The year was 1955. The world population was 2.7 billion (7 billion and counting today). The Pentagon announced plans to develop intercontinental ballistic missiles armed with nuclear weapons. President Dwight D. Eisenhower sent the first U.S. advisors to South Vietnam. A young Jim Henson built the first version of Kermit the Frog. The Broadway musical version of Peter Pan, which had opened in 1954 starring Weatherford’s Mary Martin, was broadcast on television for the first time by NBC with its original cast.
And readers of the Fort Worth newspapers read these ads and articles:
Blue Bonnet margarine was double wrapped in golden foil.
No blue bonnets or double wrapping for the “All Girl Show” at the Skyliner nightclub on Jacksboro Highway. Dancers included Candy Barr (“body beautiful”), Belita (“Parisian fan dancer”), and Nikki Joye (“exotic bundle of joy”). The dancers probably really appreciated the Skyliner’s “iced air.”
A new Mott’s dime store opened on West Berry. The new Mott’s offered innovative “supermarket style” customer self-service.
West Berry was hopping in 1955. Right next door to the new Mott’s store was a new Furr food store. A 1950s incarnation of the Light Crust Doughboys, with Parker Willson, entertained at the Furr grand opening. Willson also worked at radio stations WBAP and KXOL and was emcee of the Star-Telegram’s annual Christmas tree celebration.
Drive-in theaters offered something for all tastes, from two Ma and Pa Kettle movies (Ma and Pa Kettle in Waikiki and Ricochet Romance) to Vincent Price in House of Wax to Jimmy Stewart in Strategic Air Command.
Part of Strategic Air Command was filmed at Carswell Air Force Base. (Photo from Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company.)
The site of the Boulevard drive-in theater at 7100 Camp Bowie Boulevard in 1962 became the home of Neiman Marcus.
Jimmy Stewart became a great patron of the zoo from his visits to Fort Worth.
I always thought of him as a genuine hero.