Fifty Years Ago This Week in West Rome: 4/15/63 to 4/21/63

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).