A Look Back June 1961
By Wally Peel
No Progress in Test Ban Treaty
British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan told the British House of Commons that he was deeply discouraged by the lack of progress at the test ban treaty talks in Geneva.
He said he believed that Britain and the United States would continue to refrain from nuclear tests as long as negotiations continued. He expressed disappointment that the talks, which began in October of 1958, were presently deadlocked.
Macmillan said he opposed the Soviet plan that would have nuclear test ban talks lumped into upcoming talks on general disarmament. He felt the test ban issue would get lost in such a proposal.
The Prime Minister suggested that any blame for failure of nuclear negations could not be placed at the doorstep of Western powers.
A Misunderstanding
Hopes of gaining the release of Bay of Pigs prisoners seemed unlikely when the Tractors For Freedom Committee announced it was disbanding and would return unopened letters from donors. They said Castro’s revised demand for $28 million worth of American tractors could only be interpreted as one that was intended to destroy any possibility of an agreement.
The following Letter to the Editor appeared on the front page of the Wenatchee Daily World…
“Dear Sir,
I am one of the many Columbia Basin farmers who needs a tractor. If I could catch a Cuban and trade for one it would sure help.
Where is the best place to look for one? What rules do you go by?
If you could talk them down, I will take my wife and we can get enough for my neighbors too.”
It seemed the Royal City farmer didn’t understand the Tractors For Freedom concept, but it was more likely that he wrote it in jest.
Canyon Ferry Fire
The entire west shore of Canyon Ferry was threatened as a 1,500acre fire continued to burn.
The fire was classified as a major blaze, and a force of 2,000 National Guardsmen here for training was alerted for possible fire duty.
The blaze was sweeping across the Spokane bench where scores of summer homes were being threatened.
Two Forest Service planes from Missoula had already dropped over 4,000 gallons of bentonite.
The fire was burning in mostly inaccessible timber with just a few roads leading into the area. Containment efforts were being done with the use of six bulldozers, with more on the way.
While no Guardsmen had yet been assigned to the fire lines at Canyon Ferry, quite a number of them were on duty, battling a blaze in the Limestone Hills near Townsend. That fire was thought to be of their own making, as a series of small fires were reported to have been started by phosphorus shells from Guard howitzers being fired at the firing range.
Billowing clouds of smoke from both fires were visible here in the capital city.
Soldiers’ Home Investigation
When the VFW called for an investigation of the Montana Soldiers Home, a second request came from Commandant Orville Wesley Lane, who told the Associated Press “We have nothing to hide”.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars adopted a resolution acknowledging complaints that were made against the Columbia Falls institution.
The resolution claimed that economic and financial hardship had been suffered by those ousted from the home by the policy of disciplinary furloughs for infraction of rules and regulations.
There were complaints about the type, quantity and quality of the food served to residents, claiming it was inferior to that served to the 20 person staff.
Other complaints included opposition to the 10pm curfew, and a lack of transportation to and from church services.
In a telephone interview, Commandant Lane said he learned of the VFW investigation demand when he returned from a meeting in Butte, and immediately called upon the Board of Managers for an investigation.
Among the letters of complaint, one stated “the commander does not like veterans in any respect, and if you are sick for very long, you must get out. Another said when it was headed by Clark Grady of Great Falls it was like a real home, but the change of leadership made it more like a prison.
In response Lane said “I have a few people who have been upset, and that’s to be expected. They are old, a little childish, and easily swayed.”
Goodbye “Coop”
It was Wednesday night June 28th. We watched and waited, but the stars didn’t come out.
Helena was hosting the World Premiere of Gary Cooper’s last movie, “The Naked Edge”. While there was a lot of activity in front of the Marlow Theatre, the scene lacked the Hollywood fanfare one might expect to see on such an important night.
Locals, and Gary Cooper fans from all parts of Montana turned out, but no “movie stars” were in attendance.
Marlow Manager Gene Brown was master of ceremonies for the short program presented before the film. Acting Governor Tim Babcock read the official gubernatorial proclamation, naming the day Gary Cooper Day in Montana. The original proclamation would be sent to Mrs. Charles Cooper, mother of the actor, who, due to illness was unable to attend.
The song “My Montana Memories” written by Helena musician Alfred “Pee Wee” Weber was dedicated to Cooper. It was performed at the Premiere by Howard Craig and the Last Chance Serenaders, a group consisting of Weber and his wife Betty and Cecil and Earl J. Tucker Jr. (See the lyrics on next page.)
“The Naked Edge” was classified as a thriller. Some compared it to Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho”. It was the story of an American businessman in England who was suspected of framing a co-worker for murder. United Artists pledged movie goers to secrecy so that the thrilling end would not be revealed. Marlow Manager Brown went one step further, installing a flashing red light at the box office. It was turned on during the final 12 minutes of the show to keep new ticket holders from walking in on the ending.
All proceeds from the event went to the American Cancer Society to help fight the disease that claimed Gary Cooper’s life.
While at the time some were disappointed that no stars came out that night, looking back it now seems fitting that we were able to say goodbye to one of our own in a dignified manner, without the Hollywood distraction.
My Montana Memories Written by Alfred “ Pee Wee” Weber
He was sitting on a curb in Hollywood one day
This lean, lanky cowboy, with not much to say
He traced little patterns in the ground with a stick
While he told me his story, he was lonely and sick
I’m wealthy he said, but what good does it do
The doctors told me my days here are few
I long to go back where I lived as a boy
I look back on those days with fondness and joy
He paused and brushed his eye as a tear welled up
I said cowboy, you’re homesick
He smiled and said Yup
When the golden sun is sinking in the west
That’s the time of day that I enjoy the best
As I watch the setting sun
I recall them one by one
My Montana Memories
Ore the plains and rolling mountains I adore
Pioneers and vigilantes ride once more
And I get a kind of yen
To be riding with these men
In My Montana Memories
When my spirit starts to saggin’
I can see a covered wagon
Winding through the prairie night
And my spirits start to risin’
When I look at the horizon
There’s a brand new trail in sight
So I guess that I’ll be travelin’ pretty soon
To another land a way beyond the moon
But until I make that ride
I will treasure deep inside
My Montana Memories
When my spirit starts to saggin’
I can see a covered wagon
Winding through the prairie night
And my spirits start to risin’
When I look at the horizon
There’s a brand new trail in sight
So I guess that I’ll be travelin’ pretty soon
To another land a way beyond the moon
But until I make that ride
I will treasure deep inside
My Montana Memories
My Montana Memories
Added Attraction
A Rodeo Queen Contest was one of the feature events of the 1st Annual Lewis and Clark Rodeo, later to be officially named the Last Chance Stampede.
Entrants were to be unmarried, and between 17 and 24 years of age. They would be judged on appearance, horsemanship and personality.
The first Queen Contest had fifteen young ladies vying for the title.
Contestants were Carol Pickering, Sharon Pilgeram, Judy Buswell, Kitty Quigley, Charlotte Mason, Gloria Hermanson, Sonja Syness, Mary Ann Daley, Pam Budke, Abbie Fredrickson, Sharon Stewart, Carol Fritz, Janet Sasek, Gail Corrigan and Jan Fabich.
Kitty Quigley captured the crown and went on to become runner-up in the Miss Rodeo Montana competition.
Note: The familiar logo for the Last Chance Stampede was created by artist Irvin “Shorty” Shope in 1964. It has since been updated to include “& Fair”.
Gibson and Galloway Girls Cause Confusion
While the Rodeo Queen Contest judges were concentrating on the areas of appearance, personality and horsemanship, the judges of the District 5 Dairy Princess Competition were faced with a perplexing problem.
The appearance category in that contest was causing a great deal of confusion.
Four young ladies were competing for the title. They had a lot in common. Two had the last name Gibson. Two had the last name Galloway.
Judges had to select a winner from two sets of twins.
The Gibson Twins, Carolyn and Marilyn, were 1961 Graduates of Helena Senior High. Each belonged to the Girl’s 4-H Club and Girl’s Athletic Association.
The Galloway twins, Jan and Lenore, were also 1961 graduates of Helena Senior High. They too were involved in 4-H and belonged to the Girls Athletic Association.
Emerging victorious was Marilyn Gibson. Marilyn was a one year member of the National Honor Society, Quill and Scroll, and Russian Club. She had won many awards as a 4-H member. Her musical talent was playing the flute, and her hobbies included sports, reading and sewing.
She would represent District 5 in the Montana Dairy Princess competition in Great Falls.
Miss Gibson was among the special guests introduced at World Premiere of Gary Cooper’s last movie at the Marlow Theater.
Poppity Pop Pop Pop
Passengers on board a Northwest Airline DC 6 experienced a bit of excitement when their commercial flight landed at the Helena Airport.
As the four engine craft touched down, all four tires of the landing gear blew out. The plane managed to stay on the runway. Of the forty on board, no one was injured.
Locking brakes were determined to be the cause of the blowout.
The flight originated in Seattle, and made a scheduled stop in Helena on its way to New York.
Northwest brought another plane in so the passengers could continue their journey.
Poor Tinkerbell
It may be the place where Dreams Come True, but one of her performances was more like a nightmare for poor little Tinkerbell.
As part of the show at Disneyland, Tinkerbell would glide across the park on a high wire just before the nightly fireworks display. It was a part of Walt Disney’s “Magic”.
One late July night, the admiring crowd got to see how it was done.
As Tinkerbell began her nightly flight, a pulley on her special harness got jammed. The world’s favorite fairy was left dangling in the air some 60 feet above the crowd. It took rescuers half an hour to get a rope up to her, and pull her to safety.
In the air she was known as Tinkerbell. On the ground, her co-workers knew her as Tiny Kline.
Tiny Kline, the original Tinkerbell, stood 4 foot 10 and weighed just 98 pounds. A former circus aerialist, when Tiny played the part of Tinkerbell she was 71 years old.
Here at the Station………
“ABC’s Wide World of Sports” covered the National AAU Track and Field Championships from Randall’s Island, New York. On the program were two Olympic champions Otis Davis and Al Oerter, and Olympic Gold medal winners Harold Connolly and Parry O’Brien.
For those not into Track and Field, our competitor CBS offered the “Summer Sports Spectacular”, featuring some wild and wooly Australian sheep shearing competition.
An outlaw robbed a bank, and then ran away with the sheriff’s daughter on “Bonanza”.
On “The Deputy”, much hated Jason Getty learned he had been poisoned and had 48 hours to live. He set out to find and kill his accuser before he died.
Several old time silver miners turned to Paladin for help when their treasured oil paintings of a beautiful woman mysteriously disappeared. Richard Boone starred on “Have Gun Will Travel”.
On “Gunsmoke”, Marshall Matt Dillon faced public criticism when he refused to jail a friend who admitted he had committed a murder.
Babs and Bill Horton invited a famous magazine scribe on an authentic Indian pack trip. They hired Hawkeye as their guide and wound up lost on “Guestward Ho”.
The Top Twenty gave their final performance, recalling high points of the past five years on the “Tennessee Ernie Ford Show”.
A less than honest civic group asked Grandpa to join them in what turned out to be a shady real estate deal on “The Real McCoys”.
On “The Untouchables”, an illicit bootlegger was having his whiskey made in hundreds of home stills by honest but frightened immigrants.
That's
At the last nine days in June 50 years ago.
The Price of Freedom - $24,000
Still holding 1,167 invaders captured during the Bay of Pigs invasion, Fidel Castro surprisingly upped the ante for their release.
It was obvious that our government could not give in to such demands. A private group known as the Tractors for Freedom Committee had been formed. The group, headed by Eleanor Roosevelt, was trying to raise $2.5million for the purchase of 500 construction tractors. The tractors would then be exchanged for the prisoners.
Castro agreed with the American negotiating teams offer to supply small farming tractors in place of the larger models. Pointing out that the larger tractors bore a $28 million price tag, the Cuban leader demanded the same dollar value in the smaller units. That meant he was asking for about $24,000 for each captive.
The Tractors for Freedom Committee was expected to reject Castro’s offer, which would in effect plow under the hopes of gaining release of the prisoners.
Natural Disaster
Acting Governor Tim Babcock called upon Secretary of Agriculture Orville Freeman to declare four eastern Montana counties a disaster area.
The four counties, Custer, Dawson, Richland and Wibaux had all suffered great losses due to drought caused by large hordes of grasshoppers.
Babcock termed the grasshopper plague the worst since the 1930’s, and said action needed to be taken quickly if the crops and pasture land in the stricken areas were to be saved.
Montana’s Agriculture Secretary Edward Wren expressed alarm at how rapidly the grasshoppers were growing, pointing out the bigger they get, the more they eat.
Secretary Freeman asked if Eastern Montana farmers could pay for spray work to eliminate the hoppers. Babcock responded with a telegram, notifying the Secretary that the state had no funding to assist the farmers and ranchers in combating the infestation. He respectfully requested that all aid possible be given to the four counties, advising Freeman that other counties might need to be included later.
Large portions of eastern Montana faced complete crop devastation, but hopefully federal help was on the way.
Minuteman Moving Right Along
Work was progressing nicely on the 1,700 square mile Minuteman Missile Complex in Central Montana,
About a thousand workers were on the job, with 500 more to be hired before long.
Colonel Arthur Lahlum, engineer in charge, gave a progress report to the Great Falls Rotary Club. He said thus far 97 of the 151 installations had been started.
With a slide show presentation, he showed the various phases in construction of a silo, starting with a 12 foot deep excavation, followed by a smaller excavation that went down another 20 feet. The final step was to then drill a 52 foot shaft for the liner that would eventually house a Minuteman missile. The Colonel also described a new technique that would allow workers to do the blasting for the shaft in one shot, rather than with a series of blasts.
Colonel Lahlum said that the project was the most necessary one in the world from a standpoint of American defense, and that every day of delay brought a smile to the face of Khrushchev.
Former Private Now Commander In Chief
Governor Donald G. Nutter paid an unofficial visit to Fort William Henry Harrison west of Helena, and got a firsthand look at the activities of the Montana National Guard. He was accompanied by his executive secretary Dennis Gordon, Naval Aid Edgar H. Reeder, and a number of staff officers.
While on post, the Governor was given a tour of the facility, and had dinner with Headquarters and Headquarters Battery of the 154th Artillery Group.
At the time of the visit, many Guard units were still in the field, engaged in training exercises. Nutter was to return to Fort Harrison within the week for the Governor’s Day event, at which time he would officially inspect the troops.
No stranger to the military routine, Governor Nutter was a private in the Montana National Guard in 1933. Twenty-eight years later he was returning as Commander in Chief.
Nutter joined the Army Air Force at the outbreak of World War II as a B-24 Bomber pilot. He flew 62 combat missions, and logged more than 500 hours of combat time.
Helena to Host a World Premiere
The stage was set for the World Premiere of “The Naked Edge”, Gary Cooper’s last movie.
While one might imagine all the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, with its searchlights scanning the sky, and long lines of limos pulling up, delivering star after star to the red carpet, that would probably not be the case this time.
Why Helena?
Gary Cooper was born in Helena, and although it seemed unlikely that the powers that be would even consider holding such a momentous event in our little town, it was worth a try. We were competing with London, England for the honor. That is where “The Naked Edge” was filmed. Thanks to the efforts of Marlow Theatre Manager Gene Brown, the Helena Chamber of Commerce, and Governor Nutter, Helena was chosen.
We didn’t have Hollywood Boulevard and the Walk of Fame. We had Last Chance Gulch. No stars on our sidewalk, but we did have trolley tracks in the street, and a hitching post right outside the bank. (Pretty darned handy if one of those movie stars came to town on horseback.)
Then there was the matter of the limousines. We had plenty of Fords, Chevy’s and Buicks in town, but limos were hard to find. And for that matter, it was difficult to make the turn off Last Chance Gulch onto narrow Edwards Street in anything much longer than a pickup truck.
Helena in many ways seemed far from ideal for holding a World Premiere, but there was one thing for certain. The elegance of our beautiful Marlow Theatre was a most fitting venue.
Advanced tickets went on sale. They were surprisingly affordable. Reserved seats $5.00. All others $2.50. At those prices most everyone could afford to be a part of this World Premiere event.
Helena was a long way from the bright lights of Hollywood. The distance, and perhaps in some cases the fear of being stranded in the “Wild West” might keep some away…but we watched with great anticipation to see if the Stars would come out.
Bill Schaffarzick Day
There was quite a celebration in White Sulphur Springs. Residents there honored one of their own with a special event, “Bill Schaffarzick Day”.
They were honoring a man who had served their community for 50 years.
William Schafferazick was born in Jefferson, Wisconsin in 1888.
A graduate of Illinois College of Pharmacy, Mr. Schafferazick moved to Montana in 1910 and settled in White Sulphur Springs the following year.
He and his brother Charles bought the Scheuber Drug Store, and renamed it the Public Drug Company. Schafferazick was still behind the counter, serving customers.
A very active member of the community, Schafferazick took on the duties of Fire Chief in 1912 and had held that position continuously ever since.
He was a member of the city council for 25 years, and for 12 of those years he was also the Mayor.
Residents of White Sulphur Springs, and well wishers from many other parts of Montana, all turned out to pay tribute to William Schafferazick, a man who had given so much to so many for the past half century.
Making the Best Better
Statistics showed there were 23 4-H Clubs in Lewis and Clark County in 1961.
Of those enrolled, 208 were girls, and 110 were boys. Adult volunteer leaders totaled 65.
Clothing and cooking projects were most popular among the girls, while the boys favored participation in the various livestock categories.
4-H is still going strong today.
According to the Lewis and Clark County website, figures for 2009-2010 showed there were 24 active 4-H Clubs in our area, with 397 young people enrolled. The number of adult leaders increased considerably, now totaling 106.
Last year 279 4-H members provided 1,723 entries at the Fair.
The 4-H program is designed to help youth reach their fullest potential. The name represents the four areas of focus, Head, Heart, Hands and Health.
The 4-H motto is “To make the best better”.
If you would like to learn more about the 4-H program contact the Lewis and Clark County Extension Office.
107 Candles
Jockey Jack Williams was 24 years old, 5 foot 2, weighed 96 pounds, and rode in races in England, France and Australia.
That wouldn’t be unusual except that “Jack” had a secret. Beneath the traditional jockey silks…he was a she. Jack even smoked cigars to further enhance the disguise.
Jack Williams’ real name was Elizabeth Berry.
Born in 1854, Berry came to Helena in the fall of 1913 a few years after her marriage to Dr. J. B. Berry, the veterinarian who cared for the Kessler Brewery horses.
The one time jockey was lovingly known as “Mother Berry”. She owned and trained race horses, and lived near the barns at the Montana State Fairgrounds for many years.
Although she admitted that she never attended school for even one day, her friends claimed she had more “horse sense” than most.
A great woman, and sports figure of international fame, she rode her way into the hearts of all who knew her.
“Mother Berry” in the company of close friends, celebrated her 107th Birthday June 21st, 1961.
Jessel Attacks TV
Testifying before a Federal Communications Commission hearing on the television industry, comedian George Jessel called for an end to daytime television.
He was far from joking when he said he knew children who could recite TV commercials, but didn’t know the Pledge of Allegiance. He said television isn’t really show business, it is instead merely an advertising business.
He continued his anti-television remarks, you guessed it, on Television. During his appearance on Jack Parr, Jessel proposed that TV screens be blanked out during the daytime, and that programming be confined to late night, and the early morning hours.
Here at the Station………
Bentley warned Kelly that she would weave a tangled web if she tried to deceive her friends on “Bachelor Father”.
On “Guestward Ho”, comedian Louis Nye played the role of King Cool, a beatnik who persuades Hawkeye to open a coffee house.
Two former Confederate soldiers joined Cord in a search for a lost shipment of silver on “Gunslinger”.
We took a toe tappin’ trip down Ragtime’s memory lane with the Ol’ Pea Picker and Hoagy Carmichael on the “Tennessee Ernie Ford Show”.
Actress Kathy Nolan returned to television after a long absence. She had fallen from a horse during filming of an episode the previous winter. It was an unforgettable homecoming for Kate on “The Real McCoys”.
Joe E. Lewis, Connie Francis, Al Hirt and Robert Goulet all appeared on the “Ed Sullivan Show”.
Diamond’s love of publicity got him in trouble with his own mob on “The Untouchables”.
On “Naked City”, a once wealthy family was still living high, thanks to their maid who was “borrowing” jewelry from wealthy party guests, pawning it and successfully investing the money in securities.
Tom tangled with some fight fixing mobsters on “Hawaiian Eye”.
On “Candid Camera”, Dorothy Collins drew some hilarious reactions when she posed as a stranded motorist flagging down motorists to help her fix a flat. She would ask the good samaritans to “Try not to make any noise…my husband’s asleep in the back seat”.
That's
At the third week in June 50 years ago.
Laos Talks May Resume
An international conference on Laos was indefinitely postponed after pro-Communist forces violated a cease fire agreement, and captured Padong, a mountain village 20 miles south of rebel headquarters at Xieng Xbouang. The Soviets claimed that U. S. parachute supply drops to Padong’s defenders had provoked the attack.
A possible break in the deadlocked conference came when U. S. Ambassador Averell Harriman delivered a note approved by President Kennedy, to Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei A. Gromyko.
American sources said Gromyko expressed eagerness to resume the talks. They understood that Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev had instructed him to do so.
Khrushchev and Kennedy had agreed on the importance of a cease-fire when they met the previous weekend in Vienna.
Up Up and Away
When President Kennedy emerged from four days of closely guarded seclusion in Palm Beach, Florida, onlookers were a bit surprised to see how the Chief Executive boarded his plane.
He had gone to Florida for rest, and treatment of a back injury he suffered on his recent trip to Canada.
When it was time to return to Washington, Kennedy was lifted aboard his plane by a missile maintenance platform known as a cherry picker. Upon landing at Andrews Air Force Base, the president was “unloaded” using a specially designed elevator attached to a 12 foot forklift. Once on the ground he hobbled on crutches to an awaiting helicopter and flew back to the White House.
It was later learned that a New York Orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Preston Wade, had been secretly flown to Palm Springs to examine the President’s back injury. Dr. Wade sharply revised the treatment that had been prescribed by White House Physician Janet Travell.
Dr. Wade was a former Helena resident. His father, a mining engineer, worked in Helena and Marysville.
Nutter Blasts Kennedy
Montana doesn’t need federal help in solving juvenile delinquency problems. That’s what Governor Donald G. Nutter told delegates of the Governor’s Conference on Children and Youth at their meeting in Helena.
Nutter lashed out at the Kennedy administration program on juvenile delinquency, saying he favored studies on a national level and the exchange of ideas, but he took issue with the idea of the federal government coming into Montana to tell us how to handle our juvenile problems.
The Governor was referring to Kennedy’s proposal of a five year program of federal action to combat juvenile delinquency. The President had issued an executive order establishing a special committee to coordinate federal activities, and seek new ways of fighting juvenile delinquency. On that committee were Secretary of Welfare Abraham Ribicoff, Attorney General Robert F, Kennedy, and Secretary of Labor Arthur Goldberg.
Kennedy proposed legislation that would provide federal grants to any state, local, or nonprofit agency involved in combating juvenile delinquency.
Governor Nutter said the people best qualified to handle the problem were right here in Montana. He added, “You people at this conference know best what should be done for the youth on Montana. I want to see our boys and girls grow up in the traditions of Montana.”
The Governors talk was followed by a discussion of the needs of Montana youth.
The New Pastor - Reverend George Harper
Members of the congregation of St. Paul’s Methodist Church held a farewell reception for the Rev. John W. Bartram and his assistant the Rev. Roger Smith.
While saddened to see Bartram and Smith go, the congregation was looking forward to welcoming their new pastor.
Named to fill the position was the Executive Secretary of the Methodist Board of Education, Montana Conference, 37 year old Rev. George Harper of Great Falls.
A native of Birmingham, Alabama, Harper graduated from Birmingham-Southern College in 1943, and received his Bachelor of Divinity Degree from Garrett Biblical Institute in 1946. He came to the Montana Conference in 1954.
Harper was scheduled to deliver his first sermon at St. Paul’s Methodist Church on July 9th, 1961.
Reverend Harper remained in Helena after his retirement, and was a very active and beloved member of our community. He passed away May 2, 2011 at the age of 87.
Footwear Firestorm
A shoe salesman wrote to Dear Abby saying he was sick of hearing complaints about pointed shoes for women, stating the reason so many were sold must be because women wanted them.
Abby jumped on that with both feet by saying “Don’t tell me what women want. We take what we can get.” She said she was convinced that the sack dress, goofy mile high hair-dos and hideous pointed-toed shoes were designed by men who hate women and want to make them look as ridiculous as possible.
Those remarks flooded her mailbox with over 100,000 responses in less than a week, and more were pouring in. Thousands wrote saying they had corns, bunions and blisters blooming where they had never blossomed before. Only a few said they liked the pointed style.
Abby forwarded the letters to shoe manufacturers asking them to do what they could, when they could to “liberate the captive feet of womanhood”.
Locally, the display window of J. M, McDonalds featured several pairs of shoes in various styles, and a very large sign that read:
Dear Abby:
We’ve got square, oval, tapered, open, broad and pointed toes
J. M. McDonald
Shoe Department
P.S. Why the confusion?
UFO in Our Area
Many residents reported seeing an unidentified flying object in the skies above Helena. Some said it was motionless, while others claimed it was traveling at a high rate of speed.
The Sheriff’s Department, Weather Bureau and Helena Radio stations all received calls from people who had seen it throughout the afternoon and evening.
Undersheriff Reed Collings said he noticed the object over his home in the Valley. He watched it intermittently through high powered binoculars for more than an hour.
Bill Weston was at the Highway Department location on MacDonald Pass. He reported a large object, not unlike a balloon, hovering in the sky between the microwave station and the section house.
At about 10pm resident Bill Vollmer reported that the object was traveling southwest at a high rate of speed. It appeared to have one light burning steadily. He lost track of it after about 5 or 10 minutes.
While many speculated it was a weather balloon, an off duty Weather Bureau employee who had observed the object in the area of Little Prickly Pear Creek near Silver City, said he couldn’t be positive the object was a weather balloon. He said official records gave no indication that such a balloon was to be in our area at that time.
To this day the origin is still unknown. The object remains Unidentified.
She Aced It
Betty Weber became the first woman golfer to ever score a hole in one at the Bill Roberts Golf Course.
The “ace” came on the par three third hole during Sunday competition. Several golfers witnessed the one in a million shot from an adjoining fairway.
Mrs. Weber’s golf partner at the time just happened to be Mrs. Bill Roberts.
Outsourcing
After more than a century of government supervision, the Menominee Tribe in Wisconsin terminated its federal recognition, and went on its own. The action freed them of their dependence on the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
In recognition of the occasion the Menominee Tribe presented Wisconsin Governor Gaylord Nelson with an Indian rug. It was indeed a genuine Indian rug. It was made by the Navajos.
Oh No You Don’t
The owner of a small service station in Casper, Wyoming became quite upset when a cross-country truck driver wrote him a bad check.
With gas a whopping 31 cents a gallon, the man was not about to be left holding the bag. He hopped in his car and drove 900 miles to LeCenter, Minnesota to collect.
He caught the culprit and was able to recover the $50 for the bounced check, and was also awarded an extra $100 to cover expenses of his trip.
G. E. Theatre
The show “G.E. Theatre” was renewed for another season. Hosted by then actor Ronald Reagan, it featured top Hollywood stars in dramatic roles. The show ran from 1954 to 1962. All episodes of “General Electric Theatre”, tapes that most believed had been lost or damaged, were recently found in the General Electric/NBC Universal archives.
They were restored to broadcast quality and delivered to former First Lady Nancy Reagan, as a part of the late President’s 100th birthday celebration.
The tapes are now in use at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California.
Here at the Station………
On “Bachelor Father”, Bentley refused to buy Kelly a new dress, so she did some modeling to earn it.
When Hassie had the wrong idea about how to win election to a high school sorority, Grandpa had to come to her rescue on “The Real McCoys”.
Mike teamed up with a friend of his Dad’s and got a summer job as a Forest Service fire watcher on “My Three Sons”.
On “The Untouchables”, Elliot Ness tangled with Nate Kestor, a mobster prominent in burlesque circles, who had added bootlegging Brandy to his criminal activities.
For the first time in history The International Golf Championships and Canada Cup Matches were televised on ABC’s Wide World of Sports”.
Hoss befriended a former Army scout who had become the town drunk, and target of ridicule for his tall stories on “Bonanza”.
Jack Carter and Mahalia Jackson appeared on the “Ed Sullivan Show”.
Bart took flight with a beautiful girl to avoid a bum robbery and murder charge on “Maverick”.
Dorothy Collins played the part of a service station attendant, and managed to totally confuse her customers on “Candid Camera”.
Danny’s daughter took pity on a hard working mailman and decided to be his helper on “The Danny Thomas Show”.
Dobie and Maynard tried to prevent their former school teacher, Mr. Pomfitt from resigning on “Dobie Gillis”.
That's
At the second week in June 50 years ago.
Kennedy Meets With De Gaulle
President Kennedy and French President Charles De Gaulle completed three days of talks by issuing a communiqué that confirmed agreement on their obligations and responsibilities toward West Berlin.
The statement was issued on the eve of Kennedy’s departure to Vienna for a meeting with Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev.
In a talk to reporters, Kennedy said his discussions with De Gaulle gave him greater confidence than ever in his approach to the Vienna meeting.
He declared that he and the French leader agreed that the Western Power rights in West Berlin should not be modified by force, or the threat of force.
Kennedy also expressed guarded hope that the upcoming conference with Khrushchev would lead to progress in two separate East-West negotiations regarding the future of Laos, and a nuclear weapons test ban that were underway in Geneva.
Record Breaking Hustler Bomber Crashes
A U. S. Air Force B 58 Hustler bomber crashed and burned 10 miles north of Paris just eight days after setting a new transatlantic record.
The plane took off from Carswell Air Force in Texas and flew nonstop to Paris to be a part of an international air show at Le Bourget Air Field.
The aircraft took off with four other planes, made a pass before the officials’ stand, swept past the control tower, flipped over and disappeared.
The plane crashed about 800 yards from the nearest home. Columns of smoke billowed in the air as responders rushed to the scene. There were indications that the bomber might have exploded in flight. One witness reported a terrible sound, like artillery shot before it crashed.
The victims were identified as pilot Major Elmer E. Murphy, navigator Major Eugene F. Moses, and defense system operator First Lieutenant David F. Dickerson. None was among the crew that flew the bomber on its record breaking flight eight days earlier.
Wrong Number
In Memphis, Tennessee a telephone company official was demonstrating the new direct long distance dialing to a civic group.
On his first attempt he accidentally dialed the San Francisco Humane Shelter.
Wrong number.
He attempted three more dialings, and reached three more wrong numbers.
With his “never give up” attitude he decided to try one more time. He dialed the number of the Montreal Weather Bureau. On that call he got the right connection, but the woman giving the forecast spoke in French.
As the saying goes, some days it just doesn’t pay to get out of bed.
Food Stamp Program
The Federal Food Stamp Program for low income persons got underway in Butte.
While known far and wide as the “Richest Hill on Earth”, the Mining City was economically devastated, and had been chosen as one of eight pilot areas for the Federal program.
Federal food scrip, slightly smaller than regular currency, came in coupon books in $2, $3 and $10 values.
The first person in line to get the books of red 25 cent coupons and grey dollar coupons was an unemployed miner.
Another early recipient was a Butte widow who was so elated to be getting her first federal food stamps that she envisioned enjoying a T-bone steak. She settled instead for a more modest rib steak priced at 65 cents a pound.
Purpose of the program, ordered into effect by President Kennedy, was to upgrade the dietary level of low income persons. After a 6 month trial the Agriculture Department would assess the program and decide whether or not it would be continued.
Howard P. Davis, the director of the Federal Food Stamp Program, flew into Butte to witness the first day of scrip distribution.
This “helping hand” arrived in Butte in a timely manner. The distribution of government surplus commodities had just ended in Silver Bow County.
Congress eventually made the program permanent with the Food Stamp Act of 1964.
Two Sides to Federal Aid to Education
A heated debate was taking place on the value of Federal aid to education.
At odds on the issue were Montana Senator Lee Metcalf, and Dr. Gordon L. Doering, chairman of the Helena School Board. The core of the debate was a resolution passed by the Helena School Board rejecting proposals for Federal aid to education.
In a three page letter addressed to Dr. Doering, Metcalf listed a number of complaints against the Helena School System.
He said that Helena was a training ground for teachers who gain some experience and then move on, which meant that the better qualified teachers in the system were lost.
Metcalf claimed that Helena school facilities were inadequate, and that some students had to meet in basements and converted cloakrooms.
Other complaints listed included the fact that there was no public kindergarten, the school grounds were inadequate, one principal was assigned to serve two schools, there was only one school nurse for the entire system, and that no foreign languages were being taught in the elementary schools.
The school Board had drafted a resolution against Federal aid to education. That is what set off the controversy between them and the Senator. Metcalf asked, “If Helena schools do not need the federal money that is allocated under present law, why does Helena accept it? Why are they depriving other Montana schools from applying for and receiving those funds?”
The scathing letter from Senator Metcalf, in which he called the school administration “inept”, drew a lengthy reply from Dr. Doering. In it, Doering made four points.
“First, federal aid to education will ultimately mean federal control of education.
Second, the poorest state in the nation is in a better position to meet their education responsibilities that the federal government with a $290 billion debt.
Third, the need for federal assistance does not exist, despite frenzied efforts of the U.S. Office of Education, the National Education Association and their allied organizations to prove otherwise.
Fourth, the Helena School Board resents the implication that the people of Helena are not providing an adequate school system and education for their children.”
C. R. Anderson, Superintendent of Helena schools, responded to Metcalf’s charges point by point when he spoke at Helena High’s graduation.
Did You Know………
Most of us have at one time or another had occasion to conduct business at the Lewis and Clark County courthouse on Broadway.
The elegance of the Norman-Romanesque architecture, made of Montana grey granite and dark red sandstone, gives a hint of the importance of the structure, and its place in Montana history.
Construction began in 1885 when the Territorial Legislature approved $150,000 to build a courthouse to replace the tiny old courthouse that was located directly north of the new building.
Two years later, County officials moved into the new courthouse,
About the same time, Territorial Governor Preston H. Leslie and Territorial Secretary W. B. Webb staked their claim on new offices in the southeast corner of the first floor.
The Territorial Legislature got a chance to meet in the new building when Governor Leslie called a special session to repeal the “Squirrel Act”, a bounty law on prairie dogs and squirrels. Under the act, the Territory of Montana was paying a bounty of 10 cents on prairie dogs and 5 cents on squirrels. In six months time, bounty hunters had turned in 153,709 prairie dogs and 698,972 squirrels, draining the Territorial bank account of more than $50,000. The act had little effect on the prairie dog and squirrel population, but had a devastating effect on Territorial funds, and had to be repealed.
Formally dedicated on July 5, 1887, our present courthouse served as one of the early Territorial capitols, from 1887 to 1889.
It has the distinction of being our first capitol after Montana was admitted to statehood in 1889. It remained the seat of state government for 13 years, until the present capitol building wad dedicated on July 5, 1902.
At the time of completion the building featured tall clock tower. A 3,000 pound bell rang on the hour and half hour to help residents keep track of the time. The 1935 earthquake forced removal of the tower.
The statue of George Washington near the north entrance of the courthouse was purchased for $250 plus freight. It still greets visitors today.
Next time you visit our courthouse you’ll know that you are walking in the footsteps of the men and women who, so many years ago, blazed the trail in making Montana the great state it is today.
Sports Note
For perhaps the first time in the history of semi-pro baseball in the Treasure State, a scheduled opener was postponed so that one of the pitchers could graduate.
Fans had to wait an extra day to hear the familiar call “Batter Up!”
The game between the Helena Wranglers and East Helena Smelterites was delayed a day in order to allow lefty Ken Leland to finish his high school career. He was one of the 290 seniors in the Helena High Class of 1961. Leland would trade his cap and gown for cleats and a glove the following evening.
Just in case you’re wondering how the game turned out, the slow working southpaw found himself in a pitching duel with right hander Keith Sells. Leland gave up just three hits and struck out 15 on the way to his first win of the season. The Wranglers won it 6-3.
We’re Not Burglars
Missoula police hoped they had solved an attempted bank robbery that had taken place the week before.
A custodian discovered a hole in the wall of Missoula’s First National Bank. Police and FBI agents guarded the bank building for several days, anticipating a robbery attempt.
The matter appeared to be resolved when the bank president received the following unsigned letter of explanation.
“My friend and I want you not to be afraid anymore.” the letter stated. “We are in the fourth grade and were just playing in an old mine hole we found in the parking lot. Please tell the paper man we didn’t make a walk or anything. And the wall fell down when we crawled around it. The other one had a blue flame and we just pulled out two bricks to see what it was. And we are sorry if we scared you or made trouble because we don’t want to be burglars.”
While parts of the letter were confusing, it did explain the hole in the wall. Case closed.
Just Following the Rules
A woman walked into the Internal Revenue Office in Pittsburgh to pay the required withholding taxes for her domestic help.
She stepped up to the counter and plunked down $20, all in quarters.
When the cashier asked why she was paying her bill that way she replied, “I was told I was supposed to pay it quarterly.”
Here at the Station………
Guest star Stephen McNally played the part of a notorious outlaw who sought to regain the love and respect of his only son on “Rawhide”.
A private detective was kidnapped and found himself in the middle of a plot to seize control of a Latin American country on “77 Sunset Strip”.
Grandpa volunteered to pick up Pepino’s wedding tab, but put his foot down when a bunch of freeloaders showed up. Walter Brennan starred on “The Real McCoys”’
Doc Holliday and Wyatt’s brothers abducted Sheriff Behan in an attempt to start a fight for leadership within the Clanton gang on “Wyatt Earp”.
On “Hennesey”, Chick decided to leave the Navy at the end of his tour of duty, but got the cold shoulder from Corpsman Max Bronsky, and Navy Nurse Martha Hale.
Vivian Vance played George Appleby’s mean wife Clara on a hilarious episode of the “Red Skelton Show”.
Sheriff Andy met a sweet talking gentleman crook who found Deputy Barney Fife to be an easy mark on the Andy Griffith Show”.
That's
At the first week in June 50 years ago.
| For a fascinating look at Helena's past visit Kennon Baird's Web Site |
| Helena As She Was |
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This feature is intended to be an entertaining look at our world in years gone by. It is in no way intended to be biased, nor are comments intended to offend anyone. While we encourage viewer comment, we do reserve the right to condense, edit or omit them should we feel such action is necessary.
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