL OF BREAD, AND
PUTS HER HAND INTO THE BEARS'
CAGE TO FEED THEM.
THE LITTLE GIRL WHO GOT HER
ARM PULLED OUT SAT RIGHT IN
FRONT OF ME IN GRADE SCHOOL.
A NICE LITTLE GAL.
PULLED HER ARM OUT
AT THE SHOULDER.
SHE WAS FEEDING A POLAR BEAR
AND HE GRABBED HER ARM AND
TOOK THE WHOLE THING.
THE GIRL SURVIVES, BUT TALK
BEGINS OF KILLING THE ZOO, OR
AT LEAST MOVING IT.
THE MANITO ZOO PROVES TO BE
TOO EXPENSIVE TO MOVE, AND TOO
EXPENSIVE TO KEEP, SO THE PARK
BOARD SHUTS IT DOWN IN 1932.
THE SMALLER ANIMALS
ARE ADOPTED OUT.
THE LARGER ANIMALS-- INCLUDING
THE POLAR BEARS, TWO GRIZZLY
BEARS AND THREE BUFFALO--ARE
TAKEN OUT BY A GAME WARDEN
WITH A 30-30 RIFLE.
THUS ENDS THE MANITO PARK ZOO.
YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE MANITO
PARK ZOO USED TO BE BY
SPOTTING THIS HOUSE
IN THE OLD PICTURES.
AS YOU STAND FACING THE BLUFF
BEHIND THE PARK RESTAURANT,
YOU ARE STANDING WHERE MARY
ELIZABETH HARRIS STOOD WITH
HER HANDFUL OF
BREAD 75-YEARS AGO.
THERE IS A TIME, IN SPOKANE,
WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO TO
THE ZOO, THE ZOO COMES TO YOU.
WELL, A ZOO OF SORTS.
WILLIS R.
WILEY GAINS FAME FOR HIS
COLLECTION OF SKUNKS, MONKEYS,
PIGLETS AND OTHER CRITTERS
WITH WHOM HE SHARES HIS LIFE,
AND THE FACT THAT HE
WEARS BARELY ANY CLOTHES.
WILLIE WILEY WAS SUCH A
CHARACTER THAT WHEN WE HEARD
THAT HE WAS AROUND, KIDS WOULD
RUN AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD,
YOU KNOW, WILLIE
WILEY IS IN THE PARK!
AND WE'D ALL RUN
OUT TO SEE HIM.
HE WORE ONLY TRUNKS
ALL YEAR ROUND.
NO SHOES.
HE LOOKED LIKE HE
LIVED IN HIS CAR.
I THINK THAT WAS WHAT
WE GENERALLY UNDERSTOOD.
AND HE HAD A BUNCH OF ANIMALS
WITH HIM, AND SOME DOGS.
WELL, WE WOULD
JUST STARE AT HIM.
I WASN'T BOLD ENOUGH TO TALK
TO HIM, BUT SOME OF THE KIDS
WOULD TALK.
HE WAS FRIENDLY, BUT
CERTAINLY A CHARACTER.
IN 1956, WILLIE WILEY
SWERVES HIS CAR INTO A TREE.
3-HUNDRED OF HIS FRIENDS
ARE THERE WHEN SPOKANE'S
AMBASSADOR OF GOODWILL IS
BURIED AT FAIRMOUNT MEMORIAL
PARK.
SPOKANE WELCOMES
INTERNATIONAL CELEBRITIES!
FRESH FROM HIS TRANS-ATLANTIC
FLIGHT IN THE SPIRIT OF ST.
LOUIS, CHARLES AUGUSTUS
LINDBERGH VISITS THE 1927
NATIONAL AIR RACES IN
SPOKANE, WASHINGTON.
A BANQUET TO HONOR THE FAMOUS
AVIATOR IS HELD-IN THE MARIE
ANTOINETTE ROOM OF THE
LUXURIOUS DOWNTOWN DAVENPORT
HOTEL.
THIRTY YEARS LATER, THE
BIGGEST NAME IN MUSIC ROCKS
THE LILAC CITY
AT ALBI STADIUM.
THE KING OF ROCK AND ROLL,
ELVIS AARON PRESLEY, SINGS HIS
WAY INTO THE HEARTS OF
THOUSANDS IN 1957 AND THE
CROWD IS ALL SHOOK UP.
AND THAT'S THE WAY IT WAS.
THERE'S A LOT OF TALK, THESE
DAYS, ABOUT REVITALIZING
DOWNTOWN SPOKANE.
MAYBE THAT'S BECAUSE SO MANY
PEOPLE REMEMBER HOW VITAL
DOWNTOWN SPOKANE USED TO BE.
THROUGH THE DEPRESSION AND WAR
YEARS, THERE WERE 15 THEATERS
AND 13 BALLROOMS DOWNTOWN.
NOT TO MENTION DOZENS OF
STORES AND SEVERAL GRAND
HOTELS.
IF YOU WANT TO SEE WHAT
DOWNTOWN SPOKANE COULD BE,
JUST LOOK BACK AT WHAT IT WAS.
DOWNTOWN SPOKANE IN THE 1950S.
DOWNTOWN SPOKANE IN THE 1940S.
DOWNTOWN SPOKANE IN THE 1930S.
DOWNTOWN SPOKANE IN THE 1920'S.
FOR DECADES, DOWNTOWN SPOKANE
IS A VIBRANT, BUSTLING
METROPOLIS.
FROM BANKING TO SHOPPING, MOST
BUSINESS IS CONDUCTED HERE.
THE TERM CONSTABLE ON PATROL,
OR COP, IS BORN ON BUSY
STREETS AND
SIDEWALKS LIKE THESE.
THEATERS ARE BIG IN
DOWNTOWN SPOKANE.
THEATERS LIKE THE REX, THE
EMPRESS, THE LIBERTY, THE
BANDBOX, AND THE AUDITORIUM,
WHICH BOASTS THE LARGEST
THEATRICAL STAGE IN AMERICA.
THE AUDITORIUM ACTUALLY TAKES
UP AN ENTIRE BLOCK ON NORTH
POST STREET, DOWNTOWN, DURING
THE DAYS BEFORE MOVIES, WHEN
SPOKANE IS RATED ONE OF
THE MOST "SHOW CONSCIOUS"
COMMUNITIES IN THE WEST.
FOR 50-CENTS YOU CAN GET A
MAIN-FLOOR SEAT, AND ENJOY THE
FINEST TOURING STAGE PLAYS,
VAUDEVILLE ACTS AND OPERA
COMPANIES IN THE COUNTRY.
EVERYONE, OF COURSE, DRESSES
UP FOR THE THEATER, EVEN IF
YOU'RE JUST GOING TO SEE ONE
OF THE NEW TALKIES AT THE
CLEMMER.
BEGINNING IN 1931, SPOKANE'S
FINEST THEATER IS THE FOX.
20-THOUSAND PEOPLE LITERALLY
STOP TRAFFIC OUT FRONT ON
OPENING NIGHT.
INSIDE, IS AN ART DECO
MASTERPIECE, WITH ROOM FOR
MORE THAN 2-THOUSAND
GUESTS AT EACH SHOW.
LIKE ALL DOWNTOWN THEATERS,
AN USHER WILL SHOW YOU TO YOUR
SEAT.
THERE WAS ALWAYS AN USHER
WITH A FLASHLIGHT THAT WOULD
TAKE YOU DOWN, ESPECIALLY
AT THE FOX AND SOME OF THOSE
OTHER BIGGER THEATERS.
THEY WOULD HAVE THESE LITTLE
HATS ON AND THEY HAD THESE
NICE LITTLE PANTS AND SUITS
AND I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE AN
USHER.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS CLASS.
DANCE HALLS, LIKE WHITEHEAD'S,
WASHINGTON HALL, THE
METRONOME, AND THE GARDEN
PACKED 'EM IN, TOO.
HERE COUPLES DANCE TO THE
WALTZ, FOXTROT OR SLOW DRAG
ACCORDING TO THE LADY'S
DANCE CARD, OR PROGRAM.
IT WAS AN ENVELOPER GENERALLY
CARDBOARD WITH A LITTLE PENCIL
ATTACHED WITH ALL THE NUMBERS
OF THE DANCES THAT WERE GOING
TO BE DONE.
AND SO YOU WENT AROUND.
THE GENTLEMEN CAME UP AND
MADE ARRANGEMENTS WITH CERTAIN
DANCES ALL THE WAY THROUGH
AND YOU GENERALLY MET IN THIS
CORNER OR THAT CORNER YOU
KNOW SO THAT YOU COULD GET
TOGETHER.
AND THE LAST DANCE WAS ALWAYS
WITH THE GENTLEMAN THAT BRUNG
YOU.
NONE OF SPOKANE'S ORIGINAL
DANCE HALLS EXIST ANYMORE, BUT
TWO OF SPOKANE'S GRAND
THEATERS STILL REMAIN.
WHAT WAS THE STATE'S NOW THE
MET,
AND THE FOX WELCOMES YOUR
PATRONAGE AT A DOLLAR A SEAT.
SMALL DETAILS OF HOW LIFE USED
TO BE ARE ALL BUT FORGOTTEN.
THAT'S WHY CAROLYN NUNEMAKER
IS WRITING "DOWNTOWN SPOKANE
IMAGES," A BOOK ON DOWNTOWN
SPOKANE'S HALCYON YEARS, TO
REMEMBER THE LITTLE THINGS.
BEFORE THEY HAD CASH REGISTERS
IN THE STORES THEY HAD THESE
BASKETS THAT THE CLERK
WOULD PUT CHANGE IN.
THEY WOULD GET THE CHANGE AND
IT WOULD BE SENT BACK IN THESE
LITTLE SWINGING BASKETS.
AND THEY'D MAKE THIS LITTLE
CLICKETY-CLICKETY-CLICK SOUND
AND THEN THEY'D COME BACK.
YOU DON'T REMEMBER WHEN
THESE THINGS CHANGE, ALL OF
A SUDDEN THOSE ARE GONE
AND THEY'VE GOT CASH REGISTERS.
STORES LIKE THE WHITE HOUSE,
KEMP & HEBERT, MONTGOMERY
WARDS AND JOHN W.
CRAHAM DRAW SHOPPERS
FROM MILES AROUND.
ONE STORE, MORE THAN ANY
OTHER, PERSONIFIES THE
DOWNTOWN EXPERIENCE.
IT IS CALLED THE CRESCENT.
AS FAR AS SHOPPING YOU COULD
FIND ANYTHING YOU WANTED
THERE.
FURNITURE CLOTHING FOOD OH
WE'D GO INTO THE CRESCENT THEY
HAD A LONG COUNTER YOU USED TO
GET COKES FOR 5-CENTS A GLASS
AND THEY HAD FOOD THERE, TOO.
IT WAS KIND OF AN
ALL-PURPOSE DEPARTMENT STORE.
THE CLERKS THE COUNTERS THE
LACE THE HANDKERCHIEFS THE
LADIES HAVING LUNCH,
ALL THESE THINGS.
IT WAS MEETING UNDER THE CLOCK
YOU MET YOUR MAMA THERE IF YOU
LOST HER OR YOU MET YOUR
GIRLFRIENDS WHEN YOU WERE A
TEENAGER AND YOUR LADY FRIENDS
WHEN YOU WERE A YOUNG MOTHER.
EVERYBODY MET THERE,
UNDER THE CLOCK.
I MEAN, THERE WASN'T
ANY OTHER PLACE TO MEET.
YOU'D TELL SOMEBODY 'I'11
MEET YOU UNDER THE CLOCK AT A
CERTAIN TIME.'
AND OF COURSE, WHAT WE DON'T
HAVE BUT IN A FEW INSTANCES
WAS SERVICE.
BOY, THEY HAD SERVICE.
NO QUESTIONS ASKED.
I MEAN IF YOU DIDN'T WANT
SOMETHING, BRING IT BACK AND
THEY'D CHANGE IT.
THE CRESCENT OPENS IN
1889--THE DAY AFTER SPOKANE'S
BIG FIRE.
THE BUILDINGS OF THE CRESCENT
BLOCK-NAMED FOR THE CURVING
STREET OUT FRONT-ARE BUILT
OF BRICK INSTEAD OF WOOD, AND
SURVIVE.
AS THE ONLY DEPARTMENT STORE
IN TOWN ON THEIR FIRST DAY OF
BUSINESS, CRESCENT OWNERS CAN
EASILY CHARGE ANY PRICE THEY
WANT, BUT THEIR BUSINESS MOTTO
IS "BE FAIR TO EVERYONE," AS
THEY WILL BE FOR 99 YEARS.
THE CRESCENT IS SOLD IN
1988--ONE YEAR SHORT OF ITS
HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY.
ALL THAT REMAINS OF THE
ORIGINAL CRESCENT STORE IS ITS
NAME STONE.
THE OLD CRESCENT BLOCK
IS NOW SHADOWED BY THE
SPOKESMAN-REVIEW TOWER.
THE LAST CRESCENT STORE IS
TODAY THE CRESCENT COURT WHERE
IT IS STILL POSSIBLE TO MEET
SOMEONE UNDER THE CLOCK.
ONE OF THE CRESCENT'S BIGGEST
CUSTOMERS BECOMES A SPOKANE
INSTITUTION ITSELF-THE
DAVENPORT HOTEL.
LOUIS DAVENPORT ORDERS HIS
CURTAINS, LINENS, FURNITURE
AND FIXTURES INCLUDING A
MARBLE FOUNTAIN FOR THE LOBBY
THROUGH THE CRESCENT.
DAVENPORT OPENS SPOKANE'S
GREATEST HOTEL IN 1914.
THE DAVENPORT FEATURES
3,200 ELECTRIC LIGHTS, 450
TELEPHONES, 20 SYNCHRONIZED
CLOCKS, AND A TANK IN THE
BASEMENT WHICH PRODUCES
5-TONS OF ICE A DAY.
THE PRICE TAG ON ALL OF
THIS IS 2-AND-A-HALF MILLION
DOLLARS, THOUGH A ROOM WITH
PRIVATE BATH WILL ONLY COST
YOU 2-50 A NIGHT.
ONE OF THE THINGS I REMEMBER
VERY CLEARLY, AND FONDLY, IS
WE WOULD COME TO TOWN, AND THE
FIRST PLACE MY MOTHER WOULD
TAKE ME WOULD BE DOWN IN THE
BASEMENT OF THE DAVENPORT
HOTEL WHERE THEY HAD WHITE
TILE FLOORS AND THEY HAD ABOUT
SIX BARBERS IN THERE, AND VERY
FANCY PLACE FOR MEN TO GET
THEIR HAIR CUT.
AND MY MOTHER WOULD LEAVE ME
THERE TO GET A HAIR CUT, AND I
WAS SUPPOSED TO WAIT AROUND
THERE UNTIL SHE CAME BACK TO
PICK ME UP.
AND I WOULD WANDER ALL AROUND
THE DAVENPORT HOTEL AND POKE
INTO EVERYTHING.
THE DAVENPORT HOTEL SUFFERS
FROM A SLOWING PULSE AND
CLOSES IN 1985.
EXCEPT FOR THE OCCASIONAL
PRIVATE FUNCTION, IT HAS NOT
OPENED SINCE.
BUT A HONG KONG DEVELOPER
BELIEVES THERE IS LIFE IN THE
OLD GIRL YET, AND IS SLOWLY
RESTORING THE DAVENPORT BACK
TO WHAT SHE USED TO BE.
SKYLIGHTS TARRED OVER DURING
WORLD WAR TWO, AGAIN INVITE
THE SUNS RAYS TO DANCE AROUND
THE MARBLE FOUNTAIN IN THE
LOBBY.
MARBLE FLOORS, ONCE
NAILED OVER WITH CARPET, ECHO
AGAIN FROM EACH VISITORS'
FOOTSTEPS;
CARVINGS, ONCE PAINTED AND
PAPERED OVER,
SMILE BACK AGAIN AS IF TO
APPROVE;
AND THE SYNCHRONIZED
CLOCKS ARE BACK ON TIME.
OFFERS TO BUY THE CHANDELIERS
OUT OF THE MARIE ANTOINETTE
ROOM ARE TURNED DOWN.
THEY WILL STAY IN THE
DAVENPORT SO THAT SOMEDAY
COUPLES MAY DANCE
BENEATH THEM ONCE AGAIN.
SPEEDY SPOKANE!
CROWDS GATHER AT THE DEER PARK
DRAG STRIP TO SEE CARS RACE BY
AT MORE THAN
100-MILES-PER-HOUR.
THE FAIRGROUNDS, TOO, ATTRACT
RACE FANS TO THIS HIGH-OCTANE
EXCITEMENT.
THOSE TOO YOUNG TO DRIVE CAN
STILL ENJOY THE SENSATION OF
SPEED WHILE COMING DOWN
THE NEW SLIDE AT SHADLE
CENTER-IT'S 165 FEET LONG.
AND THAT'S THE WAY IT WAS.
WE WERE DRUG STORE COWBOYS.
WE'D GO IN THERE AND WE'D PAY
5-CENTS FOR A COKE, 1O-CENTS
FOR A MILK-SHAKE, 15-CENTS FOR
MALT, AND ABOUT 20-CENTS FOR A
BANANA SPLIT.
BUT WE HAD DRINKS, LIKE CARL
PEARSON, HE USED TO HAVE A
DRINK WE CALLED
THE PEARS-A-SLIME.
HE'D HAVE PHOSPHATE,
COKE, AND OTHER THINGS.
WE HAD ANOTHER CALLED A MUD
SLING, WHICH WOULD HAVE COKE
AND CHOCOLATE
AND I DON'T KNOW.
WE'D HAVE DIFFERENT
KIND OF DRINKS.
PERHAPS OUR FONDEST MEMORIES
OF HOW THINGS USED TO BE IN
SPOKANE ARE THE PERSONAL
SNAPSHOTS WE HOLD OF OUR OWN
LIVES.
THEY MAY NOT MEAN MUCH TO
OTHER FOLKS, BUT THEY SURE
MEAN A LOT TO US.
SIMPLE THINGS, LIKE A VISIT
TO THE LOCAL SODA FOUNTAIN.
THE FERN IS A
POPULAR ONE DOWNTOWN.
IN BROWN'S ADDITION
THE ELK DRUG STORE.
ON THE WAY TO NAT PARK,
IT'S DOYLE'S ICE CREAM.
DOYLE'S WAS THE SPOT.
IT WAS GREAT ICE CREAM.
AND THE THING I REMEMBER MOST
WAS THE GRAVEYARD, WHICH WAS A
DRINK THAT THEY HAD ALL THE
FLAVORS ... IT WAS THE WORKS
YOU KNOW, THE COLA, AND THE
ROOT BEER AND THE CHERRY, AND
THIS AND THAT AND THEN
FILL IT WITH SODA WATER.
AND THE GRAVEYARD
WAS JUST THE BEST.
SO YOU'D GET A BIG GRAVEYARD
FOR 10--CENTS, AND 10-CENTS
WORTH OF PENNY CANDY AND YOU
WERE READY TO GO.
FAMILY TIMES ARE SPECIAL TOO.
SUNDAY DRIVES AND PICNICS
BY THE LAKE ARE COMMON WAYS
SPOKANE FAMILIES SPEND TIME
TOGETHER IN THE 1920S, AS THEY
WILL LIKELY BE IN THE
2-THOUSAND-20S, WHEN TODAY'S
CHILDREN WILL BE PARENTS.
ANOTHER WAY MANY FAMILIES
ENJOY TIME TOGETHER IS SUNDAY
DINNER, WHICH USUALLY MEANS
DRESSING UP AND SITTING AT THE
BIG TABLE.
IT'S HARD TO KEEP A WHITE
SHIRT OR BLOUSE CLEAN WHEN
YOU'RE A KID BUT IF YOU'RE A
KID, YOU DON'T REALLY HAVE TO
YOU KNOW, WHAT WE CALL
DRESSING UP, TODAY, IS NORMAL
DRESS YEARS AGO.
WOMEN USUALLY WEAR...
A HAT. MEN WORE SUITS.
THEY DIDN'T GO OUT IN JACKETS
LIKE THEY DO NOW, AND JEANS,
AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
THEY'D GO DOWNTOWN.
IF YOU WENT DOWNTOWN,
YOU WORE NICE CLOTHES.
MY MOTHER, WHENEVER WE WOULD
GO DOWNTOWN WE'D HAVE TO WEAR
A DRESS OR
SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
OF COURSE, WE DIDN'T DRESS IN
PANTS THAT MUCH ANYWAY THEN IT
JUST WASN'T THE STYLE.
BUT WE'D PUT ON LITTLE HATS,
AND ESPECIALLY AT CHURCH ON
SUNDAY.
YOU DIDN'T GO JUST, WITH JUST
YOUR CLOTHES THAT YOU'D WEAR
AT HOME.
YOU DRESSED UP WHEN
YOU WENT TO CHURCH.
THAT WAS THE STYLE.
AND EVERYBODY CAME THAT WAY.
A GENERATION OR TWO AGO, BOYS
AND YOUNG MEN OFTEN WEAR PANTS
CALLED KNICKERBOCKERS,
OR KNICKERS.
THEY ARE PANTS THAT YOU TIE
BELOW THE KNEE, AND WEAR OVER
LONG SOCKS.
WEAR KNICKERS TO SCHOOL
TODAY, AND YOU'RE PROBABLY THE
EXCEPTION.
THERE IS A TIME, IN SPOKANE
HOWEVER, WHEN KNICKERS ARE THE
RULE.
AND I GOT SENT HOME OR
EXPELLED WHATEVER YOU WANT TO
CALL IT FOR
WEARING LONG PANTS.
KNICKERS WERE THE THING IN
THOSE DAYS AND I THOUGHT IT'D
BE FUN TO WEAR LONG
PANTS TO SCHOOL.
THAT DOES WHEN THINGS
WERE CHANGING YOU KNOW.
THEY SENT US HOME.
WE HAD TO CHANGE PANTS
BEFORE WE COULD COME BACK.
ABOUT THE TIME KNICKERS ARE
REQUIRED IN THE CLASSROOM, IT
BECOMES POSSIBLE TO PULL
VOICES FROM THE AIR.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THE RADIO
VACUUM TUBE IS ONCE CALLED A
WORTHLESS DEVICE.
NOW, SOME OF OUR MEMORIES
FROM IT ARE PRICELESS.
IN THE EARLY DAYS WE WOULD
SIT AND WATCH THE RADIO.
AND LISTEN TO WHAT WAS COMING
OUT. SOMETIMES YOU WOULD
WONDER IF IT WAS GOING TO STOP.
THERE WAS ONLY ONE RADIO
STATION, BACK THEN, THAT YOU'D
LISTEN TO AS A KID, AND
IT WAS KNEW, CHANNEL 79.
AND I HAD BUILT A CRYSTAL SET
IN BOY SCOUTS, AND SO THAT'S
HOW I FIRST LISTENED
TO THE RADIO.
I SOUND LIKE A REALLY OLD GUY,
BUT I HAD A CRYSTAL SET THAT I
COULD TUNE IN AND HAVE MY
EARPIECE, AND I USED TO KNOW
ALL THE DISC-JOCKEYS AT KNEW,
AND LISTENED TO THEM AT NIGHT
WHEN I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE
SLEEPING, AND LISTENING TO
THEM WHEN I WAS SUPPOSED
TO BE DOING MY HOMEWORK.
(YOU CAN BE A KID AGAIN,
IF ONLY FOR AN AFTERNOON.
STOP IN AT DOYLE'S ICE CREAM,
IT'S RIGHT WHERE IT'S ALWAYS
BEEN, AND ORDER A GRAVEYARD,
NEVER MIND THE WHITE SHIRT AND
KNICKERS,
YOU MIGHT SPILL.
DINING OUT IN SPOKANE
IS ALWAYS AN ADVENTURE.
ORDER BY TELEPHONE FROM YOUR
CAR AT RUTHERFORD'S TRIPLE-X.
OR DRIVE IN TO THE PANDA,
WHERE BURGERS ARE ONLY
19-CENTS EACH, BY THE BAGFUL.
RATHER EAT AT HOME?
STOP IN AT SPOKANE'S FIRST
SUPERMARKET, ROSAUERS RED
AND WHITE STORE.
AND FOR DESSERT, TRY SOME
NEWPORT'S SPECIAL QUALITY ICE
CREAM FRESHLY MADE AT
THE BENEWAH CREAMERY.
YOU CAN'T MISS IT, JUST LOOK
FOR THE GIANT MILK BOTTLE.
AND THAT'S THE WAY IT WAS.
EXCEPT FOR THE BIG FIRE OF
1889, NOTHING HAS CHANGED
SPOKANE MORE THAN EXPO-74.
THE THEME OF THE WORLD'S FAIR,
THAT YEAR, WAS "CELEBRATING
TOMORROW'S FRESH,
NEW ENVIRONMENT."
BUT SPOKANE COULDN'T TELL THE
WORLD TO CLEAN UP ITS ACT,
BEFORE FIRST DOING SOME
CLEANING UP OF ITS OWN.
THE DECADE OF THE SEVENTIES
IS REMEMBERED MOSTLY FOR THREE
THINGS: THE END OF THE VIET
NAM WAR, THE ONLY RESIGNATION
OF A U.S.
PRESIDENT, AND
REALLY BAD CLOTHES.
IF YOU'RE FROM SPOKANE, YOU
ALSO REMEMBER THE SEVENTIES
FOR EXPO-74.
♪ ♪
ANNOUNCER: THE GREAT PACIFIC
NORTHWEST BEGINS RIGHT HERE!
♪ WORLD'S FAIR '74,
SPOKANE WASHINGTON SITE
OF THE WORLD ENVIRONMENTAL
FAIR, CELEBRATING THE BIRTH
OF TOMORROW'S FRESH NEW
ENVIRONMENT.
♪COME SHARE THE WORLD OF
EXCITEMENT - TAKE A RIDE OVER
THE FALLS - SOME MUCH TO SEE AND
TO DO - COME JOIN THE FUN MAGIC
AND MUSIC - A WHOLE NEW WORLD
WAITING FOR YOU...♪
EXPO-74 IS THE EVENT FEW
PEOPLE BELIEVE WILL EVER
HAPPEN, IN A TOWN FEW
PEOPLE KNOW EXISTS.
TO THIS DAY, MANY PEOPLE
WONDER HOW WE EVER PULLED IT
OFF, AS SPOKANE REMAINS THE
SMALLEST CITY EVER TO HOST A
WORLD'S FAIR.
EXPO-74 IS BORN OF AN IDEA
TO CHANGE THE WORST PART OF
SPOKANE INTO THE
BEST PART OF SPOKANE.
FOR THE BETTER PART OF A
CENTURY, EVERYTHING AND
EVERYONE THAT COMES TO OR
LEAVES THIS HUB OF THE INLAND
EMPIRE DOES SO BY TRAIN.
UNION PACIFIC AND GREAT
NORTHERN RAILROAD TRACKS
CRISS-CROSS THE HEART OF
THE CITY, MEETING IN A HUGE
INDUSTRIAL EYESORE
RIGHT DOWNTOWN.
A HANDFUL OF VISIONARIES SEE
BEYOND THE CONCRETE AND STEEL
TO A BEAUTIFUL CENTERPIECE
FOR THE LILAC CITY.
BUT FIRST, THEY HAVE TO GET
RID OF THE CONCRETE AND STEEL.
I REMEMBER THE
OLD UNION STATION.
BOY THAT WAS GORGEOUS.
IT REMINDED ME OF
BIG-CITY STUFF.
YOU WENT IN THE GROUND FLOOR
AND THEN YOU WENT UP TO THE
SECOND FLOOR WHICH
WAS THE WAITING ROOM.
ALL MARBLE FLOORS OR
TERRAZZO I'M NOT SURE WHICH.
THEN YOU WENT OUT THROUGH A
TUNNEL AND UP TO THE TRACKS
WHERE THE TRAINS WERE.
THEY WERE UP ON
THAT ELEVATED THING.
IT WAS TO ME BIG-TIME BOY.
THE UNION STATION FALLS
TO PROGRESS, AS DO OTHER
STRUCTURES ON THE EXPO SITE.
SOME, LIKE CRYSTAL LAUNDRY,
SURRENDER A DECADES-OLD CLAIM
TO THEIR SITE BY
THE RIVER, FOR EXPO.
AN EFFORT TO SAVE OUR STATION
SAVES ONLY THE CLOCK-TOWER OF
THE GREAT NORTHERN DEPOT WHICH
NOW CHIMES ACROSS RIVERFRONT
PARK.
TO ME IT WAS LIKE OPENING UP
A NEW WORLD YOU KNOW, WE COULD
GO DOWN THERE AND IT WAS SO
PEACEFUL AND YOU COULD WALK
AROUND AND YOU COULD SEE
EVERYTHING SEE THINGS THAT YOU
HADN'T SEEN BEFORE.
EXPO WAS WONDERFUL.
I'M SO GLAD THEY LEFT THE PARK
DOWN THERE BECAUSE IT'S STILL
NICE TO GO DOWN THERE
AND WALK AROUND.
♪ ♪
SPOKANE'S FIRST BROADCASTING
STATION IS RADIO K-F-D-Y.
IT SIGNS ON THE AIR IN 1922
BROADCASTING FROM THE DOWNTOWN
SYMONS BLOCK.
IN 1930, THE CALL LETTERS
CHANGE TO K-F-P-Y, AND THE
STATION BROADCASTS SPOKANE'S
FIRST LIVE REMOTE FROM THE
LIBERTY THEATER WITH THE
MELODY BOYS, FEATURING BING
CROSBY.
THE CALL LETTERS CHANGE AGAIN
IN 1943 TO K-X-L-Y, WHICH IS
STILL ON THE AIR TODAY.
AND THAT'S THE WAY IT WAS.
"LIVE FROM TELEVISION CITY
IN HOLLYWOOD"
ANYONE WHO SAYS NO ONE FAMOUS
EVER COMES FROM SPOKANE
DOESN'T KNOW ABOUT THIS MAN.
THROUGH THE THIRTIES, FORTIES
AND FIFTIES, HE IS THE BIGGEST
ENTERTAINER IN THE WORLD.
HIS FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS KNOW
HIM AS HARRY LILLIS CROSBY,
BUT THE WORLD COMES TO
KNOW HIM SIMPLY AS BING.
♪ WELL YOU TAKE SOME SKIN,
JAZZ BIGINS, TAKE A BASS
♪ NOW WE'RE GETTIN SOME PLACE.
♪ TAKE A BOX ONE THAT ROCKS
♪ TAKE A BLUE HORN NEW ORLEANS
BORN.♪
IN HIS HALF-CENTURY AT THE TOP
OF THE ENTERTAINMENT WORLD,
BING CROSBY CROONS ON 16
HUNDRED RECORDS, TALKS ON
4-THOUSAND RADIO SHOWS, STARS
IN 100-MOVIES AND APPEARS ON 3
-HUNDRED TELEVISION PROGRAMS.
NOT BAD FOR A SPOKANE KID
WHO DROPS OUT OF GONZAGA LAW
SCHOOL BECAUSE
HE'D RATHER SING.
♪ WHILE I GIVE TO YOU AND YOU
GIVE TO ME
♪ TRUE LOVE, TRUE LOVE.
♪ AND ON AND ON IT WILL
ALWAYS BE, TRUE LOVE
♪ TRUE LOVE
"YOU'LL DO..."
IN THE ERA OF "LIVE" SHOWS,
CROSBY FAVORS RECORDING HIS.
HE EXPERIMENTS WITH MICROPHONE
PLACEMENT, AND INVESTS IN THE
NEW TECHNOLOGY
OF MAGNETIC TAPE.
THAT AUDIO AND VIDEO RECORDING
EXIST TODAY, SUCH AS THE ONE
YOU'RE WATCHING NOW, WE CAN
THANK THE PIONEERING SPIRIT OF
BING CROSBY.
♪ SEEMS TO ME THERE'S EASIER
WAYS TO GET A LAUGH,
♪ WE'RE OFF ON THE ROAD TO
MOROCCO
IN 1957, BING GATHERS A FEW
OF HIS FRIENDS FOR ONE OF HIS
MANY T-V SPECIALS.
THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY SIGNS
UP AS SPONSOR TO SELL ITS
NEWEST CAR.
" THIS IS THE EDSEL, UNLIKE
ANY OTHER CAR YOU'VE EVER
SEEN. SEE, DRIVE AND BE SURE
TO PRICE THE NEW MEMBER OF
FORD FINE CARS, THE EDSEL
AT YOUR EDSEL DEALER.
CROSBY NAMES GONZAGA
UNIVERSITY AS PRODUCER OF THE
EDSEL SHOW, AND ARRANGES FOR
ALL PROCEEDS FROM IT TO GO TO
HIS ALMA MATER.
THE EDSEL SHOW MAY NOT SELL
MANY EDSELS, BUT IT BRINGS IN
ENOUGH MONEY FOR THE
UNIVERSITY TO BUILD THE CROSBY
LIBRARY, NOW THE
CROSBY STUDENT CENTER.
INSIDE, YOU CAN FIND THE
LARGEST DISPLAY OF CROSBYANA
IN THE WORLD, INCLUDING THE
FIRST ACADEMY AWARD TO BE
GIVEN TO A POPULAR SINGER FOR
BEST ACTOR ... BING'S 1944
OSCAR FOR "GOING MY WAY."
IN 1994, THE U-S POSTAL
SERVICE ISSUES A SERIES OF
STAMPS TO HONOR
AMERICAN SINGERS.
ONE OF THEM BEARS
THE IMAGE OF BING.
THIS OLD CROONER IS THE ONLY
KID FROM SPOKANE EVER TO BE
HONORED ON A POSTAGE STARMP.
BING'S FACE ISN'T JUST
APPEARING ON STAMPS THESE
DAYS.
HOP ON THE INTERNET, SEARCH
FOR THE KEYWORDS BING AND
CROSBY, AND THE OLD CROONER
SMILES BACK AT YOU FROM SITES
AROUND THE WORLD.
THE MAN WITH, PERHAPS, THE
GREATEST IMPACT ON MASS MEDIA
IN THE 20-TH CENTURY COULD
NEVER HAVE IMAGINED THIS.
THE CROSBY FAMILY HOME, FROM
WHICH BING USED TO WALK TO
SCHOOL, STILL STANDS NEAR THE
GONZAGA UNIVERSITY CAMPUS.
IT IS NOW GONZAGA'S
ALUMNI HOUSE.
BRIDGING THE MIGHTY SPOKANE
VEHICLES PASS OVER THE
TURBULENT WATERS OF THE MIGHTY
SPOKANE RIVER AT MONROE STREET
FOR MORE THAN
1-HUNDRED YEARS...
THE MONROE STREET STEEL BRIDGE
IS OPENED TO STREET CAR AND
HORSE CAR TRAFFIC IN 1892.
THE BRIDGE SOON PROVES
INADEQUATE TO SERVE A GROWING
CITY.
FAMED ARCHITECT KIRTLAND
CUTTER DESIGNS A MODERN
CONCRETE BRIDGE WHICH IS
DEDICATED ACROSS THE RIVER AT
MONROE STREET IN 1911
AS THOUSANDS LOOK ON.
THE BRIDGE DECK IS COVERED
WITH WOODEN PLANKS FOR YEARS.
TODAY, WE CROSS THE MONROE
STREET BRIDGE WHILE DRIVING
SMOOTHLY ACROSS ASPHALT.
AND THAT'S THE WAY IT WAS.
TELEVISION CAME TO
SPOKANE IN 1953.
EARLY TV CAMERAS WERE CRUDE
BACK THEN.
THEY DIDN'T HAVE ZOOM LENSES,
SO FOR A CLOSE-UP, YOU EITHER
SWITCHED TO A BIGGER LENS, OR
PUSHED THE CAMERA IN CLOSER.
DOZENS OF SPOKANE KIDS
REMEMBER LOOKING INTO THIS
CAMERA ON A PROGRAM
CALLED "STARLIT STAIRWAY."
"BOYLE FUEL COMPANY PRESENTS
STARLIT STAIRWAY."
STARLIT STAIRWAY FIRST
FLICKERS INTO SPOKANE HOMES IN
1953.
FOR 20 YEARS, IT IS A SATURDAY
EVENING HABIT FOR DOZENS OF
FAMILIES ACROSS THE
INLAND NORTHWEST.
THE TELEVISED TALENT SHOW
MAKES STARS OF MANY CHILDREN,
BUT NONE ARE MORE FAMOUS THAN
THE SYLTE TWINS WHO ARE STILL
REMEMBERED TODAY FOR SINGING
THE SPONSOR'S JINGLE.
♪ WHEN YOU NEED COAL
OR OIL, CALL BOYLE.
FAIRFAX 8-1521.
♪
ED CLARK: ♪ WHEN YOU NEED COAL
OR OIL CALL BOYLE
FAIRFAX 8 1521.
ED CLARK REMEMBERS GROWING
UP DURING THE GOLDEN YEARS OF
SPOKANE TELEVISION, WHEN SHOWS
LIKE MR. ENGINEER AND WALLABY
& JACK ARE BIG FAVORITES.
ANOTHER FAVORITE IS A FRIENDLY
SEA CAPTAIN BY THE NAME OF
CAP'N CY.
I THINK THE THING THAT PEOPLE
REMEMBER WHY THEY REMEMBER
CAP'N CYI WAS BECAUSE
IT WAS FOR US.
IT WAS OUR SHOW.
HE TALKED DIRECTLY TO US
AND HE HAD A LOT OF FUN.
AND THE BASIS FOR THE SHOW WAS
POPEYE YOU KNOW SO WE ALL KIND
OF GREW UP WITH POPEYE.
I DON IT KNOW IF WE EVER ATE
THE SPINACH BUT ... CAP'N CY
WAS A GREAT PART OF
SPOKANE FOR US KIDS.
CAP'N CY IS RETIRED AND LIVES
IN UTAH NOW, BUT I THINK WITH
THE RIGHT ADJUSTMENT WE CAN
GET HIM ON THIS OLD SET.
CAP'N CY, ARE YOU THERE?
CAP'N CY?
HI TOM AND AHOY MATEYS!
BEEN A LONG TIME
SINCE I SAID THAT.
IT'S GOOD TO BE
BACK IN SPOKANE.
IT'S NICE TO BE HERE
AND BACK ON TV AGAIN.
IT'S A PLEASURE TO
SEE YOU TOO, CAP'N CY.
I KNOW YOU'VE GOT SOME GOOD
STORIES TO TELL ABOUT THE
SHOW, ESPECIALLY SINCE
YOU DID THEM ALL LIVE.
SHARE ONE WITH US PLEASE.
TOM DO YOU REMEMBER THE PLANK
THAT WE USED TO CALL WALK THE
PLANK? WE BUILT THIS BRIDGE
SO IT WOULD BE EASY FOR THE
CAMERAMAN TO GET GOOD PICTURES
OF THE KIDS BECAUSE THAT WAS
IMPORTANT TO ME. MAKE
SURE EACH OF THE CHILDREN GOT A
GOOD SHOT ON TV
BECAUSE PEOPLE AT HOME COULD
SEE. THAT WAS IMPORTANT TO ME
SO WE BUILT THIS BRIDGE WE
CALLED IT THE PLANK AND THE
KIDS HAD TO WALK OVER THIS PLANK
SO THE CAMERAMAN DIDN'T HAVE
TO JUMP ALL OVER THE PLACE
TRYING TO FIND THEM.
WHEN YOU'RE DOING A SHOW LIKE
THAT YOU ARE LOOKING
FOR UNUSUAL THINGS AND THIS
LITTLE BOY WALKED ACROSS
THIS BRIDGE ONE DAY, AND HE HAD
FIERY RED HAIR, BEAUTIFUL
RED HAIR. AND I SAID WHERE DID
YOU GET THAT RED HAIR, AND
HE SAID, IT CAME WITH A HEAD.
THAT'S THE FIRST TIME I WAS
EVER SPEECHLESS ON TV, BUT HE
LEFT ME SPEECHLESS. NOW YOU
WERE ON THE AIR ON KREM TV FROM
1956 TO 1969,
AND MADE ALOT OF FRIENDS DURING
THOSE YEARS I'M SURE, IS THERE
ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO SAY TO
YOUR FANS HERE IN SPOKANE BEFORE
WE SAY GOOD NIGHT?
OH YES. YEA. I'D LIKE TO TELL
'EM HOW MUCH I LOVE 'EM.
HOW MUCH FUN THEY GAVE
ME FOR 13-YEARS, THE
BEST 13-YEARS OF MY LIFE.
AND I THANK 30-PER DAY FOR
13-YEARS FOR THE
GREAT TIMES THAT
WE HAD TOGETHER, PLUS ALL OF THE
OTHER ONES THAT WE SAW
AT SUPERMARKETS AND THE VARIOUS
FUNCTIONS WE WENT TO.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR 13
WONDERFUL YEARS.
THANK YOU CAP'N CY.
WITH THAT, WE COME TO THE END
OF THIS MEMORY LANE, BUT THE
PATH CONTINUES ON.
THE THINGS YOU DO TODAY
ARE MEMORIES FOR TOMORROW.
MAY THEY BE GOOD ONES.
I'M TOM MCARTHUR.
THANKS FOR BEING
WITH US.
♪ ♪
SPOKANE WAS A BOOM TOWN AT
THE TURN OF THE CENTURY.
MINES, LUMBER MILLS AND
RAILROADS WERE BIG, AND SO
WERE THE MEN WHO OWNED THEM.
IN THOSE HALCYON DAYS
SOME OF SPOKANE'S
BIGGEST HOMES WERE BUILT.
DANIEL CHASE CORBIN BUILT HIS
HOUSE ON SPOKANE'S FASHIONABLE
SEVENTH AVENUE, KNOWN
BACK THEN AS "THE HILL".
CORBIN MADE HIS FORTUNE IN
RAILROADS, AS WAS POINTED OUT
ON CITY STREETS AS SPOKANE'S
RICHEST MAN--THOUGH HIS HOME
WAS NOT PARTICULARLY GRAND.
"THE HOUSE ACTUALLY
WAS QUITE CONSERVATIVE.
I KNOW IT'S LARGE IN OUR
STANDARDS, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT
THE COST OF THE HOUSE--THE
HOUSE ONLY COST ABOUT $17,000
TO BUILD--AUSTIN'S HOUSE,
RECORDS SHOW HIS HOUSE BUILT
AT THE SAME TIME WAS $60,000.
SO THIS HOUSE IS
ACTUALLY MODEST."
THOUGH A MARRIED MAN
WITH A FAMILY, CORBIN
LIVED IN THE HOUSE HIMSELF.
AS A RESULT, CORBIN DECORATED
THE HOUSE TO SUIT HIM,
INCLUDING: HANGING HUNTING
TROPHIES ON THE WALL, AND
PUTTING A BILLIARD
TABLE RIGHT IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE LIVING ROOM.
"HIS WIFE AND FAMILY
LIVED IN EUROPE.
FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND,
SPOKANE AT THAT TIME WAS NOT
THE KIND OF LIFESTYLE THAT HIS
WIFE WANTED TO LIVE, SO SHE
LIVED IN FRANCE WITH THE THREE
CHILDREN, AND HE LIVED HERE
ALONE IN THE HOUSE.
HE BUILT THE HOUSE
REALLY FOR HIMSELF."
MR. CORBIN LOST HIS WIFE
IN 1900; AND MARRIED HIS
HOUSEKEEPER IN 1907.
HE SHARED THE HOUSE WITH
HER UNTIL HE DIED IN 1918.
ANNA CORBIN CONTINUED LIVING
IN THE HOME, CONVERTING IT TO
A BOARDING HOUSE
DURING THE DEPRESSION.
SHE SOLD IT TO THE SPOKANE
PARK BOARD IN 1945, AND LIVED
IN IT UNTIL HER DEATH IN 1950.
WHEN THE CITY AUCTIONED
OFF ALL THE FURNISHINGS AND
CONVERTED THE HOUSE INTO
A PLACE FOR THE ARTS.
BEHIND THESE MODERN WORKS
OF ART ARE CENTURY-OLD
WALLPAPERS, HEATING RADIATORS
AND WOODCARVINGS SLOWLY BEING
BROUGHT BACK TO LIFE.
A HOUSE, WHICH NEVER KNEW
CHILDREN AS THE CORBIN HOME,
WELCOMES THEN BY THE DOZEN NOW
AND THE CORBIN ARTS CENTER.
THE GRANDEST OF ALL SPOKANE
CENTENNIAL HOMES IS THE
PATRICK CLARK HOUSE.
CLARK, AND IRISH IMMIGRANT,
MADE HIS FORTUNE IN MINING,
AND WHEN IT CAME TIME TO
BUILD A HOME IN SPOKANE TOLD
ARCHITECT KIRKLAND CUTTER
TO BUILD HIM THE BEST.
"GO OUT THERE; GET THE BEST
FROM ANYWHERE, AND MAKE SURE
IT'S PROMINENT.
BRING PEOPLE BACK WITH YOU.
BRING MATERIALS BACK WITH
YOU; THINGS THAT ARE UNIQUE.
LET'S BLOW PEOPLE AWAY
WHEN THEY WALK IN MY
MANS... IN MY HOUSE.
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT
HAPPENS AS A RESTAURANT TODAY:
PEOPLE WILL JUST
WALK IN AND WITH AN
'AHHH!' I STILL DO."
THE CLARK HOUSE HAS 26
ROOMS AND WAS ORIGINALLY
HEATED BY 9 FIREPLACES.
THE FRENCH ROOM WAS THE SOCIAL
CENTER OF THE HOME WHERE THE
CLARK'S' HOSTED MANY ELABORATE
WEDDINGS AND RECEPTIONS.
MURALS ON THE CEILING WERE
DONE BY A FRENCH PAINTER.
MANY OF THE ROOM'S FIXTURES
AND ORNAMENTATIONS
ARE GILDED WITH GOLD.
THE LIBRARY, DONE IN ROMAN
STYLE, STILL FEATURES THE
ORIGINAL BLUE VELVET
TAPESTRIES WHICH SOAKED-UP
CONVERSATIONS OF MINING STOCK
AND CARRIAGE HORSES AROUND THE
TURN OF THE CENTURY.
THE DINING ROOM, IN EGYPTIAN
STYLE, FEATURES LAVISH USE OF
SELF-OILING GOPHER WOOD.
27 HAND-CARVED MONKS' HEADS
CONTINUE TO WATCH OVER
GUESTS--AS THEY DID WHEN
THE CLARK'S' AND THEIR SIX
CHILDREN DINED HERE
A HUNDRED YEARS AGO.
CLARK DIED IN 1915 AND HIS
WIFE, MARY, CONTINUED LIVING
IN THE HOUSE UNTIL
IT WAS SOLD IN 1926.
THE HOME SERVED A VARIETY OF
PURPOSES AFTER THAT, UNTIL
EVENTUALLY IT WAS
CONSIDERED AN EYESORE.
ONE DAY A DEMOLITION CREW
SHOWED UP TO TEAR IT DOWN.
"THE STORY GOES THAT THE
WRECKING BALL WAS RIGHT
OUTSIDE, AND A
GENTLEMAN STOPPED THEM.
WHEN HE CAME INSIDE HE STOPPED
THE WRECKING CREW, CAME INSIDE
AND ALL THE FURNISHINGS
WERE STILL HERE.
THE GRANDFATHER CLOCK
BEHIND US WAS LAYING ON
IT'S BACK ON THE STAIRS.
THERE WAS NOTHING MUCH
TOUCHED; IT WAS ALL HERE.
IT WAS JUST GOING TO
BE WRECKED WITH
THE REST OF THE HOUSE.
SOME OF THESE FURNISHINGS
WOULD BE WORTH. THOUSANDS.
" THE CLOCK HAS BEEN RETURNED
TO WHERE THE CLARK'S FIRST
PLACED IT 100 YEARS AGO,
AND THE HOUSE CONVERTED TO A
RESTAURANT IN 1982.
THE CATALPA TREES, WHICH WERE
PLANTED FROM SEEDS WHEN THE
HOUSE NOW TOWER
OVER THE MANSION AS
THOUGH GUARDING A FRIEND.
WHEN PRESIDENT BUSH VISITED
SPOKANE IN 1989, THEN HOUSE
SPEAKER TOM FOLEY WANTED
TO TAKE HIM TO THE FINEST
RESTAURANT IN TOWN.
THEY CAME TO PATSY CLARK'S.
THE AMASA CAMPBELL HOUSE
IN BROWN'S ADDITION IS THE
CLOSEST OF ALL SPOKANE'S
CENTENNIAL HOMES TO WHAT IT
WAS 100 YEARS AGO.
MR. CAMPBELL MADE HIS FORTUNE
IN MINING, DESCRIBED AS
BLUSTERY, BIG AND POMPOUS.
HE STOOD IN CONTRAST TO HIS
WIFE GRACE, WHO IS SAID TO
HAVE WORN A GREAT
DEAL OF POWDER.
THEY WERE STRICT WITH THEIR
ONLY DAUGHTER HELEN, BUT MADE
HER WALK TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD
PUBLIC SCHOOL, DESPITE FOR
BEING FAMOUS FOR
HAVING THE FINEST
CARRIAGE HORSES IN SPOKANE.
"I THINK WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THE
CAMPBELL FAMILY IS THAT THEY
DO REPRESENT THE KIND OF SELF
MADE MAN, SOMEONE WHO WAS
LUCKY ENOUGH TO MAKE QUITE
A FORTUNE OUT OF HIS MINING
BUSINESS, BUT NOT THE
KIND OF PERSON YOU
HEAR ABOUT EVERY DAY.
AND SO IN A WAY HE BECOMES
KIND OF A REPRESENTATIVE
CHARACTER, KIND OF A
REPRESENTATIVE FAMILY THAT WE
CAN USE TO SPEAK MORE
BROADLY ABOUT THE
COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE."
MR. CAMPBELL SPENT MUCH OF HIS
TIME ATTENDING TO BUSINESS SO
MRS. CAMPBELL WAS IN CHARGE OF
THE HOUSE AND STAFF DECIDING
MEALS AND ASSIGNING TASKS.
THURSDAY WAS CALLING DAY
IN BROWN'S ADDITION, AND
MRS. CAMPBELL OFTEN WELCOMED
HER LADY FRIENDS TO THIS
RECEPTION ROOM JUST
INSIDE THE DOOR.
WHEN HE WAS HOME,
MR. CAMPBELL BROUGHT
BUSINESS HOME WITH HIM.
"HOUSES WERE BUILT MORE AS
BUSINESS LOCATIONS TOO AND
THIS WAS A PLACE WHERE YOU DID
YOUR ENTERTAINING AND TALKED
ABOUT YOUR LATEST MINE, ALOT
OF THE STOCKS WERE SOLD AMONG
FRIENDS SO IT WAS KIND OF A,
ALWAYS DOING BUSINESS AS WELL
AS A SOCIAL LIFE SO ALOT OF
THAT OCCURRED IN HOUSES RATHER
THAN RESTAURANTS OR WHATEVER
THAT WE THINK OF TODAY."
MOST OF THE FURNISHINGS IN THE
CAMPBELL HOUSE ARE ORIGINAL,
THE CAMPBELL'S KEPT METICULOUS
RECORDS OR WALL PAPER PATTERNS
AND COLORS WHICH HELPED
MODERN CRAFTSMEN RESTORE
THE HOUSE TO ORIGINAL TODAY.
MR. CAMPBELL DIED IN
1912, HIS WIFE IN 1924.
THE HOUSE WAS GIVEN TO THE
PEOPLE OF SPOKANE AND WAS THE
FIRST HOME OF THE CHENEY
COWLES MUSEUM WHICH PRESERVES
THE HOUSE TODAY AS A
LIVING HISTORY EXHIBIT
OPEN TO PUBLIC TOURS.
NOT EVERY OLD HOUSE IS AS
FINE AS THIS BUT EVERY
OLD HOUSE HAS A STORY.
IF YOU OWN AN OLD HOUSE IN
SPOKANE YOU CAN FIND IT'S
STORY AT THE PUBLIC LIBRARY,
BEGINNING WITH THIS BOOKLET TO
START YOU ON YOUR WAY.
"HISTORY, IT'S A PART OF
ALL OF US, IT'S PART OF THE
SEARCHING FOR ROOTS
THAT EVERYBODY HAS.
I THINK THAT IS VERY
IMPORTANT TO EVERYONE,
IT ENRICHES OUR LIVES."
AND SO WE CELEBRATE THE BRICKS
AND MORTAR OF OUR PAST FOR
THEY BUILD AN UNDERSTANDING
OF OUR FUTURE.
HISTORY IS KEPT ALIVE TODAY
IN SPOKANE'S CENTENNIAL HOMES.
♪ IF YOU'D LIKE TO SWING ON A
STAR, CARRY MOON BEAMS HOME IN A
JAR, AND BE BETTER
OFF THAN YOU ARE, OR WOULD YOU
RATHER BE A MULE... ♪
♪ ♪