Tempe history: Legend City revisited
Tempe History: Nobody knows more about Legend City and Wallace & Ladmo than John Bueker and Steve Hoza
- More than 400 people attended the opening night of Tempe History Museum's Legend City exhibit
- Hundreds more have attended since Oct. 2
- The museum has invited two experts to share stories at the next Third Thursday at the Museum series
When nearly 400 fans packed the place for the opening night celebration, no one was really surprised. Except maybe a teary-eyed Louis Crandall who came down from Provo, Utah, just for the occasion.
The 86-year-old was astonished by the affection so many had for his dream he thought was mostly forgotten.
The Tempe History Museum’s paean to the long lost Legend City amusement park demonstrated just how many memories it provided during a brief two-decade run.
If you were a youngster between 1963 and 1983, then Legend City was a must. The Arizona-themed park with its exciting rides, stage shows featuring Wallace and Ladmo, provided non-stop entertainment, and employment opportunities for teenagers and college students.
Today nothing remains of Legend City. The site of the once expansive park at 52nd Street and Washington that once transported visitors to another time is now home to Salt River Project.
That’s why so many fans were thrilled to see the plethora of Legend City memorabilia assembled for the Museum’s exhibition.
Since the opening on Oct. 2, hundreds more have flocked to the museum to resurrect memories.
Thirty-three years after the last ride stopped running, the last ice-cream cone was served and the last Ladmo Bag was given away, two people have refused to let Legend City die.
They have dedicated themselves to keeping its memories alive.
John Bueker was only 5 years old when his folks first took him to Legend City after it opened in 1963. Although his recollections of that early visit have mostly faded, his passion for the park has never wavered.
Today Bueker is a production editor at the University of Phoenix. But he spends much of his time accumulating Legend City memorabilia and sharing his discoveries at www.legend-city.com, the website he has maintained since 2001.
Just like Bueker’s obsession for Legend City, you might say Steve Hoza is equally fixated on Wallace & Ladmo, the iconic duo that along with Pat McMahon dominated local children’s TV for more than 35 years and entertained thousands at Legend City.
Like Bueker, Hoza has assembled wallacewatchers.com, a website dedicated to all things Wallace & Ladmo. It’s not just a fan-created site. Hoza has professional credentials.
He has worked in museums for more than three decades. And often lectures about Arizona history.
It’s safe to say that nobody knows more about the two things that had more influence on children’s lives in the '60’s, '70’s and '80’s than Bueker and Hoza.
That’s why the museum has invited the pair to share their stories at the next Third Thursday at the Museum series – Jan. 21 at 7 p.m.
Together the two will share stories, films and memories of Legend City. And if that’s not sufficient incentive, attendees at the free program will have a chance to win the most coveted prize in Arizona history — a Ladmo Bag!
I’ll be there. Will you?
Reach historian Jay Mark at jaymark@twtdbooks.com
Legend City Meets Wallace and Ladmo
Where: Tempe History Museum, 809 E. Southern Ave.
When: Jan. 21, 7 p.m.
Admission is free.
