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Westward Ho (Phoenix)
Encyclopedia
Westward Ho is a skyscraper
located at 618 North Central Avenue in Phoenix, Arizona
, formerly occupied by a hotel
of the same name. When completed in 1928, the 208-foot (63 m) hotel was the tallest building in Arizona
, a title it held until 1960.
The Westward Ho was one of the city's premier luxury hotels until it closed in 1979. In 1981, the sixteen-story building was converted to housing for senior citizens, and the building was thoroughly remodeled between 2003 and 2004 at a cost of over $8 million USD.
Contrary to popular belief, the Westward Ho does not appear in the opening sequence of Alfred Hitchcock
's film Psycho
. In the original, the camera zooms in on the downtown Hotel Jefferson, which still stands, although in modified form. In the Gus Van Sant
1998 remake of Psycho
, the camera zooms into a window on the 8th floor of the Westward Ho. But when Marion Crane (Anne Heche
) leaves the room, the number on the door is 514.
Westward Ho currently supports a large radio transmitter antenna
, mounted asymmetrically, which reaches a height more than twice that of the building itself. The antenna was used by KPHO-TV
from its 1949 sign-on until 1960, when channel 5 moved its transmitter to South Mountain
.
Skyscraper
A skyscraper is a tall, continuously habitable building of many stories, often designed for office and commercial use. There is no official definition or height above which a building may be classified as a skyscraper...
located at 618 North Central Avenue in Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, formerly occupied by a hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
of the same name. When completed in 1928, the 208-foot (63 m) hotel was the tallest building in Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, a title it held until 1960.
The Westward Ho was one of the city's premier luxury hotels until it closed in 1979. In 1981, the sixteen-story building was converted to housing for senior citizens, and the building was thoroughly remodeled between 2003 and 2004 at a cost of over $8 million USD.
Contrary to popular belief, the Westward Ho does not appear in the opening sequence of Alfred Hitchcock
Alfred Hitchcock
Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, KBE was a British film director and producer. He pioneered many techniques in the suspense and psychological thriller genres. After a successful career in British cinema in both silent films and early talkies, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood...
's film Psycho
Psycho (1960 film)
Psycho is a 1960 American suspense/psychological horror film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Janet Leigh and Anthony Perkins. The film is based on the screenplay by Joseph Stefano, who adapted it from the 1959 novel of the same name by Robert Bloch...
. In the original, the camera zooms in on the downtown Hotel Jefferson, which still stands, although in modified form. In the Gus Van Sant
Gus Van Sant
Gus Green Van Sant, Jr. is an American director, screenwriter, painter, photographer, musician, and author. He is a two time nominee of the Academy Award for Best Director for his 1997 film Good Will Hunting and his 2008 film Milk, both of which were also nominated for Best Picture, and won the...
1998 remake of Psycho
Psycho (1998 film)
Psycho is a 1998 American horror film produced and directed by Gus Van Sant for Universal Pictures, a remake of the 1960 film directed by Alfred Hitchcock...
, the camera zooms into a window on the 8th floor of the Westward Ho. But when Marion Crane (Anne Heche
Anne Heche
Anne Celeste Heche is an American actress, director, and screenwriter. She started her career on the daytime soap opera Another World, for which she won a Daytime Emmy Award in 1991. Heche gradually landed supporting roles in feature films, and in 1997 appeared in I Know What You Did Last Summer,...
) leaves the room, the number on the door is 514.
Westward Ho currently supports a large radio transmitter antenna
Antenna (radio)
An antenna is an electrical device which converts electric currents into radio waves, and vice versa. It is usually used with a radio transmitter or radio receiver...
, mounted asymmetrically, which reaches a height more than twice that of the building itself. The antenna was used by KPHO-TV
KPHO-TV
KPHO-TV, channel 5, is a CBS-affiliate television station located in Phoenix, Arizona, USA. KPHO-TV is owned by the Meredith Corporation, and has its studios located on Black Canyon Highway in the Alhambra Village section of Phoenix, with its transmitter located on South Mountain in Phoenix...
from its 1949 sign-on until 1960, when channel 5 moved its transmitter to South Mountain
South Mountains (Arizona)
The South Mountains , known locally as simply South Mountain, is a mountain range in central Arizona in south Phoenix, Arizona. It is on public land managed by the city of Phoenix as South Mountain Park...
.
External links
- Emporis.com
- site with frame-by-frame analysis of Phoenix Psycho locations
- Multimedia website on the Westward Ho compiled by graduate students at Arizona State University's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism.