After toughing it out for five years on the west side, in 1974 Steve Jones decided to move the Cosmic Aeroplane to a small building near 400 South and West Temple …
The Cosmic Aeroplane at 366 South West Temple — Photo courtesy of Steve Jones and his family.
See a larger scan of the full original photograph by clicking on the link below and waiting for the scalable PDF to open:
The Cosmic Aeroplane at 366 South West Temple PDF
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“When we moved there,” he says, “things picked up immediately. There was more traffic since it was more convenient and closer to downtown …”
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Interior photo of Steve Jones and his “Public Piano” at 366 S. West Temple, looking east during the move from 369 W. South Temple — from a damaged B&W print laboriously developed from a contact sheet positive rather than the original negative. (Digital processing by M.Evans)
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Looking Southeast — Note The Hobbit poster on the wall by Rob Brown — Photo courtesy of Steve Jones.
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Bookmark/Card by Rob Brown– From http://bibliophemera.blogspot.com/2010/08/cosmic-aeroplane-bookstore-headshop.html
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Cosmic Lease for 366 S. West Temple, signed by Steve Jones:
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The Cosmic Aeroplane continued to commission artwork for advertising and other items — reaching out to their customers.
Art by Neil Passey — Courtesy of Charley Hafen, Becky Roberts, and Steve Jones.
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“… But space became a problem. It was small and I started to get popular. I mean, twenty people would fill the place up. It would get a little crowded.”
Looking Northwest from across the counter — Photo courtesy of Steve Jones.
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With the sharp upswing in patronage, Jones knew he had tapped into something …
Looking Northeast across the counter — Photo courtesy of Steve Jones.
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Steve Jones said in 1992: “Bruce and I had talked for a couple of years about doing something with the shop if money was somehow available …”
Looking West, at the Traditional Cosmic Pay Phone — Photo courtesy of Steve Jones.
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“We were both agreed that we would expand into books …”
View to the Southwest from near the front door — Photo courtesy of Steve Jones.
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“Music was not part of the formula at first …”
NOTE: John “Smokey” Koelsch joined the staff in 1974, and started managing acquisition and sales of new and used (vinyl) albums, which were a major factor in the Cosmic Aeroplane’s success at the 1st South Location. He later went independent, opening a successful store named “Smokey’s Records” on 15th East and 15th South in 1980.
Southwest view from the cash register — Photo courtesy of Steve Jones.
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“… It was books and the head shop, the psychedelic shop, and definitely the jewelry end of it …”
Cosmic Jewelry, looking North-Northwest — Photo courtesy of Steve Jones
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Many thanks for the contributions from our readers! We are still actively soliciting interior and exterior photos of this location, if you have any memorabilia you wish to share, please contact our blogmeister: mike_evans_exile @yahoo.com
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Cosmic Aeroplane 1960's to 1990's 