This photo is labeled “the #1 Accident Intersection” for good reason. With 12th Avenue thrown into the mix, it took patience and all your wits about you to get through unscathed. The fondly remembered but long-gone Tik-Tok Drive-in is at left. This view is to the southwest down SE Sandy. Here’s a different view of the same intersection almost 20 years earlier.
(City of Portland Archives)
June 19, 2012 at 6:26 am
Advertisers knew a captive audience when they saw one, what with all the billboards.
Heading west on Burnside and hitting the light meant you were going to be sitting there quite a while.
The new configuration is quite circuitous and takes a bit of getting used to, but at least you’re not spending a lot of time waiting for your signal.
June 19, 2012 at 6:36 am
I go through this intersection twice a day every work day and very often on weekends. Most times I’m on a bus, but sometimes I’m walking, which makes these vintage photos even more fun. I adore seeing the vintage photos taken there. Thanks!
June 19, 2012 at 6:42 am
It’s not exactly the same but it’s pretty close. http://binged.it/PjQYrh
Here’s the Google version: http://goo.gl/maps/8Pqf
June 19, 2012 at 6:45 am
You know what’s fun? To Google Vintage Portland Burnside Sandy, then you get links to all of the images put on the Web site related to this intersection. I’ve got my entire iMac screen covered up with fun! Thanks, Vintage Portland!
June 19, 2012 at 7:21 am
In the Fall of 1958, ALL new car models came out in Sept. or Oct., the Chev Dealers Assn. of Portland mounted a full sized brand-new 1958 Chevy Convertible on the billboard at the Westbound Y intersection. During the day and weekend nights there was a live model , probably in a Jantzen swimsuit !!, who sat & stood in the convertible and waved at the passing traffic . Directly across Sandy from the Tik-Tok was Scotties Drive-In, ” Home of the Fabulous 49′er ” , the 49′er consisted of a hamburger ( 19 cents), milk shake
(15 cents ) & french fries ( 15 cents ) . Scotties had a live broadcasting booth where records could be requested from Dick Novak who was on nightly; I think he was originally on KPOJ ( ” The Voice of Portland, Oregon Journal ” ) . Shortly after Scotties opened, the same owners opened ” Bonnie’s Burgers ” in N.W. close to N.W. 19th & Lovejoy area. Great memories !!!
June 19, 2012 at 8:09 am
Maybe the waving models in swim suits, had something to do with the accidents?
June 19, 2012 at 8:18 am
cant see the waving models in swim suits were an advertisement for Jantzens Knittring Mills which was in that area. Also t he Tic-Tok was there in 1949 and 50. They also had great burgers
June 19, 2012 at 8:40 am
Oh, the Tik Tok…what great memories…and Scotties too! I DO remember the live models…elbow, elbow, wrist, wrist! Lot’s of horn honkin’ too…
Terrific photo…thanks!
June 19, 2012 at 8:41 am
Also in the picture, and which I’d forgotten until I saw this, is the car wash behind Scotties, on the Couch St. side of the block.
Scotties’ business experienced a spike around 3:30 PM each weekday when we Benson Techmen got out of school. Those little packets of fries were pretty tasty while waiting for the bus.
June 19, 2012 at 9:18 am
For a long time one of those billboards read, “It never rains at Lloyd Center!”
June 19, 2012 at 7:34 pm
I remember this intersection fondly. My father owned Ross Advertising, which was the promoter behind Scotties when it first opened. Wow! 19 cent hamburgers. And Tik Tok was my favorite — right behind Yaw’s! Does anybody remember Mundon’s (sp) for hamburgers just off Sandy?
June 19, 2012 at 7:35 pm
Regarding the Lloyd Center billboards, do I recall a “Parking for 10,000 Sleighs” board around Christmas time?
June 20, 2012 at 7:08 am
The expansion of the Tic-Toc in the 20 years between the two photos is interesting. In the later photo it nearly surrounds the neighboring house. I remember it well. During the war years my grandparents lived just to the east of the Tic-Toc. I believe it was still functioning in the early 60s when I lived in Portland. Didn’t it anchor one leg of a 3-part teen auto procession on weekend nights, the other two turns being around Yaws (oh those burgers!) and the Speck?
June 20, 2012 at 2:46 pm
I think that the Speck and Yaws were bigger draws for the teens in the early to mid 1960′s. I think that the Tik-Tok was either open much later or even open 24 hours on the weekends.
June 25, 2012 at 5:32 pm
Anyone recall the big painted of billboard of Col Sanders, at 122nd and Glisan, on top of the Speck?
With the moving eyes.