Each of these companies brought talent, property and technical expertise to the merger. Among the actors who found themselves at the new studio was John Wayne, who was still in the middle of the B-picture part of his career. Mascot had Gene Autry, who was making a name as a singer but was just getting started in movies. And down the road was Roy Rogers, who Yates hoped would draw audiences away from Autry (Yates was sick and tired of battling over contracts and money with Autry).
Rogers ended up not replacing Autry, when it came to fan demand, but Yates wasn’t complaining; he had the two biggest singing cowboys stars in the world.
Read the rest of Henry Cabot Beck's True West magazine article on the 75th anniversary of Republic Pictures.
Several fiery conflagrations struck the western town of Phoenix before the citizens took any measures to create a fire department. Finally, on Aug. 17, 1886, a special bond issue was passed that raised $10,000 to improve the water supply, purchase modern firefighting equipment and form Phoenix Engine Company #1. It was strictly a volunteer fire company with a charter membership of 25 men.
A Knott steam fire engine, a hook and ladder wagon, two hose carts and 1,000 feet of fire hose were purchased for $5,000. Prior to delivery of the new equipment in the spring of 1887, other volunteer companies were organized. On Feb. 12, 1887, the Aztec Hook and Ladder Company No. 1 was formed. There was also a Pioneer Hose Company No. 1 and a mostly Hispanic group that became known as Yucatec Hose Company No. 2.
Bitter rivalry between the different volunteer companies led Frank Czarnowski to unite the companies and, on April 13, 1888, he became the first chief of the Phoenix Volunteer Fire Department.
Click here to read the rest of a brief history of the Phoenix Fire Department.
Phoenix was incorporated as a city on February 25, 1881. Law enforcement was handled by Phoenix city marshals and later by Phoenix police officers.
Henry Garfias, the first city marshal, was elected by residents in 1881 in the first elections of the newly incorporated city. For six years, he served as the primary law enforcement officer.
In the early 1900's, the Phoenix Police Department used Old Nelly, the horse, to pull the patrol wagon for officers. Most patrolling, however, was done on foot. The city at this time was only 3.1 square miles with a population of 11,134 people.
