1949 – 70 YEARS AGO

Those attending a New Year’s Eve celebration in East Stroudsburg probably had to sing “Auld Lang Syne” acapella as five members of the Al Powell Orchestra were injured in an accident while enroute to perform at the party. The bus, one of three carrying the band, was hit by an auto resulting in injuries to drummer Angelo Alfano, of Pittston; Evelyn Novak, pianist, of Port Griffith; John Harris, saxophonist. of Dupont; and Paul Laukaitus, trumpet player, of Pittston. Powell, the leader of the orchestra who had arrived safely, announced to the crowd that the band could not perform without the injured members.

Members of the Charles V. Falzone Post 838, American Legion of Pittston distributed 10,000 lollipops to children of Pittston City and Pittston Township. Al Loquasto as Santa and Al Frushon as his assistant spent two days distributing the lollipops to kids throughout Pittston’s business district.

1950 – 69 YEARS AGO

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Mrs. Reginald Evans, of West Pittston, traveled to New York to complete at 10-day training course for Welcome Wagon Inc. She planned to bring the social service to the Pittston area to promote goodwill among residents, merchants and civic leaders. Welcome Wagon Service was founded in 1928 by Thomas Briggs and was built on the pioneer tradition of settlers greeting incoming wagon trains with fresh water, food, supplies. Mrs. Evans met with other hostesses from Nanticoke, Plymouth, Forty Fort and Kingston to discuss the progress of Welcome Wagon in the region.

1952 – 67 YEARS AGO

Ann Costello, of Dupont, was crowned queen of the Dupont High School Alumni Dance at the Dupont Hose Company Ball. Costello was crowned by Constance Slusser, 1950 Alumni Queen.

Brothers Bernard and Tom Seman, both of Exeter, met for a Christmas reunion in Germany where they were stationed with U.S. forces. Bernard was a member of the 4th Replacement Co. 4th Infantry Division at Frankfurt. Tom was serving with the 438 Heavy Construction Co. at Weisbaden. Tom entered the service in 1949, Bernard enlisted in 1951.

Two Pittston Junction men passed their Air Force examinations and were set to leave for training at Sampson Air Force Base in New York. Joseph Milkanin Jr. and Thomas Judge were sworn in at the Wilkes-Barre recruiting office. Both young men were members of City League baseball teams.

1957 – 62 YEARS AGO

First Lieutenant James Panzetto Jr., of Exeter, qualified to the fly the supersonic F100D Super Sabre fighter-bomber while stationed at Langley Air Force Base in 1957. The plane carried four M-39 20mm cannons, two GAM-83A Bulldog missiles, four GAR-8 sidewinder missiles, rockets, special stores and/or a maximum of 7040 lbs. of bombs, and could reach a maximum speed of 926.6 miles per hour. The D model, which made its first flight on Jan. 24, 1956, was the most advanced production version. Its features included the first autopilot designed for a supersonic jet and a low-altitude bombing system. The Super Sabre had its combat debut in Vietnam where it was used extensively to attack bridges, road junctions and troop concentrations. Panzetto was commissioned in the Air Force in 1954.

1967 – 52 YEARS AGO

Angelo Parente was very proud of the model sailboat he had built and christened in honor of his 5-year-old daughter Carmelina. The three-foot long ship weighed 17 pounds had four sails, 12 ladders, life rafts, anchors, and an Italian and American flag. Mr. Parente came to America in 1961 and was employed at Pittston Lumber Company.

1970 – 49 YEARS AGO

In his weekly Dispatch article, Gene Zambor asked the question “Is that old gun a firearm or an antique?” The question was one of many gun collectors wrestled with after the passage of the Federal Gun Control law of 1968. Under the law, any gun other than fully-automatic made prior to 1899 was an “antique” and was not subject to the requirements of the Gun Control Act. A study made by Franklin E. Zimring for the Journal of Legal Studies stated, “After five years of debate on firearms control, Congress passed a Gun Control Act designed to provide support to federal, state, and local law enforcement officials in their fight against crime and violence. This paper reports on an effort to study the impact of the Gun Control Act on the problems that prompted its passage.” Zimring went on to state, “The study is of possible interest for two reasons. In recent years, the rate of gun violence in the United States has managed to grow to alarming proportions without the benefit of sustained academic attention and gain some perspective on the difficulties and promise of empirical studies of the legal impact.”

1987 – 32 YEARS AGO

The City of Pittston was slated to receive $105,000 in funding to develop the former American Theater. Pittston qualified as a financially disadvantaged municipality by receiving 37 points based on financial and economic variables set by the state. The theater was to be the site of a proposed Pittston Professional Center and Bus Terminal housing offices and stores. The city could retain the designation for one year, at which time the city would have to re-apply. The result of the proposed funds for the project was undetermined. According to cinematreasures.org, The American Theater was located on North Main Street in Pittston and opened in June 1924. This was the largest theater built in the Pittston area and was located in the main business area between the Water Street and Fort Jenkins Bridges. It hosted vaudeville shows, big band music concerts and movies for most of its life. It operated until the late 1960s and sat empty until the building was demolished.

1997 – 22 YEARS AGO

Sandra Maffei, of West Pittston, acquired an interest in art after moving to New York with her family in the 1950s. Upon moving to Florida, she studied at Florida/Atlantic University. Maffei chose abstract impressionism as her passion and created several paintings that would win her many awards. With the support of her husband Carmen, Sandra used her love of travel as inspiration for many of her pieces. Her works have been shown nationally in competitions and exhibitions.

What was the cost of living in 1965?

Average cost of new house, $13,600; average income per year $6,450; gas per gallon, 31 cents; average cost of a new car $2,650; loaf of bread, 21 cents; average rent per month $118.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

1759 — George Washington and Martha Dandridge Custis were married

1912 — New Mexico became the 47th U.S. state.

1931 — Thomas Edison executed his last patent application.

1941 — Richard Widmark made his debut on radio in “The Home of the Brave.”

1952 — “Peanuts” debuted in Sunday papers across the United States.

1963 — “Wild Kingdom” premiered on NBC.

1967 — U.S. and South Vietnamese forces launched a major offensive, known as Operation “Deckhouse V,” in the Mekong River delta.

1987 — After a 29-year lapse, the Ford Thunderbird was presented with the Motor Trend Car of the Year Award. It was the first occurrence of a repeat winner of the award.

1994 — Figure skater Nancy Kerrigan was clubbed on the right leg by an assailant at Cobo Arena in Detroit, MI. Four men were later sentenced to prison for the attack, including Tonya Harding’s ex-husband.

1998 — The spacecraft Lunar Prospect was launched into orbit around the moon. The craft was crashed into the moon, in an effort to find water under the lunar surface, on July 31, 1999.

1999 — The 106th U.S. Congress opened. The first item on the agenda was the impeachment proceedings of U.S. President Bill Clinton. The trial was set to begin Jan. 7.

1999 — Bob Newhart received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

BORN ON THIS DAY

1412 — Joan of Arc, French Saint and national heroine

1912 — Danny Thomas, actor, producer, philanthropist; founder of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

1913 — Loretta Young, actress; won an Academy Award for “The Farmer’s Daughter” (1947)

1924 — Earl Scruggs, musician; popularized the finger-picking style of banjo playing; blended rock and bluegrass

1937 — Lou Holtz, college football coach and television sports commentator

The Wyoming Area cheerleaders were awarded first place in cheerleading at the Dalton Lion Tournament in 1985 at the Lackawanna Trail High School. Members of the split-cheering squad who cheered the Warriors are, from left, Erin Misset, Rita Morganti, Lisa Chaump, Louise Baccannari, Chris Trottini, Lisa Misset, Pia Civiletti, Mary Louise Langan, Cia Meyer, Lisa Boback, Debbie Zelinski, Cathy Melvin.
https://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/web1_1985-WA-CHEER-CHAMPS.jpg.optimal.jpgThe Wyoming Area cheerleaders were awarded first place in cheerleading at the Dalton Lion Tournament in 1985 at the Lackawanna Trail High School. Members of the split-cheering squad who cheered the Warriors are, from left, Erin Misset, Rita Morganti, Lisa Chaump, Louise Baccannari, Chris Trottini, Lisa Misset, Pia Civiletti, Mary Louise Langan, Cia Meyer, Lisa Boback, Debbie Zelinski, Cathy Melvin.

https://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/web1_Judy-Minsavage.CMYK_.jpg.optimal.jpg

Peeking into

the Past

Judy Minsavage

Reach the Sunday Dispatch newsroom at 570-655-1418 or by email at sd@psdispatch.com.