Fifty Years Ago This Week in West Rome - 3/3/1969 to 3/9/1969

West Rome High School's marching band received a superior rating in Class B concert and sight reading at the Seventh District Music Festival; no other Rome schools received a superior rating in both categories. The junior high band received an excellent rating.

Convinced that approval of the upcoming referendum was likely, the Rome City Commission began drawing up regulations to control the sale of liquor in the city limits. The city determined that, should the referendum pass, any store wishing to sell liquor would have to pay $5000 for a license, and that the city would levy an 80¢ per gallon tax on all alcohol sold.

Apparently Rome and Floyd County weren't willing to let the local weather station go without a fight: the city commission, the county commission, and the Chamber of Commerce announce a joint effort to keep the local weather station open--and if necessary, they intended to raise local funds to pay for it.

After a quiet, relatively crime-free week, the weekend went downhill as Rome was plagued with multiple burglaries on Saturday night. The Central Plaza Super Discount was broken into and most than $300 was stolen from cash registers and a cash box hidden in a file cabinet. Rome Automobile on Martha Berry Boulevard was broken into, and the thieves made off with tools and equipment valued at over $400. HD Morgan Oil Company was burglarized; thieves made off with cigarettes and cash from the vending machines. and George's Marine was hit by thieves who made off with three motorcycle helmets, a motorcycle jacket, and one headlight.

Last-minute negotiations proved fruitless as the governor reluctantly accepted the fact that his intensely-promoted sales tax increase didn't appear destined to pass. Governor Maddox said that he and key party leaders would fine-tune the plan and possibly call the legislators back into session in the summer to reconsider the tax increase, which would raise state sales tax by 33% from 3% to 4%.

Microwaves came to Rome this week in 1969 as Adams Refrigeration and Air Conditioning announced that they would be the first store in Rome to sell the Amana Radarange microwave oven. "Cook a five pound roast in 37 minutes," their ad touted. "Hamburger in the bun in 1 minute. No heat, no pots, no pans! The microwave offered 135 watts of power (about 15% what most of today's microwaves offer) and was available for only $599.99.

Piggly Wiggly had sirloin steak for $1.08 a pound (apparently 1969 was the year that steak routinely topped the $1 a pound mark), grapefruit for 7¢ each, and a two-pound bag of Ore-Ida tater tots for 38¢. Big Apple had Double Cola for a nickel a bottle, Crisco oil for 39¢ a quart, and Irvindale ice milk for 39¢ a half-gallon. A&P had pork roast for 59¢ a pound, glazed doughnuts for 39¢ a dozen, and a two-pound jar of Ann Page peanut butter for 75¢.  Kroger had fresh fryer breast for 49¢ a pound, perch filet for 45¢ a pound, and pole beans for 19¢ a pound. Couch's had their own in-store-made sausage for 59¢ a pound, Bama jelly for 29¢ a jar, and cabbage for 5¢ a pound.

The cinematic week began with Lady in Cement (starring Frank Sinatra) at the DeSoto Theatre, 2001: A Space Odyssey (starring Keir Dullea and Gary Lockwood) at the First Avenue, and Yellow Submarine (starring animated versions of the Beatles, along with a brief clip of the real Fab Four at the very end) at the West Rome Drive-In. The midweek switch out brought The Night They Raided Minsky's (starring Jason Robards) to the DeSoto, while the First Avenue and the West Rome Drive-In flipped films, with 2001 moving to the drive-in while Yellow Submarine moved to the First Avenue.

Tommy Roe soar3ed to number one this week in 1969 with "Dizzy." Other top ten hits included "Proud Mary" by Creedence Clearwater Revival (#2); "Everyday People" by Sly & the Family Stone (#3); "Build Me Up Buttercup" by the Foundations (#4); "Traces" by the Classics IV featuring Dennis Yost (#5); "Crimson & Clover" by Tommy James & the Shondells (#6); "This Girl's In Love With You" by Dionne Warwick (#7); "Indian Giver" by the 1910 Fruitgum Co. (#8); "Time of the Season" by the Zombies (#9); and "This Magic Moment" by Jay & the Americans (#10).

Little did we know how big they would eventually become: Genesis released its debut album, From Genesis to Revelation, this week in 1969. The original group consisted of Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, Anthony Phillips, and Chris Stewart; it would be many more years before Phil Collins became a part of the band.