The outdoor Star-Lite movie theater closed its season here 50 years ago with an ad in the Herald saying: "Closed for the season -- the reason, it's freezin'."
Throngs of people attended the UND homecoming game in 1958 when the Sioux rolled over the North Dakota State University Bison, 36-0. Doerae Cougill of Grand Forks was crowned queen of the festivities.
The home building boom continued with 431 housekeeping units issued permits by Oct. 1, 1958, compared to 259 in 1957. Apartments continued to account for the majority of the new housing units.
The Air Defense Command at the new Grand Forks Air Base was assigned its first aircraft -- a two engine C45. It was to be kept at Grand Forks Municipal Airport until the air base became operational.
Glowing Hula-Hoops were all the rage. Jimmy and Kathleen Pike, ages 6 and 8 respectively, were shown in the Herald swinging the hoops from their hips. They were the children of Mr. and Mrs. George Pike. And Radio Station KNOX held a Greater Grand Forks Hula-Hoop contest at the Dakota Theater.
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In business news 50 years ago:
** The First National Bank marked its 25th year of operation. Fred Orth, executive officer, had been with the bank since it opened on Oct. 4, 1933. Business leaders organized the bank after Grand Forks was left with only one bank following the Bank Holiday of 1933.
The bank was the second-largest in the state with invested capital of approximately $2 million and resources of $25 million, Orth said.
** Herald advertisers included the A&W Drive In near the fairgrounds offering a special of 44 cents for a 30-cent burger and 30-cent chocolate shake . . . Miller's Super Fair had a four-quart basket of Concord grapes on sale for 39 cents, and medium-size eggs were 43 cents a dozen . . . Tweet's supermarket had a pound and a half loaf of Eddy's bread at 17 cents . . . The East Side Dairy Queen was featuring five hamburgers and an order of French fries for $1 . . ."Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" with Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Newman and Burl Ives was playing at the Empire Theater . . . Hansen Ford was holding a grand opening at 1905 Skidmore Ave . . .
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Names in the news 50 years ago:
** Nancy Fortin as queen and Mary Kay Brunskill and Carole Schaefer made up the homecoming royalty at St. James High School.
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** Keith Bacon of the Dacotah Hotel was leading a movement to do away with the city manager form of government in Grand Forks.
** Dr. Elroy Schroeder, 59, superintendent of schools, died unexpectedly after a heart attack. He was succeeded by Dr. Erich Selke as superintendent.
** The Herald's all-city football team 50 years ago included Bob Bielemeyer, Tom Kenville and Elwood Richmond, St. James High School; Gary Vigen, East Grand Forks Central High; Dick Edvall and Dan Neppel, Sacred Heart; and, Bob Hanson, Gary Kihlstrom, Arden Smutzler, Bob Rusdal, Dick Stallmo and Tim Malm, Central High School.
