Rich Ecke, feature writer for the Great Falls Tribune and David from the Greaterfalls page on Flickr have become legends on this website. They have provided pictures of not only an original Sandy's building but also pictures of the only known original first generation Sandy's sign still known to exist!
This incredible sign is THE original sign from Sandy's #14 which was Sandy's Great Falls Montana location! Most likely opened in 1960, Sandy's Great Falls was located at 1111 Central Ave.
When 90% of all Sandy's sold out to Hardees in 1973, Great Falls Sandy's became a legend in and of itself. It bucked the trend and remained Sandy's. By 1979 it had changed to another name and today it remains a classic drive-in now known as Zandy's! (Folks, it doesn't get much better than this!).
In David's picture, you can see the mighty Sandy's sign with the classic blinker lights still functioning in the cursive Zandy's writing near the top of the sign. The only part of this section that is not original is the letter "Z". Sadly, little Miss Sandy is now missing at the top, no longer twirling in circles beconing the hungry to stop by for a Hi-Lo burger. Thankfully, the original post remains and she could easily be restored!!!
Also missing is the classic neon trim which surrounded the giant triangle which forms the main section of the sign. The "thrift and swift" section of the triangle has been replaced with a readerboard which in this picture is announcing the arrival of the Red Horse troops as they returned home from Iraq.
The pole appears to be in excellent shape for its age and has a new paint layer replacing the original Sandy's scheme and the classic neon Hamburgers part of the sign is still going strong now some 46 years after Sandy's brought incredible food to the Great Falls area.
Rich Ecke, feature writer for the Great Falls Tribune, has provided pictures not only of the sign but of the building as well. THIS IS the original Sandy's #14 building! How incredible that it even exists much less as a fast food drive-in some four decades later!
Notice the proud original Sandy's sign attached to the roof, now reading "Zandy's" which is the centerpiece of the building. This is THE original sign, the only one known to exist and it is still operating! Absolutely unbelievable. Even the hamburgers-shakes section still remains and is blazing neon!
Also shown are the Sandy's roof fins which now barely make their appearance. The original Sandy's buildings were first built as walk-up locations where one would park their car and then walk up to the window to order fast-food. In the winter, a winter-cover was developed by Sandy's which was a glass enclosure so patrons could at least stand out of the elements while they were ordering. Eventually Sandy's Drive-Ins became enclosed with indoor seating and as a result the classic trademark roof fins along with the icon wood beams which held them up disappeared as well. By the time the late 1960's arrived, a new style called the third generation building was being built to maintain the integrity of the design. An example of this new building can be seen on the Hays, Kansas Sandy's page. The state of the building as we see here includes added white siding, squared off walls and a few windows as well.
Sandy's in Great Falls was certainly THE place to hang out at during the 1960's.
Great Falls was not the only Sandy's in the area to remain Sandy's after the 1973 buy-out! Sandy's #7 which was Billings, Montana Sandy's #1, located at 511 Grand Avenue remained Sandy's after 1973. Grand Avenue's twin location Sandy's #174 located at 215 - 24th Street W. in Billings remained Sandy's as well!
If you have any memorabilia, pictures or stories of Sandy's in Great Falls, Montana or elsewhere, please email me!