A half-century ago today . . .
President Richard Nixon called protesters who had demonstrated against the Vietnam War “vandals and hoodlums and lawbreakers.”
In Vietnam “battered South Viets” regrouped after a battle with North Vietnamese forces; U.S. and South Vietnam pilots flew air strikes against the North.
The Dallas-Fort Worth Regional Airport Board eliminated one of five terminals planned for the initial phase of construction of the airport.
George Dolan provided comic relief.
The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission issued Tarrant County’s first liquor-by-the-drink license to Mickey Finn of Mickey Finn Inc.
Pan American and American Airlines teamed up to offer one-stop flights from Dallas Love Field to London.
American Airlines announced that on June 4 it would begin flying 747 LuxuryLiners nonstop daily from Dallas-Fort Worth to San Francisco. The 747 had entered service with Pan Am on January 22, 1970.
Braniff Airlines also was flying 747s, including a daily nonstop flight to Hawaii.
Gray Line offered sightseeing tours of Fort Worth; a porpoise training session was open to the public at James R. Record Aquarium; Windmill Dinner Theater was presenting Natalie Needs a Nightie; graduation ceremonies were scheduled for O. D. Wyatt, Western Hills, Southwest, and Kirkpatrick high schools.
Greyhound Corp. became the major stockholder of Armour & Co.
Sledge’s Stylish Stout Shops were ready for summer.
The Peacemaker Foundation was trying to restore the City of Fort Worth B-36.
The Camera Shop was selling Norelco’s six-cassette deck. Knox & Poff was selling Curtis Mathes television sets.
The Doonesbury comic strip had begun in October 1970.
Juan Vallejo Corona would be convicted of the murders of twenty-five migrant farm workers in California in 1971. He would die in prison.
Washer Bros., like other downtown department stores, had opened a branch store in a suburban mall.
Before he was sweatin’ to the oldies, Richard Simmons, twenty-three, was pitching cosmetics as “Coty’s Country Expert.” He appeared at the Stripling’s department store in Northeast Mall.
Elston Brooks interviewed nineteen-year-old Richard Thomas, in town to promote the movie Red Sky at Morning.
In 1971 drive-in theaters and neighborhood theaters still dominated movie-going options. Multiplex theaters had not yet taken over.
Dining choices included Italian Inn in Ridglea, Vance Godbey’s on Jacksboro Highway, and Wyatt’s Cafeteria.
A snake bite kit at Manning’s sporting goods stores was $1.99.
The Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs were leading the Dixie Association, a one-season interleague partnership between the Texas League and the Southern League.
Fort Worth had one UHF station. KDTV had gone on the air in 1968.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average stood at 913.
“Exciting” new houses in “beautiful Hillery Heights” in Burleson started at $15,800 ($102,000 today).
A new Dodge pickup cost $3,388 ($22,000 today). Dodge Safety Sheriff Joe (“You in a heap o’ trouble, boy”) Higgins made his first appearance in a Dodge commercial in 1969.
And that was our world fifty years ago today.
Just stumbled across your website and I love it.I was raised on Northside of Fort Worth very interesting to see this Thank you
Thanks, Pam.