It was a busy sports week, beginning with baseball: West Rome defeated Dalton 7-6 on Tuesday, April 16th, followed by a 3-0 loss to Calhoun on Thursday, the 18thl and a 4-1 victory over the Berry Falcons on Saturday, April 20th. The track team defeated Cedartown to bring home the trophy in the Lafayette Invitational Meet on Friday, April 19th. The West Rome golf squad extended their winning record to 3 in a row with an 18-3 victory over Rockmart; the Chieftans' top golfer was David Cox, who shot a 73.
Coach Paul Kennedy was appointed camp representative for Tellico Mountain Camp in Tennessee, a Christian youth summer camp.
West Rome added 20 new listening stations in the foreign language lab, bringing the total to 30--enough for a full class to participate at one time. The then-state-of-the-art lab included individual headsets, microphones, and controls in each listening station; a master tape system that allowed playback to be fed to any or all of the listening stations; and a central monitoring station that made it possible for teachers or lab assistants to direct the signal and monitor the microphone in each station. At the time, this was a major addition for West Rome; few schools in the state had such a sophisticated lab, and hardly any had enough stations for an entire class of students at one time.
Four students from West Rome--Barbara Keith, Carolyn Cox, Jackie Lupo, and Judi Burns--attended the Future Teachers of America state convention in Atlanta, accompanied by the club's sponsor, Mrs.Elizabeth Shellnut.
West Rome's freshmen held a dance on Friday, April 19th; the theme was "Shangri-La."
The Freshman Tri-Hi-Y chose new officers for the 1963-1964 school year; they included Jeanne Maxwell, President; Becky Wood, vice-president; Jean Jackson, secretary; Linda Camp, treasurer; Elissa Payne, community projects chairman; and Regina Swinford, school projects chairman.
Rome got its very own Studebaker Dealer this week in 1963 as Rhinehart Motor Co. opened its dealership at 903 Avenue C in Rome. Alas, the Studebaker's days were already numbered, as were the dealership's--the South Bend, Indiana Studebaker plant was destined to cease production in December of 1963.
What we'd give for prices like this today: Georgia Power announced that they were cutting electricity prices 2.1% to 1.88¢ per kilowatt-hour for 1963. Back in 1963, our average kilowatt-hour use was only about 40% of today's average, so the bills were even lower. (Of course, we have a lot more electronic distractions consuming power nowadays, don't we?)
Color TVs were getting a strong push, with Chastain's promoting its first under-$500 17" RCA Victor color television. If more utilitarian appliances were on your shopping list, a 13.7 cubic foot refrigerator freezer could be had for only $269.00 at Rhodes Furniture.
Kroger was offering 2 6-bottle cartons of Coca Cola for 49¢, center-cut pork chops for 45¢ a pound, and 10 pounds of potatoes for 49¢. Piggly Wiggly had chicken breasts for 49¢ a pound, a 24-bottle carton of Coca-Cola for 89¢, and Morton's Cream pies for only 39¢ each. Couch's had gorund beef for 39¢ a pound, Banquet ice cream for 9¢ a half-gallon, and fresh tomatoes for 19¢ a pound. Big Apple advertised top round steak for 79¢ a pound, bread for 12¢ a loaf, and Pillsbury biscuits for 8¢ a can. Big Apple countered with bacon for 33¢ a pound, Bailey's Supreme coffee for 49¢ a pound, and cabbage for a nickel a pound.
Redfords had a meal of baked ham, creamed potatoes, fresh lima beans, fresh corn, and rolls for only 50¢ per plate this week in 1963, while White Columns Steak House was promoting their 99¢ Friday night fish fry.
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The Robe, which was came to the First Avenue Theater in commemoration of Easter, was held over through the first part of the post-Easter week. Other films shown during the week were It Happeneda t the World's Fair at the DeSoto and Who's Got the Action? (starring Dean Martin) at the West Rome Drive-In. The weekend brought The Iron Petticoat (starring Bob Hope and Katharine Hepburn) to the DeSoto; Divorce Italian style to the First Avenue; and a double feature of Trapeze and The Vikings to the West Rome Drive-In.
This week in 1963, we were listening to "He's So Fine" by the Chiffons (#1); "Can't Get Used to Losing You" by Andy Williams (#2); "I Will Follow Him" by Little Peggy March (#3); "Puff (The Magic Dragon)" by Peter, Paul & Mary (#4); "Baby Workout" by Jackie Wilson (#5); "Young Lovers" by Paul & Paula (#6); "South Street" by The Orlons (#7); "Don't Say Nothin' Bad (About My Baby)" by The Cookies (#8); "Pipeline" by the Chantays (#9); and "Do the Bird" by Dee De Sharp (#10).
Friday, May 03, 2013
Fifty Years Ago This Week in West Rome: 4/8/63 to 4/14/63
One state west from here in Birmingham, Alabama, Martin Luther King Jr., Ralph Abernathy, and others were arrested in a Birmingham civil rights protest on April 12th..This is the arrest that inspired MLK's "Letter from Birmingham Jail," published a week later.
Burglary continued to be a major problem in Rome, with nine businesses--six of them on Broad Street, including Owens-King, the Diana Shop, Warner's Ready to Wear, Betty's Beauty Salon, JC Penney, and the Singer Sewing Center--suffering break-ins
Rome's employment picture continued to get better and better, coming in at 4.7% this week in 1963. There were 389 new applicants for unemployment in March of 1963, but they were able to refer 275 of these applicants to employers with job openings.
West End Elementary was beginning to look like a school, with the majority of the external construction completed this week in 1963. The school didn't have a name yet, though, being referred to by the Rome City Board of Education as the "Alabama Road Elementary School" (glad that name didn't stick!).
West Rome's baseball team suffered a loss off against Pepperell on Tuesday, April 9th, in spite of two home runs and a single from Gerry Law. This was followed by an 8-2 victory over Darlington on Wednesday, April 10th Jimmy Brewer was the star player with five hits in the game.
West Rome's Golf Team defeated Rockmart on Monday, April 8th; the Chief's teamtotal was 325, while Rockmart was well behind them at 354; West Rome's players won 17 of the 18 holes in the match. The team also participated in a four-way match against Darlington, Cedartown, and Baylor at the Coosa Country Club on Friday, April 12th.
An interesting blend of movies were waiting at Rome's theaters this week in 1963. The first half of the week offered a choice of Son of Flubber at the DeSoto, Term of Trial at the First Avenue, and Elvis Presley's Girls! Girls! Girls! at the West Rome Drive-In. Son of Flubber was so popular that it hung around for the weekend at the DeSoto, while the First Avenue brought in the appropriately-religious-themed The Robe for Easter weekend, and West Rome ran a double feature of Incident In an Alley and Beauty and the Beast.
Spring means lawn mowing, which would account for all the lawn mower ads this week in 1963. Economy Auto had a 19" Lawn Boy mower for $79.50, a self-propelled Lawn Boy for $99.95, and a 21" Lawn Boy for $94.50. Sears Had a Craftsman 19" lawn mower for $69.95 and a 21" for $89.50.
The Shrimp Boat added a fish and shrimp combination dinner with hush puppies, french fries, and tartar sauce for only 97¢, while Redford's brought back their fried chicken dinner with meat and two vegetables for 50¢; if you weren't a chicken fan, they offered country-style steak for the same price. The Aloha Restaurant offered ham as part of their Hawaiian Easter Luau on Sunday, April 14th, while the Holiday Inn offered an Easter Smorgasbord for $2.25 per plate.
Piggly Wiggly had pork chops for 39¢ a pound, turnip greens for a dime a pound, and Maxwell House Coffee for 99¢ for a two-pound can. Kroger had smoked hams on sale for 39¢ a pound for Easter, along with lamb roasts at 59¢ a pound and turkeys at 39¢ a pound. A&P had ham for only 29¢ a pound, bacon for 47¢ a pound, and eggs for 33¢ a dozen. Big Apple offerd whole hens for 35¢ a pound, fruit cocktail for 33¢ per can, nd th eever-popular pickled peaches for 29¢ a can. Couch's had chicken breasts for 49¢ a pound, ham for 39¢ a poud, and assorted Stokely canned vegetables for 29¢ each.
Enloe's was advertising 1 pound bags of Brach's Easter candy (jelly beans or bunny eggs) for 19¢ a pound, plush Easter bunnies for 77¢ each, and woven Easter baskets (empty, alas!) for 19¢ each.
The Academy Awards were presented on April 8, 1963; the big winner was Lawrence of Arabia, which won Best Picture and five other awards, while director David Lean won Best Director. Other awards went to Gregory Peck as Best Actor (for To Kill a Mockingbird--may favorite film from this year, and the film I think should have gotten the Oscar), Anne Bancroft as Best Actress (for The Miracle Worker), Ed Begley as Best Supporting Actor (for Sweet Bird of Youth), Patty Duke as Best Supporting Actress (for The Miracle Worker), Divorce, Italian Style for Best Original Screenplay, and To Kill a Mockingbird for Best Adapted Screenplay.
"He's So Fine" by the Chiffons held on to the number one position on the record charts this week in 1963. Other top ten hits included "Can't Get Used to Losing You" by Andy Williams (#2); "South Street" by the Orlons (#3); "The End of the World" by Skeeter Davis (#4): "Baby Workout" by Jackie Wilson #5); "Our Day Will Come" by Ruby and the Romantics (#6); "I Will Follow Him" by Little Peggy March (#7); "Puff (The Magic Dragon)" by Peter, Paul, & Mary (#8); "Young Lovers" by Paul and Paula (#9); and "Do the Bird" by Dee Dee Sharp (#10).
And over in the UK, many miles from West Rome, the Beatles' single "From Me To You" was released. Americans wouldn't hear much of it until early 1964, though, when Beatlemania hit the US and the American label Vee Jay (who had the rights to the Beatles material all through 1963 but did nothing with it) finally released the single here.
Burglary continued to be a major problem in Rome, with nine businesses--six of them on Broad Street, including Owens-King, the Diana Shop, Warner's Ready to Wear, Betty's Beauty Salon, JC Penney, and the Singer Sewing Center--suffering break-ins
Rome's employment picture continued to get better and better, coming in at 4.7% this week in 1963. There were 389 new applicants for unemployment in March of 1963, but they were able to refer 275 of these applicants to employers with job openings.
West End Elementary was beginning to look like a school, with the majority of the external construction completed this week in 1963. The school didn't have a name yet, though, being referred to by the Rome City Board of Education as the "Alabama Road Elementary School" (glad that name didn't stick!).
West Rome's baseball team suffered a loss off against Pepperell on Tuesday, April 9th, in spite of two home runs and a single from Gerry Law. This was followed by an 8-2 victory over Darlington on Wednesday, April 10th Jimmy Brewer was the star player with five hits in the game.
West Rome's Golf Team defeated Rockmart on Monday, April 8th; the Chief's teamtotal was 325, while Rockmart was well behind them at 354; West Rome's players won 17 of the 18 holes in the match. The team also participated in a four-way match against Darlington, Cedartown, and Baylor at the Coosa Country Club on Friday, April 12th.
An interesting blend of movies were waiting at Rome's theaters this week in 1963. The first half of the week offered a choice of Son of Flubber at the DeSoto, Term of Trial at the First Avenue, and Elvis Presley's Girls! Girls! Girls! at the West Rome Drive-In. Son of Flubber was so popular that it hung around for the weekend at the DeSoto, while the First Avenue brought in the appropriately-religious-themed The Robe for Easter weekend, and West Rome ran a double feature of Incident In an Alley and Beauty and the Beast.
Spring means lawn mowing, which would account for all the lawn mower ads this week in 1963. Economy Auto had a 19" Lawn Boy mower for $79.50, a self-propelled Lawn Boy for $99.95, and a 21" Lawn Boy for $94.50. Sears Had a Craftsman 19" lawn mower for $69.95 and a 21" for $89.50.
The Shrimp Boat added a fish and shrimp combination dinner with hush puppies, french fries, and tartar sauce for only 97¢, while Redford's brought back their fried chicken dinner with meat and two vegetables for 50¢; if you weren't a chicken fan, they offered country-style steak for the same price. The Aloha Restaurant offered ham as part of their Hawaiian Easter Luau on Sunday, April 14th, while the Holiday Inn offered an Easter Smorgasbord for $2.25 per plate.
Piggly Wiggly had pork chops for 39¢ a pound, turnip greens for a dime a pound, and Maxwell House Coffee for 99¢ for a two-pound can. Kroger had smoked hams on sale for 39¢ a pound for Easter, along with lamb roasts at 59¢ a pound and turkeys at 39¢ a pound. A&P had ham for only 29¢ a pound, bacon for 47¢ a pound, and eggs for 33¢ a dozen. Big Apple offerd whole hens for 35¢ a pound, fruit cocktail for 33¢ per can, nd th eever-popular pickled peaches for 29¢ a can. Couch's had chicken breasts for 49¢ a pound, ham for 39¢ a poud, and assorted Stokely canned vegetables for 29¢ each.
Enloe's was advertising 1 pound bags of Brach's Easter candy (jelly beans or bunny eggs) for 19¢ a pound, plush Easter bunnies for 77¢ each, and woven Easter baskets (empty, alas!) for 19¢ each.
The Academy Awards were presented on April 8, 1963; the big winner was Lawrence of Arabia, which won Best Picture and five other awards, while director David Lean won Best Director. Other awards went to Gregory Peck as Best Actor (for To Kill a Mockingbird--may favorite film from this year, and the film I think should have gotten the Oscar), Anne Bancroft as Best Actress (for The Miracle Worker), Ed Begley as Best Supporting Actor (for Sweet Bird of Youth), Patty Duke as Best Supporting Actress (for The Miracle Worker), Divorce, Italian Style for Best Original Screenplay, and To Kill a Mockingbird for Best Adapted Screenplay.
"He's So Fine" by the Chiffons held on to the number one position on the record charts this week in 1963. Other top ten hits included "Can't Get Used to Losing You" by Andy Williams (#2); "South Street" by the Orlons (#3); "The End of the World" by Skeeter Davis (#4): "Baby Workout" by Jackie Wilson #5); "Our Day Will Come" by Ruby and the Romantics (#6); "I Will Follow Him" by Little Peggy March (#7); "Puff (The Magic Dragon)" by Peter, Paul, & Mary (#8); "Young Lovers" by Paul and Paula (#9); and "Do the Bird" by Dee Dee Sharp (#10).
And over in the UK, many miles from West Rome, the Beatles' single "From Me To You" was released. Americans wouldn't hear much of it until early 1964, though, when Beatlemania hit the US and the American label Vee Jay (who had the rights to the Beatles material all through 1963 but did nothing with it) finally released the single here.
Fifty Years Ago This Week in West Rome: 4/1/63 to 4/8/63
We take automobile seat belts for granted today, but they were options in 1963--and weren't always available for every car! That's why the Rome Jaycees and H. Dean Morgan Oil Company joined forced in early April 1963 to launch a month-long Safety Belt Campaign. For $5.95 per seat, they would install safety belts in any car. Of course, these were lap belts only; it would be a few more years before safety engineers would make us all aware of the extra benefits of shoulder and seat belt combinations.
Another thing we take for granted in today's era of iPhones and unlimited long distance: almost free calling across the country. Back in 1963, this wasn't the case; rates dropped on April 4th to a mere $1 for three-minute person-to-person telephone calls placed between 9pm and 4:30am to numbers out of state. Add in your inflation multiplier and that's about $2.50 a minute!
Burglars who robbed Ledbetter Construction Company didn't have to put too much effort into gaining entrance to the building--they just crawled in through the large dog door that was left for a watch dog who, it appeared, did little more than watch as the burglars took about $7 in change from various vending machines on the property. This was the beginning of an Easter-week crime spree that led to nine break-ins over the weekend; in every case, vending machines and petty cash drawers were ransacked, but nothing else was taken.
On April 5th, Rome and Floyd County officially unveiled their coordinated bid to win a junior college for Floyd County. Their bid, which had the support of Governor Carl Sanders, led to the creation of Floyd Junior College a few years later.
And speaking of cars, annual automobile safety inspections became the law in Georgia in April 1963 when Governor Carl Sanders signed the bill into law. The new law made inspections optional in 1963 and 1964; beginning in 1965, though, they became mandatory, and remained so for almost all cars for many years.
A group of 30 volunteer mothers set up health clinic at West Rome High on April 1st, 1963. All 30 volunteers too part in a Red Cross first aid course before volunteering at the clinic, which was located in an area of the school previously designated as the "sick room." The clinic was equipped with beds, first aid kits, chairs, a desk, and a stretcher. The Junior Tri-Hi-Y, working with the Inter-Club Council, raised money to help stock the clinic. Principal Dick McPhee praised the parents for the time they put into preparing the clnic and training for its operation.
The Chieftains were defeated by Darlington in a track meet on Monday, despite some rapid running by Jerry Coalson, who broke the school record with a 2 minute 9.4 second 880-yard run, breaking Randy Watkins' 1961 West Rome record by a tenth of a second.This was followed by another victory in a Wednesday meet against Trion and Armuchee during which Dickie Sapp won the 100 and 220-yard dashes as well as the broad jump, while Steve Rush won both hurdle events.
West Rome golfers took first place in a four-way Calliers Club confrontation with Cedartown, East Rome, and LaFayette on Tuesday, led by Buddy Copeland's 75 and David Cox's 76, helping West Rome rack up a 330 team score, which was 11 stories better than 2nd place Cedartown, 16 strokes better than East Rome, and 54 strokes better than LaFayette.
West Rome's 100-member marching band hit the road at 5:45 PM Thursday, April 4th, heading to Washington DC to take part in the annual Cherry Blossom Festival. The band members took a bus to Atlanta, where they departed by train for Washington; while there, they toured the Bureau of Printing and Engraving to see how money is printed (alas, no free samples), the Museum of Natural History, the Smithsonian Institute, the Washington Cathedral, the Washington Zoo, Ford's Theatre, the Lincoln Museum, and a Franciscan monastery.
Grocery bargain hunters could find chicken breasts for 49¢ a pound at Piggly Wiggly, along with cabbage for a nickel a pound or a carton of 6 regular or king-size Cokes for 19¢. Kroger had smoked picnic hams for 29¢ a pound, potatoes for 39¢ for a ten-pound bag, and tomatoes for 19¢ a pound. Big Apple had turkeys for 37¢ a pound, sugar for 39¢ for a 5 pound bag, and sirloin stark for a bargain price of 23¢ for a 5 ounce steak. Couch's had spareribs for 39¢ a pound, the ever-popular Armour Treet for 39¢ a can (am I wrong, or is this imitation Spam?), and bacon for 33¢ a pound.
New Diet-Rite Cola was the subject of a heavy marketing push this week in 1963. "Only 1 calorie per serving! Full, rich cola flavor! No sugar at all! No extra cost! It's the stay-slim refreshment! Drink All you like--like all you drink!" Coke would follow suit later in the year with Tab, their cola soft drink. (Both Diet-Rite and Tab were sweetened with cyclamates way back in the 1960s; when that artificial sweetener was banned in 1969, saccharin took its place.)
Romans' cinematic options in the first half of the week included The Courtship of Eddie's Father at the DeSoto; Boccaccio '70 at the First Avenue; and a double feature of Hero's Island and The Best of Enemies at the West Rome Drive-In. The weekend movie options included Love in a Goldfish Bowl and Breakfast at Tiffany's at the DeSoto; Cairo at the First Avenue; and a quadruple feature of Red Hot Wheels, Deadly Duo, Checkpoint, and Excuse My Dust (all racing movies) at the West Rome Drive-In.
Some great music made the Top Ten this week in 1963, including "He's So Fine" by the Chiffons (#1--and it was so good that George Harrison unwittingly "borrowed" from it 6 1/2 years later for "My Sweet Lord"), "Our Day Will Come" by Ruby and the Romantics (#2), "The End of the World" by Skeeter Davis (#3); "South Street" by the Orlons (#4); "Can't Get Used to Losing You" by Andy Williams (#5); "Baby Workout" by Jackie Wilson (#6); "In Dreams" by Roy Orbison (*#7); "You're the Reason I'm Living" by Bobby Darin (#8); "Rhythm of the Rain" by the Cascades (#9); and "Young Lovers" by Paul and Paula (#10).
Another thing we take for granted in today's era of iPhones and unlimited long distance: almost free calling across the country. Back in 1963, this wasn't the case; rates dropped on April 4th to a mere $1 for three-minute person-to-person telephone calls placed between 9pm and 4:30am to numbers out of state. Add in your inflation multiplier and that's about $2.50 a minute!
Burglars who robbed Ledbetter Construction Company didn't have to put too much effort into gaining entrance to the building--they just crawled in through the large dog door that was left for a watch dog who, it appeared, did little more than watch as the burglars took about $7 in change from various vending machines on the property. This was the beginning of an Easter-week crime spree that led to nine break-ins over the weekend; in every case, vending machines and petty cash drawers were ransacked, but nothing else was taken.
On April 5th, Rome and Floyd County officially unveiled their coordinated bid to win a junior college for Floyd County. Their bid, which had the support of Governor Carl Sanders, led to the creation of Floyd Junior College a few years later.
And speaking of cars, annual automobile safety inspections became the law in Georgia in April 1963 when Governor Carl Sanders signed the bill into law. The new law made inspections optional in 1963 and 1964; beginning in 1965, though, they became mandatory, and remained so for almost all cars for many years.
A group of 30 volunteer mothers set up health clinic at West Rome High on April 1st, 1963. All 30 volunteers too part in a Red Cross first aid course before volunteering at the clinic, which was located in an area of the school previously designated as the "sick room." The clinic was equipped with beds, first aid kits, chairs, a desk, and a stretcher. The Junior Tri-Hi-Y, working with the Inter-Club Council, raised money to help stock the clinic. Principal Dick McPhee praised the parents for the time they put into preparing the clnic and training for its operation.
The Chieftains were defeated by Darlington in a track meet on Monday, despite some rapid running by Jerry Coalson, who broke the school record with a 2 minute 9.4 second 880-yard run, breaking Randy Watkins' 1961 West Rome record by a tenth of a second.This was followed by another victory in a Wednesday meet against Trion and Armuchee during which Dickie Sapp won the 100 and 220-yard dashes as well as the broad jump, while Steve Rush won both hurdle events.
West Rome golfers took first place in a four-way Calliers Club confrontation with Cedartown, East Rome, and LaFayette on Tuesday, led by Buddy Copeland's 75 and David Cox's 76, helping West Rome rack up a 330 team score, which was 11 stories better than 2nd place Cedartown, 16 strokes better than East Rome, and 54 strokes better than LaFayette.
West Rome's 100-member marching band hit the road at 5:45 PM Thursday, April 4th, heading to Washington DC to take part in the annual Cherry Blossom Festival. The band members took a bus to Atlanta, where they departed by train for Washington; while there, they toured the Bureau of Printing and Engraving to see how money is printed (alas, no free samples), the Museum of Natural History, the Smithsonian Institute, the Washington Cathedral, the Washington Zoo, Ford's Theatre, the Lincoln Museum, and a Franciscan monastery.
Grocery bargain hunters could find chicken breasts for 49¢ a pound at Piggly Wiggly, along with cabbage for a nickel a pound or a carton of 6 regular or king-size Cokes for 19¢. Kroger had smoked picnic hams for 29¢ a pound, potatoes for 39¢ for a ten-pound bag, and tomatoes for 19¢ a pound. Big Apple had turkeys for 37¢ a pound, sugar for 39¢ for a 5 pound bag, and sirloin stark for a bargain price of 23¢ for a 5 ounce steak. Couch's had spareribs for 39¢ a pound, the ever-popular Armour Treet for 39¢ a can (am I wrong, or is this imitation Spam?), and bacon for 33¢ a pound.
New Diet-Rite Cola was the subject of a heavy marketing push this week in 1963. "Only 1 calorie per serving! Full, rich cola flavor! No sugar at all! No extra cost! It's the stay-slim refreshment! Drink All you like--like all you drink!" Coke would follow suit later in the year with Tab, their cola soft drink. (Both Diet-Rite and Tab were sweetened with cyclamates way back in the 1960s; when that artificial sweetener was banned in 1969, saccharin took its place.)
Romans' cinematic options in the first half of the week included The Courtship of Eddie's Father at the DeSoto; Boccaccio '70 at the First Avenue; and a double feature of Hero's Island and The Best of Enemies at the West Rome Drive-In. The weekend movie options included Love in a Goldfish Bowl and Breakfast at Tiffany's at the DeSoto; Cairo at the First Avenue; and a quadruple feature of Red Hot Wheels, Deadly Duo, Checkpoint, and Excuse My Dust (all racing movies) at the West Rome Drive-In.
Some great music made the Top Ten this week in 1963, including "He's So Fine" by the Chiffons (#1--and it was so good that George Harrison unwittingly "borrowed" from it 6 1/2 years later for "My Sweet Lord"), "Our Day Will Come" by Ruby and the Romantics (#2), "The End of the World" by Skeeter Davis (#3); "South Street" by the Orlons (#4); "Can't Get Used to Losing You" by Andy Williams (#5); "Baby Workout" by Jackie Wilson (#6); "In Dreams" by Roy Orbison (*#7); "You're the Reason I'm Living" by Bobby Darin (#8); "Rhythm of the Rain" by the Cascades (#9); and "Young Lovers" by Paul and Paula (#10).
Thursday, April 04, 2013
Carmine Infantino Passes
Carmine Infantino died today at the age of 87. He has been a part of my cultural life since I first became a comic book collector, and I rank him alongside Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, Curt Swan, and Gil Kane as one of the five artists who hooked me on comics and demonstrated to me just how exciting and captivating the comics medium could be.
One of the first comics advertisements that motivated me to hunt down the comic book itself was a DC house ad for Mystery in Space #65. The alien assault vehicles, reminiscent of images I had seen of Martian war vehicles from War of the Worlds, was unforgettable; as soon as I saw this comic, I had to have it. That was the strength of Carmine Infantino's artwork; he created a world that, while distinctly comic-book in nature, was close enough to our own world that it seemed real enough to draw the reader in.
Shortly after that, his cover for Flash #123 made this a book I had to own. Of course, I already recognized Infantino's art from The Flash--it was one of my favorite comics because he conveyed the essence of speed in a way that no other artist did. But who was this second Flash? What about these two worlds? Infantino's image of understated heroism, complete with little touches like Jay Garrick's jauntily tilted helmet, transformed this story in an essential bit of comics reading.
And when Infantino's art showed up on the cover of Detective #327, offering a very different vision of my favorite hero, Batman--well, at that point, I was enthralled! Batman had never looked so real; as much as I loved the Jack Schiff era with its giant props and strange aliens, this was a Batman I could truly appreciate and admire.I was sad when Infantino left his drawing board to take a position as editorial director at DC; while I'm sure he deserved the promotion, it seemed almost cruel to take their best artist out of service as an illustrator! Even worse, they brought in a wholly inappropriate art team to replace him on his signature series, Flash. This meant that every issue reminded us of what a wondrous illustrator we once had on that series... and how we didn't fully appreciate him until he stepped away.
I've had several chances to speak with Carmine Infantino over the years. Some had warned me that he might seem brusque, but I never go that feeling; he was witty, personable, at times gregarious, and always generous with his time and his memories. He seemed to appreciate the fact that I had genuinely loved his art, and he was willing to humor me by talking about some of his memories of those years at DC.
So few of comics' greats are left now--and today, we lost one of the finest.
Wednesday, April 03, 2013
She's a Rainbow
Recently, I ran across a very affordably priced set of the first few Beatles albums (Meet the Beatles through Sgt. Pepper's) in mono on the old rainbow Capitol label. I have a nostalgic affection for this label; this is what my original Beatles albums looked like in 1964. Furthermore, all of my early Beatles purchases were in mono. Mono albums cost $2.88 at Redford's in the West End Shopping Center; stereo albums cost $1 more. My budget was too heavily leveraged in comics and ice cream to waste that extra $1 (it was a waste because my record player in my room was a mono player, the old box-style record player with a tone arm whose weight was measured in pounds, not ounces), so I grew up hearing those American remasters in mono.
Once I got those albums in mono, though, a cursory glance online revealed that every Beatles album was available on the Capitol rainbow label. The company had briefly returned to that label in the 1980s, so Beatles reissues from that time period were offered with the retro swirl. Of course, that meant that I had to track down affordable copies of Magical Mystery Tour, Yellow Submarine, The Beatles (aka The White Album), Abbey Road, The Beatles Again (aka Hey Jude), and Let It Be on that familiar rainbow label to complete my set.
(By the way, a set of American Beatles albums contains more records than a set of UK Beatles albums--the configuration now used worldwide--because American albums tended to feature some songs from the UK albums, along with singles that were not on the UK albums. So that collection I picked up that started all of this included Meet the Beatles, The Beatles Second Album, Something New, The Early Beatles, Beatles 65, Beatles VI, Yesterday and Today, Rubber Soul, Revolver, and Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. It also included a copy of the Vee Jay Records album Introducing the Beatles, which was reissued for a while in the 1960s with a very derivative rainbow label as well, just because they wanted to confuse young Beatles fans like me...)
So now I have a collection that not only sounds right to me, but it looks right to me as well...
Monday, April 01, 2013
Who's Clara
There are things about it that I liked a good bit. For one thing, the moody Doctor of the first half of the season is gone; the manic, confident, impulsive Doctor is back, and I'm glad to see his return. Not only did the moody, brooding byronic hero of a Doctor seem out of character within the fictional world of the television series, but Matt Smith didn't do a particularly good job with that sort of characterization. There were times when he almost came off as unlikeable, which should never be the case.
The story, while filled with foreshadowing plot bits (and a clever callback to the Amy Pond run), was pretty much self-contained and upbeat, with the Doctor resolving the major problem in 45 minutes of air time. And the character of Clara Oswald was pleasantly adequate; that's the best I can say for her so far. While I agreed that it was time for Amy Pond's tenure as a companion to end, I also see that she has set a very high standard for future companions; they have to be both as independent and as personably engaging as Amy was. So far, Clara hasn't had a chance to shine in that regard; she's done a fine job of moving the plot forward, but I have yet to develop any attachment to the character. Hopefully that will change as things move forward.
(I also have to get past my instant reaction of thinking "cute Christina Ricci" every time she makes a screen appearance...)
Good enough for a second half start, though, and I was pleased to see that she didn't die in the end. That gimmick was getting old fast...
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Fifty Years Ago This Week in West Rome - 3/25/63 to 3/31/63
Southeastern Airlines stirred up a lot of talk in Rome with an announcement of four commercial routes connecting Rome, Birmingham, Montgomery, and Panama City. The news turned out to be non-news, though, when the airline said that the announcement was premature and that no deal has been made.
ChieftainActs took place on Friday, March 29th; the theme in 1963 was "These Wonderful Years," and more than 200 students took part in the talent show on Friday and again on Saturday, March 30th. Lee Mowry was the master of ceremonies for the annual event.
Derrell Travis Brookshire, a sophomore percussionist at West Rome, and Warren Nelson Payne, a sophomore bassoonist who also played a pretty mean piccolo, won a scholarship to the Transylvania Music Camp at Brevard NC, a six-week course of intensive music study. Both students were members of the All-State Band as well. Band director Clyde Roberson described the camp as "a wonderful opportunity for the students; the finest directors and teachers in the nation are on the camp staff."
The annual Volleyball Tournament, held at Berry College, saw West Rome's girls B team defeat Armuchee's A team 15-5, after which they beat Pepperell's A team 11-6. West Rome's A team also won, defeating Pepperell's B team 13-9. West Rome's girls advanced all the way to the finals. (The Rome News Tribune included no names of Chieftains on the girls volleyball team, and they're not pictured in the yearbook, either; can anyone reading this identify our volleyball players?)
A group of black civic leaders called on the Rome City Schools to build a new high school to replace Main High; afterwards, the old Main High could be converted to an elementary school to replace the structure that burned down several months earlier. The cost for a new high school was estimated at approximately $100,000.00 (which probably wouldn't pay for a single classroom addition to a high school today!).
The growing national civil rights movement made its presence known in Rome when 62 black teens were arrested for staging sit-ins at the segregated lunch counters at four Broad Street businesses: Walgreen at Broad and 5th (I never knew that Rome had a Walgreen Pharmacy in the 1960s), Murphy's on the 400 block, Redford on the 300 block, and Enloe's on the 200 block. Each sit-in participant was sentenced to $50 fines or five days in jail--and those five days would not include the days spent in jail awaiting a hearing, according to City Recorder Henry Fulbright.
Plasticized paper milk containers were the big thing this week in 1963. In the course of four days, Dempsey Brothers, Sealtest, Mayfield, and Green Brothers all advertised their new "no wax" quart and half-gallon plasticized paper containers with gabled tops that "pour like a pitcher, won't break, won't flake, and won't leak." I never recalled major problems with milk cartons prior to this time--but then again, my mom was probably discouraging me from pouring milk most of the time, since I had a tendency to overfill the glass anyway...
The Shrimp Boat made it cheaper than ever to eat out with their mid-week fish dinner special (which included fish, slaw, fries, and hush puppies)for only 85¢.
Kelly's DuPont Paint Center opened at 516 Shorter Avenue this week in 1963 to take advantage of the building and remodeling boom taking place on Rome's west side. Back then, standard indoor or outdoor paint could be had for only $1.75 a gallon, while top-of-the-line Lucite Wall exterior house paint went for $6.90 a gallon.
Belk Rhodes advertised their wide selection of Easter fashions, including dresses "from toddler to teen, including chubbette." Yes, imagine if a store today advertised an entire line of clothing branded "Chubbette Fashions"--and they even trademarked it!
Piggly Wiggly made it affordable to eat in style with sirloin steaks for 89¢ a pound; they also offered orange juice for 29¢ a quart and turnip greens for a dime a pound. Kroger had ground beef for 39¢ a pound, corn dogs on a stick for a nickel each, and Eatmore brand margarine (no, I'm not making that name up!) for 8¢ per one-pound package. Couch's had ground beef for 33¢ a pound (this was back when no one mentioned the lean-to-fat content of the beef, of course), Duncan Hines cake mix for 33¢ a box, and sweet potatoes for a nickel a pound. A&P had salmon for 59¢ a can (did anyone buy salmon as fresh fish back then? I thought it only came canned!), bell peppers for a nickel each, and tomato soup for 9¢ a can. Big Apple offered T-Bone steak for 99¢ a pound, a 12-pack of doughnuts for 29¢, and 14-ounce frozen pizzas for 9¢ each.
If you wanted to catch a movie during the week, you had a choice of A Girl Named Tamiko at the DeSoto Theater, The Raven at the First Avenue, or Thank a Fool at the West Rome Drive-In. The weekend brought Marlon Brando's Julius Caesar to the DeSoto; Samson and the 7 Miracles of the World to the First Avenue, and Jack the Giant Killer to the West Rome Drive-In.
"He's So Fine" by the Chiffons climbed to #1 this week in 1963. Other top ten hits included "Our Day Will Come" by Ruby and the Romantics (#2); "The End of the World" by Skeeter Davis (#3); "South Street" by the Orlons (#4); "You're the Reason I'm Living" by Bobby Darin (#5); "Rhythm of the Rain" by the Cascades (#6); "In Dreams" by Roy Orbison (#7); Baby Workout" by Jackie Wilson (#8); "Our Winter Love" by Bill Pursell (#9); and "Blame It On the Bossa Nova" by Eydie Gorme (#10).
ChieftainActs took place on Friday, March 29th; the theme in 1963 was "These Wonderful Years," and more than 200 students took part in the talent show on Friday and again on Saturday, March 30th. Lee Mowry was the master of ceremonies for the annual event.
Derrell Travis Brookshire, a sophomore percussionist at West Rome, and Warren Nelson Payne, a sophomore bassoonist who also played a pretty mean piccolo, won a scholarship to the Transylvania Music Camp at Brevard NC, a six-week course of intensive music study. Both students were members of the All-State Band as well. Band director Clyde Roberson described the camp as "a wonderful opportunity for the students; the finest directors and teachers in the nation are on the camp staff."
The annual Volleyball Tournament, held at Berry College, saw West Rome's girls B team defeat Armuchee's A team 15-5, after which they beat Pepperell's A team 11-6. West Rome's A team also won, defeating Pepperell's B team 13-9. West Rome's girls advanced all the way to the finals. (The Rome News Tribune included no names of Chieftains on the girls volleyball team, and they're not pictured in the yearbook, either; can anyone reading this identify our volleyball players?)
A group of black civic leaders called on the Rome City Schools to build a new high school to replace Main High; afterwards, the old Main High could be converted to an elementary school to replace the structure that burned down several months earlier. The cost for a new high school was estimated at approximately $100,000.00 (which probably wouldn't pay for a single classroom addition to a high school today!).
The growing national civil rights movement made its presence known in Rome when 62 black teens were arrested for staging sit-ins at the segregated lunch counters at four Broad Street businesses: Walgreen at Broad and 5th (I never knew that Rome had a Walgreen Pharmacy in the 1960s), Murphy's on the 400 block, Redford on the 300 block, and Enloe's on the 200 block. Each sit-in participant was sentenced to $50 fines or five days in jail--and those five days would not include the days spent in jail awaiting a hearing, according to City Recorder Henry Fulbright.
Plasticized paper milk containers were the big thing this week in 1963. In the course of four days, Dempsey Brothers, Sealtest, Mayfield, and Green Brothers all advertised their new "no wax" quart and half-gallon plasticized paper containers with gabled tops that "pour like a pitcher, won't break, won't flake, and won't leak." I never recalled major problems with milk cartons prior to this time--but then again, my mom was probably discouraging me from pouring milk most of the time, since I had a tendency to overfill the glass anyway...
The Shrimp Boat made it cheaper than ever to eat out with their mid-week fish dinner special (which included fish, slaw, fries, and hush puppies)for only 85¢.
Kelly's DuPont Paint Center opened at 516 Shorter Avenue this week in 1963 to take advantage of the building and remodeling boom taking place on Rome's west side. Back then, standard indoor or outdoor paint could be had for only $1.75 a gallon, while top-of-the-line Lucite Wall exterior house paint went for $6.90 a gallon.
Belk Rhodes advertised their wide selection of Easter fashions, including dresses "from toddler to teen, including chubbette." Yes, imagine if a store today advertised an entire line of clothing branded "Chubbette Fashions"--and they even trademarked it!
Piggly Wiggly made it affordable to eat in style with sirloin steaks for 89¢ a pound; they also offered orange juice for 29¢ a quart and turnip greens for a dime a pound. Kroger had ground beef for 39¢ a pound, corn dogs on a stick for a nickel each, and Eatmore brand margarine (no, I'm not making that name up!) for 8¢ per one-pound package. Couch's had ground beef for 33¢ a pound (this was back when no one mentioned the lean-to-fat content of the beef, of course), Duncan Hines cake mix for 33¢ a box, and sweet potatoes for a nickel a pound. A&P had salmon for 59¢ a can (did anyone buy salmon as fresh fish back then? I thought it only came canned!), bell peppers for a nickel each, and tomato soup for 9¢ a can. Big Apple offered T-Bone steak for 99¢ a pound, a 12-pack of doughnuts for 29¢, and 14-ounce frozen pizzas for 9¢ each.
If you wanted to catch a movie during the week, you had a choice of A Girl Named Tamiko at the DeSoto Theater, The Raven at the First Avenue, or Thank a Fool at the West Rome Drive-In. The weekend brought Marlon Brando's Julius Caesar to the DeSoto; Samson and the 7 Miracles of the World to the First Avenue, and Jack the Giant Killer to the West Rome Drive-In.
"He's So Fine" by the Chiffons climbed to #1 this week in 1963. Other top ten hits included "Our Day Will Come" by Ruby and the Romantics (#2); "The End of the World" by Skeeter Davis (#3); "South Street" by the Orlons (#4); "You're the Reason I'm Living" by Bobby Darin (#5); "Rhythm of the Rain" by the Cascades (#6); "In Dreams" by Roy Orbison (#7); Baby Workout" by Jackie Wilson (#8); "Our Winter Love" by Bill Pursell (#9); and "Blame It On the Bossa Nova" by Eydie Gorme (#10).
Fifty Years Ago This Week in West Rome - 3/18/63 to 3/24/63
The issue of prayer in school made the headlines when the West Rome Hi-Y and Tri-Hi-Y clubs joined other Y clubs in Rome and Floyd County in support of a resolution stressing the value of prayer in public schools. Since I recall prayer in schools for several more years after this, I think it's safe to assume that this didn't become a major issue in West Rome right away.
Also in the news: spanking or paddling of unruly students. After a lawsuit was filed over a paddling in a neighboring county, the Rome News-Tribune checked into the policies in Rome City Schools and confirmed that spanking or paddling as a "last resort" was acceptable, and that it was up to individual school administrators to decide when it was appropriate.
Ted B. Peacock resigned as Rome Police Department Chief on March 18th, 1963, due to health issues; Nelson Camp, who had already assumed the duties as temporary chief while Peacock was on sick leave, was appointed as his replacement.
Large numbers of teenage girls and women were showing up for the Rome/Floyd County YMCA's classes in self-defense judo for women. The classes were so popular, in facat, that the Y was having to add extra sessions, and was looking at adding an advanced course in the late spring. Teenager Kay Wyatt was perhaps a little too excited about her judo prowess; she told the Rome News-Tribune that "I can't wait for somebody to really attack me!"
Alex H. Mills, executive director of the Rome Boys' Club, and William R. Dixon, director of the Boys' Club choir, were presented with Rome's annual "Civic Pride" Awards on March 18th for their work to benefit the community. I still remember walking to the Boys' Club in West Rome--and in particular, I remember that wonderful trampoline that they had. I'm sure I'm not the only Chieftain who appreciated what they brought to our community!
The Dairy Queen on Shorter Avenue held their famous 1¢ sale on Wednesday and Thursdays in the spring of 1963: buy one malt, sundae, shake, or cone and get another for free. As much as I loved ice cream as a kid, how did I miss out on this? Of course, with Candler Drug and their legendary nickel and dime ice cream cones just a couple of hundred feet away, I don't think I suffered from ice cream shortage...
Coach Paul Kennedy actually seemed pleased with his up-and-coming football team on March 18th, saying that "the young boys are finally looking good. And the fact that the Rome News Tribune was devoting its major sports section headline space to a story about football spring training tells you just how much of a football town Rome was in the 1960s!
All of this was a lead-up to the annual "W-Night" intra-mural football game at Barron Stadium on Thursday, March 21st. Coach Nick Hyder was in charge of the Green Team, which featured Chris Warren ("one of Georgia's finest passers"), Van Gray, Jim Lamb, Billy Mellon, & Gordon Walden. Coach Ralph Beeler took charge of the White Team, which included up-and-coming star Dickie Sapp, along with Gerry Law, Wayne White, and Jerry Coalson. The game ended with a 7-0 White Team Victory as Dickie Sapp scored the game's only touchdown.
Kroger offered pork and beans for a dime a can, toilet tissue for 29¢ per four-roll pack, and 8-inch fruit or cream pies for only 39¢ each. Piggly Wiggly had corn for a nnickel an ear, a twin-pack of Tom's Potato Chips for 49¢, and ground beef for 49¢ a pound. The Big Apple had cabbage for a nickel a head, fat back for 19¢ a pound, and peaches for 25¢ a pound. Couch's offered shortening for 69¢ for a three-pound can, eggs for 33¢ a dozen, and the ever-popular TV Dinners for 39¢ each.
If you wanted to catch a movie in Rome, you could see Days of Wine and Roses at the DeSoto, Follow the Boys at the First Avenue, or a double feature of Mighty Ursus and The War Lover at the West Rome Drive-In during the first half of the week. The weekend brought Thirty Years of Fun and Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea to the DeSoto, The Scarface Mob to the First Avenue, and The View from Pompey's Head and The Tall Men to the West Rome Drive-In. (Did the West Rome Drive-In ever offer any first-class movies?…)
Fifty years ago this week, we were listening to "Our Day Will Come" by Ruby and the Romantics (#1); "The End of the World" by Skeeter Davis (#2); "You're the Reason I'm LIving" by Bobby Darin (#3); "He's So Fine" by the Chiffons (#4); "Walk Like a Man" by the Four Seasons (#5); "Rhythm of the Rain" by the Cascades (#6); "South Street" by the Orlons (#7); "Blame It on the Bossa Nova" by Eydie Gorme (#8); "What Will my Mary Say" by Johnny Mathis (#9); and "In Dreams" by Roy Orbison (#10).
Meanwhile, the Beatles' first album Please Please Me was released in England this week in 1963. Alas, those of us in West Rome would know nothing about that unless we happened to be traveling to England, since no Beatles album was released in the US until early 1964.
Also in the news: spanking or paddling of unruly students. After a lawsuit was filed over a paddling in a neighboring county, the Rome News-Tribune checked into the policies in Rome City Schools and confirmed that spanking or paddling as a "last resort" was acceptable, and that it was up to individual school administrators to decide when it was appropriate.
Ted B. Peacock resigned as Rome Police Department Chief on March 18th, 1963, due to health issues; Nelson Camp, who had already assumed the duties as temporary chief while Peacock was on sick leave, was appointed as his replacement.
Large numbers of teenage girls and women were showing up for the Rome/Floyd County YMCA's classes in self-defense judo for women. The classes were so popular, in facat, that the Y was having to add extra sessions, and was looking at adding an advanced course in the late spring. Teenager Kay Wyatt was perhaps a little too excited about her judo prowess; she told the Rome News-Tribune that "I can't wait for somebody to really attack me!"
Alex H. Mills, executive director of the Rome Boys' Club, and William R. Dixon, director of the Boys' Club choir, were presented with Rome's annual "Civic Pride" Awards on March 18th for their work to benefit the community. I still remember walking to the Boys' Club in West Rome--and in particular, I remember that wonderful trampoline that they had. I'm sure I'm not the only Chieftain who appreciated what they brought to our community!
The Dairy Queen on Shorter Avenue held their famous 1¢ sale on Wednesday and Thursdays in the spring of 1963: buy one malt, sundae, shake, or cone and get another for free. As much as I loved ice cream as a kid, how did I miss out on this? Of course, with Candler Drug and their legendary nickel and dime ice cream cones just a couple of hundred feet away, I don't think I suffered from ice cream shortage...
Coach Paul Kennedy actually seemed pleased with his up-and-coming football team on March 18th, saying that "the young boys are finally looking good. And the fact that the Rome News Tribune was devoting its major sports section headline space to a story about football spring training tells you just how much of a football town Rome was in the 1960s!
All of this was a lead-up to the annual "W-Night" intra-mural football game at Barron Stadium on Thursday, March 21st. Coach Nick Hyder was in charge of the Green Team, which featured Chris Warren ("one of Georgia's finest passers"), Van Gray, Jim Lamb, Billy Mellon, & Gordon Walden. Coach Ralph Beeler took charge of the White Team, which included up-and-coming star Dickie Sapp, along with Gerry Law, Wayne White, and Jerry Coalson. The game ended with a 7-0 White Team Victory as Dickie Sapp scored the game's only touchdown.
Kroger offered pork and beans for a dime a can, toilet tissue for 29¢ per four-roll pack, and 8-inch fruit or cream pies for only 39¢ each. Piggly Wiggly had corn for a nnickel an ear, a twin-pack of Tom's Potato Chips for 49¢, and ground beef for 49¢ a pound. The Big Apple had cabbage for a nickel a head, fat back for 19¢ a pound, and peaches for 25¢ a pound. Couch's offered shortening for 69¢ for a three-pound can, eggs for 33¢ a dozen, and the ever-popular TV Dinners for 39¢ each.
If you wanted to catch a movie in Rome, you could see Days of Wine and Roses at the DeSoto, Follow the Boys at the First Avenue, or a double feature of Mighty Ursus and The War Lover at the West Rome Drive-In during the first half of the week. The weekend brought Thirty Years of Fun and Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea to the DeSoto, The Scarface Mob to the First Avenue, and The View from Pompey's Head and The Tall Men to the West Rome Drive-In. (Did the West Rome Drive-In ever offer any first-class movies?…)
Fifty years ago this week, we were listening to "Our Day Will Come" by Ruby and the Romantics (#1); "The End of the World" by Skeeter Davis (#2); "You're the Reason I'm LIving" by Bobby Darin (#3); "He's So Fine" by the Chiffons (#4); "Walk Like a Man" by the Four Seasons (#5); "Rhythm of the Rain" by the Cascades (#6); "South Street" by the Orlons (#7); "Blame It on the Bossa Nova" by Eydie Gorme (#8); "What Will my Mary Say" by Johnny Mathis (#9); and "In Dreams" by Roy Orbison (#10).
Meanwhile, the Beatles' first album Please Please Me was released in England this week in 1963. Alas, those of us in West Rome would know nothing about that unless we happened to be traveling to England, since no Beatles album was released in the US until early 1964.
Celebrating Comics' Super Boys
(St. Martin’s Press, $27.99 - scheduled for early June release)
Comics creators have been the subject of all too few biographies. Of those biographies that have been written, most are little more than chronicles of the writer or artist’s professional accomplishments. That’s not the case with Super Boys; Brad Ricca presents readers with a portrait of the people behind the greatest superhero icon the medium has ever known.
From their early days as high school students and avid science fiction readers through their glory days as the most famous creators in comics to their years in virtual creative exile to the final reconciliations and recognitions that left them happy in their final years, Super Boys is the story of two men who shared a dream that ultimately got away from them.
What makes Super Boys distinctive is the passion that Ricca brings to the book. He obviously cares for the two men whose lives he researched with such dedication—in fact, he cares intensely. He wants to know not just what they did, but how they felt, how their shaped by their creation. He wants to know about their personal successes and failures as well—and he shares all of that with his readers with the deft skill of a novelist bringing characters to life on the page.
Along the way, Ricca makes some fascinating discoveries: Jerry Siegel’s last unpublished story, buried in editor Julius Schwartz’s desk; the truth about the death of Michel Siegel, Jerry’s father; the origins of Lois Lane’s name.
But the most memorable aspect of Super Boys is not the discoveries, but the way Ricca brings these two men to life. We share in their exuberance as Superman is accepted, we witness their frustration and anger as the character slips away from them; we understand the acceptance and satisfaction that they found in their final years, as well as the creative sparks that never burned out.
Super Boys treats its subjects with the sort of respect and insightful analysis that is usually reserved for the Picassos and Hemingways and Fitzgeralds of the world; it’s fitting that Siegel and Shuster should receive such treatment.
Monday, March 18, 2013
Fifty Years Ago This Week in West Rome - 3/11/63 to 3/17/63
Georgia raised the minimum age for a death sentence judgment to 17 this week in 1963; until that time, anyone over the age of 10 could be sentenced to death!
Winter's cold gave way to the pre-spring mix of warmer weather, thunderstorms, and tornado watches on March 12th. 3.17" of rain fell on Tuesday afternoon, causing flooding problems in low-lying areas around Charlton Road, Conn Street, and Paris Drive.
Rome unemployment fell to 4.9% as the employment office in Rome placed 180 people in full-time jobs in the month of February. Oh, what we'd give for unemployment rates like that today!...
The Seventh District Science Fair was held at Berry College on Friday, March 15th, and Saturday, March 16th, 1963. 200 projects were entered in the fair, including several from West Rome High School
West Rome's football team got another chance to play East Rome on March 16th as the two teams scrimmages as part of the Annual Rome Football Clinic, organized by West Rome Coach Paul Kennedy and East Rome coach Wallace Wilkinson. All Rome City and Floyd County Schools participated in the event. Coach Kennedy announced that the upcoming team was his best yet, although he described (in typical Coach Kennedy plain-talk fashion) the Wednesday pre-scrimmage practice as "the worst I can remember at West Rome." He was never one to mince words, was he?..
The Rome Three Rivers Swim Team, which included three students from West Rome High School (no names given--anyone know which Chieftains were a part of this team?), competed in the State High School Swim Meet at Emory University; from there, the group went on to Athens for the University of Georgia AAU Open Inivtational Age Group Swimming and Diving Championships.
The Chieftains Club met on Monday, March 11th; the meeting kicked off with a preview for Chieftain Acts (which was scheduled for March 29th and 30th) that included performance by the Four Fellows, a musical group comprised of West Rome students. as well as a dance routine by Cindy Blaylock & Jerry Smith. The business portion of the meeting focused on plans for a health clinic at West Rome High, to be staffed by volunteer workers; and a request to the school board for additional funds to improve the school grounds--particularly the football practice field.
The Rome Bowling Lanes on Hicks Drive held their grand opening this week in 1963, complete with free hot dogs and cokes, free shoe rentals, and an appearance by "Mr. Bowler" Ralph Tucker. The bowling lanes were open 24 hours a day, seven days a week for your bowling pleasure, and offered 24 AMF bowling lanes.
If your family had a lot of money to spend on home entertainment, then Rome Radio Company had just what you needed: a 21" console color television for only $549.95. Remember, the inflation factor between 1963 and now is 7.52, so that's the equivalent of more than $4100 today!
Looking for a new car? Julian Harrison Ford had a 1963 Ford Fairlane for $1944, a 1963 Ford Falcon station wagon for $2121, and a 1963 Ford half-ton pickup for $1777.
Kroger was running a special on pork shoulder roasts at 23¢ a pound, cottage cheece at 10¢ per 8 ounce carton, and Star-Kist tuna for 25¢ a can. Piggly Wiggly countered with chicken breasts for 49¢ a pound, potatoes for 39¢ per ten-pound bag, and peanut butter for 39¢ per 10 ounce jar. Couch's had pork loins for 49¢ a pound, bacon for 39¢ a pound, and JFG coffee for 59¢ a pound. A&P had bananas for a dime a pound, rib roast for 69¢ a pound, and Bailey's Supreme coffee for 59¢ a pound. Big Apple offered cans of salmon for 33¢. mackerel filets for 49¢ a pound, and apples for 17¢ a pound.
Rome's theaters offered a mix of family films and more "sophisticated" fare this week fifty years ago. The DeSoto was showing Who's Got the Action? with Dean Martin & Lana Turner; the First Avenue continued with Phaedra starring Melina Mercouri (in her days as an actress, before she became a Greek politician) and Anthony Perkins; and the West Rome Drive-In kicked the week off with Boys Night Out starring Kim Novak, James Garner, and Tony Randall. The weekend movie lineup included Wild in the Country with Elvis Presley at the DeSoto, Follow the Boys with Connie Francis at the First Avenue, and a double feature of Geronimo! and Damn the Defiant! (two exclamation-point films--yes, the puncuation is actually a part of the title) at the West Rome Drive-In.
Once again, "Walk Like a Man" by the Four Seasons took first place in the top ten. Other songs in the top ten included "Our Day Will Come" by Ruby and the Romantics (#2); "You're the Reason I'm Living" by Bobby Darin (#3); "The End of the World" by Skeeter Davis (#4); "Rhythm of the Rain" by the Cascades (#5); "The End of the World" by Skeeter Davis (#6); "Ruby Baby" by Dion (#7); "Blame It on the Bossa Nova (#8); "What Will My Mary Say?" by Johnny Mathis (#9); and "He's So Fine" by the Chiffons (#10).
Winter's cold gave way to the pre-spring mix of warmer weather, thunderstorms, and tornado watches on March 12th. 3.17" of rain fell on Tuesday afternoon, causing flooding problems in low-lying areas around Charlton Road, Conn Street, and Paris Drive.
Rome unemployment fell to 4.9% as the employment office in Rome placed 180 people in full-time jobs in the month of February. Oh, what we'd give for unemployment rates like that today!...
The Seventh District Science Fair was held at Berry College on Friday, March 15th, and Saturday, March 16th, 1963. 200 projects were entered in the fair, including several from West Rome High School
West Rome's football team got another chance to play East Rome on March 16th as the two teams scrimmages as part of the Annual Rome Football Clinic, organized by West Rome Coach Paul Kennedy and East Rome coach Wallace Wilkinson. All Rome City and Floyd County Schools participated in the event. Coach Kennedy announced that the upcoming team was his best yet, although he described (in typical Coach Kennedy plain-talk fashion) the Wednesday pre-scrimmage practice as "the worst I can remember at West Rome." He was never one to mince words, was he?..
The Rome Three Rivers Swim Team, which included three students from West Rome High School (no names given--anyone know which Chieftains were a part of this team?), competed in the State High School Swim Meet at Emory University; from there, the group went on to Athens for the University of Georgia AAU Open Inivtational Age Group Swimming and Diving Championships.
The Chieftains Club met on Monday, March 11th; the meeting kicked off with a preview for Chieftain Acts (which was scheduled for March 29th and 30th) that included performance by the Four Fellows, a musical group comprised of West Rome students. as well as a dance routine by Cindy Blaylock & Jerry Smith. The business portion of the meeting focused on plans for a health clinic at West Rome High, to be staffed by volunteer workers; and a request to the school board for additional funds to improve the school grounds--particularly the football practice field.
The Rome Bowling Lanes on Hicks Drive held their grand opening this week in 1963, complete with free hot dogs and cokes, free shoe rentals, and an appearance by "Mr. Bowler" Ralph Tucker. The bowling lanes were open 24 hours a day, seven days a week for your bowling pleasure, and offered 24 AMF bowling lanes.
If your family had a lot of money to spend on home entertainment, then Rome Radio Company had just what you needed: a 21" console color television for only $549.95. Remember, the inflation factor between 1963 and now is 7.52, so that's the equivalent of more than $4100 today!
Looking for a new car? Julian Harrison Ford had a 1963 Ford Fairlane for $1944, a 1963 Ford Falcon station wagon for $2121, and a 1963 Ford half-ton pickup for $1777.
Kroger was running a special on pork shoulder roasts at 23¢ a pound, cottage cheece at 10¢ per 8 ounce carton, and Star-Kist tuna for 25¢ a can. Piggly Wiggly countered with chicken breasts for 49¢ a pound, potatoes for 39¢ per ten-pound bag, and peanut butter for 39¢ per 10 ounce jar. Couch's had pork loins for 49¢ a pound, bacon for 39¢ a pound, and JFG coffee for 59¢ a pound. A&P had bananas for a dime a pound, rib roast for 69¢ a pound, and Bailey's Supreme coffee for 59¢ a pound. Big Apple offered cans of salmon for 33¢. mackerel filets for 49¢ a pound, and apples for 17¢ a pound.
Rome's theaters offered a mix of family films and more "sophisticated" fare this week fifty years ago. The DeSoto was showing Who's Got the Action? with Dean Martin & Lana Turner; the First Avenue continued with Phaedra starring Melina Mercouri (in her days as an actress, before she became a Greek politician) and Anthony Perkins; and the West Rome Drive-In kicked the week off with Boys Night Out starring Kim Novak, James Garner, and Tony Randall. The weekend movie lineup included Wild in the Country with Elvis Presley at the DeSoto, Follow the Boys with Connie Francis at the First Avenue, and a double feature of Geronimo! and Damn the Defiant! (two exclamation-point films--yes, the puncuation is actually a part of the title) at the West Rome Drive-In.
Once again, "Walk Like a Man" by the Four Seasons took first place in the top ten. Other songs in the top ten included "Our Day Will Come" by Ruby and the Romantics (#2); "You're the Reason I'm Living" by Bobby Darin (#3); "The End of the World" by Skeeter Davis (#4); "Rhythm of the Rain" by the Cascades (#5); "The End of the World" by Skeeter Davis (#6); "Ruby Baby" by Dion (#7); "Blame It on the Bossa Nova (#8); "What Will My Mary Say?" by Johnny Mathis (#9); and "He's So Fine" by the Chiffons (#10).
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