A Look Back August 1961

 

By Wally Peel

Veiled Threat of Aggression

     The United States, Britain and France warned the Soviet Union not to interfere with Western air corridors into West Berlin.

     In a simultaneous message to Moscow, the Western Big Three denounced the Soviet Union’s “scarcely veiled threat of aggression" against flights that linked red-surrounded West Berlin with the non-Communist world.

     The Soviets were contending that the Western powers were using the air corridors to airlift West German spies and provocateurs to West Berlin. 

     The wording used by the three powers was the strongest yet in the mounting Berlin crisis.  Stating the whole world was concerned about the Soviet threat, they served solemn warning to the Soviet Union that any interference with the safety of aircraft in the corridors would have most serious consequences.

Nuclear Test Ban Scrapped

     The Soviet Union scrapped its three year moratorium on nuclear testing, and blamed the U. S. and its allies for the change in position.

     Premier Khrushchev gave his scientists the go ahead to test new weapons ranging all the way up to monster bombs with an explosive force of 100 million tons of TNT, 5,000 times more powerful than the bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima in World War Two.

     In a government statement the Soviets claimed that the United States was standing at the threshold of carrying out underground nuclear explosions.  Because of that, the statement said, the Soviet Union has decided to test new bombs to add to its existing world crushing nuclear arsenal.

     The Soviet announcement literally delivered a knockout blow to the Geneva test ban talks that had been going on since October of 1958.

U. S. Losing Billions to Gamblers

    Chairman John McClellan of the Senate Investigations Committee said it appeared that professional gamblers might be evading a tax liability of as much as $5 billion a year. 

     In his testimony to the committee, Internal Revenue Commissioner Mortimer Caplin said that collections under the  federal wagering tax laws during the previous fiscal year totaled slightly over $7 million, as compared to 10 years ago when they collected  $400 million yearly.

     The committee had been told that off track betting on horse races totaled about $50 billion a year, which meant the government should have collected $5 billion in taxes, far more than the $7 million turned in by gamblers.

     Caplin said the law imposing special federal taxes on bookmakers and gamblers contained self defeating provisions.  The Internal Revenue Service never had enough people to enforce it properly, and sentences imposed by the courts for gambling stamp tax violations were generally mild.  He also pointed out that the IRS division that enforced the statute had very little authority under the law.  He said they could not serve search or arrest warrants, make arrests without warrants, or carry firearms.  Thus, he said they needed to be accompanied by deputy U. S. marshals on all raids.

          The Senate Investigations subcommittee was looking into the activities of organized crime, with special emphasis on whether or not new federal laws were needed to combat the underworld.

Will They Filibuster the New Filibuster Rule? 

     A proposed change that would make it easier to end filibusters was cleared for Senate consideration by the Rules Committee without recommendation.

     Democratic leader Mike Mansfield of Montana gave notice on the Senate floor that the matter would be brought up for action later.

     Rules say that a debate can be shut down only if two-thirds of the Senators present and voting so decide.

     The new proposal would let three-fifths of the senators voting end a debate.

     Senator Richard Russell, a Democrat from Georgia opposed the rule change, saying it was an effort to “gag and muzzle” senators from the south, and other less populated areas.

A Headache for Hoffa

     Teamster boss James Hoffa suffered the greatest defeat of his labor career when rebels in four Cincinnati locals voted to leave the Teamsters Union and join the AFL-CIO.

     James Luken, leader of the rebelling Teamsters, filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board requesting an election by secret ballot to determine whether or not members of his dairy driver local wanted to quit the Teamsters.

     In Chicago a truckers union was also challenging Hoffa. 

     A new group, calling itself the RTU-Rebel Truckers Union, was targeting Local 710, Meat and Highway Drivers Union, and Local 705, a Truck Drivers and Chauffeurs Union.    Those two had represented Chicago truckers for over 38 years.

     RTU leader William Burns said there were 500 some trucking companies in the Chicago area.  He and his staff were going after the big companies first, with the expectation that drivers of smaller firms would then follow.

Where Is He From?

     How can you tell a man’s nationality?

     According to Actress Anna Karina, the best way to tell a man’s nationality is by introducing him to a beautiful woman.

     An Englishman will shake her hand.

     A Frenchman kisses her hand.

     An American asks her for a date.

     A Russian wires Moscow for instructions.

     The 20 year old Danish born actress must have preferred the Cavalier approach.  She was married to French director Jean-Luc Godard.

Nutter Blasts Selfish Politicians 

   Montana Governor Donald M. Nutter spoke at the banquet of the Montana District Convention of Kiwanis International in Missoula.

     He told the gathering   one of the greatest dangers to a free American society is the person in public office who thinks not in terms of what is good for his state or his nation, but what is good for the number one boy only.

     “Every decision of such an office holder,” he said, “is based on how will this affect me politically?  We have these people in federal government, and in most state governments.” 

     In conclusion Governor Nutter remarked, “Why are they there?  Why are they re-elected time after time---as politicians---not as statesmen.  Because you and I, and others like us just have not been enough interested.”

Jets Are On the Way

     The fall of 1961 marked the beginning of a gigantic revolution in Helena air travel.

     A new 7,000 foot by 150 foot runway was nearing completion.  That runway would be able to accommodate the big Boeing 707 jets.

     Airport Manager Hugh Kelleher said, “In another year you won’t know the place, we’ll have so many jets around.”

     The jets he spoke of were not commercial airlines.  They were military aircraft. Military Planes from nearby Air Force bases would be able use Helena’s airport for practice and emergency landings.

     While the facility would continue to handle propeller driven airliners, the day would soon come when sleek new commercial jet airliners would be landing in Helena.

     Helena was about to enter the Jet Age.

Java Justice

     A woman in San Jose, California was granted a divorce after she explained to the judge that her police sergeant husband would bawl her out if she didn’t bring him coffee right away when he rang a bell that he kept at the head of his bed.

     In the settlement she received the family house, $50 a month each for their three children, and $1 a month alimony.

     Her husband was awarded one frying pan, one sauce pan and the coffee pot.

Here at the Station………

     When Zelda Gilroy cramped his style with other girls, Dobie asked Maynard to help him plot his freedom from her on “Dobie Gillis”.

     On “Wyatt Earp”, Wyatt got involved in a dispute among Mexican rancheros over the use of Tombstone Valley water.

     On “My Three Sons”, Steve Douglas absent-mindedly neglected to return a leg of lamb to a fellow worker who had borrowed his car to run errands.  The chain of events that followed resulted in the Douglas family mysteriously acquiring a baby girl.

     On “The Untouchables”, Eliot Ness crossed with a skillful counterfeiter who had enough government paper to print 100 million dollars worth of bills.    

     On “Malibu Run”, Mike and Larry were hired by an advertising executive to do a series of underwater television commercials.  All went well until an earthquake caused an actress to be trapped beneath a large rock.

     A little boy’s faith in the power of magic played an important part in the come-back of an over the hill fighter on “The Twilight Zone”.

     Buz helped Rod scour the slums of Los Angeles in search of his wayward cousin Carol on “Route 66”.

     Doug Jones of New York squared off with Von Clay in a 10 round bout in Madison Square Garden on “Fight of the Week”.

     On “Tall Man”, the teen age daughter of a U. S. Marshal was accidentally killed during a gunfight that involved Billy the Kid.

    On “Leave It To Beaver” the Beav gave his family a fright when they opened his diary and learned he had been doing some dangerous things.

 

That's

At the last ten days in August 50 years ago.

 

East Germany a Virtual Prison Camp

     The East German Communist regime turned its territory into a virtual prison camp by extending its crackdown on travel to the West to the entire border, far beyond the confines of Berlin.

     U. S., British and French diplomats were reportedly having difficulty working out any unified course of action to resolve the Berlin matter other than agreeing to make their protests to a higher level …sending them directly to Moscow.

     Angered by Western delays in reacting to the Communist clampdown on the flow of refugees, demonstrators appeared with signs reading “ENOUGH PROTESTS, LET’S ACT”

     West Berlin Mayor Willie Brandt addressed an estimated 200,000 Germans, telling them that he had sent a personal letter to U. S. President John F. Kennedy, advising him that Berlin expected more than words, it expected political action.

     The Mayor said “Paper protests are not enough to express our screaming protest.”  As he shouted, banners waved, some reading “Better dead than Red.”

     Brandt warned that Moscow was using Berlin in an effort to split the Allies, saying that if the Communists were not stopped at the Brandenburg Gate they would not be stopped at the Rhine.  As he spoke, police closed roads leading to the Brandenburg Gate to head off any angry demonstrators who might decide to go there.

 

 East Germans Want 1.7 Million Volunteers

     East German Communist leaders launched a gigantic military recruiting drive, calling on 1.7 million members of their youth organization to volunteer for the army.

     The communist youth daily newspaper printed the headline “The Fatherland calls!  Protect the Socialist Republic”.

     All members of the Red Youth organization were called to special meetings to hear the appeal to volunteer.

    They were told that the ban on the flight of refugees to West Berlin was “a victory for peace and socialism.”  The appeal said “panic and confusion reign among our enemies.  Now it is necessary to secure our success and win new victories over the war mongers.”

     At the time, the East German Communist Regime did not require compulsory military service, but young men were often put under pressure to enlist, with the promise that it would help their chances for later education and advancement.

 

 Japan Quake and Tidal Wave

    Central Japan was jolted by an earthquake that touched off a tidal wave in four western coastal provinces.

     Several people were injured, and there was disruption of service on several lines of the National Railways.

     The Nagoya region was the hardest hit.  Other areas shaken by the quake included Fukushima, Osaka, Tokyo, Kyoto, Kobe, Nara, Okayam, Nagana, and Hiroshima.

An Actual Tax Reduction

     In the city of Billings, residents welcomed the news that their taxes were being cut again, just as they had been the previous year. 

     The City Council adopted a levy of 43.1 mills on every $100 of taxable value declared. 

     In addressing the Council, Mayor Carl Clavadelscher said, “You Gentlemen all have done a good job.  This is evident in the fact that you have cut taxes again.  And you ain’t seen nothing yet.  Wait ‘til next year.”

 

Airport Traffic Control Tower for Helena

     A new airport traffic control tower, operated by an enlarged crew of the Federal Aviation Agency was commissioned at the Helena City Airport.  Operational hours would be 6AM to Midnight beginning August 28^th. 

     Lowell Blanton, the towers chief controller, said “The service provided by this control tower is designed to promote a safer, more expeditious flow of air traffic.”  He noted that increased air traffic justified the service for the Capital City.    

     Blanton, a 24 year veteran of federal service, was transferred to Helena from Hill Air Force Base in Ogden, Utah.  His new crew included Glen T. Childs of Helena, C. Burton Batchelor of Great Falls, Robert C. Hitchcock from San Jose, California and Richard E. Price, Dalton F. Sessions and James M. Taylor , all from Denver.

 

 Montana Speed Trap

     A playful race between drivers of two old model cars drew the attention of authorities in Livingston.

     On the way to a gathering of the Montana Pioneer and Classic Car Club, drivers Kenneth Anderson and Leonard Evans decided they would race from Billings to Helena.

     Anderson was driving a 1925 Studebaker Whiskey Six, a car that was the favorite of bootleggers smuggling liquor across the border during the Roaring 20’s. 

     The Whiskey Six was capable of reaching speeds of 90 miles per hour.  It could be modified to conceal up to 100 gallons of booze.  Runners would often attach heavy chains to the back of the car to create enormous dust clouds on dirt roads, making pursuit even more difficult.

     Evans drove a newer car, a 1926 Model T Ford.  His “like new “Tin Lizzie was a trophy winning classic with only 6,000 miles on it.

     As the two “speed demons” reached the Livingston they were chased down by police and Sheriff’s deputies, and pulled over for a shakedown.

     When released by authorities, they resumed their race, putting pedal to the metal, blazing across Big Sky Country at an average speed of 28 miles per hour.

     The average Indy 500 lasts about 3 to 3 1/2 Hours.   This grueling grudge match took 14 hours.

     Who won?  Anderson roared up to the State Capitol in his Studebaker just minutes ahead Evans. 

     Knowing the capability of the Whiskey Six in its heyday, one suspects Anderson held back to give the Model T a sporting chance.

 

 One Shot Wonder

     A Denver man was fishing in the Arapahoe Lake area south of Laramie, Wyoming when he accidentally dropped his .44 caliber revolver.

     Upon hitting the ground, the weapon fired.  A single bullet hit the calf of his right leg, grazed his right thigh, nicked his right wrist and struck his upper right arm.

     That’s one way to define ammo efficiency.

     Fortunately, with exception of his pride, the man was not seriously hurt.

 

 Not Exactly the Luck of The Irish

     In Clones, Ireland, Barney Mullen had to appear in court after being charged with not having proper insurance.  

     The offense came about when his tractor lost traction and began skidding, eventually landing upside down in a field.

     One wouldn’t think that would be a matter for the courts, but in this case it was.

     Mullen lived in County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland.  His tractor slid across the line into County Monaghan in Southern Ireland. 

     He was charged with not having his tractor insured south of the border.

     Despite Barney’s protests of unfairness, the judge would not let the matter “slide”.  He fined Mullen two pounds for skidding into the Irish Republic without insurance.

 

 Bargains Around Town

     If you were out and about, you could stop at the Zip In and Out and get a burger and milkshake for 35 cents.

     Shoppers at Curey’s got a free cookware set when they bought a Norge 36 inch automatic Range.  You could be cookin’ in your kitchen on a brand new Norge for just $4.35 a week.

     Jazz fans could hold their own parasol parade after they opened a checking account at the Union Bank and Trust Company and got a FREE New Orleans Dixieland phonograph record.

     Ehler’s Corner had a special on a 20 pound Farm Pack.  It included 4 pounds of  beef or pork roast, 4 pounds of steak, 2 pounds of pork chops, 3 pounds of ground beef, 3 pounds of pork sausage, 2 pounds of wieners, 2 pounds of short ribs and a pound of bacon, all for $9.95.

     Looking for deals on wheels?  Capital Motors had them.  You could drive away in a ’54 Plymouth hardtop for just $98.

     In the classifieds a private party was selling a 1937 Buick Limousine that had been used as a Yellowstone Park touring car.  Asking price was $300.  Restored, a similar car would now sell for about $60,000.

 

 Here at the Station………

     Dennis promised the neighborhood spinster that he would provide her with a friend and companion.  After buying her a big dog, he went looking for a companion on “Dennis the Menace”

     Note:   Actor Jay North, who played Dennis the Menace is now a Corrections Officer in Lake Butler, Florida.  He turned 60 this month.   

     On “Bat Masterson” Marshall Ben Holt asked Bat to help dethrone General Silas Guild, the dictator of an Arizona town.

     When the Hooton horses bolted during a covered wagon race, Babs and Chief Hawkeye put their shoulders to the wheel to get their prairie schooner over the finish line on “Guestward Ho”.

     Time was the enemy as Robbie and his father struggled to complete some last minute projects for the Soap Box Derby on “My Three Sons”.

     On “ABC’s Wide World of Sports”, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player teed off at the royal and ancient Saint Andrew Golf Course in Scotland.  It was a $10,000 - winner take all, 18 hole match.

     On “The Untouchables”, Eliot Ness put together an odd assortment of clues to track down a witness whose testimony could convict a big time gangster.

     The bell rang for a scheduled ten rounder between Cuban welterweight Isaac Logart and Jorge Fernandez at Madison Square Garden on “Fight of the Week”.

     On “Bonanza”, Julie Adams guest starred as Mrs. Helen Layton, the beautiful widow of an old friend of the Cartwright’s, who wins the heart of Hoss, and agrees to marry him.

     The McBean sisters plotted to marry off their widower father on “Tall Man”.

     On “Leave It to Beaver”, Beav’s brother Wally wanted to break up with his girl friend, but because she was the daughter of his English teacher he couldn’t muster up the courage to do so.

     The word Wunnerful took a back seat to the word Beautiful on the “Lawrence Welk Show” when Norma Zimmer and John Roberts took the spotlight.  John sang “Beautiful Lady in Blue”, Norma sang “Beautiful Love” and the two blended their voices in a rendition of “Beautiful Ohio”.

     On “Gunsmoke”, two New York newspapermen in search of colorful stories for their Sunday supplement accidentally started an Indian uprising.

      Eight years after a town hanged his brother, Aaron Bell was released from military prison and headed home for vengeance.  Paladin was hired to prevent further bloodshed on “Have Gun Will Travel”.

     On “Perry Mason”, Perry investigated the strange world of beatniks.  Singer Frankie Laine made his debut as a dramatic actor in “The Case of the Jaded Joker”.

That's

At the third week in August 50 years ago.

Nikita on his Soap Box

     Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev said he was determined to sign a peace treaty with East Germany that would give the Communists control over Western access to Berlin. 

     “We do not want war…only lunatic’s think of a war” he declared.  He then went on to say, “We are not threatening anybody, but if anyone attacks us we will consider it an act of suicide.  We will destroy him by counterblows.  We have spent money on rockets and bombs, and they are not for cutting sausages.”

     While claiming to be a “man of peace”, Khrushchev brandished the threat of a super-super bomb five times more powerful than the hydrogen bomb.

     “Scientists have suggested to the Soviet Government that they can create a bomb equal to 100 million tons of TNT” Khrushchev declared.

     The Premier continued by saying that unless prospects for peace improve he would give scientists the green light to build the bomb.  He said the Soviet Union could provide a rocket powerful enough to send such a bomb aloft.

     The Premier sounded his dire warning during an impromptu speech at a reception for the newest Soviet hero, cosmonaut Gherman Titov who just had circled the globe 17 times.   

     Khrushchev seized the opportunity to poke fun at American space men, saying “nobody but Bolsheviks can reach the cosmos.”  With a wide grin he added “the Americans don’t launch sputniks.  They jump out and fall in the ocean.”

Another Hijacking

     A Pan American World Airways plane with 81 persons on board was hijacked over Mexico and forced to fly to Cuba.

     The plane flew from Houston to Mexico City, and was en route to Guatemala City when the hijacking occurred.

     A Pan American spokesman said information relayed from Miami indicated that the craft landed safely in Havana.

     It was the fourth hijacking of an American passenger plane in a three month span.

     Federal permission to arm commercial aircraft personnel had been granted in the wake of an earlier hijacking of a Continental flight, but it was not immediately known if the crew of the Pan Am plane was armed.

     Later the same week, the U. S. Senate wrote a provision for the death penalty into a bill that made airplane hijacking a Federal crime.   The amendment retained the minimum penalty of 20 years in prison, but also authorized life imprisonment, or the death penalty for the crime.

All-Out Diplomacy

     President Kennedy declared that the United States would use every diplomatic means to try to find a peaceful solution of the Berlin dispute with the Soviet Union.

     The president replied with deliberate restraint when answering questions about speeches made by Nikita Khrushchev.  The Soviet Premier has lashed out at the U. S. and its allies because of their announced determination not to yield their war-won rights to remain in West Berlin.

     At one point in his news conference Kennedy said he was still hopeful of a peaceful solution to the Berlin crisis, but thought a summit meeting with the Soviet Premier would not be useful unless proper ground work had been laid beforehand.

     When questioned about the flight of East Germans into Wet Berlin, the American President described the flow of people as an illuminating example of what people think about living under the communist system in Eastern Europe.

At Least He Kept His Shoes On

     In a shouting and arm waving speech, Soviet Premier Khrushchev declared that hundreds of millions of people would die if another war was started. That was far more than the seven million casualty estimate that had been determined by Western leaders.

     At a so called “friendly rally” for the Romanian Communist party boss, Khrushchev claimed talk about casualty figures was imperialist propaganda designed to prevent the Soviet Union from taking action on the German situation.

    Following his prepared remarks the Soviet leader launched into a table-thumping display of disdain and ridicule directed at the United States. 

     He said Americans were accustomed to having people speak to them through downcast eyes that were focused on their shoes or trousers.  That was because Americans had become used to thinking of themselves as the most powerful nation on earth.

     He continued pounding the table as he pointed out that Russia was powerful too, and demanded respect from the United States.

On The Road Again

     There was a new licensed driver in the state of Pennsylvania.

     After taking the required physical exam, former President Dwight D. Eisenhower completed the oral and driving portions of the Pennsylvania exam and obtained his license.

     A spokesman for the state police told reporters that the 70 year old former President was an excellent driver.  He passed the exam with flying colors.

     As a General, his staff car was a handsome 1942 Packard Clipper.

     During his Presidential years, Eisenhower, was chauffeured in a luxurious 1950 Lincoln Cosmopolitan.  At his request, that limo was fitted with a plastic bubble top over the rear section so that people could see him.

     The make and model of Ike’s personal vehicle was not disclosed, but one wouldn’t have been surprised to see him out and about in the Gettysburg area behind the wheel of an Army jeep.

An Act of Bravery

     In Lockport, New York patrolman Paul Leyden performed a most courageous act. 

     While ticketing cars for overtime parking, he spotted a familiar looking vehicle.  It was his own.  Leyden’s wife had parked it and the meter ran out.

     Sworn to uphold the law, all he could do was shake his head and write the ticket.  Somehow he knew he would likely be hearing more about the violation at home, than the traffic court judge would in court.

Polaris vs. Minuteman

     As the Minuteman Complex was being built in Montana, one person was in town, making the claim that there was something even better than the Minuteman missile.

     Rear Admral George C. Towner, Commandant of the 13^th Naval District, stopped in Helena while on a four state tour of naval installations, including Navy Reserve organizations. 

     He tolid the Helena Council of the Navy League members that the United States had four nuclear submarines armed with Polaris missiles, and that 25 more were being built. 

     Admiral Towner described the Polaris as the most invulnerable weapon of the United States.  “Aboard a nuclear submarine,” he said, “the Polaris can be located where it will do the most good.”  He said the Polaris is one of the finest things we have to deter an all out war, claiming it was “the greatest invention since the wheel”.

     The Admiral of course meant no disrespect for the Minuteman program.  He was simply stating the importance of the Navy’s biggest weapon.

     Towner did make one request.  He asked that Governor Nutter make room in his office for a miniature Polaris missile to match the model Minuteman missile already there.

     Admiral Towner was a former Helena resident, and a former commander of the U.S.S. Helena. 

The Galloping Goose

     Montana’s last north-south rail passenger service…known as “The Galloping Goose” got the go-ahead to keep galloping awhile longer.

     The Interstate Commerce Commission had ordered the service stopped on August 16^th, but members of the state rail commission went back to the ICC with new evidence.  The ICC then ordered the service to continue until the matter was studied more thoroughly.

     Great Northern Railway had claimed the service was losing too much money, stating their loss to be approximately $67,000 a year.  The Montana Railroad Commission countered, saying that figure was inflated by abnormal repair costs and other expenses, and that the actual loss was probably closer to $12,000.

     Commissioners Paul T. Smith, Jack Holmes and Louis Boedecker asked the ICC to consider the value of the trains to people traveling to and from the Veterans Administration Hospital near Helena, to state and federal offices in the Capital City, and to the State Training School in Boulder.

     The continuance was a victory for the Montana Railroad Service, and for the people who rode “The Galloping Goose”.

Buckhorn Bar Sale Falls Through

     A Townsend man found himself in a heap of trouble when he tried to buy the Buckhorn Bar in downtown Helena with a worthless $20,000 check.

     The bewhiskered, whiskey reeking man was dead serious when he walked into the Credit Bureau in the Wheat Building and asked them to negotiate the purchase for him.  While attempting to seal the deal he even gave the receptionist a $5,000 tip because “he liked her”.

     With all the sincerity he could muster, the man said he had returned to this area after selling his Alaska mine for ten million dollars. 

     To explain away the odor that perhaps others might mistake for drunkenness, he claimed that he had NEVER taken a drink, he just poured it on himself.

     “He claimed he had millions and millions” a credit Bureau official said.  “He told me that he had bought two or three bars.  I guess he just didn’t like being thrown out of them and tried to get even.”

     His check to buy the Buckhorn would not clear, but the man was by no means broke.  It turned out that he did have money in the bank.  The balance in his Townsend Bank checking account was $27.

Here at the Station………

     Outlaws kidnapped veterinarian Doc Kingsley and forced him to perform surgery on their gang leader on “Laramie”.

      On “Stagecoach West”, Simon Kane sheltered a man on the run.

     On “Wagon Train”, wagon master Charley Wooster fell hopelessly in love with a traveling actress who didn’t feel the same about him.

     Cord rescued a murderer from a vicious lynching mob and placed an entire Army fort in jeopardy on “Gunslinger”.

     On “Malibu Run”, Larry and Mike learned that their sporting goods store was being used as a narcotics drop for smugglers.

     On “The Real McCoys”, Grandpa learned that business and friendship don’t mix, when he went to work at George MacMichael’s gas station.

     When a gangster defied the code of the underground world, his promise to “get” Eliot Ness won him immunity from reprisal on “The Untouchables”.

     On “Maverick”, Brent discovered that a supposedly sinless town’s leading citizens were all involved in secret crimes.

     Thirty world famous acts were featured in “Circus Stars of the World” on “The Ed Sullivan Show”.

    On “This Is Your Life” Ralph Edwards narrated a living biography of actor William Frawley.

     Dorothy Collins took on the role of an inept clerk in a photography store on “Candid Camera”.

     On “Dobie Gillis “, Dobie’s mother introduces her son to the daughter of a French painter in hopes that some culture will rub off on him.

 

That's

At the second week in August 50 years ago.

 

Soviet Flight

     The Soviet Union’s second spaceman landed safely after a journey that took him more than 17 times around the earth in little more than 25 hours.

     Reports from Radio Moscow said Major Gherman S. Titov’s journey was nearly equal the distance of a round trip to the moon.  He landed exactly in the planned area of the Soviet Union, about 400 to 450 miles south of Moscow. 

     The historic flight took Titov over every continent at heights ranging from 110.3 to 159.3 miles above the earth.

     To dispel the same doubts the Western world had when Yuri Gagarin made the first orbital flight, the Russians announced the orbit, and provided the radio frequencies the cosmonaut would be using for two way communications with the ground.

     Titov apparently held up well under the prolonged period of weightlessness.  He ate three meals, guided the 10,430 pound craft manually at times, exercised, and broadcast goodwill messages to the world.  He also managed to get in 8 hours of sleep.

     Moscow said the cosmonaut could see outside through three portholes, and that scientists on the ground were able to watch him on television when his rocket, Vostok II, passed within range.

     Premier Khrushchev glorified Titov’s feat, and boasted about the superiority of socialist society over capitalism.  He vowed that the further conquest of the forces of nature would be applied for the good and happiness of the whole of mankind.

     Western officials hailed the achievement as a tremendous scientific success, but expressed uneasy fears that it might tip the scales of advantage toward the Russians as the crisis in Berlin continued to build.

Proposed Travel Ban

     The East German Communists threatened to restrict travel between East and West Germany, claiming a polio epidemic in West Germany is spreading the disease across the Iron Curtain border.
     An East German news agency said the Red Regime’s Health Ministry asked the Interior Ministry to take steps toward curtailing travel between East and West Berlin in order to provide the best possible protection for the citizenry. 

     A month earlier the Communists offered to give West Germany three million units of live or Sabin-type polio vaccine to fight what they called a major epidemic.  West German officials rejected the offer saying the vaccines effectiveness had not been proven.

     West Germany was suffering a polio outbreak, but health officials said there were no signs of a major epidemic.

     Western observers saw the proposed travel restrictions as an attempt to stop the rising flow of refugees streaming into West Berlin from the East.

West to Resist Soviet Pressure

    Western foreign ministers opened talks on Berlin with a strong determination to resist Soviet pressure, but a willingness to negotiate a peaceful settlement.

     The start of their meeting coincided with intelligence reports of mounting anti-communist unrest in Red-ruled East Germany.

     The Western ministers, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Britain’s Lord Home, Maurice Couve de Murvill of France and West Germany’s Heinrich von Brentano planned to set a common course of diplomatic, political and military action at the three day conference.

     Soviet Premier Khrushchev’s threats to sign a peace treaty with East Germany had touched off the crisis.   Intelligence reports indicated that the Communist rulers of East Germany were not able to contain the growing anti-Soviet sentiment.  The situation was being compared with an incident in 1953 in which the East Germans revolted briefly against the Red Regime.

     Western powers were willing to negotiate with the Soviet Union if Moscow refrained from saber-rattling.  It was believed East-West talks at the foreign minister or summit level would provide a face saving out for Khrushchev.

Hijack Prevention Measure

     Add a new term to the American vocabulary.  Air Marshall.

     Due to the increasing number of airline hijackings, the Federal Government authorized the arming of crews of commercial airlines.

     Borrowing an idea from Wild West Days, Representative Frank Chelf of Kentucky proposed a “riding shotgun” system to thwart hijackers. 

     Najeeb Halaby, administrator of the Federal Aviation Agency authorized the step in a telegram to all U. S. air carriers.

     He said crew members should be armed only when they have had recent training, and demonstrate proficiency in the use of side arms.

     He also announced the Federal Government was offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of persons attempting to hijack planes. 

Volunteers Save Clancy and Alhambra

    Scores of planes were in the air, and 4,500 firefighters were on the lines, trying to contain a large number of forest fires Montana.  Record heat reaching 115 degrees in some places, and a rash of dry lightning storms had touched off so many blazes in dry timber that the Forest Service didn’t have a total.      

     In the Helena area, five acres were burned in Grizzly Gulch.  Firefighters were battling a blaze on the Sieben Ranch.  Quick action on the part of four teenagers stopped a fire from spreading near the Crystal Creek campground.

     Of greatest concern was a huge blaze south of town.

     A fire that had been smoldering for two weeks in the rocks six miles south of Clancy suddenly blew up and spread to the treetops.  A shifting wind carried the flames toward the populated area.  At that point it was no longer a matter of containing the blaze, but instead to save Clancy and Alhambra from total destruction.

     An evacuation was put into effect, and authorities rushed into the area, warning residents to get out. 

     A flicker of fire could be seen through the trees.  Soon the hills to the west were outlined with rings of flames.

     Bulldozers, trucks, tankers and other equipment were dispatched to the inferno. Firefighters were everywhere, trying to save the burning homes and other buildings. 

     When the nightmare was finally over, blackened trees, scorched buildings and burned grass told the story of what some called the Holocaust of Clancy.

     After having been nearly encircled by treetop flames and creeping grass fires, the two towns were saved, thanks to the 27 member Clancy Volunteer Fire Department and all the other Clancy residents who held the line, manning horses, beating out flames with wet rags, and shoveling trenches.    Thanks too to all other individuals and agencies who worked so hard to protect lives and property.

     The efficiency of their efforts is attested by the fact that only one home was destroyed.

A Revolutionary New Typewriter

     R. L. Nelson, manager of Helena’s IBM Typewriter Division told the business community about a new product that had just been placed on the market.

     It was called the IBM Selectric.

     This revolutionary new machine was nearly 9 pounds lighter than comparable electric models, and required less space because there was no moveable carriage.  It didn’t have a type bar.  Instead, it featured a sphere shaped typing element bearing all the alphabetical characters, numerals and punctuation symbols.  The spinning ball got rid of frustrating key jams.  The new, easy to install ink cartridge would eliminate the all too familiar ink stained fingers. 

     The Selectric’s “selective stroke” storage system increased the typists speed and accuracy.  The sphere shaped type head could move across stationary at a top speed of 15 ½ characters per second, or 180 words per minute.

     The IBM Selectric’s smooth, sleek, futuristic appearance was radical for the time.

     If this new machine made its way into offices around the country, gone would be the familiar clickety clack of busy typists, the ringing of bells as the carriage approached the end of a line, and the ever jolting sound of the carriage return.  Gone too would be the occasional grumbling heard when a worker had to stop and unpile a logjam of keys.

     A modified version of the Selectric became one of the first computer terminals, providing keyboard input for the IBM System /360 mainframe computers.

     IBM Selectrics and their descendants went on to capture 75% of the United States market for typewriters used in business.

Defeat of TB Predicted

     On a visit to Helena, managing director of the National TB Association, Dr. James E. Perkins, made the prediction that one of mankind’s greatest scourges, tuberculosis, was on the way out.

     During a press conference at the Capitol, Dr. Perkins spoke of the possibility of turning the facility at Galen into a regional TB center for the care of Indians from Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, and North and South Dakota.

     During a press conference he stressed the fact that such a regional plan was merely in the discussion stage.  The possibilities would be given more consideration at the U. S. Surgeon General’s Conference ion Indian Health at Glacier Park.

     The New York health expert visited the Montana State Tuberculosis Hospital in Galen.   He said he was amazed at the improvements that had been made since his last visit. 

     According to Dr. Perkins, the view that tuberculosis could eventually be eliminated was shared by many in the field.

     Progress has been made, but the doctor’s prediction did not come true.  Recent figures show about 80% of the population in many African and Asian countries test positive in tuberculin tests, while 5-10% of the U. S. tests positive.

Paint it Emerald Green

     Expressing dismay over the condition of the statue of General Thomas Francis Meagher, Irish-American patriot, in front of the State Capitol, Clancy resident Casey O’Brien literally lowered the boom on top state officials, and demanded that the replica of the once acting Territorial Governor and his horse be painted emerald green.

     Here is the text of his letter”

     “I am assuming that a group of officials of your high caliber would not hesitate to spend a few dollars of the taxpayers’ money to buy a few cans of emerald green paint and a brush or two to rectify one of the most glaring slights that has ever been given to a great Irish-American Patriot.

     I am referring specifically to the condition of the statue of that immortal hero of many wars and political battles – General Thomas Francis Meagher.

     It is indeed lamentable that the statue has been allowed to deteriorate while the State of Montana is spending a sizeable sum of money just to keep the grass green around it.

     With a group of other admirers of General Meagher, I’m urging you to immediately order that statue painted emerald green. I will admit that no Irishman, no matter how careless he is with the truth, would try to convince you that he had ever seen a green horse, except perhaps if he was in his cup.

     Nevertheless, it seems suitable that General Meagher and his iron charger should both be painted the same color – green.

     In your midst, you know you have at least one member with sufficient Irish blood in his veins to be emotionally touched by the plight of all that is left for the world to see of the great fighting man who served as Territorial Governor.

     Gentlemen, I plead with you not to permit the statue of this great Irishman to continue to deteriorate to the point where the brave General will soon look like an Orangeman.”

     Responding to Mr. O’Brien’s letter, Secretary of State Frank Murray inspected the statue and determined it did need refurbishing.

     The Meagher statue at the Capitol was dedicated on the 4^th of July in 1905.  To commemorate the 100^th Anniversary of that event the Thomas Francis Meagher Division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians raised funds to have the statue restored.

No Work No Welfare

     Lewis and Clark County Commissioners were busy lining up work for men on welfare.

     Under a new plan, those seeking welfare assistance would work out their grocery orders at a rate of $1 an hour, which was the minimum wage at the time.

     Commission Chairman J. Morley Cooper said all work being lined up would not replace the gainfully employed.  It would involve odd jobs that had piled up because of a lack of funds or manpower.  

     Able bodied men whose names appeared on welfare rolls in the past would be put to work with road crews in picking up the trash that littered county roads, cleaning culverts, digging graves at the county cemetery, spare work at the county hospital, and various other chores.  Those participating would be adequately supervised to make sure they turned in a good days work.

     Applicants for general welfare assistance who refused to cooperate in working under the new plan would automatically be ineligible for additional welfare aid, and would be dropped from the welfare rolls.

     At the time this was reported, only one person had accepted placement in a county cleanup job.

Here at the Station………

     Agent Hardie prevented an innocent man from being convicted of murder on “Tales of Wells Fargo.

     On “Have Gun Will Travel”, Paladin, his prisoner and three others were captured and held prisoner by outlaws until a mysterious stranger arrived.

     Land grabbers tried to drive a squatter out by destroying his camp and livestock on “Gunsmoke”.

     Perry volunteered to defend a down-and-out man charged with robbery on “Perry Mason”.

     On “I Love Lucy”, a con artist in Paris gave Lucy francs for her American dollars.  She was arrested her for passing counterfeit money.

     On “Bringing Up Buddy”: Violet and Iris got suspicious when they discovered the man they rented a house to had 14 phones.

     Cheyenne hired out to guide a Senator and his party on a buffalo hunt. The hunt turned into a war of nerves when the marshal is accused of cheating at cards.  Great western drama on “The Cheyenne Show”.

     On “Alfred Hitchcock Presents”, an old actor attempted a comeback and found himself in the company of a writer, an unscrupulous producer, and an obnoxious director.

     Beaver sent away for an expensive accordion without his parent’s permission on “Leave it to Beaver”.

     A female alcoholic witnessed a murder and falsely accused her former suitor of the crime on “The Tall Man”.

     In an attempt to live up to the role of genius pinned on him by his younger brother, Robbie tried to repair a neighbor’s piano on “My Three Sons”.

That's

At the first week in August 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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Share on: Facebook del.icio.us Digg StumbleUpon Twitter