Saturday, July 26, 2014

Fifty Years Ago This Week in West Rome - 7/27/1964 to 8/2/1964

Seventh District congressman John W. Davis, a Democrat, discussed with Romans the many positive effects of the 1964 tax cuts. "Present indications are that the lightening of the tax burden, along with the general state of good health of the nation, is producing results of a most beneficial nature," Davis said, adding that "federal government spending is running well below earlier official estimates," while "federal tax collections are running well above earlier official projections. Rising business activity has resulted in higher collections from more prosperous taxpayers." Davis went on to reveal that the Treasury's cash balance as of June 30, 1964, was 22% higher than had been anticipated because of the solid economic growth. (If only today's politicians--particularly members of John W. Davis's party--would take a look back to 1964 in their search for a solution to economic torpor and malaise!...)

Meanwhile, Rome banks showed a 23% gain in bank debits (which included checks and other withdrawals from demand deposit accounts); the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta said that growth in bank deposits was considered one of the most reliable indicators of a growth in business activity. (Low unemployment, lower taxes, increased revenues, decreased federal spending, escalating business growth and activity... 1964 continued to shape up as a very good year indeed!)

Chieftains Nelson Payne, Tony Baker, and Derell Brookshire were selected to attend Brevard Music Center's Transylvania Music Camp during the summer of 1964. They were the only Romans who took part in the invitation-only music camp.

Piggly Wiggly had sirloin steak for 89¢ a pound, bananas for a dime a pound, and half-gallons of Borden's sherbet for 39¢ each. Kroger had chicken livers for 49¢ a pound, corn for 7¢ an ear, and a 12-ounce can of Spam for 39¢. Big Apple had ice milk for 39¢ a half-gallon, watermelons for 39¢ each, and whole fryers for 25¢ a pound. A& P had a 24-bottle case of Coca-Cola or Tab for 99¢ plus deposit, canned biscuits for 6¢ a can,and round steak for 79¢ a pound. Couch's had Wilson's pork sausage for 29¢ a pound, sardines for a dime a can, and a ten-pound bag of potatoes for 49¢.

The cinematic week began with The Patsy (with Jerry Lewis) at the DeSoto Theater, Zulu at the First Avenue, and Fun in Acapulco (with Elvis Presley) at the West Rome Drive-In. The mid-week movie changeout brought Walt Disney's The Moonspinners to the DeSoto, The Carpetbaggers (with George Peppard, Bob Cummings, & Alan Ladd) to the First Avenue, and a double feature of Gunfight at the OK Corral and Legend of Sleepy Hollow to the West Rome Drive-In.

The number one song this week in 1964 was "A Hard Day's Night" by the Beatles. Other top ten hits included "Everybody Loves Somebody" by Dean Martin (#2); "Where Did Our Love Go?" by the Supremes (#3); "Little Old Lady (from Pasadena)" by Jan & Dean (#4); "Rag Doll" by the Four Season (#5); "Wishin' and Hopin'" by Dusty Springfield (#6); "Under the Boardwalk" by the Drifters (#7); "Dang Me" by Roger Miller (#8); "I Wanna Love Him So Bad" by the Jelly Beans (#9); and "I Get Around" by the Beach Boys (#10).  The Beatles also held on to the top two album positions with A Hard Days Night at #1 and Something New at #2.

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