EAST FAREWELL NEWS
Thursday, September
1, 1960 Vol. C792
LOCAL
NEWS
STRIKE CAN’T STOP THE MUSIC
East
Farewell – The strike at the Mighty Keystone Railroad did not have any impact
on the 15th annual
Music, Arts and Farm Show. People flooded into town in their cars, on the limited rail
service, on buses and even on bikes. The campgrounds were full by Thursday and
additional camping space was opened near Dunn’s Cove on the north end of the
lake. All the rental rooms were filled long before the weekend event by return
renters and families that have spent the summers in town for years. “My place
was sold out for this month back in January,” said Mrs. Mallard, owner of one of the many
rooming houses on Lake Shore Drive.
The whole affair did not officially
start until Friday night but Thursday night there was the Main Street Stroll,
the now legendary pre-event that has become an attraction all by itself. Main
Street and Lake Shore Drive were full of pedestrians as traffic was closed off
and only the occasional slow moving trolley would come down the street. The trolleys moved so
slowly that people could jump on and off without too much danger. All fares were suspended
for the evening so some folks chose to ride for only a block before walking off
and back to the sidewalk.
On Friday night the event started
with Jerry Tabor, the defacto MC for the whole music side, who led his full
swing band in an upbeat set that got everyone on their feet. He went on to
introduce the rest of the bands and was on hand and on stage for most of the
fair. It was rumored that he did not sleep during the entire three days, but
that was only a rumor. The music on Friday night went on until 11:30 when Tabor
got every performer and band that had performed throughout the night on stage
to close the evening with the now traditional “Good Night, Irene” That song was
usually held back until the end of the whole fair, on Sunday night, but this
year it was sung at the end of every night’s show, sort of a lullaby for all
the campers.
The music started at noon on
Saturday morning because the farm part of the Music, Arts and Farm show took
place early on Saturday morning. It started around 6:00AM with a livestock
auction in the main tent on the Fairgrounds. While it was a genuine livestock
auction there were as many spectators as real farmers and cattlemen. The
auction is very popular with the fair-goers over the years and has become one of
the most popular events of the whole fair despite its early start. For many of the fair-goers, who are from larger cities, an authentic farm auction is a novel
event and they love to watch, they never bid but they thoroughly enjoy the
whole process.
Saturday afternoon saw a new wrinkle
to the fair. The Travelers played a home game that started at 1:30PM and
everyone with a fair ticket got a reduced rate for admission. Many people took
advantage of the offer. The Travelers sold out but that is not unusual. The
music did not stop though; the afternoon was filled with an eclectic mix of
country, folk, bluegrass and many types of European folk music. Local country favorite,
Charlie Green, along with Gus Sloan and his quintet entertained the smaller
crowd that was nevertheless very exuberant. After the game ended the crowds
swelled back to capacity and the Saturday evening roster was varied containing
lots of country, American folk, rhythm and blues and some brand new rock and
roll. One of the favorites of the young people, the Blackjacks took the
group on a rollicking ride and had every person under 20 dancing in the aisles and even
some older folks, too. Later in the evening the crooners took the stage and popular local Michael
Tiller serenaded the crowd with his luscious, rich tenor. Again, the evening ended
with a full stage of performers singing “Goodnight Irene.”
Sunday was turned over to the
comedians and storytellers and in the evening many of the bands made repeat
appearances. Many artists teamed up with each other and blurred the lines with
rock and rollers playing
with swing bands and crooners teaming up with
country artists. It was an eclectic feast of musical jambalaya. By the time
11:30 rolled around the entire group of entertainers, musicians, storytellers
and even the comedians took the stage for one last rendition of Good Night
Irene with the entire audience joining in. They had all learned the words by
then. Many people stayed past the closing and some even camped on the
fairgrounds much to the chagrin of the organizers. By Monday morning cleanup
had commenced and everyone drifted away to the beach, the Fun Pier or into town
for breakfast. It was another successful Fair and every year it seems to get
better.
1960 Music, Arts & Farm
Show music stage
SPORTS
TRAVELERS CAN’T DECLAW THE CAT
East Farewell – The crowd at the Travelers- Cougars
games was a strange group. There was the usual home town crowd and many came
from nearby Ondita but there was a sizable number that were from out of town.
They were attending the Music, Arts and Farm Show and this year a bonus to
having a full pass they were given a discounted ticket to the game. Many took
the opportunity to watch some first rate minor league baseball. That made for a
strange dynamic in the stands. Not a home town crowd but not an opponent’s
crowd either. It seemed like a strangely neutral crowd who didn’t really care
who won.
The
Travelers would have preferred to have their usual home town crowd because they
were facing one of their toughest opponents on the mound. Steve “Cat” Caterno
had until recently beaten the Travelers in every one of their match ups. His curve ball baffled the Travelers and his fastball would just send them back to
the dugout. Without the support of the fans the Travelers faced an uphill
battle. The Cat did not disappoint the Ondita fans in attendance. He was sharp
from the start. He kept the Travelers off the bases for the first five innings.
Unfortunately for the Cougars the Travelers pitcher, Joe Nagy, was equally
sharp and the Cougars were unable to even get a hit until the sixth inning. The
Travelers were able to strike first with Dale Dunham doubling in the fifth and
Johnny Cloos driving him home, but the Cougars were able nick away Nagy in the
sixth and tie up the score after Sherman singled, Balcones walked and Tonelli was
able to get Sherman home with a nice drive into center. Only a magnificent
throw from Johnny Cloos to home prevented Balcones from scoring. Nagy was able
to strike out the rest of the side and the score remained tied until the ninth.
The Cougars slugger, Max Gentile, was able to get a hold of a Nagy fastball and
drive it out of the park giving the Cougars a one run lead going into the
bottom of the ninth. Caterno was still pretty sharp and was able to strike out
Joey Brow but Artie Archibald was able to squeeze a bounder past second baseman,
Balcones for a hit. He was able to steal second and advance to third on a near
perfect bunt by Billy Sweet. Mitch Maxwell came up as a pinch hitter and took
Caterno to a 3-2 count and fouled off three straight pitches. Caterno delivered
a low, outside curve and Maxwell poked at it catching it on the end of the bat.
The ball bounced right next to the mound and Caterno was able to grab the ball
out of the air and was facing second, drilled the ball to Balcones who turned
it into a game ending double play.
It
was a heartbreaking end and the “Cat” had come out on top once again. “We
really wanted that one. That Caterno really has our number. We could have
really used our fans today, they really make a difference.” said manager Fowler
after the game
The Travelers stay home next
week. They host the Bedford Bears and “Howlin’ Frank Fowler. It is an evening
game and begins at 7:05 in Travelers Park.
NATIONAL NEWS
RAILROAD STRIKE – NIXON & KENNEDY TO
DEBATE ON RADIO & TV – CASTRO MAY MOVE ON GUANTANAMO BAY – KNOXVILLE
INTEGRATES, HOUSTON DOES NOT
The
entire Mighty Keystone Railroad, the nation’s largest, is shut down by a
strike. Major issues are job classifications and the railroad’s contracting
with outside companies for repairs and replacements.
Vice
President Nixon and Senator John F. Kennedy agree on a series of three and
perhaps four joint appearances on U.S. radio and television. Two of the
scheduled Nixon-Kennedy debates will be face-to face, in the Lincoln-Douglas
tradition. The first on domestic policy from Chicago is September 26.
Premier
Castro of Cuba declares that if there are any further “aggressions” by the
United States against Cuba, he will reconvene the people in a public rally to
demand the withdrawal of the U.S. from Guantanamo Bay naval base.
The
Knoxville, Tennessee school system peacefully accepts 29 Negro first
graders into previously all-white schools. In Houston, Texas - it’s a
different story as three Negroes attempted to register for first grade classes
there, but were turned away by teachers. The Houston school system is under a
federal court order to integrate at the first grade level.
Many, many thanks to www.mrpopculture.com for contributing to this section of the East Farewell News.
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