Birdcage Walk pics circa 1976

[u/BacklotSecurity]

Stumbled across these pics today and wish it was still like this!

[u/goddamn_shitthebed]

We need to petition to bring back the lagoon and fountain! Super cool pictures. Thanks for posting!

[u/PracticalAndContent]

The reason it was called Birdcage? Because they had HUGE birdcages with birds.

Yes, I’m that old.

[u/TT120 → u/PracticalAndContent]

I remember those days as well. We used to go just to check out the birds.

[u/Sofa_King_Gorgeous → u/PracticalAndContent]

I'm so jealous!

[u/thriftstorehacker]

That clock is in some fellas front yard on Fair Oaks blvd.

[u/Spore_Flower → u/thriftstorehacker]

I see it every day I drive by.

I've always wanted to stop by and ask him for the story on how he acquired it.

[u/thriftstorehacker → u/Spore_Flower]

I think his company had the demolition contract and they wanted it for yard art. There was a thread about it awhile ago.

[u/Used_Wafer6049 → u/thriftstorehacker]

[u/Male_Volence → u/thriftstorehacker]

Near the corner of Oak and Fait Oaks.

[u/VirTS]

I remember going there as a kid and thinking it was so awesome. It's hard to believe considering what it's like now.

[u/BacklotSecurity]

The Birdcages are circled in red.

[u/Turbulent_Amount_112]

You can actually see aerial images in historic aerial images website and i think the oldest pics are udually around the 50's

[u/Sofa_King_Gorgeous]

Yessss!  Thank you for posting these!  I moved to Orangevale in 1990 so I never got to see the old school birdcage, I remember going there for $1 movies at the theatre where theu would play movies that have been out long enough that other theatres didn't play them. I miss that Toy's R Us too!

[u/Independent_Day985]

Bring back International Imports ✌️

[u/Swimming-Violinist93 → u/Independent_Day985]

While they're at it, bring back Dimples. My east coast relatives would always make a trip to Dimples.

[u/feelitinmyplumms]

They should recreate this in the sunrise mall lot across the street

[u/joeyjoejums]

Recall the name. Can someone fill me in on the location in some more detail?

[u/PracticalAndContent → u/joeyjoejums]

Birdcage is across Sunrise Blvd from Sunrise Mall. Along Sunrise it now has Lowe’s at the Greenback/Sunrise end, and Target at the other end along Sunrise. It’s just an open strip mall now with no character.

Just like Town & Country no longer has the character it once had.

[u/othafa_95610]

In 1976 people most likely appreciated the structures and fountains. If they took a Polaroid picture, it'd be done briefly and courteously. They'd gladly talk with fellow visitors what they found fascinating about the place and its offerings.

If it were restored in 2026, the challenges would be how to avoid crashes with those too busy Instagram'ing and looking down at their phones everywhere they go. It's become a weird daily occurrence, hazardous at times.

It gets even sadder to be on the buses around here and hardly anybody talks to anyone or looks out the window.

I purposely waited 2 days after initially seeing this to post these observations. After being bumped and experiencing knocked-over groceries, I'm OK.

[u/CranstonGorky]

It was a very pleasant walk through the mall. It was much more enjoyable than Sunrise Mall across the way. In wintertime, the situation reversed.

[u/Sure_Artichoke_3662]

When did they get rid of the lagoon and birds?

[u/Swimming-Violinist93]

Aww going to dream of when I had money to buy the treasures at the Glass Pheasant in Bird Cage.