The 1950s
During 1950-51 the chapter paid the dues of all its members who were in the armed forces. The chapter had also sent recordings of quartets to members who were overseas in World War II.

On January 24, 1951 the Buffalo Bills, 1950 International Quartet Champion, were in Phoenix; they participated in a special banquet and afterglow as part of the International Board Mid-Winter Meeting (years later expanded to become the Mid-Winter Convention).

The Promissory Notes from Tucson appeared on the Phoenix annual show Saturday, February 24, 1951 with Burt Mustin (Later to achieve acting fame) singing lead. Burt also lead the community sing.

The Phoenix Saguaro Chapter of SPEBSQSA was incorporated in the State of Arizona as a non-profit corporation on December 10, 1951; the charter is still in good standing with the Arizona Corporation Commission. The Articles were printed in the Phoenix Gazette of February 8, 1952.

On Friday, December 14, 1951 the chapter had an "Artery Party," an evening of barbershop entertainment; admission was one pint of blood per seat, donated to U. S. Armed Forces in Korea. In all, 1,651 pints of blood were donated. Art Baker, veteran host of "You Asked For It" and long-time member of the Pasadena, California Chapter was the Emcee. This same show was repeated in 1953 and quartets and members from California came to the show by the bus load. Over 5,900 pints of blood were donated in 1953.

In 1952 the Far Western District Regional contest was held in Phoenix. The annual show proceeds of 1953--$1,500--were donated by the chapter to the Arizona Boys Ranch building fund.

1953: The Birth of Phoenician Contest Tradition.

With an active chorus, Phoenix competed in the first Far Western District contest for both quartets and choruses held in Pasadena November 14, 1953. The other choruses were San Diego and Eden, California. Phoenix was last.

The Far Western District held a Mid-Winter Meeting in Phoenix February 5, 1955. One of the quartets that sang was from El Paso; a man named Lou Laurel sang baritone; the quartet was The Desertaires who also sang on the Phoenix 1956 annual show.

Phoenix hosted the 1956 Far Western District Convention and chorus and quartet contests. The Yavapai County Chapter in Prescott, Arizona was sponsored by Phoenix; they also collaborated with the Riverside, California Chapter to promote a chapter in Indio.

Phoenix again entered into FWD competition in 1956. As The Phoenician editor put it:

The Phoenix gang paraded into the Green Hotel clad in pajamas and carrying paper bags of Arizona fresh air which were placed in the hotel and every restaurant within blocks of the hotel. Believe me, they knew Phoenix was there.
This time Phoenix finished third in the contest; but only two other choruses were entered.

In 1957 two quartets from Phoenix--The Desert Knights and the Devilaires--finished one, two in FWD competition, the first time that two quartets from the same chapter had taken the top two positions. Third was a new group named the Evans Quartet who later won the international in 1960.

One fall day in 1958 Sigmund Spaeth was in town for a meeting. The Desert Knights knew how much he liked barbershop singing, so they arranged to attend the meeting (which had nothing to do with barbershopping). He was pleasantly surprised.

The theme for the annual show's February 27-28, 1959 performance was "Moustache and Derby Days." Arizona Governor Paul Fannin proclaimed the two days "Arizona Harmony Days," but what is most remembered was the stage setting. As was written in a local newspaper:

The opening number by the Phoenix Saguaro chorus brought a spontaneous 'Oh!' from a surprised audience. A stage-wide sheet of music, covered with round, black notes suddenly emitted musical sound. The notes literally popped out of the massive musical score. They were black derby hats. Under them were the faces of the chorus.
The title of the article was "Barbershop Harmony Delights Phoenicians."

Composer and arranger Floyd Connett visited the chapter on Monday, October 12, 1959. He gave the members and about 200 guests a discourse on and demonstration of barbershop craft.

1959: A New Identity Emerges

Later that month, the chorus appeared barefooted in the FWD competition held in Oakland, California on October 24. As the chapter couldn't afford shoes, the had to find a costume which didn't require them. They chose green, white, and red calypso outfits with straw hats; the pants were cut off below the knees. The called themselves the "Salt River Beachcombers," taking the name from the (usually) dry river bed which "flows" through Phoenix. This time the chorus came in a close second to the Berkeley Californians, who went on to become the 1960 second place international chorus.

1959: Membership Reaches New Heights

The Phoenix Saguaro Chapter became the second "Century Chapter" (over 100 members) in the Far Western District in 1959, following San Gabriel in 1955. For the fiscal year ending March 31, 1960, the Phoenix Saguaro Chapter was named Far Western District Honor Chapter.