The Rome Boys Club Choir embarked on the first leg of their annual concert tour this week in 1969. Their first stop was Morristown, Tennessee; from there, they had five more concert stops before returning home on Sunday, June 15th.
Chieftain mom Mattie Cescutti suffered back injuries in an auto accident on Thursday, June 12th. She was admitted to Floyd Hospital, where she was listed in fair condition.
The Floyd County Surplus Food Distribution Center changed distribution schedules this week in 1969. Families with three or four members could pick up surplus food on Tuesdays; those with five or six members could pick up surplus food on Wednesdays; and those with seven or more members could pick up surplus food on Thursdays. Food choices included peanut butter, canned tomatoes, canned beans, rice, flour, powdered milk, cheese, and butter.
Governor Lester Maddox was in Rome on June 11th to take part in groundbreaking for the new Bekaert Steel Wire Corporation facility near Highway 27 South. Bekaert officials said that they planned to have the facility fully operational by Easter 1970.
A grim reminder of the dangers of buying moonshine: four Romans died over the weekend after they drank diluted shellac thinner that was being passed off as moonshine liquor.
Inflation began to take a toll on interest rates, with the National City Bank, First National Bank, and Rome Bank and Trust all announcing that they were raising their prime interest rate to 8 1/2% this week in 1969, and that they were raising home mortgage rates to 8%. The good news? Rome Bank & Trust began paying 5 1/2% interest on some of their savings certificates, with National City paying 5 3/8% and First National Bank paying 5 1/4%.
Piggly Wiggly had chicken breasts for 49¢ a pound, medium eggs for 29¢ a dozen, and cantaloupes for 33¢ each. Kroger had ground beef for 49¢ a pound, Morton frozen cream pies for a quarter each, and Kroger white bread for 18¢ a loaf. A&P had sirloin steak for 99¢ a pound, Cheez-Its for 37¢ a box, and blueberries for 33¢ a pint. Big Apple had pork loins for 69¢ a pound, tomatoes for 33¢ a pound, and Irvindale ice milk for 39¢ a half-gallon. Couch's had leg o' lamb for 79¢ a pound, Van Camp's pork & beans for 17¢ a can, and Georgia peaches for 15¢ a pound.
The cinematic week began with The Green Slime (starring Robert Horton) at the DeSoto Theatre, Guns of the Magnificent Seven (starring George Kennedy) at the First Avenue, and a double feature of A Fistful of Dollars and For a Few Dollars More (starring Clint Eastwood) at the West Rome Drive-In. The midweek switchout brought Hard Contract (starring James Coburn) to the DeSoto, How To Commit a Marriage (starring Bob Hope) to the First Avenue, and Eye of the Cat (starring Michael Sarrazen) to the West Rome Drive-In.
The Beatles "Get Back" held on to number one for a fifth week this week in 1969. Other top ten hits included "Love Theme from Romeo & Juliet" by Henry Mancini & His Orchestra (#2); "Bad Moon Rising" by Creedence Clearwater Revival (#3); "In the Ghetto" by Elvis Presley (#4); "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" by Marvin Gaye (#5): "One" by Three Dog Night (#6); "Love (Can Make You Happy)" by Mercy (#7); "Grazing in the Grass" by The Friends of Distinction (#8); "Good Morning Starshine" by Oliver (#9); and "Spinning Wheel" by Blood, Sweat, & Tears (#10).
Three Dog Night released their second album, Suitable for Framing, this week in 1969. The album generated several hits, including "Easy to Be Hard," "Eli's Coming," and "Celebrate," which featured a brass section performed by members of the group Chicago. It also included a cover of the Elton John song "Lady Samantha," the first major cover of any Elton John song in the US (at this time, Elton John was virtually unknown on this side of the ocean).
Mick Taylor joined the Rolling Stones this week in 1969, although most people wouldn't be aware that he was tapped to replace Brian Jones until he appeared with them in a Hyde Park concert in early July 1969.
The legendary rural comedy variety show Hee Haw made its debut on Sunday, June 15th, replacing The Smothers Brothers; it proved so popular that the show, originally envisioned as a summer replacement, became a part of the CBS lineup.
The Falcon made his comics debut in Captain America #117 by Stan Lee, Gene Colan, & Joe Sinnott, on sale this week in 1969. Clad in an open-chest green and orange costume, he had little in common with his more modern version—but considering how few black heroes there were in comics in 1969, the addition of a major new black character was certainly noteworthy.
