Fifty Years Ago This Week in West Rome - 10/31/1966 to 11/6/1966

Roger Weaver  became the number one rusher for the 1966 football season in Region 6-AA as a result of his 190 yards against Calhoun the week before. This put Weaver over the 1000 yard mark for the season, Benny Padgett was the number one scorer in Region 6-AA with 64 points; Weaver took the second place scoring slot with 49 points.

The hottest ticket of the year was the West Rome-East Rome football game on November 4th. Chieftains fans certainly got their money’s worth: West Rome defeated the Gladiators 21-0, securing the Region 6-AA crown in the process. More than 6500 tickets were sold to the game, which meant that a standing room only crowd was on hand to watch the Chiefs march to victory.   Roger Weaver rushed for 177 yards in the game, scoring two touchdowns.

The West End Mites took first place in Division 1 of Mite League play after beating Alto Park 6-0 on Tuesday afternoon, November 1st. Sammy Johnson scored the game’s only touchdown.

What a meteorological difference fifty years makes! Romans woke up on November 3rd to a 31 degree low and a light dusting of snow; accumulations of 1” were reported as close by as the top of Lavender Mountain.

After a lengthy study, the Civil Aeronautics Board recommended that Eastern Airlines continue its daily Rome flights to and from Atlanta and Chattanooga. While this wasn’tt a government mandate, the recommendation carried a lot of weight, making it much more difficult for Eastern to abandon its Rome routes entirely.

Piggly Wiggly had T-bone steak for 99¢ a pound, five pounds of grapefruit for 39¢,and Mama apple jelly for 20¢ a jar. Kroger had sirloin steak for 89¢ a pound, ten pounds of Domino sugar for 99¢, and baking potatoes for a dime a pound. Big Apple had fresh whole fryers for a quarter a pound, black eye peas for a dime a pound, and Reynolds Wrap for 29¢ a roll. A&P had perch fillets for 35¢ a pound, red delicious apples for 9¢ a pound, and Poss’s Brunswick stew for 49¢ a can. Couch’s had chicken breast for 49¢ a pound, JFG Mayonnaise for 49¢ a quart, and Coca-Cola for 99¢ a case plus deposit.

The cinematic week began with Return of the Seven (with Yul Brynner) at both the DeSoto Theatre and the West Rome Drive-In and Beau Geste (with Guy Stockwell) at the First Avenue Theatre. The midweek switch out brought Fantastic Voyage (with Raquel Welch and some other, less memorable people) at the DeSoto Theatre and The Swinger (with Ann-Margret & Tony Franciosa) at both the First Avenue Theatre and the West Rome Drive-In.

Johnny Rivers took the number one slot this week in 1966 with “Poor Side of Town.” Other top ten hits included “Last Train to Clarksville” by the Monkees (#2); “96 Tears” by ? and the Mysterians (#3); “Good Vibrations” by the Beach Boys (#4); “Dandy” by Herman’s Hermits (#5); “Winchester Cathedral” by the New Vaudeville Band (#6); “You Keep Me Hanging’ On” by the Supremes (#7); “If I Were a Carpenter” by Bobby Darin (#8); “Devil With a Blue Dress On/Good Golly Miss Molly” by Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels (#9); and “I’m Your Puppet” by James & Bobby Purify (#10).

The Monkees took the number one slot this week with their eponymous debut album. Other memorable albums in the top ten this week included The Mamas & the Papas, And Then… Along Comes the Association, Revolver, and The Kinks Greatest Hits.