Vol. 1, No. 4 SUN CITY, ARIZONA February, 1961

NEW UNIT'S OPENING DRAWS 40,000

CROWDING onto the outdoor patio visitors were enter­tained by a vaudeville-type show during the opening. Hit song of the show was the Sun City singing jingle, for 2,500 recorded copies were passed out as souvenirs.

PICKING A LOT was easy for many of the visitors during the opening day festivities as they viewed the scale model of the community which is on display in the center of the sales office.

More than 40,000 eager visitors jammed the opening of the second section of Sun City Jan­uary 29th, to view the all-new recreation center and the six new model homes.

A program of vaudeville entertainment from 2 to 4 p.m. was held out on the Greek amphitheater in the warm Arizona sunshine. But the chief at­traction was the opening of a section of nearly 2,000 new single family dwellings and 400 co­operative apartments, representing $25 mill ion in new investment.

The c rowd admired the new 800-seat auditor­ium in the Town Hal l , with a full stage and dressing rooms, as well as the completely equipped individ­ual arts and crafts hobby shops. In addition to the soothing strains of recorded music played over the indoor-outdoor speaking system, came the de­lightful peal of the world famous Carillon bells every half hour.

The visitors overflowed to the spacious poolside patio to bask in the sunshine, or viewed with in­terest the scale model of Sun City in the center of the Sales Office. By the end of the day they had exhausted the supply of 2,500 copies of the Sun City singing jingle.

Reactions were varied as people from all points of the compass came to see "just what Sun City was all about." One man observed after a complete tour of the community center and model homes:

"I've thought a lot about retirement and up t i l l now I hated the idea. Now I 'm looking forward to i t . "

"Wi th the poor year economically everywhere else, the growth of Sun City this past year is amaz­ing," said another.

"You certainly aren't buying a 'pig in a poke', pointed out one visitor. "It's all there for you to see, not just a lot of promises."

Th e r e is one promise you can't see, as any "oldtime" Sun Citian wi l l tell you. The promise of new. interesting friendships with people who are rapidly making the saying "The friendliest town in America" a byword for Sun City.

Page 2 SUN CITY SUN DIAL February, 1961

3rd Largest in State

Women's Club Serves Community One of the fastest growing organizations in the

State of Arizona is the Sun City Women's Club, whose membership has swelled to more than one hundred in less than five months.

This puts them in third place, topped only by clubs in the state's two principal cities, Phoenix and Tucson.

The dynamic organization, sparked by Mrs. Effie Whiting as president, has accomplished a great deal in a short space of time.

Service has been a major part of the work these women have taken up as they conducted the United Fund and March of Dimes drives for Sun City.

They also provide a group of volunteers regu­larly at the Child Care Center in nearby El Mirage. Children of migratory farm workers are given care when their parents are working in the fields, en­abling older brothers and sisters to go to school.

The club has conducted drives for food, cloth­ing and other articles for the less fortunate in the area. They provide layettes at a nearby hospital and to the county health nurse for mothers who are unable to afford clothing and other necessities for newborn children.

Mrs. Whiting was instrumental in starting a reading program for people who are blind or have poor vision, getting volunteers to read from books, magazines and newspapers to bring the outside world closer to these people.

On the cultural side plans are progressing for a fine arts display in the community center, where exhibits of works of art in painting, mosaics, ce­ramics and sewing wil l be shown.

A play written by members of the group wi l l also be on the agenda for a future meeting.

Future plans also call for enlisting volunteer nurses from Sun City to work with the county mobile health unit which offers a free clinic for farm workers and their families.

THE MOSTES' ON THE BALL are these Sun City residents who volunteered to act as Hostesses during the opening day showing of the model homes. From the left front Mmes. Lue Leisy, Mae Baynes, Garnette O'Bryant and Ruby Merrell; top row, Mmes. Kay Burlingham, Marge Turnbuli, Verona Goetze and Lois LInegar.

THE FIRST FRUIT grown from "scratch" in Sun City is admired by the proud owners, Mr. and Mrs. John Zilien, 12231 Augusta Drive, just before it was harvested and consumed by the neighbors who had gathered to cele­brate the occasion.

Ceremony Greets First Home Grown Citrus in Sun City

The first citrus grown from "scratch" in Sun City was harvested St. Valentine's Day in a "formal cutting ceremony" attended by members of the Augusta Drive Fruitgrowers and Packers Associa­tion, in the front yard of Mr . and Mrs. John Zilien.

The group, actually all just good friends of the Ziliens, who were also celebrating their 36th wed­ding anniversary, looked on with approval as the smooth, full-sized grapefruit was plucked from its place of honor, leaving the five-foot citrus tree barren until next season.

Zilien explained the tree was humorously called the "Mystery Tree" because the group of fun-lov­ing neighbors tied bananas, avocadoes, oranges, lemons and other assorted fruits to the tree when it first began to bloom.

"Strangers couldn't believe their eyes when they saw the tree," recalls Zilien. " I n fact one lady driv­ing by, stopped, got out of her car, inspected the tree, and was very disappointed when she saw it was all a gag."

The grapefruit — it was pink — found an ap­propriate final resting place. It was very tasty.

r L

February, 1961 SUN CITY SUN DIAL Page 3

Sun City Church Groups Growing With Community

Groundbreaking for the United Church of Sun City is expected to take place within the next few weeks, according to Rev. Walter W. Wit t , minister, who is former pastor of the Church of the Lighted Window in La Canada, Calif.

Located on 107th Avenue and Sun City Boule­vard, eventually the building wil l include a hall, chapel, office, study and parlor. A fund raising drive of Sun City residents has already reached $36,000. Rev. Wit t stated the remaining funds wil l be loaned by the Board of Missions of the Con­gregational Christian Church.

Other religious organizations have announced plans for future use of sites, offered by the Del E. Webb Development Co. in Sun City, for groups to administer to the spiritual needs of the community.

Reverend Albert B. Schwertz, announced the formal opening in the new Town Hal l , February 26, of services under the aegis of the Shepherd of the Desert Lutheran Church, which wil l eventually be permanently located at 111th and Montana. In at­tendance were Dr. H . Paul Romeis of Los Angeles and Dr. Merle Franke of Chicago, both dignitaries of the Lutheran Church.

Rev. Schwertz, former pastor of the First Eng­lish Lutheran Church in Los Angeles, said a charter members roll wi l l be opened shortly after Easter and the permanent formal organization wi l l take place on Apr i l 30th.

A third group, the Catholics, have obtained a site from the Development Co. on 111th near Connecti­cut Avenue. Joseph Riccio, chairman of the steer­ing committee, said that plans for raising funds to build the church are now being formulated by the committee in conjunction with Father Francis Bechtel, rector of the parish.

Meetings of other sectarian groups are being conducted in the community and several prelim­inary discussions with the Webb officials are now underway.

CBS NEWSMAN Carrol Alcott, left, is shown reading over the Sun City color brochure with Dave Lawrence, West Coast representative for the Del E. Webb Development Co. Alcott, who has his own radio show in Los Angeles, was taken on a tour of the whole community. He was so impressed with the idea and the reality of Sun City that he returned to L.A. to devote a whole show to the Webb development.

Progress Noted On Home Construction

Webb crews are working on construction in the following areas as of the end of February.

Foundation work is started on the north side of Hope Drive; lots 1234-1240.

Concrete slab and masonry wall work is begin­ning on the north side of Hope Drive; lots 1240-1251.

Finish carpentry work — on the south side of Connecticut Avenue; lots 602-608.

Ti l ing, electrical, plumbing and painting — on the north side of Connecticut Avenue; lots 555-565.

Final Cleanup and inspection — on the north side of Connecticut Avenue; lots 543-554.

PROPOSED first unit of the United Church Of Sun City is shown in an architectural drawing.

Page 4 SUN CITY SUN DIAL February, 1961

Young Golf Pro Represents Sun City Dave SAarr Signs As Touring Pro

The name of Sun City wi l l be appearing promi­nently in professional golf circles this year as a result of the recent signing of Dave Marr, a 27-year-old Houstonian, as touring golf professional by the Del E. Webb Development Co.

Marr, the top money winner among the 1960 rookies of the professional golf circuit, last year won the Sam Snead Open at Greensboro, N . C. In the 1961 Phoenix Open at the Arizona Country Club, Dave was a close contender all the way, finishing in fifth place with a 7-under-par 273.

Following the Phoenix Open, Dave headed south for another tournament in Tucson, where he fin­ished in a tie for sixth place. But before leaving he paid a visit to Sun City to get first hand knowledge of the community he wi l l represent.

YOUNG DAVE MARR, whose newly acquired status as a "senior cit izen" has resulted from his signing as touring golf professional for Sun City. Marr took fifth spot in the recent Phoenix Open wearing the Sun City colors.

Rehearsals Start On Minstrel Show Rehearsals have begun on Sun City's first major

theatrical effort, a full-fledged Minstrel Show, com­plete with black-faced comedians and ragtime music.

No definite date has been set for the show as yet, according to Tom Austin, activities director, although the cast is shooting for mid-Apri l as a target for the performances.

"This is something that many people have talked about doing for some time," Austin said. " I t should be a terrific show. A l l the talent wi l l be 'home grown' from Sun City ."

From the enthusiastic response of residents to the idea, the show may have to run at least two

performances and po.ssibly a third. It wi l l be given in the 800-seat auditorium of the new Town Hall .

There wil l be a mixed chorus of 20 residents singing medlies of old-time songs, along with solo numbers and quartette singing. Other specialty acts are planned. Jokes are guaranteed to be funny.

Business manager for the show is Fred Mil la rd who wi l l be handling ticket sales and advertising. Part of the proceeds from the show wil l be given to a needy family in Peoria or El Mirage.

The Sun City "Merry Makers," that unique ag­gregate of hometown musicians, wi l l give a special concert between the acts.

PUBIISHED BY THE DEI E. WEBB DEVEIOPMENT CO.. P.O. BOX SSS, SUN CITY, ARIZ.

EDITOR GEORGE leCUYER

EDITORIAL ADVISORS T. E. BREEN T. G. AUSTIN J. P. Mc lA IN

B L K RT U. S. POSTAGE

P A I D Sun City, Ar iz . Permit No. 5 5 7

FORM 3547 REQUESTED