A Look Back July 1961
by Wally Peel
The First Last Chance Stampede
Helena’s First Annual Last Chance Stampede went down in the record books as one of the most successful such events ever promoted in the Capital City.
Cowboys and Cowgirls entered the arena at 1:30pm and The Last Chance Stampede was underway.
A crowd of 8,000 turned out for an afternoon filled with saddle bronc and bareback riding, calf roping, bull dogging, bull riding and barrel racing. The fans were kept on the edge of their seats from beginning to end.
Oral Zumwalt was the stock contractor, and he brought us his best including a high kicking sorrel by the name of Trails End. Named 1959’s Bucking Horse of the year, Trails End was recognized as the top saddle bronc of the NFR. He had beaten the best and was here to show us how he got his name. To many, just getting to see Trails End in action was well worth the price of admission.
In addition to some of the best rodeo in the west, the crowd was entertained by the Helena Junior Mounted Patrol, Missoula Sheriff’s Posse and Jay Sisler and his dogs.
Another memorable highlight was the crowning of the first Miss Last Chance Stampede. Competition was close among the fifteen young ladies seeking the title. Winning the coveted crown was Miss Frontier Town, Kitty Ann Quigley. The five foot five inch high school Junior was practically speechless when her name was announced. Sharon Pilgeram was named runner-up.
The other contestants were Pam Budke, Judy Buswell, Gail Corrigan, Mary Ann Daly, Jan Fabich, Abbie Fredrickson, Carol Fritz, Gloria Hermanson, Charlotte Mason, Carol Pickering, Janet Sasek, Sharon Stewart and Sonja Syness.
Fifteen wonderful young ladies…and only one Crown. Yet each and every one was a Queen as they all rode their way into our hearts.
In the arena, Delvin Reich of Zapp, North Dakota and Bud Walen of Havre tied for the bareback title. Aaron Pursley of Big Timber won the saddle bronc event. Top bull rider was Jerry Auster of Ren Heights, South Dakota. Jack Burkholder of San Antonio won the calf roping event, and Sonny Her of Minot, North Dakota took the steer wrestling. Missoula’s Lila Mae Stewart won the girl’s barrel racing title. Delvin Reich was named All Around Cowboy, and Hi Whitlock of Sidney was named Hard Luck Cowboy when a horse named “Cannon Ball” tumbled and rolled over him.
Hats off to co-promoters William Carson and Homer Phillips for their tireless efforts that made the Stampede a huge success.
British Ambassador Sir Harold Caccia and Lady Caccia were the guests of Governor and Mrs. Donald Nutter. Caccia called the Last Chance Stampede “the greatest thing he had ever seen.” The Ambassador, in true British style, got the Stampede off to a rousing start with his words… “Let The Show Begin”.
Here in Helena, we just say “Cut ‘Er Loose”.
JFK’s Peak Readiness Plan
President Kennedy received bipartisan support when he asked Congress for funds to put the U. S. military establishment at “peak readiness” as a response to the Berlin Crisis, and other Communist threats and pressure all around the globe.
In a nationwide address concerning the Berlin Crisis, President Kennedy called for a million man Army, to resist the Soviet aggression in Berlin with force if necessary. He said, “We do not want to fight – but we have fought before. We cannot and will not permit the Communists to drive us out of Berlin, either gradually or by force.”
In preparation for a possible war, Kennedy said he was asking Congress to add $3,454,600,000 to the present defense budget.
In addition to the increased funding, the Commander in Chief indicated there was a possibility of moving more troops to Europe. He said, “I am asking the Congress for authority to order to active duty certain ready reserve units and individual units, and individual reservists, and to extend tours of duty.” He also called for the delay of deactivation of our B-47 Bombers.
In support of the administration’s request for additional military funding, Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara appeared before Congress and told its members “We have not lost sight of the dangerous situation in Southeast Asia, or the possibility of a sudden outbreak of troubles throughout the world.” He further explained, “What we are seeking to achieve, and achieve quickly, is a peak readiness of our military establishment to respond promptly with appropriate force, and in adequate strength to any kind of Communist aggression anywhere in the world.”
He went on to explain details of how the requested funding would be spent.
Even before McNamara testified, there was solid bipartisan support for speedy Congressional action to give Kennedy all the military funds he asked for.
Military Draft
As the President asked for increased military funding, the Defense Department boosted its August draft call to 13,000, an increase of 5,000 over the previous month.
According to Defense Secretary Robert McNamara, the number to be ordered for Army service in September would be 20,000.
In announcing the increased draft call, the Pentagon said the action was consistent with President Kennedy’s program to improve the posture of our armed forces.
State May Form Home Guard
Increased military readiness meant there was a possibility of the Montana National Guard being called to active duty.
State Civil Defense Director Robert A. Keyes said that the idea of having the State form Home Guards to take over National Guard duties in the event of a federal call-up was being considered.
Heads of all state departments attended a meeting at which the latest civil defense plans were outlined.
One significant development reported by Keyes was that Civil Defense was downgrading evacuation measures. He said that in the event of a nuclear attack the warning would be so short that adequate evacuation operations would be almost impossible.
Keyes said Great Falls was considered to be the number one target in the state. He also said that if Helena was wiped out in a nuclear attack, Bozeman would become the provisional seat of state government.
Keyes and other officials explained the objective of the Civil Defense program on the state, county and municipal levels.
Fallout Shelter Survey
Helena was one of 20 cities in the U. S. to take part in a special Fallout Shelter survey.
The purpose was to discover how much protection from radiation was contained in each structure. The survey was designed to determine the most protected spot in each building, and in cases where enough protection was not available, it would locate buildings in nearby areas that could provide the needed shelter for families that did not have sufficient protection in their own homes.
Churches, schools and other public buildings, were thoroughly checked to determine their protection factor, capacity, and the cost of strengthening them.
As a part of a public awareness program, the Helena Jaycees erected a model shelter in the parking lot of a Helena shopping center. Visitors received Civil Defense booklets about shelters, fallout radiation, and other information about reacting to a possible nuclear attack.
The day the shelter was erected, Helena grocery stores included a questionnaire with every order.
Helena area Civil Defense director Edward J. Nottingham urged residents to complete the questionnaires in a timely manner. Information obtained would enable his office to inform residents of the amount of protection their homes would provide.
Successful Minuteman Launch
Pushbutton warfare moved a step closer to becoming a reality when a Minuteman missile blazed about 5,000 miles down the Atlantic range.
The Air Force reported the missile performed well on its 30 minute flight. The sleek, 58 foot rocket left a thick column of white smoke as it lifted smoothly from its pad and pitched quickly toward the southeast. The three solid-fuel stages fired in quick succession, propelling the nose cone to its Atlantic destination.
The first Minuteman, launched in February, flew 4,800 miles and was an amazing success.
Guidance problems plagued the second launching in May. The rocket had to be destroyed during the second stage of its flight.
The Air Force planned to deploy the first operational Minuteman missiles in steel and concrete underground silos at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana in mid 1962. Once in place, the missiles would be manned by remote control.
Refugees Enter West Berlin
A steady stream of refugees escaped the Red-ruled areas of Germany, and arrived in West Berlin.
The 18 points where trains and subways entered West Berlin were packed, and there was an abundance of traffic at the 100 places where people could just walk across the border.
It was expected that well over 5,000 East Germans would flee to West Berlin within a day. Thousands of others would be caught and sent back.
One Farmer explained his reason for crossing. He said farm conditions in East Germany had reached such a catastrophic state that he simply couldn’t hold out any longer. He said there was no food, there were no workers, and there was nothing worth staying for.
Communist police were tightening controls in an effort to stop the escapes. Communist newspapers tried to scare off refugees with stories of how bad things were in the West.
Hijacked Airliner
Eastern Airlines flight 202 left Miami on its way to Tampa when the pilot notified air traffic control that he was changing course and flying to Havana at gunpoint.
On board were 21 paying customers, 12 pass carrying employees, and a crew of five.
A fighter plane was scrambled, and accompanied the airliner to a point three miles from Cuba, the territorial water limit off the Cuban shore. The hijacked airliner landed at Havana’s Jose Marti Airport.
The U. S. government promptly asked the Castro regime to release the plane and its passengers. The request was made through the Swiss Embassy, which represented American interests in Cuba in the absence of U.S.-Cuban ties.
Prime Minister Fidel Castro had no objection to allowing the crew and passengers to be returned promptly, but his government intended to hold the plane unless the United States turned over six Cuban planes that had been seized in Florida to satisfy a legal judgment against the Cuban regime.
The hijacker was later identified as Wilfredo Roman Oquendo, a former member of the Cuban secret police under the regime of ex-President Carlos Prio Socarras. Oquendo was a member of Castro’s “26th of July” movement, commemorating the overthrow of Fulgencio Batista.
As the hijack incident was playing out, New York Police said they were told supporters of Fidel Castro had plans to hijack five commercial planes. The plot, reported to the FBI, called for the placement of two gunmen to take control of those flights, which would then be diverted to Cuba.
Punishment Fits the Crime
Three Helena teenagers managed to let the air out of the tires of 21 cars before they were caught by the Helena Police.
Rather than handing out what would be the usual punishment for such a deed, authorities decided to let the punishment fit the crime.
With the belief that a bit of hard work would be remembered far longer than any other form of punishment, the teens, under Police Department supervision, were put to work refilling all the tires they had emptied the night before. They had to do so using old fashioned hand tire pumps.
The exhausted boys all went home with a common belief… “The air goes out of a tire much easier than it can be put back in.”
Police Chief Don Raw reported the parents of the three youths heartily approved of the punishment.
Here at the Station………
News at Eleven premiered on KBLL-TV. The latest news from the Channel 12 Newsroom weeknights at 11, sponsored by the Union Bank and Trust Company.
Trying to solve a million dollar robbery resulted in death for detective Eddie Seller and placed his brother’s life in danger on “Peter Gunn”.
On “Bat Masterson”, Bat repaid a debt to a man who saved his life.
Agent Eliot Ness became involved in a kidnapping. Robert Stack starred on “The Untouchables”.
Buddy got trapped for two hours in an elevator with a glamorous night club singer on “Bringing Up Buddy”.
Singer Buddy Greco and comedian Charlie Manna were the guests on “The Spike Jones Show”.
On “Alfred Hitchcock Presents”, an alcoholic became involved in a double-cross at the expense of an innocent bystander.
A stolen tape recording of a conversation between a psychiatrist and patient was used for blackmail in “The Case of the Bedeviled Doctor” on “Perry Mason”.
On “Leave It To Beaver”, a neighbor asked Beaver to take her son shopping for a pair of shoes. Beaver promptly lost the boy.
A young Indian helped Paladin solve a town’s problems with some rough cowboys on “Have Gun Will Travel”.
That's
At the last ten days in July 50 years ago.
U2 Flights Reveal Missile Bases
Speaking before the Southern Conference of the VFW, National Commander Ted Connell said reliable sources in Washington informed him that U2 flights over Cuba confirmed speculation that missile bases were being built on that island.
Commander Connell said films taken during the flights were developed in Washington. They showed three missile bases under construction in Cuba, just 90 miles off the southern tip of Florida.
Connell was not at liberty to name his Washington source, but said he considered the source as “being unimpeachable”.
Big Red Ring
The Soviets backed their demand for the withdrawal of Western Armed Forces from West Berlin by surrounding that city.
About 67,500 Soviet and Communist East German troops and 1,200 tanks were forming two military rings with antiaircraft rocket bases around the city. One was 25 miles, and the other 50 miles from the city center. Some of the bases containing Soviet rockets were already completed, and were being manned by East German soldiers.
Soviet forces surrounded West Berlin. They were equipped with heavy T10 and medium T54 tanks, heavy artillery, antiaircraft and antitank guns, and rocket launchers. It was estimated the communists could mobilize a force 1,400,000 men if needed. Western power military resources were less than half that number.
The United States warned Russia of grave dangers in trying to destroy the basic rights of Western powers in Berlin by single handed action. Adding fuel to the fire was the reaction of Great Britain and France, both rejecting the contention that the existing regime in Berlin could be altered without consent of the Western powers.
The warning by the U.S. was coupled with an offer to try to settle the crisis by negotiation, on the principle of self determination for the German people.
This tension in Germany would ultimately lead to the construction of the Berlin wall.
Liberty Bell 7 Takes Grissom into Space
There was plenty of drama when America sent its second man into space. The shot went fine as astronaut Virgil I. “Gus” Grissom literally duplicated history making journey of fellow astronaut Alan B. Shepard.
On board Liberty Bell 7, Grissom rode a Redstone rocket to an altitude of 118 miles, reaching a speed of 5,310 miles per hour as it traveled 303 miles down range.
The 35 year old Air Force Captain was so fascinated by the view, he momentarily forgot the chores he was to perform on the 15 minute flight.
The launch went fine, but the landing did not go according to plan. As the capsule touched down in the Atlantic, a malfunction occurred that caused the hatch to blow, sending Liberty Bell 7 to the bottom of the ocean.
Grissom escaped the sinking capsule and swam about 70 feet in shark infested waters, before being picked up by a rescue helicopter. He was lowered onto the deck of the Aircraft Carrier Randolph.
Those following the mission on radio and television were aware there was some sort of problem, but it wasn’t until later that they learned the details.
Officials indicated at least one more sub-orbital flight would be scheduled before the United States attempted an orbital flight.
It was thought that the Liberty 7 capsule was “lost forever” in its watery grave at the bottom of the sea. Thirty-eight years later, a search expedition funded by the Discovery Channel located the capsule, and was successful in its attempt to bring it to the surface. Liberty Bell 7 is now on permanent display at the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center in Hutchinson, Kansas.
Baseball Great Ty Cobb Dies
The baseball world lost one on the greatest players of all time, with the passing of Ty Cobb.
Tyrus Raymond Cobb was born December 18, 1888 near Rayston in Northeast Georgia.
After playing sandlot ball in his hometown, he made his professional baseball debut at age 17, playing in the South Atlantic League.
Cobb’s career spanned 24 years, 22 of them with Detroit as an outfielder. He managed the Tigers for six years, and finished his Major League career with the Philadelphia Athletics.
Said to be one of baseball’s most aggressive players, Cobb at one time held 90 records. Some still stand today.
Cobb batted over .300 in all but his first season, and had a lifetime batting average of .367. He led the American League in hitting twelve times. Nine of those titles were consecutive.
Four times in his career he stole second, third, and them home.
The “Georgia Peach” drew top billing in 1936 in the first ballot of Baseball’s Hall of Fame. He received 222 of a possible 226 votes, topping the list ahead of Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson and Walter Johnson in the first group to be enshrined at Cooperstown.
The poem “Line-Up for Yesterday” by Ogden Nash dedicates letters of the alphabet to iconic Major League players. For the letter C the poem reads…
|
C is for Cobb Who grew spikes and not corn? And made all the basemen Wish they weren’t born. |
 |
Click on image to read entire poem. |
Watch the Baseball Hall of Fame video biography of Ty Cobb.
Success followed Cobb when he left the diamond. His investments in General Motors and Coca Cola assured him of a comfortable retirement.
Baseball great Ty Cobb was 74 years old.
Mater et Magistra
The Vatican’s Latin scholars were faced with a monumental challenge when they set out to translate Pope John XXIII’s encyclical “Mater et Magistra”.
The papal letter on Christianity and Social progress contained a number of technical words from modern times that needed to be put into ancient Latin, the official language of the Roman Catholic Church.
How, for instance, could they best translate the word “automation”, a term that obviously didn’t exist when Latin was a common language in centuries past.
Automation came out as “automatarias operationes”. The new technologies of radio and television tbroadcasts translated to “radiophonicis et televisificis transmissionibus”.
No doubt the scholars burned the midnight oil for many nights while converting the 25,000 word document into Latin.
Translation of course goes both ways. Mater et Magistra in English is Mother and Teacher.
Seven Forest Fires in the Area
A severe electrical storm touched off seven forest fires in the Helena area. About 60 men were dispatched to battle the blazes in scattered areas of the dry forest land around the Capital City.
The Helena fire dispatcher reported 20 men were assigned to a fire on the Smith River near Canyon Ferry. That fire was believed to be under control after 2,400 gallons of bentonite had been dropped.
Two fires in the Nelson Gulch area were believed to be contained after a drop of 1,800 gallons of chemicals.
The Sheriff’s office reported that volunteer firefighters were on the lines battling blazes on Ox Bow Bend and in the Canyon Ferry Recreation area.
Two smaller fires of less than two and a half acres were reported at Devil’s Tower near Hauser Dam, and on Gladstone Creek near Wolf Creek.
The burning index had climbed to 44 just prior to the lightning storm.
Holter Demonstrates New Heart Measuring Instruments
From a little town in the Rocky Mountains came an invention that changed the medical world.
The door was opened to a whole new field of heart research, when Norman J. Holter, demonstrated for the first time publicly, three new instruments developed by him, and W. R. Glasscock.
In New York City, an International audience of medical and research technicians heard Holter summarize his four years of work in developing the instruments at his research Laboratory in Helena, Montana.
The main instrument developed at the Holter Laboratory, the Electrocardiorecorder, could record every heartbeat during a day without the need for a radio link.
Two other instruments, the AVSEP Analyzer, and the Acrythmiagraph increased the efficiency of the electrocardiorecorder, making it possible for a physician to study several hundred thousand heartbeats in a matter of minutes.
Holter, President and Research Director of the Helena laboratory had earlier introduced the radio electrocardiograph to the medical world.
Grace Kelly Upstages Montana’s Auditor
State Auditor John J. Holmes and his wife returned to Helena following a month long stay on the Emerald Isle.
In addition to the luggage he left with, the veteran Montana official and native of County Roscommon, also brought back an abundance of Blarney.
Claiming Ireland was being overrun by progressive and industrious German immigrants, Holmes predicted “Twenty five years from now, all the Irishmen who are left in Ireland will be speaking with a German accent and wearing wooden shoes.”
Holmes said that for centuries the Irish fought to hold the land, and now that they have a republic, and can own the land, droves of young Irishmen were migrating to England, Australia and Africa. “Right now,” he said, “if you go to Butte or Boston, you’ll hear Irishmen who left the old country, refighting battles that young people in Ireland have never heard of.”
Appearing to be “green with envy” the auditor told reporters “Her Highness Grace Kelly, the Princess of Monaco, arrived there at the same time we did. She got all the attention and publicity. They didn’t even have McNamara’s Band at Shannon airport to meet us.”
Survey Savvy
A traffic survey in Great Falls came into question when it appeared the Highway Department hadn’t done a very good job in publicizing it.
It wasn’t a matter of how the survey was worded. The problem was with the people conducting the survey and the manner in which they were doing so.
Commissioner Ted James said one complaint in a broadcast editorial said the young college men collecting traffic statistics were interviewing girls instead of checking cars.
Another objection was that some wore carpenter aprons advertising a Great Falls Lumber company.
Because of the location, some people thought the young men were selling dog racing forms.
Once the public was properly informed, and workers were trained, the survey was conducted again. With those adjustments the public was much more cooperative in answering questions.
Fashion Faux pas’
The drums of war sounded in the Soviet Union. This time tensions of the cold war weren’t the cause.
A fashion disaster struck the Moscow Film Festival when Elizabeth Taylor and Gina Lollobrigida turned up at a Kremlin reception wearing the same Christian Dior gown design, and sporting identical hairdos.
Their eyes flashed fire as the two beauties embraced each other. From time to time throughout the evening the two were seen exchanging dagger-like glances.
Here at the Station………
After 9 1/2 years, Dave Garroway left the “Today” show. His successor was John Chancellor.
On “Cheyenne”, a cowhand is murdered on a cattle drive to Fort Benton. It becomes clear that someone didn’t want the herd to reach its destination.
There was Domestic Trouble in “My Three Sons” when a task given to Mike is passed on to Robbie, who in turn leaves it for Chip to take care of.
When a new librarian comes to town, Grandpa and his friend competed for her affections on “The Real McCoys”.
On “Bat Masterson”, Bat used his cane to reduce the odds in a pistol against rifle duel.
A young hoodlum outsmarted the racketeers when they underestimated his abilities on “The Untouchables”.
On “The twilight Zone” a man who despised gambling developed an irresistible gambling fever after unwillingly accompanying his wife to Las Vegas.
An ex-convict, intent on killing Sgt. Ballard, appeared at police headquarters with a gun and hand grenade in his lunch box on “The Detectives”.
Danny Thomas, Mickey Rooney, The McGuire Sisters, Bob Newhart, Joselito and Earl Grant all appeared on the “Ed Sullivan Show”.
Hoss’ uncle and his band of comancheros visited the Ponderosa on “Bonanza”.
That's
At the third week in July 50 years ago.
To Ban or Not to Ban
Officials believed that the latest angry exchange of charges between the United States and Soviet Union indicated the Geneva negotiations for a nuclear weapons test ban were at a dead end.
While hopes for an agreement were dim, officially the United States was asking the Soviets to breathe new life into the discussion that had been dragging on for almost three years.
The Russians claimed the U. S. was trying to justify, in the eyes of public opinion, the resumption of nuclear tests. The United States accused the Soviets of trying to dodge the central issue.
Premier Khrushchev was trying to merge the test ban talks with a new multi-nation conference on general disarmament. That proposal had been rejected by President Kennedy.
The two sides appeared to be engaged in a campaign to blame each other for the failure of the prolonged Geneva talks.
Berlin Discussions
President Kennedy met with three of his top diplomatic and military advisers regarding the status of Germany and Berlin. The meeting was one of a continuing series of discussions held with Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara and General Maxwell D. Taylor.
Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev had given notice that he had intentions of signing a peace treaty with Communist East Germany at the end of the year. The United States viewed that as a move to oust Western powers from Berlin.
The Western Big Four powers repeated their firm stand on their rights to West Berlin, but at the same time left the door open for negotiations.
The fact that the meeting was held at the President’s vacation home on Nantucket Sound drew some concern, but a presidential spokesman assured reporters that it was not a crisis or emergency meeting.
Military Might
Nikita Khrushchev announced that the Soviet Union was increasing military spending, and halting the cutback in its military manpower because of what he called threatening gestures by the west.
The Soviet Premier made no secret of the fact the moves were made because Western powers had refused to yield on the subject of a German peace treaty.
Speaking at a Kremlin reception for graduates of Soviet military academies, Khrushchev warned Western allies not to start a war over Berlin. He urged the United States, Britain and France to display wisdom, and join the Soviets in negotiating a settlement of the German issue.
Khrushchev sneered at French President de Gaulle’s order to move a French Division home from Algeria for use in Europe saying ”It is not divisions, but rockets with hydrogen and atomic warheads that will determine the issue.”
In preparation for any potential conflict, some of the 1.2 million men scheduled to be discharged from Soviet Service were ordered to remain on duty.
As the heated verbal war continued, the U. S. and Soviet Union were both flexing their military might with increased defense spending.
A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
The Bay of Pigs, The Civil Rights Movement, Nuclear Disarmament, Iraq threatening Kuwait, Trouble in the Congo, Signs of war in Viet Nam…Problems, problems, problems. President Kennedy had so much to deal with, one cartoonist summed it all up with a drawing of JFK sitting at a desk piled high with papers. He is on the phone, telling the caller “To save time - in the future please refer to the SPECIFIC crisis.”
Gagarin World Tour
He was the first to orbit the earth, and now he was traveling the globe.
The cold war had nations at odds. No matter their differences, mankind seemed united in their respect and admiration of Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin.
Like a rock star, the 27 year old Russian spaceman was on a world tour.
First stop was London, where Brits gave him a hero’s welcome. Thousands lined the fifteen mile route from the airport into the city. Workers poured out of factories. Employees rushed from office buildings and stores, and housewives dashed from their homes, all wanting a glimpse of the history making hero.
Escorted by 22 uniformed motorcycle policemen, Gagarin rode in the front seat of an open Rolls Royce with the special license tag YG-1.
He was cheered like a matinee idol by throngs of adoring women along the way. Their adulation made him blush like a schoolboy.
At the Soviet Embassy, Russian children presented him with an armful of roses.
He was taken to Buckingham Palace for lunch with Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh.
London was the first stop along the way. He was even invited to be a special guest at the Air Fair in Billings, Montana.
The world was waiting to meet Yuri Gagarin, and the Russians were more than happy to have their hero on display.
Getting Ready
In Cape Canaveral, Florida two astronauts were completing their final week of preparation before America sent its second man into space.
The upcoming flight would essentially duplicate that of Alan Shepard Jr., who blazed America’s trail into space with his historic 302 mile flight in Freedom 7 in May.
Training for the second mission were Air Force Captain Virgil I. Grissom, and Marine Lt. Colonel John H. Glenn Jr. Speculation was that Grissom would be chosen for the mission, and Glenn would be the backup in the event Grissom was unable to make the trip.
Three major changes had been made to the spacecraft. A new, larger observation window was installed, replacing the two view ports Shepard used. A more advanced manual control system for steering was added, and engineers had installed a new escape hatch with 70 explosive bolts. That would provide a more rapid escape from the vehicle in the event of an emergency. The modifications were based partly on the recommendation of astronaut Shepard.
Purpose of the mission was to give another astronaut a taste of space flight. NASA’s goal was to have at least four pilots trained for orbital flights that were scheduled to begin by the end of the year.
Hoffa Wins and Tells Critics to Get Lost
James R. Hoffa was overwhelmingly elected to his second five year term as President of the Teamsters Union.
The one time Detroit warehouse hand then leveled an attack against his critics. He said, “I think Bobby Kennedy, his brother the President, the secretary of labor, and the supposed Senate select committee ought to recognize now, that the time and effort they put in trying to destroy the Teamsters has failed completely. It was a waste of time. From now on they ought to leave us alone. They ought to quit fooling around and let us operate as a trade union, and as Americans.”
When asked what his goals were for the next five years, Hoffa said he wanted to increase union membership to at least two million, and return to the “house of labor”, meaning the AFL-CIO. That federation had expelled the Teamsters for corruption several years earlier.
Hoffa said all the chiefs of the AFL-CIO wanted him back with exception of their President George Meany, whom he called “a dopey thick headed Irishman”.
On NBC’s Meet the Press the colorful labor leader predicted the two unions would reunite within 18 months.
The landslide victory for Hoffa also cemented new terms for Teamster Vice President Anthony “Tony Pro” Provenazno , and Trustee Frank Matula. The returning vice president and trustee both had criminal records.
Teens Rescue Eleven at Holter Lake
Two Helena teens rescued eleven stranded boaters on Holter Lake.
Helena teen Judy Howard and some of her friends were enjoying an outing at a cabin on the lake. As they were about to head home, two boys came to the door. The boys were seeking help for eleven people who had been stranded when their boat was swamped by a sudden wind and rain storm. Everyone was safe, but they were unable to restart their boats engine.
Miss Howard and 16 year old Lester Madsen took her father’s boat to the scene about a mile away, and found an 18 foot boat capsized near the shore.
A paralyzed woman and seven children were hauled from the water taken to the Helena Boat Club.
Club operator Chuck Nahrgange then went in his boat to aid the remaining victims.
It was nearly midnight by the time everyone was rescued.
Soaked and shivering, Miss Howard and Madsen made their way through a lightning storm, back to the cabin to pick up their friends.
For a few of the teens, the trip back to Helena wasn’t very pleasant. Some had to ride back to town in a wet car. Miss Howard accidentally left the top down on her convertible during the storm.
Special Delivery
An injured Forest Service smokejumper was brought to Saint Peter’s Hospital by helicopter.
The Johnson Flying Service whirlybird was called in from its base in Missoula. It picked up Dr. A. R. Little Jr. in Helena, and then flew north to the accident scene at the southern end of the Gates of the Mountains Wilderness area.
The injured smokejumper, 22 year old Dale Swedeen of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, suffered a serious back injury when his parachute began oscillating and he lost control. He hit the ground hard, landing on a large boulder.
Patient transport via helicopter is pretty common these days. Most major hospitals have heliports. Seeing a helicopter land in town in 1961 was quite a sight, especially one landing that close to Downtown Helena. At the time, Saint Peter’s Hospital located at 11th and Logan.
Here at the Station………
Paladin found a lynchers’ noose around his neck when he stopped to share a camp with a rifle-toting saddle bum on “Have Gun Will Travel”.
On “Dobie Gillis”, Dobie joined the school band to improve his chances of winning the heart of a lovely girl.
Perry defended a poorly paid accountant charged with murder on “Perry Mason”.
On “Wyatt Earp”, Wyatt ran into trouble from an unlikely source when he agreed to guard a government payroll.
Lonesome, the wrangler, became so forgetful that he lost a valued horse and got fired. J. Carrol Naish and Joanne Dru starred on “Guestward Ho”.
A wounded man who was being pursued by a strange band of bounty hunters, tried to steal a stage coach horse to make his getaway on “Stagecoach West”.
On “The Untouchables” a chemist held the key to reclaiming industrial alcohol, and declared himself a partner of the bootlegging kings.
Robbie learned that girls are complicated when he experienced his first case of puppy love on “My Three Sons”.
“ABC’s Wide World of Sports” had the Firecracker 250 from Daytona, and covered the Masters Water Skiing Tournament from Pine Mountain, Georgia.
Lightweights Paolo Rosi and Jackie Donnelly were featured in a ten round bout on “Fight of the Week”.
That's
At the second week in July 50 years ago.
Does This Sound At All Familiar?
A British aircraft carrier landed Marines and tanks in Kuwait, and a dozen Hunter jet fighters flew in to help the tiny, oil rich sheikdom fend off a threatened invasion by Iraq. Saudi Arabia was also sending troops to bolster Kuwait against the annexation claim that had been made by Iraqi Premier Abdel Karim Kassem.
The show of force was requested by Sheik Sir Abdullah as-Salim os-Sabah to support his army, and protect the rich oil fields that provided Britain with 40% of its oil supply.
Iraq denied massing troops on its southern border with Kuwait. Baghdad radio called the mobilization reports baseless, and said they were circulated by foreign agencies. They also denied reports that Iraqi vessels had fired on Iranian boats that were trying to move food to Kuwait.
The aircraft carrier Bulwark put ashore a detachment of Centurion tanks, 600 Marine commandos, and a 150 man squadron of Dragoon Guards. The frigate Loch Alvie sent officers ashore by helicopter to confer with Kuwaiti authorities.
Rifle bearing sheiks swarmed in from the desert by limousine, swearing to help defend the sovereignty of Kuwait against the Iraqi troops and armor that were reported to be assembling across the border.
Roads to the frontier were jammed with truckloads of Bedouin tribesmen who had taken up arms to defend Kuwait.
Crowds gathered along the seafront to watch the unloading of war craft. “We’ve got the British” one spectator shouted” The Iraqis have nothing.”
Operations in the former British protectorate were under the command of Air Marshal Sir Charles Elworthy.
Bounder Bomber
A new Soviet bomber made its first public appearance as it flew practice runs over Moscow in preparation for an upcoming air show.
Existence of the plane came as no surprise to U. S. officials. Military sources knew of its development, and had given the aircraft the code name “Bounder”.
The huge 4 jet, delta wing bomber was more than 40 feet longer and likely more powerful than anything in the U.S. long range nuclear bomber fleet.
The public showing indicated the Soviets might have several Bounders ready for service.
Montana a Prime Target
U. S. Intelligence sources indicated that Russia considered Montana one of the country’s prime targets in the event of a nuclear war.
Montana’s civil defense director, Colonel Robert Keyes, advised state officials of that ominous fact when he briefed state officials during a special civil defense meeting at the Capitol.
Colonel Keyes said that without question, Russia was just as advanced in its Intercontinental Ballistic Missile program as the United States. He warned that we should not take comfort in the reported differences between the Soviet Union and Red China because both had the same objective of wanting to communize the rest of the world.
Governor Nutter told the gathering that any enemy would want to wipe out Glasgow Air Force Base, Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, and the Minuteman Missile Complex being built in Central Montana as soon as possible. He said it was time for state officials to take a serious look at civil defense hazards in our state, and fully support the civil defense program. He said public interest in civil defense must be strengthened, and that every state official needed to play a vital part in the program.
Passenger Train Service
The Interstate Commerce Commission authorized Great Northern Railway to discontinue its last two daily passenger trains between Great Falls and Butte. Such authority had earlier been denied by the Montana Railroad Commission.
The ICC said the trains had long been operated at a substantial loss, and dropping the service would save Great Northern $67,000 a year.
In the early days, the Great Falls to Butte run, which stopped in Helena, offered dining and Pullman car service. It was definitely a comfortable, economical way to make the 171 mile trip. In more recent years travelers made the journey in a diesel powered Budd passenger car.
Members of the Montana Railroad Commission were surprised by the ruling. It was their belief that the passenger train service was a necessity because of the need for all forms of traffic to the Capital City, especially during legislative sessions.
Commissioners vowed to do all they could to obtain reconsideration of the order before it went into effect.
History on Display
People passing by the Axelson residence on West Platinum in Butte may not have known the significance of the flag that family proudly displayed on the 4th of July in 1961.
The loose woven, woolen flag in their front window was one of the oldest “Old Glories” in the nation. The 13 star, 13 stripe flag was in perfect condition except for a couple of faintly visible moth marks.
The flag had been in the Parker family since 1776, and was handed down to Mrs. Axelson’s father, B. C. Parker of Bozeman. He brought it with him on his 4th of July visit to Butte.
It was the original property of Captain Caleb Parker of Massachusetts, and was carried by his flag bearer in the Revolutionary War.
Snowballs in Hawaii
While firecrackers popped, and rockets lit the skies here in Montana, some people in our newest State were looking with amazement at what for them was a very unusual sight..snowballs.
The snowballs were gathered from the top of Macdonald Pass by John Quigley of Frontier Town, State Planning Board Director Tom Collins, and State Advertising Director Jack Hallowell. They were packed in dry ice, in preparation for the trip to Honolulu.
Governor Donald Nutter presented the unique gift to Governor William Quinn at the opening of the National Governor’s Conference in Hawaii.
Babcock Says “Throw the Book at ‘Em”
Acting Governor Tim Babcock asked Montana’s magistrates to throw the book at traffic violators in an effort to put the brakes on the states rising highway death toll.
The State toll was already at 129. With the Fourth of July holiday coming up, Babcock urged judges to significantly increase the penalty against any motorist stopped for driving infractions, particularly reckless and drunken driving. He asked that the program be implemented immediately and remain in effect for 90 days, after which time officials could determine if stricter enforcement had done any good.
Hit With the Book
In Dunn, North Carolina, Judge Woodrow Hill not only threw the book at a motorist…he hit him with it.
Twenty year old William Lee appeared before the judge and pled guilty to drunken driving charges. Court records showed that Lee had already been arrested four times for careless or reckless driving, once for public drunkenness and disorderly conduct, and once for trespassing, all within a four year span.
Judge Hill not only revoked Lee’s license, he also ordered Lee not to even ride in a motor vehicle for five years, saying if the offender wanted transportation he could use a horse and buggy, or catch a train.
Metcalf Wants New Quarters for Smokey
Montana Senator Lee Metcalf was attempting to correct an “unbearable” situation.
In an effort to find a better home for Smokey Bear, the Montana Democrat wrote a letter to Robert C. Weaver, administrator of the Housing and Home Finance Agency, requesting assistance in providing new housing for the eleven year old bruin.
The letter, written on behalf of thousands of children around the country, advised Weaver that Junior Forest Rangers had chipped in nearly $3,000 as a down payment for quarters to replace Smokey’s inadequate cave at the National Zoo in Washington D.C.
Rescued from the Capitan Gap fire in New Mexico in 1950, Smokey, a 5 month old black bear was originally known as “Hotfoot Teddy”.
In 1952 songwriters Steve Nelson and Jack Rollins wrote the now familiar song “Smokey the Bear”, adding the word “the” to Smokey’s name to keep the songs rhythm in the verse
Smokey the Bear, Smokey the Bear.
Prowlin' and a growlin' and a sniffin' the air.
He can find a fire before it starts to flame.
That's why they call him Smokey,
That was how he got his name.
As a result of that song, the Fire Prevention bear is often called Smokey the Bear, but his real name is Smokey Bear.
The famed mascot of the U. S. Forest Service lived at the National Zoo for 26 years.
Bible Reader Arrested
In Russellville, Alabama, Floyd Oliver was arrested while reading his bible.
Authorities didn’t mind the 40 year old man reading the Good Book, but they did object to him doing so while sitting atop his 998 gallon still.
Here at the Station……….
On “The Deputy”, a murderer terrorized the jury that convicted him.
The Cartwright’s helped some neighbors who were being duped by an evil hired man on “Bonanza”.
The Clearwater Bombers played the World All Star softball team on “ABC’s Wide World of Sports”.
Perry posed as a cheesecake photographer in an effort to prove his client’s innocence on “Perry Mason”.
On “Dobie Gillis”, Dobie wanted to date beautiful southern belle Mason Dixon, but she was only interested in a man of substance.
On “Wyatt Earp”, Wyatt was forced to protect a rehabilitated slayer who rode into Tombstone.
A young woman turned to Haddie for help when her brother was accused of a robbery on “Tales of Wells Fargo”.
Buddy’s neighborly gesture of replacing a burned out fuse for a cute next door neighbor brought on a bit of jealousy from her husband, and got Buddy in trouble with his girlfriend on “Bringing Up Buddy”.
Boxing fans watched a ten round match between heavyweight Eddie Machen and light heavyweight champion Harold Johnson on “Fight of The Week”. The bout went the distance with Johnson getting the decision.
That's
At the first week in July 50 years ago.
| For a fascinating look at Helena's past visit Kennon Baird's Website |
| Helena As She Was |
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.
Email to a friend
Print version
Plain text
Post your comment