7/19/1956

EAST FAREWELL NEWS

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Thursday, July 19, 1956   Vol. C577

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LOCAL NEWS

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1^ST OFFICIAL SAILBOAT RACE DRAWS LARGE CROWD

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East Farewell – The first official ‘Sails on the Lake’ race was held on Saturday and thrilled a large crowd on Lakefront Plaza as well as lakefront viewers all around the Lake Charles. The race was spawned by a grudge race held last year by to local sailors, Ward James and Earl Dornan, who wanted to settle a bet over their rebuilt sailboats. The first race ironically was won by a third entrant, a bandwagon jumper so to speak, Jake Smart. After the unexpected success of the race in which there ended up being ten entrants was limited to fifteen entrants this year for safety reasons and the slots filled quickly. Smart, Ward and Dornan were in the group along with last year entrants, David Wells, Kathy O’Malley, Billy Green, Walter Scott and Sonny Fisk. New entrants included Charlie Hertz, Will Getz, Sanford Chase, Charles Smart (Jake’s son), Winnie Baylor (the only other female entrant), Arthur Dolan and Sam Sweeney.

            The race started off with the starter’s gun and a roar from the crowd and the boats gracefully sweeping by the Plaza. The racecourse led the group around the lake for four laps, a lap was added to last year’s race, by temporary buoys set up along the way. The moderate breeze helped push the boats at a fair clip and sailors enjoyed attention from the landlubbers as they passed. Many parties were held around the lake just to watch even though it was only moments that the boats passed and then there was a wait for them to come around again. “We just loved it,” said Natalie Mallard, local resident, “This is going to be an instant tradition if I ever saw one.”

            The race was won by one of the originators, Ward James, who led second place Charles Smart by three lengths. “Well this puts to rest the original question of who has the better boat, me or old Doran. That is what we wanted to settle all along. I knew I had a better boat. Now the whole town knows. It feels great”

            The wonderful race took three hours forty seven minutes and the lead changed hands several times. At one point in the race both females were in the lead with O’Malley leading Baylor by the slimmest of margins. Both were overtaken by James and eventually by Smart. The woman finished in third and fourth place followed by Dornan then Hertz, Fisk, Wells, Sweeney, Dolan, Green, Getz, Jake Smart and finishing last but not least was Walter Scott who experienced a catastrophic mast disaster in the final lap that reduced him to sailing with only his jib sail to complete the course but he did complete it.

            There was no trophy for the winner but one was promised for next year’s winner. A party-like after race ceremony was held on the Plaza with all the contestants sharing in the revelry. The race’s success seems to have placed in on the town’s social calendar.

Exciting start to the 1956 ‘Sails on the Lake’ Race

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SPORTS

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MINERS CAVE IN ON TRAVELERS

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Slate Mountain – The Travelers six game winning streak came to an end on Saturday when they were crushed by their arch rivals Slate Mountain Miners, 6-1. It was obvious that the Miners were looking for revenge for their early season thumping by the Travelers and they set stage for the show down by opening the gates early and letting fans watch and comment/raspberry the Travelers during batting practice. The Miners ace, Tony ‘Michael’ Angelo, was indeed a master over the Travelers. He pitched six perfect innings, let in one hit in the sixth and then pitched another two perfect innings and only slipped in the ninth when he let Johnny Cloos finally connect with a fastball that must have slowed just enough for Johnny to catch up to it and send it out of the park. That was too little too late because the Miners had managed to accumulate 12 hits and turn them into six runs. The Travelers did not have an answer to Angelo’s breaking curve and blazing fastball. The Miners looked strong on defense, too. They turned a double play in the sixth to squelch the feeble Traveler’s threat. The rest of the game was all Miners and the Travelers need to move past last week and get back on track when they continue on the road and visit a new addition to the league, the Monticello Vikings, for the first time. The game begins at 1:30 in the brand new Monticello Ball Park.

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 NATIONAL NEWS

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IKE TO STAY IN HOSPITAL – BOMBS IN CYPRUS KILLS ONE – AIRLINER CRASH IN NJ – LEWIS & MARTIN OFFICIALLY OVER – LIONS FREE IN ROME

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President Eisenhower’s personal physician discloses the President will be hospitalized somewhat longer than first forecast. He won’t get out before the middle of next week.

Two bombs are thrown into a downtown restaurant in Cyprus, killing one American and injuring six.

A Venezuelan airliner carrying 74 persons crashed as it limped back to Idlewild Airport after one of its engines quit. The plane, which took off from the New York airport got as far south at a point 250 miles east of Norfolk and turned around. Just as the plane was almost back at Idlewild (32 miles east of Asbury Park, NJ), it began dumping fuel (a normal procedure), but the fuel caught fire as it left the plane. Other pilots say the burning fuel looked like a torch. The last radio transmission from the pilot was frantic - “Gas Caught Fire.” 20 victims were Americans.

Hedda Hopper says that Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis are breaking up their act again - this time for good. “I’m happy at last,” Lewis told her. He said the latest feud with his partner involved their appearance in a projected picture “Damon and Pythias”, which Lewis also is to direct. Martin flatly refused to perform in the film.

Two lions break free from their cages at a Rome circus, leaving hundreds of patrons running screaming. One of the lions broke the back of circus mule with a caught quickly.

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7/12/1956

EAST FAREWELL NEWS

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Thursday, July 12, 1956   Vol. C576

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LOCAL NEWS

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THE BIGGEST AND BEST FIREWORKS EVER

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East Farewell- There is only one word to describe the fireworks display put on by Fireworks International last weekend. Spectacular! The clear, warm summer night was perfect for the show and an estimated 5,000 people filled the Lakefront Plaza and overflowed onto Main Street and Lakeshore Drive. All of the lakefront properties were packed with visitors and the parties started early and continued on late into the night. The show started at 8:00PM with a stirring rendition of the Star Spangled Banner played by the Regional High School Band and sung by the full (57 member) school chorus. The display started precisely at 8:10PM with a huge, multiple carnations with several reports and secondary flares. The show continued in gloriously loud and beautiful fashion. The entire show was accompanied by patriotic music played by the High School band. Every group of missiles seemed bigger than the last and when there was any lull in the firing a ground show set up 100 yards out in the lake on temporary floating platforms. Roman Candles, spinning wheels and for the big ground show finale a sparkling tank blasted what could only be described as a pillbox with a Chinese hat on top of it. As the tank repeatedly fired into the pillbox the hat finally flipped up and the entire piece exploded into a shower of sparks much to the delight of the crowds.

            The overhead show continued for almost 45 minutes and ended in an incredible multi-phased, multi-blast finale that almost turned the night into day. The collective oos and ahs could be heard across the lake and with each fiery explosion. The multi-colored blooms, jets and spirals delighted all.

            Many shops and restaurants had set up al fresco shopping and dining areas around the edges of the Lakeshore Plaza. Many of the spectators camped out early in the evening, coming straight from the Travelers win at the ball field and enjoyed the wonderful summer sunset across the Lake while dining on sumptuous selections from very accommodating vendors. The event ran well beyond the last blast and the final strains of the band. Many people stayed on the Plaza enjoying the warm night air and watching the impromptu fireworks set off by many of the private lakeside parties.

Fireworks and ground show at Lake Charles

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SPORTS

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TRAVELERS SET OFF THEIR OWN FIREWORKS

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East Farewell - The Erie Eagles came to town expecting to see fireworks after the game but were surprised to be blasted by the Travelers with fireworks on the playing field. It started in the second inning with a two run blast by Johnny Cloos. Then in the fourth both Tony Dimero, Joey Brown and Art Archibald hit back to back to back homers. That was a first in the league and has only been done once before all the way in 1940. Finally in the eighth pitcher Billy Green got into the act with his first homer of the season sending a low, slow curve just over the right field wall. The Eagles were able to get on the board in the fourth with two runs. Two doubles by Dowd and Branch and a walk by Thomas got the score tied but that was all they could do and in the bottom of the fourth the Travelers unleashed their big blasts.

            It was a beautiful afternoon and the sold out crowd was very pleased by the outcome of the game and almost all made their way over to the Lakefront Plaza after the game for more fun and fireworks.

Next week the Travelers are on the road for a meeting with their arch-rivals, the Slate Mountain Miners. The game begins in Slate Mountain at 1:30 on Saturday.

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 NATIONAL NEWS

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NO MORE BIG TOP FOR CIRCUS – NEW BENEFITS FOR DISABLED – GOVERNMENT SURPLUS HOORAY – DISNEYLAND CELEBRATES ONE YEAR OLD

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No more circus tent - Ringling Bros Barnum & Bailey Circus - America’s “greatest show on earth” does its last tent show in Pittsburgh this week. John Ringling North says the circus was folding its mammoth tent for the last time after a performance at Heidelberg track. “The tented circus as it now exists is, in my opinion, a thing of the past. We are considering plans for the future which may involve an almost completely mechanically controlled exhibition.” North stressed the circus will continue, but in a different form. “The all-new 78th presentation of Ringling Bros-Barnum & Bailey combined shows will open as usual on April 3, 1957, at Madison Square Garden in New York and will play the 1957 season in other air-conditioned arenas all over the United States.”  Labor troubles, bad weather and rising costs sounded the death knell for the road show under the giant umbrella of canvas.

The Senate passes a Social Security Bill carrying a trail-breaking program of benefits for disabled persons starting at age 50 and lowering the retirement age for women from 65 to 62.

The government reports a budget surplus of $1,754,357, 066 for the fiscal year 1956 which ended June 30. It was the first surplus in five years and the fourth since 1930.

Disneyland - a year old, says attendance was 3,642,597 for the past 12 months. There were Presidents like President Sukarno of Indonesia and Vice-Presidents like Richard M. Nixon plus visitors from 64 different countries. The average amount spent was $2.37 per person. This included parking, admission, rides, amusements and souvenirs. There are now 21 free exhibits as compared with 11 available last July. There are a total of 33 rides and amusements - seven more than when Disneyland was opened. A $2,000,000 expansion program recently completed includes the Disneyland Skyway, the Rainbow Caverns, Mine Train Ride, the Indian Village and War Canoes, Storybook Land and Tom Sawyer’s Island.

Harold Lloyd (63) says comedy is different today and not an easy business: “Comedy is different today because comedians use different tactics. Back in my days on the screen, I used the pantomime. It was the same vehicle used by Charlie Chaplin and others. It got laughs in those days. But, today, comedy and comedians seem to rely on dialogue. Sometimes they get a good vehicle from it. When they do, everybody laughs. Comedy is a tough business. You’re up one day and down the next. Lloyd says that during the early days of silent movies the actors did the acting, including the stunts. There were few if any stand-ins: “I hung from the hands of a clock in ‘Safety First’ three stories above the street.”

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7/5/1956

EAST FAREWELL NEWS

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Thursday, July 5, 1956   Vol. C575

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LOCAL NEWS

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BIGGEST FIREWORKS DISPLAY EVER TO LIGHT UP EAST FAREWELL

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East Farewell- The biggest and best fireworks display will be put on by the Fireworks International Company assisted by the East Farewell Fire Company this weekend. The outside company was brought in by the Town Council at considerable cost in hopes of increasing the attendance and to quell safety concerns that arose over the spectacular blow up two years ago. Last years event was subdued and poorly attended partially due to cloudy weather but also a great concern for safety of the event. Town Council President, Tom Conally, said the new direction of the event was discussed at length in several meetings. The outside contracting of the fireworks display was almost unanimously endorsed and the expense was not a major concern. Council shopped for several available fireworks contractors and decided that Fireworks International was the best for the town.

            “This is going to be great! Fireworks International has a long history of putting on public displays. They have done big cities like Cleveland and Pittsburgh but they also have worked with many smaller towns across the country,” said Mr. Conally when asked about the event. 

            The town has been advertising the event for over a month and has spent money on advertising outside town to bring back out-of-towners who abandoned the event after the blow up. A special ‘Restaurant Row’ has been set up for all the local restaurants to sell their wares before the show. Other vendors are also expected to set up booths and create a small midway along the edge of the Lakefront Plaza where the event will be held. The fireworks will be sent up over the lake and are planned to begin at 8:10PM. Sundown is 7:54PM. Many townsfolk are looking forward to the return of the event. It was one of the most popular before the incredible blow up in 1953 when the entire inventory of fireworks were accidentally ignited by a wayward spark from one of the flares being used to set off the fireworks. At the time Fire Department was in charge of the display and after the investigation determined that the department workers did not have enough training in fireworks ignition even though they all had been certified by the state. “The industry has become much more complicated and more dangerous. It has become much smarter for municipalities to hire professional firms like ours to handle their displays. Not only are our displays usually bigger and better, they relieve themselves of a lot of the safety and insurance obligations. We love to put on the shows and we know how to do it. This show will be magnificent,” said Fireworks International owner and president, Geraldo Massi.

            The town has been buzzing about the pending event and many people have been quietly staking their claim to an area on the Plaza to insure they have a good view. “There really isn’t going to be a bad viewing spot,” Said Police Chief Harry Hennessey, “We are hoping everyone comes and enjoys themselves. There is no reason to pre-pick a spot. There is lots of space for all. We will make sure everyone has a place to sit and watch.”

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SPORTS

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TRAVELERS RIVET STEELERS

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East Farewell – The Travelers stayed on track with a convincing win over the Johnstown Steelers, 7-3 last week at home. This was the first visit to the Travelers home field for the Steelers and they were a little slow in getting started. Traveler’s pitcher, Joe Nagy, was in fine form pitching five scoreless innings and not letting the Steelers on base until the fourth. The Travelers on the other hand got off to a blazing start tagging Steelers pitcher, rookie Gabe Doran, for two runs in the first. Slugger, Johnny Cloos added to his league leading homerun total by smacking a Doran fastball out of the park on his first bat and his first time facing Doran. Cloos’s ninth homer of the season drove in Dunham who had singled earlier. The Travelers were able to score again in the fourth with Archibald and Sweet hitting singles and Francis driving them in with a triple. In the fifth Watson and Dimero walked and Brown doubled to drive them both in. Finally the in the ninth Joey Brown knocked in a final run against reliever, Frank Franklin. The Steelers were able to get on the scoreboard in the fifth with a two run drive by Johnstown slugger, Walt Brenner and once again in the eighth with a triple by Tommy Culp driven in by a clean sharp single by Ricky Sanchez.

            The Travelers continue their home stand with a special Saturday game before the fireworks display. The game begins later, at 2:30PM, at the Field. The crowd will then be invited to move to the Lakefront Plaza to watch the display.

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 NATIONAL NEWS

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IKE WILL RUN AGAIN – KHRUSHCHEV INSULTS ALL – BASEBALL NEWS – WOOD GIVES TEENAGE ADVICE – SULLIVAN BOOKS ELVIS

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President Eisenhower tells Congress chiefs that he will run again. Vice-President Nixon returns from his whirlwind round-the-world tour of America’s free allies from Formosa to Spain and says his availability for renomination as President Eisenhower’s running mate is “unchanged.’

After vodka flows - Nikita Khrushchev insults almost everybody within earshot at a recent Moscow party. One report said that Khrushchev said at one point he liked President Eisenhower but disliked the men around him. One moment saw Premier Bulganin tell Khrushchev to “shut up.”

Out of 260 players - Stan (The Man) Musial of the St Louis Cardinals is named player of the decade in a poll conducted by the Sporting News, the national baseball weekly. He was followed by Joe DiMaggio of the Yankees and Ted Williams of the Boston Red Sox. Bob Feller, pitcher for the Cleveland Indians, finished fourth. Others in order are: Robin Roberts - Philadelphia Philies pitcher (fifth place) Yogi Berra - Yankees catcher Jackie Robinson - Brooklyn Dodgers third baseman Roy Campanella – Dodgers Catcher Johnny Mize - former first baseman for both New York clubs Hal Newhouse - Detroit Tigers pitcher. Also in Sporting News, Ted Williams reaches the 1500 runs-batted-in milestone in his career. Finally, in the All Star game - The National League best the American League 7-3, despite home runs by Ted Williams and Mickey Mantle.

Natalie Wood is perhaps Hollywood’s outstanding teenager and she has some tips for you girls… “I think most girls start wearing make-up, especially lipstick before they need – 12 is early enough. But as soon as one girl in a class comes to school with her lips painted then the whole class follows.”  Natalie says it’s easier to plaster make-up on then to look natural. Take your time. As far as lipstick, “learn to put it on with a brush.”

Ed Sullivan signs Elvis Presley for three shows.  The three engagements will pay a total of $50,000. Several weeks ago, Presley appeared on Steve Allen’s competing Sunday night program. Presley became the center of controversy after his appearance last month on Milton Berle’s NBC show. The use of bodily contortions in projecting his tunes was considered to be bad taste by many. But his Steve Allen appearance was placid. Mr. Sullivan said he had received thousands of letters from teens across the country asking him to have the singer on his show. Elvis Presley will make his first Sullivan appearance September 9 and the two others about eight-week intervals.

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