As the sun came up on another Helena day, its light exposed a tract of land to the west of town where the weeds were tall, and the buildings that once housed joyous crowds sat in silent disrepair. 

     Once the site of many Grand events, from the Territorial Fair in 1869 to many State Fairs in the years that followed, our Fairgrounds fell victim to hard times. Time took its toll on this wonderful place.

     It had been a long, long time since anyone had attempted to put on a rodeo in Helena.  The last one had a response that was likened to a city slicker stepping in a cow pie.  In other words, it didn’t go over very well.

    Doris Marshall was named the Queen Contest Director.  Mrs. Marshall and her husband Walter made sure almost everyone in town got to meet the girls as they escorted them to many personal appearances…from breakfast at the Montana Club to a Chuck Wagon Dinner at Frontier Town.  They were at the Sunset and Sky Hi Drive Ins, the Marlow Theatre, and Downtown for Crazy Days.  They waved to the crowd as they rode the Last Chancer Tour Train, and Stampede volunteers got a chance to meet them during a barbecue at the Carson Ranch.

Carson Ranch Barbecue

     The night before the Stampede the contestants were guests at the Brewery Theatre.  From there they were escorted to the Last Chance Stampede Dance at the night Owl where the Rhythm Ramblers were playing.

    Contestants were judged in three categories, personality, appearance and horsemanship.  Determining a winner was no easy ask for the judges.

     Kitty Ann Quigley was crowned Miss Last Chance Stampede that Sunday afternoon.  Sharon Pilgeram was named runner-up. 

     Fifteen Wonderful young Ladies…and only one could wear the Crown.  Yet each and every one was a Queen, as they all rode their way into our hearts.

    The Grandstand was packed, and the fans settled in for an afternoon of Saddle Bronc Riding, Bareback Bronc Riding, Calf Roping, Bull Dogging, Bull Riding and Barrel Racing. 

It wasn’t Cheyenne Frontier Days or the Calgary Stampede, but hopes were high that it would be one of the best in the west.

World Famous Bucking Horse Trails End

   Supporters of Cuban Prime Minister Fidel Castro celebrated the anniversary of the movement that brought him to power. 

     At the same time, delegations began arriving in Havana for the opening of a leftist sponsored Latin American Youth Conference for the liberation of all Latin America.      Castro was expected to use both forums to renew his attacks against the United States.

     The mounting Communist influence in the Castro Government was met with opposition from Cuban Roman Catholics.

     The United Nations Security Council made its second demand that Belgian troops leave the Congo and give way to the new UN Military Force.

     It was no surprise that Vice President Richard M. Nixon was triumphant in his bid for his party’s Presidential nomination at the Republican Convention at Convention Hall in Chicago.

     In accepting the nomination, he said it was the greatest moment in his life, and pledged if elected to “build a Better America” that will not tolerate being pushed about by anybody, anyplace.

     Oregon Governor Mark Hatfield placed Nixon’s name into nomination, and did so with brevity.  In fact, his speech was only 290 words long.

     The Montana delegation, directed by its State Convention to support Richard Nixon. 

     Three generations of one Montana family attended the 1960 GOP Convention. 

     Hundreds of firefighters, weary from a seven day battle, finally gained control of the Wolf Creek-Sieben fire north of town.  It was estimated that it would take about two weeks for mop-up crews to complete operations. 

     Helena Police Sergeant shot the top score at the Woolston  Reservoir  Range competition for proficiency with sidearms.

     Other high marksmen were Police Chief Don Raw, Len Sparing and John Harthule. 

     Keg, a German Shepherd belonging to a Bozeman couple was among the finalists in The Nation’s Most Heroic Dog Competition sponsored by Ken-L-Ration.

     The dog, owned by Mr. and Mrs. William McMannis, was with their 17 month daughter when she fell from a footbridge into the flood swollen Kelly Creek.

     Keg jumped in and brought the child to shore.

     When he wasn’t pitching he was playing second or third base.  When he wasn’t playing baseball, he was playing guitar.

     Montana State League fans got to enjoy some pre-game entertainment when Smelterite second sacker Charlie Pride brought his guitar and treated the crowd to a little “pickin’ and singing”.

     Helena native Ward Ramsey returned to the Marlow Theatre…not as a popcorn consuming patron, but rather as a Star on the big screen.

     Cast in the same hero mold as Rock Hudson, Jeff Chandler and Tony Curtis, Ramsey, whose real name was John Sutphen Jr. was appearing in his first starring role in the movie “Dinosaurus”.  (For more on “Dinosaurus” see A Look Back – April Week Four.).

     Things haven’t settled down in the Congo.

     Premier Patrice Lumumba declared The Republic of Congo was at war with Belgium.  Soviet Premier Khrushchev warned the west to keep its hands off the Congo, repeating his charge that the faltering new nation was the target of imperialist aggression.  He said the Soviet Union would proceed with countermeasures if the aggression continued.

     Ghana was the first to send a token detachment for the International military

  Patrice Lumumba

forces ordered by the United Nations in an effort to restore order.    

     A vast airlift of UN forces was in full swing by the end of the week as the war of words between the new leaders and former Belgian masters continued. 

     About a thousand American men, women and children were evacuated from the Congo in anticipation of further violence. 

     Premiere Patrice Lumumba was to address the Security Council on the Congo crisis.  He had threatened to bring in Soviet soldiers if Belgian soldiers if Belgian soldiers did not leave immediately/ 

     Cubas increasingly close ties with the Soviet Union  prompted the 21 nation Organization of American States to call a special meeting of its foreign ministers. 

     The Soviets announced that August 17th was chosen as the fixed date for the trial of Francis Gary Powers, the 30 year old American pilot who was shot down over Soviet territory.  He was to be tried in open court before the military section of the Supreme Court of the U.S.S.R.

     Powers was charged with espionage, and faced a maximum penalty of death.

     Two Polaris Missiles were successfully fired from a submarine 30 miles off the oast od Cape Canaveral.

     The 14 ton missiles were popped to the surface with conpressed air, the engines ignited, and they streaked high into the air toward their intended targets.

    Hot, dry weather in Montana brought fire conditions to explosive in some areas of the state.

     The Helena areas most disastrous grass and wildland fire was burning out of control at the mouth of Wolf Creek Canyon, 25 miles north of town.

     Described as a Holocaust, the blaze reached 3000 acres in size and has a force of approximately 600 fighting it.

     Billings furniture store owner Mike Kuchera announced that he will run for Governor as an Independent.

     Kuchera had run in the primary as a Democrat, and despite a strong showing, he finished third in a field of six. 

     From his Magic City home he said “I can see the people of Montana want me to run.”

  Ned Brooks

   Child in iron lung. Hospitals had

entire wards filled with these

devices to treat those stricken by

polio.

     In Italy, Senate President Cesare Merzagora called for a 15 day truce to the political riots and strikes that were taking place.

     Italy’s Communist Party was making a major effort to topple the Tambroni government.

     In a demonstration of power that surprised even his own leaders, Massachusetts Senator John F. Kennedy swept to a smashing first tally victory at the Democratic Convention in Los Angeles. 

     When all the votes were counted, Kennedy received 806, Lyndon Johnson 409, Stuart Symington 86 and Adlai Stevenson 79.5.  Eight other potential nominees received token support.

     Truth stretchers Beware!  Cascade County became the second in the State to purchase a lie detector for the interrogation of suspects. 

     The only other polygraph in the State was in Flathead County.  It was available to other Montana Law Enforcement Agencies at a cost of $100 a day plus expenses. 

     In a bristling speech from the Kremlin, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev pledged all out support for the Fidel Castro, and told the United States to keep its hands off Cuba.

     Khrushchev warned that Soviet artillery could hit the American mainland if the U. S. moved against that Caribbean Republic.   He said missile tests in the Pacific showed that the Soviet Union had rockets that could strike at the heartland of the United States.  He went on to say that since the U. S. is not as unreachable as it once was, if necessary, the Soviet military can support the Cuban people with rocket fire if aggressive forces in the Pentagon dare to start intervention against Cuba.     

     President Eisenhower responded by saying the United States won’t stand for a Cuban regime dominated by international communism.

                  RB47 Reconnaissance Plane

reached the border a Soviet fighter plane took off and ordered the American plane to land.

When the warning was ignored, the plane was shot down.

     There was no word on the fate of the other four members of the crew.

feet through their shoes.

     The lads were rescued from their tree perch by a Rimini Route resident who shot at the bruin and chased her off.

     Television access for many in Montana improved greatly when President Eisenhower signed a bill legalizing television booster stations. The main means by which remote areas were able to receive television signals.

     For years the FCC had maintained that it could not allow these devices without a license, or permit them to operate without a licensed operator.  The bill allowed the FCC to waive those requirements.     Booster stations picked up weak signals from distant stations and amplified them to give viewers in remote areas a useable signal.

     James E. Murray of Montana was one of the sponsors of the bill.

     The Grand Ole Opry returned to the stage at the Helena Civic Center.

     Cowboy Copas was in town, and fans were thrilled to see him.  A member  of the Grand Ole Opry since 1943, he was best remembered for his 1946 hit “Filipino Baby”, a song that won him the number 4 slot on the Billboard Country Charts. 

     He performed for years on the Opry and Ozark Jubilee, and in 1960 Copas surged all the way to the top with his Number One hit “Alabam”. 

                               Cowboy Copas - "Alabam"

   Viewers tuned in to watch Man From Interpol.

     A British Police Drama, Man From Interpol followed the adventures of Scotland Yard Special Agent Anthony Smith who was assigned to the International Police Organization comprised of 63 countries united in the fight against crime. 

     Richard Wyler played Inspector Anthony Smith, and John Longdon was Superintendent Mercer.

     They also watched history in the making as we aired coverage of the Democratic Convention in Los Angeles.  Unlike today where major networks only provide limited coverage of such events, in 1960 NBC broadcast several hours of the convention each evening.

     The first operational prototype of the Titan intercontinental range missile exploded shortly after lifting off from the launch pad.  The Air Force announced that a range safety officer destroyed the missile when instruments indicated a malfunction.

     Eighty telephone operators in Butte left their jobs as the result of a labor dispute.  They were joined by 74 others who were members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

     Matters concerning wages, working conditions and terms of employment had already been settled.  At issue was whether or not five supervisors should continue as Union members.

     The Company believed supervisors should be a part of management.

  Viewers were tuning in to watch QUEEN FOR A DAY.

     One question millions of women dreamed they’d be asked was…”Would YOU like to be Queen for a Day?”  That was the question host Jack Bailey would ask the audience on his popular radio show in the mid 40’s.

    The show Queen for a Day moved to television, airing in the Los Angeles market from 1948 to 1955, and was a hit on NBC TV from 1956 to 1960.  The show would have THE WOMEN contestants talk about their recent hard times, and describe what she needed the most.  Often it was a need for medical care or therapeutic equipment to help an ill child.  The winner was chosen by measuring audience response on an applause meter.  She was draped in a velvet robe, given a crown to wear, placed on a throne and given a dozen roses, as her list of prizes that included her special need was announced.  The other contestants also received nice gifts.

     Bailey began his show business career as a vaudeville musician, and was also a barker at the World’s Fair.

     His long career included guest appearances on many popular television shows including Mr. Ed, I Dream of Jeannie, Gunsmoke, Green Acres and Ironside.  His musical talents were showcased in such musical stage productions as Hello Dolly, The Music Man and The Sound of Music.

     Did he ever get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame? 

    Indeed he did!!  In fact, he has TWO.   One on Vine Street for his radio career, and another for his work on television on Hollywood Boulevard.

For an amazing look at Helena History, visit Kennon Baird's Terrific Site

HELENA AS SHE WAS

     Cuban Prime Minister Fidel Castro threatened to seize American investments in Cuba “penny by penny until nothing is left” if the U. S. cuts its purchases of Cuban sugar. 

     The U. S. House passed a bill that would create a limited federal-state program of health and hospital care.

     The bill was the only one the House Ways and Means could agree upon after eight weeks of consideration.

     The Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen settled a 14 month wage dispute with the Nation’s Railroads.

   The 107,000 member Union had sought a 14% increase in wages.  The railroad countered with a proposal to decrease workers wages by 15 cents an hour.

     After more than a year, the two sides settled on a 4% increase in wages for brakemen, flagmen, baggage men, yardmasters, switch tenders, dining car stewards and some conductors over a two year period.

     Mike Kuchera ended speculation about his political future when he endorsed Democratic Gubernatorial candidate Paul Cannon.   After meeting with Cannon, Kuchera was quoted as saying “I will not run as an Independent candidate for Governor.”

     Is that his final answer?   Stay tuned!

     A Great Falls truck driver lost his brakes on the North Hill, and his heroic actions saved what otherwise might have been a fatality.

     According to the Highway Patrol, the brakes failed, and then a fire broke out, and spread to the cab.  The driver geared down, but the truck was overtaking a sedan ahead of it. 

     As the fire spread, the trucker was forced to leave the cab and steer the runaway vehicle around some difficult curves from the running board until he was able to run it into a ditch.  The truck came to rest on its side, throwing the driver clear.

     TV Westerns were popular in the 60’s.  On NBC viewers were watching Doug McClure and William Bendix in Overland Trail.

     McClure played Frank “Flip” Flippen in the series, and co-star William Bendix portrayed Frederick Thomas “Fred” Kelly, superintendent of the Overland Stage Company.     Other roles brought each much more fame.  McClure, who began acting in 1950’s is better known as Trampas in the TV series The Virginian.

     Bendix began his acting career in 1936.  He played Chester A. Riley a wing riveter at Cunningham Aircraft Plant on the 1940’s Radio Show, The Life of Riley.  That show was adapted into a long running TV series in the 50’s.

      Scheduled opposite Lassie, and Dennis The Menace on CBS and Maverick and Walt Disney Presents on ABC, Overland Trail only lasted one Season, and was replaced by Shirley Temple’s Storybook.

      All 17 episodes were in black and white.          

     Chinese Communist guns thundered their own farewell to President Eisenhower as he left Okinawa.

     Shelling of the Nationalist Chinese island of Quemoy was a symbol of contempt and scorn for Ike, and America.

     They poured 88,000 rounds on the island complex, killing 8 and injuring 47 others.  

     Senator John F. Kennedy opened his speech at a luncheon by saying “I accept the nomination.”

     He paused and when the laughter died down he added “Oh excuse me.  That’s my speech for next month.”

    Earth tremors continued to shake Montana.   

    A seismograph at the School of Mines in Butte recorded more than two dozen shocks, but a professor at the school said there is no cause for concern.  Professor Stephen Nile told reporters that Montana has been having the shocks right along ever since the severe ones that shook Madison County in 1959.

     That quake measured 7.3 on the Richter scale.  It caused 80 million tons of earth to slide down the south flank of Sheep Mountain at an estimated speed of 100 miles per hour.  The landslide created a dam on the Madison River, and Quake Lake was formed.

     28 people camping in the area were killed.

    The book “The Night The Mountain Fell: The Story of the Montana-Yellowstone Earthquake” by Edmund Christopherson is still available from various sources online.

  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’s 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.

    Sunday was Fathers Day

     You could keep Dad looking his best with a brand new Norelco Shaver for $14.88 at Save Way Drug, and get Gold Bond Stamps with your purchase.

    Buy him a western shirt for $3.98 at Devores.

     Cooking dinner for him?  Safeway had T-Bone Steaks at 98 cents a pound, and the “By Golly Boys” at Union Market were selling lobster tail for $1.49 a pound.

      Good news and bad news for the East Helena Smelterites. 

    The good news…Manager Kes Rigler said the Anaconda Company was making extensive improvements to Smelterite Park in East Helena.  The grandstand was being repaired, the bleachers would have a new paint job for the home opener, and the infield is being groomed, the fence repaired and painted, and more.

     A Rematch between Ingemar Johansson and Floyd Patterson took place at The Polo Grounds in New York.

     Patterson took the big Swede down with a powerful right hook at the 1:51 mark in the fifth round.  The blow put Johansson flat on his back on the canvas for five minutes.  He was still dazed and unsteady when trainers helped him out of the ring fifteen minutes after the knockout.

  Patterson reclaimed the Heavyweight Title Johansson took from him in 1959.  In that fight Johansson knocked Patterson down seven times in the third round, before the referee stopped the bout.

     Following the fight there was some speculation that Johansson might have been in a hypnotic state. 

     This 16 year old spent the week visiting radio stations.  Who is he, and what was he doing?

**************************************************

     He’s Brian Hyland.  He was making the rounds promoting his first single…”Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini”.

     If you grew up in the 60’s you likely enjoyed some of the Great Cartoons of the time.

     Donald Duck, Bugs Bunny, Mickey Mouse and the likes had taken a back seat to the “new” look of cartoons.

     Saturday morning lineups included such favorites as THE FLINTSTONES featuring the cave dwelling antics of Fred and Wilma Flintstone and their neighbors Barney and Betty Rubble.    

     Who could forget TOP CAT, the smooth talking cat who along with friends Benny The Ball, Choo-Choo, Spook, The Brain and Fancy-Fancy always schemed and stayed one step ahead of Officer Dibble.

     We’d let our imaginations take us into the future as we watched THE JETSONS. The cast included George and Jane, Judy, Elroy and their dog Astro.

     Let’s not forget THE YOGI BEAR SHOW.  Claiming he was “smarter than the average bear”, Yogi plotted to steal “picanic” baskets from visitor to Jellystone Park. 

    His adventureous friends included a pink lion Snagglepuss, and a little duck Yakky Doodle.

     Other Saturday morning Shows of the 60’s included The Alvin Show, Quick Draw McGraw, The Magilla Gorilla Show and Huckleberry Hound.

     Election Day arrived and voters went to the polls to cast their ballots in the June 1960 Primary. 

     On the Democratic side, Representative Lee Metcalf won the U. S. Senate nomination by a substantial margin in a field of four veteran politicians. Arnold Olson won the four way race and would be on the General Election Ballot for Western District U. S. Representative.  Paul Cannon defeated five opponents to win the Democratic nomination for Governor.     For the Republicans, there were some close contests.  Orvin B. Fjare was chosen from a field of six for the U. S. Senate nomination.  In a close race, George Sarsfield won the three way bid for Western District Representative.

    Sidney attorney Donald Nutter came from behind and beat

     Folks somehow knew they had not heard the last of Mike Kuchera.  He ran for Governor again in 1963.

     When Kuchera criticized Democratic Chairman Fred Barrett in 1965, the Democrats told him to join the Republican party.

     William Jennings Bryan ran for president three times and always came in second.  Alf Landon only won two states when he ran against Franklin D. Roosevelt.

     Mike Kuchera brought an unblemished 30 year record of losses to Montana politics and was good natured enough to be master of ceremonies at the Bryan-Landon Dinner in Billings in 1971.

     Of his record breaking number of losses Mike said, “It can’t be all bad.  At least everybody now knows how to pronounce coo-CHAIR-ah.”

     Mike Kuchera passed away in 2005.  

their upcoming convention.

     Still active in politics, Eleanor Roosevelt, widow of former President Franklin D. Roosevelt expressed her preference for Stevenson over the Democratic front runner John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts.

  Ten thousand screaming leftist demonstrators protesting against an Eisenhower visit to Japan besieged the car of White House Press Secretary James Hagerty for more than an hour, slashing tires and cracking windows.

     A helicopter was finally brought in to rescue Hagerty, U. S. Ambassador to Japan, Douglas MacArthur II and White House appointment secretary Thomas E. Stephens from the mob.

  Two Butte firemen were injured when a house that was scheduled to be set ablaze in a firefighting demonstration blew up.

Veteran Broadcaster Terry Bass remembers this story.  He wrote:

     “The story about the "Not according to Plan" and the Butte house blowing up was one I will never forget. I was with KOPR doing a live two way radio feed of the coverage of the event as they were using a new Nozzle for water. During a Volunteer Fireman's Convention.  

     When the house blew it lifted straight up about 15 feet, blowing Art Korn

backwards and Ernie Ditmer horizontal across the lot. You could see people

standing on the other side of the house while it was in the air. I was live,

and it knocked me down and slid me across about 15 feet of dirt.

     When I reached the end of the mic cord from the 2 way radio in the vehicle, my report went DEAD!!  It was wild after that for a few as no one knew what happened except they heard the boom on the air, and me saying the building has just blown...  Art was hurt really bad and lost his hearing because of the blast and Ernie spent two weeks in the hospital with broken ribs and lots of face injuries.  It was a royal bang.  Actually what happened was they had saturated the inside of the building with gas and oil the night before. All they wanted was the house to burn.  However, the vapors built up.  It had rained and the air pressure changed.  When Ernie and Art went to ignite it Thar She Blew.”

big leagues.   He then turned to his other love and pursued a music career.  The rest is Country Music History.

     A big fan of the Texas Rangers, Pride, who is now 72, has attended the Rangers spring training camp and worked out with them since the early 70’s.

Attention All Viewers:

     The  Primary Season is over,  We now return to our regularly scheduled programming.

        One of the popular shows of the time was “The Price Is Right”. 

     The original show aired on NBC from 1956 to 1965.  The host was Bill Cullen.

     Cullen, best known for hosting television game shows, also hosted “The $25,000 Pyramid”… “Blockbusters”…”Chain Reaction”… and “The Joker’s Wild”.  He was also a panelist for many years on radio shows “I’ve Got A Secret” and “To Tell The Truth”.

     Thomas S. Gates

No One Thought To InvestigateThe Investigators

   215 “Mighty Bengals” received their diplomas at the 77th Annual Commencement held in the Senior High Gymnasium. 

     Janet Whitney Dahl gave the Valedictory address on the graduation theme “The Sixties-The Decade of Decision”.

    Following graduation, the seniors and their dates went to the Civic Center Ballroom for the All Night Senior Party.

     They danced till dawn to the Big Band sounds of Si Zetner and his Orchestra.

     One of the Greatest Trombonists of all time, Si and his group perform “Puddle Jump”.

    The House Commerce Subcommittee approved legislation designed to help the nations isolated and sparsely populated areas receive television service.

     The bill authorized the Federal Communications Commission to legalize and regulate television booster stations already in operation.

     Helena Television Incorporated, the Capital City’s cable company won a round in its fight with the Z-Bar Network which operated stations in Butte, Helena, and permitted a Great Falls station to rebroadcast its Butte programs.  

     The dispute was over the rights of the cable company to distribute to its subscribers programs that were carried by off air stations.

    Judge W. W. Lessley of Bozeman ruled that the off air stations had no property interest by copyright or otherwise in any programs broadcast from KXLF in Butte, or any programs received on the cable company’s community antenna system that were distributed to cable customers.

     The KXLJ NBC and Z Bar Network Banner was proudly displayed on the balcony overlooking the front office.

     This vintage photo is courtesy of the late Don Hoffman, who was Chief Engineer at the time.

     Gubernatorial Candidate Willard Fraser had a special guest speaking on his behalf.  Robin Fraser Hudnut, granddaughter of famous poet Robert Frost appeared.

    Senatorial candidate LeRoy Anderson, a Democrat, spoke on Your Right To Know.

    Five days of earthquakes, tidal waves, avalanches and volcanic eruptions left a fourth of Chile’s population homeless. 

     Tidal waves up to 15 feet high pounded 750 miles ofd the southern coast.  In one Province the earth’s surface dropped as much as 1,000 feet over a 25 mile stretch.

Spy-In-The-Sky   

   The United States launched the Midas II satellite, the first designed to detect missile launches. "Midas II" was an acronym for Missile Defense Alarm System.

     The Midas II was the world’s first military “spy-in-the-sky” satellite.

    Actress Vivien Leigh announced the end of her 19 year marriage to Laurence Olivier.

     Myrna Loy divorced her fourth husband Howland H. Sargent. 

     Of marriage she said “Some perfect wife I am.  I’ve been married four times, divorced four times, have no children, and can’t boil an egg.”

     A Montana native, Loy was born in Radersburg, Montana in 1905.

     Although there was strong support for the airport bond issue, not all were in favor of it.

    Strong opposition was voiced by the Great Northern and Northern Pacific Railways.

     Their argument, the railroads build and pay for their own facilities, then pay taxes on them.  Bus companies maintain their own depots and pay taxes on them. 

     The airlines were expecting taxpayers to build their facilities for them.  Facilities constructed for the airlines by the taxpayers for use by the airlines were tax free.

     The railroads claimed that they paid $3,527 in taxes to support the Helena airport in 1959, while the airlines using the airport paid only $175 in county airport taxes in 1959.

     Doris M. Marshall, Drama teacher at Helena High School received an Award of Merit from the Montana Masquers of the Montana State University Drama Department.      

     The citation was presented in recognition of her contributions to the Theatre in Montana.

Mrs. Marshall served as International President of the Thespian

  1955 to 1960. 

     Under her direction, Helena High Drama classes won many awards for best show; best staged show, and best all-around dramatic programs.

Governor Proclaims

        Poppy Week  

     Fifteen year old Jean Hofland won first place in the District Cherry Pie Baking Contest in Great Falls. She became eligible to compete in the Cherry Pie Baking competition at the State Fair in August.

     The Cadillac Cyclone came to town and was on display in the Anderson Motors Showroom.

This remarkable car of the future was a sight to see.

     It looked more like a jet than a car.  It featured a crash avoidance system, a radar sensing technology providing the driver with information on an object ahead.

     When a sensor in the console detected rain, it automatically put up the one piece bubble top.

     You couldn’t buy the Cyclone.  It is a Concept Car.  But the guys at Anderson Motors would be more than happy to sell you an elegant, brand new Cadillac Eldorado Convertible, fully equipped with air suspension, a fiberglass parade boot, fog lights, autronic eye, electric trunk pull down, power vent windows, vacuum door locks and Florentine Leather upholstery for right around $7400.

Today collectors are paying $100,000 or more for a ’60 Cadillac Eldorado in mint condition.  One originally owned by Cary Grant was being sold on line for just under $120,000.

Here at The Station………

  We also had an address by  Democrat Thomas L. Judge, a political newcomer seeking  a seat in the Legislature.

    With our hand caught in the International cookie jar, President Eisenhower ordered an end to U-2 Spy Plane flights.

     Experts said the Samos reconnaissance satellites would soon be orbiting the earth, and would be doing a more effective job that the U-2 planes.  They would be capable of scanning every square mile of the earth’s surface and relay information about the location of Soviet missile sites and any unusual concentration of troops or war materials.

New Phillips Dairy Plant                                                  

     Residents were invited to tour the new Phillips Dairy Plant on North Montana Avenue.  It was one of the most modern facilities in the state.

     It contained one of the most complete laboratories in the northwest for the control of milk production. 

     The new plant was able to produce three times as much milk as was handled by the old plant on Silver Road.

     It featured an observation room where visitors could watch the entire milk production process.  

     Cuban Television broadcast one of the longest programs in Cuban history, celebrating the economic work of the Castro revolution.  It was close to six hours long.

    Helena Police Judge K. V. Ingersoll noted a sharp decline in the number of traffic accidents in the city. 

     He attributed this in part to the recent addition of a radar unit which had obviously gotten the attention of local speeders.

     Postmaster Hugh K. Potter was advised that a proposed postal increase  would likely cost Montana families an additional 15 cents a month. 

     The proposed increase would raise ordinary letter costs from 4 cents to 5 cents. 

   Air mail would go from 7 cents to 8 cents and post cards from 3 cents to 4 cents.

     Postmaster General Arthur E. Summerfield stated that the failure to adjust postal rates to postal expenses was piling up a huge postal deficit.

     District Judge Nat Allen signed an order of necessity in favor of the Montana Highway Department as it sought to acquire land that was needed to build an interchange near the Capitol.

     The Judge ruled that the land to be taken under right of eminent domain or condemnation was necessary for a public project.

   Technology was changing, and although stereophonic sound had been around awhile, stores in Helena were beginning to promote it as superior to Hi-Fi.

     Commerce Bank held an Open House where visitors could compare stereo and monophonic recordings.

     What were folks listening to?

     Among the popular songs of the day, the biggest hit by far was Percy Faith’s “Theme From A Summer Place”.  Listed for seventeen weeks, “Theme From A Summer Place” spent a record breaking nine weeks at Number One on the Billboard Charts.  It remains the longest running number one instrumental in the history of the chart.

With the June Primary right around the corner, it was a busy week at the Station...

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     Representatives of the American Legion joined us in the studio to talk about their Poppy Poster Program.

Note:   The VFW was the first organization to promote the distribution of poppies to help veterans.  Later, the American Legion Auxiliary adopted the poppy as its memorial flower.  Both organizations still raise funds for veterans through the Poppy Program today.

     The United States admitted that a high altitude American jet made an intelligence flight over the Soviet Union, as charged by Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev.

     The State Department conceded that the civilian pilot was flying over Soviet areas to obtain information.

He’s shaking his fist at us.  What Next…

Banging his shoe on the desk?

     Leonid Brezhnev, regarded as one of the brightest stars in the Communist Party took over as  Chairman of the Presidium (Presidency) of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. 

     Aging President Kliment Voroshilov asked that her  be relieved of his duties for health reasons.  He had served as President since

the death of Joseph Stalin in 1953.

    Premier Khrushchev had nominated Brezhnev in a move that appeared to change the nature of the Presidency, which up to then had been mostly honorary.

    Vice President Richard M. Nixon jumped into the middle of a hot political fight over medical care for the aged. He claimed that bills backed by many Democrats would open the door to socialized medicine. 

     Nixon criticized the bill by Representative Aime J. Forand that would limit a health care program to persons retired under Social Security’ He said the Eisenhower Administration bill permits eligible persons to take part or stay out of the program, while the Forand proposal compels those on Social Security to participate regardless of whether they need it or want it.

     Senator John F. Kennedy took a giant step toward claiming the Democratic Presidential nomination with a resounding victory in the West Virginia primary.

A Nice Pat On The Back

     Governor J.

   Hugo Aronson

  What was Governor Aronson’s Nickname?

     It was Mothers Day and at the Diamond S Ranchotel in Boulder the menu includes Montana Roast Turkey with Oyster dressing and all the trimmings for $2.50 .

     Montana Grown Roast Prime Rib au jus for $3.00.

     And, Baked Virginia Ham with glazed pineapple rings and candied potatoes for $2.50.

     In addition to dinner, you could treat her to a round of Golf at PUTTHAVEN.

     There was a time when coffee cans were unheard of.  Coffee and tea were mostly sold in bulk. 

     There was a time when Crisco and Jell-O weren’t around.  “Cottolene” and  “Bromangelon” were their counterparts.

     There was a time when deliveries were made with horses and wagons.

The

Came To Town

     "Live Fast, Love Hard, Die Young" was Faron Young's first Number One song.  

     Recorded in 1955, it spent three weeks at the top of the Billboard Country Music charts. In 2007 author Diane Diekman wrote a biography of Young aptly titled “Live Fast, Love Hard. Die Young: The Faron Young Story”. 

     Click panel to the right and enjoy the performance.

Here at the station…..

  Union Bank & Trust Company was sponsoring the Weather.

     Major General S. H. Mitchell announced the formation of a new Montana Army National Guard Unit.

     The 103rd Public Information Detachment is under the command of Lt. James Maness.

     The 3 man Detachment consisted of Maness, Newspaper reporter Robert O. Blanchard, and Photographer Patrick L. Coyle.

     Now known as the 103rd Public Affairs Detachment or 103rd PAD, the unit has grown to eight members and is currently on active duty in the Middle East.

   Two Butte miners perished when the ground gave way while they were putting in forms in preparation to pour concrete.

     The accident happened at the 600 foot level of the Kelly Mine.

     Senator James E. Murray accused Representatives Lee Metcalf and Leroy Anderson of deliberately following a course of action that could wreck the Democratic Party in Montana. 

     Murray then endorsed former Governor John W. Bonner as his successor.

     A technology that emerged in the 1950’s came to Helena, much to the chagrin of lead footed drivers.

     The Helena Police Department added Police Car Radar to their arsenal of weapons used to catch speeders. 

     With radar supplementing the take already provided by HPD Motorcycle cops, the increase in revenue may well rival the take early prospectors made on Last Chance Gulch.

     In the first two hours of operation, 22 speeders were caught.

     Soviet Premiere Nikita Khrushchev told his Parliament that Soviet forces had shot down a U. S. Military aircraft.  He threatened to retaliate with rockets if American bombers appeared over the Soviet Union.

     In Washington, the State Department said that Soviet forces may have shot down an unarmed U. S. Research plane with an unconscious pilot rather than a military aircraft.   Their report said that a single engine high altitude jet used in weather research was missing. 

     When the Soviets produced the intact remains of the plane, and the  surviving pilot.  Francis Gary Powers, the U.S. was forced to admit that it was a U-2 spy plane.

     The Cold War was heating up.

    Khrushchev tells his Parliament that U-2 Pilot Gary Powers is alive.

(Courtesy Universal-International News

Francis Gary Powers

                          Soviet U-2 Spy Plane Photos

     Disc Jockey Dick Clark told the House Legislative Committee that he knew the former Associate producer of his American Bandstand show had accepted money from record companies.

     The practice of paying of cash or gifts for airplay,   was called Payola. 

     John G.  Frankino was named the new Basketball Coach at Carroll College, replacing Cecil (Jim) Deming, who had recently resigned.

     An 18 year old Senior at Helena High, Jeff Easby rolled a perfect 300 game during a practice session at Imperial Lanes. 

     Helena bowler Tony Woodward recently rolled a 300 at at the USBC Open Championships in Reno, Nevada. 

     Bud Sautter, Manager of the Helena Wranglers invited the public to an open meeting for all persons interested in having semi-professional baseball in Helena.

Here at the station…..

    The former Chairman of the Montana Democratic Party, Jack Toole. Democratic Candidate for Governor appeared.

     He had served as a State Representative from Toole County during the 29th and 30th Legislative Sessions.

     Josephine Gleed, Violet Brydich, Betty Guffey and Garnet Dietrich represented the East Helena VFW Auxiliary on a Loyalty Day Program on KXLJ-TV.

Civil Rights Bill

     The U. S. House of Representatives passed the 1960 Civil Rights bill and sent it to President Dwight D. Eisenhower for his signature.

     The bill, aimed primarily at helping southern blacks was designed to establish the right to vote for those who had been discriminated against on the basis of race or color.

     The bill passed on a roll call tally of 288 to 93.  

   Dr.Holter shown with an early "portable" Holter Monitor.

    John W. Bonner

     In a surprise announcement, Senator James E. Murray announced he would withdraw his candidacy for re-election.

     Murray, who was 83 at the time, said his decision was made in response to repeated urgings of family members.           Representatives Lee Metcalf and Leroy Anderson, and Helena Lawyer John Mahan were all running for Murray’s job.

     Just hours before the filing deadline, former Governor John W. Bonner threw his hat in the ring to replace Murray .

     Carroll College basketball and baseball coach Cecil Jim Deming resigned effective at the end of the school year, to take a position as an A & W Root Beer representative in Australia.

     Deming had operated summer drive-in stands in Anaconda, Butte and Helena.

     His resignation left Carroll without a head coach in any sport, and as football coach Rev. John W. Hunthausen left the college when he was appointed assistant at Saint Ann’s Parish in Butte.

     Helena’s A & W Drive In at 415 Euclid had its Grand Opening. 

Claiming Quality, Quantity and Fast Service, the and featured the “Burger Family” -Papa, Mama and Baby Burger…and Ice cold root beer for  5 cents a mug.

     The same year Ramsey played the part of Fogarty in “Seven Ways from Sundown”...He later appeared in “The Great Imposter”…”Tammy Tell Me True”…”Flower Drum Song”…”Cape Fear”…”A Gathering of  agles”…”Speedway” and many more.

     On the ocean floor off a Caribbean island, an American engineer building a new harbor sets off a blast that uncovers the frozen bodies of a Brontosaurus, a Tyrannosaurus Rex and a Neanderthal man. The dinosaurs are hauled ashore by the construction crew, who are unaware that the giants are actually alive, in a state of suspended animation. Struck by lightning during a fierce tropical storm, the monsters awaken and prowl the island jungles. Also restored to life is the cave man, an amiable brute who joins an island boy in a series of wacky misadventures.

   Four term congressman Lee Metcalf, a candidate for the U. S. Senate seat of Senator James E. Murray appeared.

     U. S. Senate candidate Wayne Montgomery sponsored "The Story of Our Great American Heritage” on KXLJ-TV. 

      Montgomery, a Lima rancher, was facing opposition from Sumner Gerard, James H. Morrow, and L. A. Wilson in the Republican primary.

New Satellite May

Revolutionize Communication

     Texas Senator Lyndon B. Johnson said the United States would attempt to launch Satellite Echo, a communications satellite in early May.     

      This breakthrough would completely revolutionize the method by which we communicate over great distances.

     100 feet in diameter, Satellite Echo was an aluminum sphere designed to allow radio waves to be reflected or bounced back to earth.

                 F-89 Interceptor

     Two Great Falls men were killed when their jet plane crashed and burned shortly after take off from International Airport.

     The two Air Force officers were assigned to the Montana Air National Guard Headquarters as advisors. 

     They were flying an F89 Interceptor plane that had been recently transferred to the Air Guard by the 29th Fighter

Interceptor Squadron at Malmstrom Air Force Base.

    Witnesses said the plane has just left the runway when it began losing altitude, skidded into a wheat field, bounced off U. S. Highway 91 and exploded in a field.

Frank Murray  Bars Filing at Midnight

Photo Courtesy of the Montana Secretary of State's Office

  Drama seeking candidates who intended to file for office at a minute before Midnight on April 28th were reminded by Secretary of State Frank Murray that his office would be closing at 5PM that day.

     Prudential Diversified Services announced a $100,000 facelifting program for its properties on Fuller Avenue.  The project was designed to give Downtown Helena a new, more modern look.  Once completed the property will be given a new name…The Professional Building. 

     Prudential was also remodeling the former Safeway store at Fuller and Placer, getting it ready for occupancy by a furniture store.

     Several thousand youngsters took part in the Annual Easter Egg Hunt on the South lawn of the Capitol.   Over 5,000 eggs were prepared for the event.  The golden egg was worth a $25 savings bond.  It was found by Monte Martello of Harlowton.  The Silver Egg found by five year old Tommy Leik of Helena.  He won $5.

          There were also Easter Egg Hunts at the Green Meadow Country Club, and at City Park in East Helena.  East Helena winners were Anita Obermbt, Linda Ekman and Matt Martin Brydich.

     Here are highlights of the fight.

       In the audience were Carmen Basilio and Gustaf Scholz.  Both fighters were hoping for a match with the winner.  Fullmer won his title by knocking out Basilio  the previous August.

     In the early years, pictures of the parade were displayed, and could be purchased at Starz Pharmacy on Sixth Avenue.  This tradition was carried on by Jorud Photo.  Students would look at all the photos in the window, then go in and order their favorites.

    The Marlow and Antlers Theatres also drew crowds, as they featured pictures of the Parade.

     In 1936 it was announced that for the very first time, the Vigilante Parade would be filmed in its entirety in natural color, and shown at the Rio Theatre.  The Rio planned to use the new natural Cinecolor or the latest developed Technicolor handled by Carl Herman of Starz Pharmacy to capture the event.

     To everyone’s amazement, it was expected that the film could be on the screen at the Rio within four or five days of the event.

     One Rio ad proclaimed..." The only complete Vigilante Parade Pictures.  All in color.  You’ll be amazed when you see the parade pass by again on our screen in natural color.  See it by all means."

     For more history of the Vigilante Parade, visit

Helena As She Was

  Former President Harry Truman and his wife boarded a train in Independence, Missouri, and headed to New York.  Their mission…babysitting their two grandsons while daughter Margaret and her husband went on a European trip.

     Would you want Grandpa babysitting you if you knew he was the man who authorized the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki?

Castro Refuses to

Return Two U. S. Fliers

     In addition to Helena residents, the Chamber of Commerce was receiving a great deal of support from outlying areas including Lincoln and Wolf Creek.

     Sheriff Dave Middlemas announce his intention to file for the Republican nomination for a seat on the Montana Railroad and Public Service Commission. 

     Middlemas said  ”I have always been opposed to closed sessions of any kind.  My weekly radio reports to the citizens of the county of the activities of the Sheriff’s office have been an indication that the door to my office has always been open, and I shall continue this policy as long as I am in public service.”

     He was referring to the program YOUR SHERIFF SPEAKS which aired on KBLL.  In it he went into great detail of all the calls he and his officers had responded to in the past week.  Sheriff Middlemas was among the first to be politically correct.  He referred to those of Indian descent as “Original Americans”.

Good News for Carroll

Monsignor Raymond

     Senator James E. Murray notified Carroll College that the Federal Housing and Home Finance Agency of the Community Facilities Administration had approved a $1,040,000 loan for the constructing two new buildings on campus.  One would be a Women’s Residence Hall, and the other a Student Center with dining facilities.

     Packy East was a 16 year old amateur boxer in Cleveland.  He beat his first opponent.  His second opponent didn’t show up.  His third fight was with a guy named Happy Walsh.  They called him “Happy” because every time you hit him, he smiled.  In speaking about that fight Packy said…”I gave him my Sunday Punch.  He smiled.  Then everything went black.”  That ended Packy's boxing career.  English born, Packy East’s real name was Leslie Townes Hope.  We know him as comedian Bob Hope.

     In anticipation of the Middleweight Championship fight in Bozeman, Anderson Motors had a THE FIGHT IS ON promotion in which they were giving away tickets. The Outstanding Card of Salesmen included:

Cauliflower Corvair Donavan

Pugnosed Parkwood Painter

Kid Biscayne Vonada   and

Gentleman Jim Matulys

     How many remember the Corvair Truck that came out in 1961? 

      The 1961 Chevrolet 95  Rampside trucks sold for less than $2400.

    You don't see many of them around today.

    Tonight Show host Jay Leno located a Corvair Rampside and bought it for $600.  He paid more than $50,000 to restore it .

Watch a commercial for the

1961 Chevrolet Corvair Trucks

     Democratic candidate for U. S. Senate LeRoy Anderson appeared on KXLJ-TV to talk about "Where Your Money Goes". 

     No stranger to politics, Anderson served in the Montana House of Representatives in 1947 and 1948.

     He was a State Senator from 1949 through 1956.

     Anderson served in the 85th and 86th Congresses and was hoping to represent Montana in the U. S. Senate.  

     Montana State University Political Science professor and Congressional candidate Milton Colvin also appeared. 

    The first of two Tiros Weather Watch satellites was launched into orbit from Cape Canaveral, Florida.  It was hurled into space atop a giant Thor-Able rocket.

     This satellite, and a second, more sophisticated one scheduled to be launched later, were designed to determine the effectiveness of weather satellites to observe and report worldwide weather patterns.

    In the absence of Governor J. Hugo Aronson, Lt. Governor Paul Cannon, and Senate President Pro Tem Dave Manning, Speaker John J. MacDonald of the Montana House of Representatives became acting Governor of Montana. 

    The first Voodoo Jet interceptor plane, the F101B arrived in Montana.

Voodoo jets are capable of  a supersonic speed of more that 1,200 miles per hour.

     The Unemployment Compensation Commission announced that there were more than 16,000 insured Montana workers without jobs.  Unemployment was highest in two major industries, logging and construction, both of which were vulnerable to weather conditions.

     The prettiest bunch of unemployed workers in history put on their finery to attend the 32nd Annual Academy Awards.  The month long actors strike did not put a damper on this glamorous event. 

BEN HUR won eleven Awards that evening including Best Picture, Best Director (William Wyler), and Best Actor (Charlton Heston) . 

Simone Signoret won Best Actress for the role of Alice Aisgill in ROOM AT THE TOP.

          Master of Ceremonies, Bob Hope received the Jean Hersholf Humanitarian Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to humanitarian causes.   Most notable, his dedication to our men and women in uniform, with his many USO Tours.

     Democrat Arnold Olson addressed our viewers in his bid to win a seat in Congress.

     A Veteran on the political scene, he ran for Governor in 1956, losing a close race to incumbent J. Hugo Aronson.

         Olson had served as Montana Attorney General from 1948 to 1957, and ran for the State Supreme Court in 1958.

Who was Packy East?

Greyhound Will Drop Run; 

Omitted Decimal Point

Everette Dirksen

  HEALTH CARE

  Same Game-

       Different Players

     In Washington, Senator Everett Dirksen of Illinois practically wrote off any Eisenhower Administration support of a medical program for old age pensioners .  He told reporters that considerable time would be required to study all aspects of the problem to obtain the best possible advice.  He further stated it was questionable whether such a task could be completed by the end of the session.

     Arthur S. Fleming, secretary of health, education and welfare told a House Committee that the Eisenhower Administration  wanted further study of the proposal  for Federal-State aid in the payment of voluntary health and medical insurance for elderly persons.

     This was seen as a setback for the prospective Republican Presidential nominee,Vice President Richard M. Nixon who had been urging submission of a Republican program to vie for the interest which appeared to have been stirred up among elderly voters by the Forand Bill.   (See March Week 1)

     Great Falls, White Sulphur and Lewistown Area All In Big Missle Plan

Minuteman Missle

    Military engineers had been conducting field surveys near Great Falls, Lewistown and White Sulphur Springs.  This area is the first selected for Intercontinental Minute Man Missles, adding more offensive power potential of Malmstrom Air Force Base.    It was also announced that B-52 Bombers would soon be added to the fleets at both Malmstrom, and Glasgow Air Force Base.

    William Weeks, manager of the Globe Clothing Company announced plans for a $70,000 remodeling program to expand the store.  He said this expansion is an expression of faith in Helena’s economy and steady future growth.  The addition of 2,200 square feet of floor space will necessitate the demolition of a vacant building that had once been occupied by Ideal Bakery.

     J.C. Penney Company at 304 North Last Chance Gulch  unveiled plans  for a new half million dollar, two story store in Hale Square.  This vacant space between Slanger’s Bar (Now O’Toole’s) and The Union Bank (now Wells Fargo), had over the years been used as a skating rink, ballpark, circus grounds, and provided a place for an early days Farmers Market.

     Other stores on the Gulch  including Helena Hardware, Jorud Photo and Allen Electric had been modernized to make them more attractive to the buying public.

   Nothing says Spring is Here quite like Watching The Stars Under The Stars.

The Sunset and Sky Hi Drive-Ins Opened For The Season.

Remember The Rules

CEILING ZERO

     The Montana Railroad Commission denied Great Northern Railway’s request to discontinue operation of two passenger trains running between Great Falls and Butte through Helena. 

     In a hearing earlier in the year 35 citizens protested the Railroad’s petition. 

          The Montana Highway Department proposed to designate 11th Avenue and Prospect Avenue as one way streets in anticipation of the construction of Interstate 15.

     Federal regulations stated that when a four lane Interstate spills traffic into a city, there must be a four lane street to handle the increase of traffic.

     The City-County Planning Board approved the proposal at a special Saturday morning meeting that was held at the Civic Center.

          Representative Lee Metcalf, who filed for both the House and Senate last week, announced his decision to run for the U. S. Senate.

     Montana Senator James E. Murray’s first reaction was “Et Tu Brute?”… the words of Julius Caesar when he was stabbed by Marcus Brutus.

    LeRoy H. Anderson of Conrad also sought the Democratic nomination.

Murray said he agreed with one Republican Senatorial candidate who called Metalf and Anderson “ingrates” fighting over the job of a man who had helped them politically.

     Jacoby’s Store For Men kicked off a two week Grand Opening of their newly remodeled store at 125 North Last Chance Gulch.  The store was described as being rated well up among the most modern stores in the Northwest…with nothing being spared to make the store attractive and comfortable for shoppers.

                __________________________________________________________________

     On Rodney, Helena’s newest Supermarket was also having a Grand Opening.   After serving Helena for more than 22 years at the corner of Rodney and Breckenridge, Quality Market was showing off their modern, well lighted and completely streamlined store at  Rodney and Fifth.

      Local Grocers advertised corned beef for 69 cents a pound…cabbage for 7 cents a pound, and ten pounds of U. S. #1 potatoes for 69 cents.  O’Connell’s Irish Oatmeal Bread from Eddy’s Bakery was 29 cents a loaf.

       Giardello

                Fullmer

     At the Carroll Gymnasium, the Gildford Broncs beat the Holy Rosary Bulldogs 82 to 52 for the State Class C Championship.