Fifty Years Ago This Week in West Rome - 3/17/1969 to 3/23/1969

Alas, this is a particularly skimpy Fifty Years Ago... column for reasons beyond my control: the Rome News-Tribune is apparently missing file copies of four of the six weekly papers for this week i 1969, and the Rome library informed me that they had no copies, either. As a result, I have access to only the most limited news for the week. Let's make the best of it, though, shall we?

The West Rome Chieftain Club held their March meeting on Monday, March 17th, at the West Rome High School auditorium to finalize plans for Showtime '69, the student variety show that was salted to replace Chieftain Acts for 1969. . 

Three Chieftains were named as finalists in the Governor's Honors Program, which meant that they were eligible to attend Wesleyan College for eight weeks during the summer to study in their chosen fields. The three honorees were Charles Wester (11th grade), who qualified in science; Marilyn Little (11th grade), who qualified in social science;  and Janet Webb (11th grade), who qualified in English. In addition, Tommy Roberson (11th grade) qualified as an alternate in Music.

Piggly Wiggly had chicken breasts for 46¢ a pound, Fab detergent for 39¢ a box, and lettuce for 15¢ a head. A&P had chuck roast for 89¢ a pound, bakery-fresh apple pies for 39¢ each, and vine ripe tomatoes for 29¢ a pound. Big Apple had ham for 39¢ a pound, Irvindale ice milk for 39¢ a half-gallon, and Coca-Cola/Tab/Sprite for 33¢ a carton plus deposit. Kroger had fresh whole fryers for 29¢ a pound, grapes for 19¢ a pound, and Bama jelly for 33¢ a jar. Couch's had fresh in-store-ground sausage for 59¢ a pound, Poss Brunswick stew for 59¢ a can, and Maxwell House coffee for 69¢ a pound.

The cinematic week began with Play Dirty (starring Michael Caine) at the DeSoto Theatre, Three in the Attic (starring Yvette Mimieux) at the First Avenue, and The Split (starring Julie Harris) at the West Rome Drive-In. The midweek switchout brought Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell (starring Gina Lollobrigida) to the DeSoto and Angel in My Pocket (starring Andy Griffith) to the West Rome Drive-In, while three remained in the attic for another week at the First Avenue.

"Dizzy" by Tommy Roe held on to the number slot for a third week this week in 1969. Other top ten hits included "Traces" by the Classics IV featuring Dennis Yost (#2); "Time of the Season" by the Zombies (#3); "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In" by the 5th Dimension (#4); "Proud Mary" by Creedence Clearwater Revival (#5); "Run Away Child, Running Wild" by the Temptations (#6); "Indian Giver" by the 1910  Fruitgum Co. (#7); "Galveston" by Glen Campbell (#8); "My Whole World Ended" by David Ruffin (#9); and "Only the Strong Survive" by Jerry Butler (#10). 

John Lennon married Yoko Ono this week in 1969 in Gibraltar (they could have gotten married in Gibraltar or Spain).