This photo shows Chattanooga around mid-to-late 1960s. Notice Rogers Theatre and Chow Hound.
Are you old enough to remember when 1966 arrived in Chattanooga?
A glance at both the Chattanooga Times and Chattanooga News-Free Press from around Jan. 1, 1966, on microfilm at the library shows a city that was moving progressively into the latter half of the 20th century. But it was also embracing the worthwhile aspects of the past.
And on New Year’s, it was simply enjoying the present. For example, more than 350 people were expected to attend the New Year’s Eve party at the Pan-O-Ram Club on the side of Lookout Mountain across from Ruby Falls. Jack Bookout and vocalist Judy Danner were to provide the entertainment.
A cotillion New Year’s dance was held at the Fairyland Club, while William Ladew Mitchell Jr. and May Temple Montague were married on Friday, Dec. 31, at Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church. The reception was held in the Silver Ballroom of the Read House.
Bridesmaids for the wedding were Temple Smart, Mrs. Lewis Gholston, Frances McAfee, Betsy Chisholm, Charlotte Montague, Mrs. Theo Hutcheson and Mrs. Mertland Hedges III. Groomsmen were Robert Sudderth Jr., Lewis Gholston III, Forrest Forman, Stephen L. Mitchell, Chris Zahnd, and Charles Wheland Jr.
The pictures of the wedding and reception covered a whole page of each Chattanooga newspaper on Jan. 1.
A few hours after the wedding, Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church was among those holding a traditional watchnight service. Henry Gilman Jr. was leading the prayers.
Faith was obviously an important part of people’s lives in the Chattanooga of 1966, as big newspaper ads promoted the services at Highland Park Baptist Church at Union and Orchard Knob avenues, and at Woodland Park Baptist Church at Main Street and Holtzclaw Avenue. Lee Roberson and J.R. Faulkner were the pastors at Highland Park Baptist, while Carl B. Allen was the minister at Woodland Park. Highland Park’s advertising slogan was “Every visitor an honored guest.”
There were, of course, the usual bowl games to enjoy on television on Jan. 1. Alabama and Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant used the pinpoint passing of Cleveland, Tenn., senior Steve Sloan to defeat Nebraska in the Orange Bowl, 39-28. In the other three New Year’s Day games, Missouri beat Florida in the Sugar Bowl, LSU beat Arkansas in the Cotton Bowl, and UCLA defeated Michigan State in the Rose Bowl.
Tennessee, which was inspiring fans with how it overcame the deaths of three assistant coaches earlier in the year in a train/car collision to have its best season in nearly 10 years, had already defeated Tulsa in the Bluebonnet Bowl.
On Dec. 31, Georgia Tech and veteran coach Bobby Dodd enjoyed an upset win over Texas Tech in the Gator Bowl.
For wives and others who did not care to watch football on TV all day on Jan. 1, Chattanooga Times writer Amy Frierson had an alternative suggestion or two in her article.
A few eyes of local sports fans were also following the achievements of 16-year-old Baylor student Zan Guerry of Lookout Mountain, who won the singles and doubles trophies in the Sugar Bowl Junior Tennis Tournament.
In the world of business, Massachusetts Mutual insurance company took out a full-page ad recognizing the accomplishments of six local agents in each selling more than $1 million in policies. They were Jack Baras, Howard Bickerstaff, Richard Clinton, James A. Davis, Malone Everett, and Henry Valadez.
Lovemans department store president Richard L. Moore Jr. announced that the fifth floor of the downtown Lovemans was to be remodeled. It currently housed the china, gifts, crystal and lamps section, but was also expected to add a bridal salon.
The store was also having a clearance sale on Monday, Jan. 3, at its downtown stores as well as the ones at Eastgate and on Ringgold Road in East Ridge.
The downtown Lovemans at that time was apparently still a few months away from having its metallic sheathing covering installed.
Among the important news, the Vietnam War/conflict was still a few months or a year or so from dominating much of the headlines, but plenty of watershed history was being documented locally. In the area of achievement for black Chattanoogans, Kenneth Saxon became the first black superintendent of a post office branch in Chattanooga when he was assigned to oversee the Alton Park branch. Morris Glenn, meanwhile, became the first black staff officer in the history of the Chattanooga Police Department.
Speaking of firsts, the first area baby of 1966 was a baby boy born to Mrs. General Chastain of Rossville at Hutcheson Memorial hospital. The first Chattanooga baby was born to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Smith of a Hickory Street apartment in Chattanooga.
On a sad note, Isaac Harris, 28, of East Ninth Street, became the first traffic fatality of 1966 when his northbound 1957 Buick crashed into a telephone pole in the 2700 block of South Market Street.
The News-Free Press had a feature story on City High graduate and Dartmouth University student Tom Brudenell, who had just returned from spending several months studying Spanish in Spain.
Among the events scheduled for the upcoming days, the University of Chattanooga was to start classes back on Jan. 3 and had a couple of upcoming student assemblies scheduled for the fairly new Maclellan Gymnasium.
California educator Max Rafferty, who in his life would also become well known as a conservative author and newspaper columnist, was to speak during the upcoming week at the Tivoli Theatre.
Chattanoogans also had opportunities to flock to the area theaters for more leisurely entertainment. “The Sound of Music” was in its 25th week at the Brainerd Cinerama, “Thunderball” was playing at the Rogers Theatre downtown, the comedy “Boeing Boeing” was at the fairly new Eastgate Theatre, and “Xexous” was playing at the adult Riviera Art Theatre in Riverview. The latter was showing that Chattanooga’s social mores were starting to change slightly.
On TV, the lineup on Monday night, Jan. 3, included such shows as “Highway Patrol,” “John Forsythe,” “Dr. Kildare,” and “Andy Williams” on Channel 3. On Channel 9, “Peyton Place” and “Ben Casey” were airing, while “To Tell the Truth,” “I’ve Got a Secret,” “Lucy Show” “Andy Griffith” and “Hazel” were on Channel 12.
Among the other goings-on in Chattanooga, funeral services were to be held for former Notre Dame High School principal Sister Mary Austin Aud.
Nationally, Jackie Kennedy – the widow of John F. Kennedy – was still considered the woman Americans admired the most. She was still more than two years away from marrying Aristotle Onassis.
The turbulent and transcendent late 1960s were just around the corner, but the Chattanooga newspaper articles in early 1966 give few hints of such a future.
Jcshearer2@comcast.net
This wintertime photo shows 7th and Cherry streets in downtown Chattanooga in early-to-mid 1960s. Diners could choose between the Krystal and the Home Plate.