Big bands abound in '42

Monday, June 10, 2002
'The Dance Garden' 301 Main with Kee Drug Store below

World War II changed dancing in the Heartland too. Dance teachers said that the jitterbug jive with the throw-the-girl-over-your-shoulder was out now ... because dance floors were too crowded. The new dance was named after the Walt Disney film to just make its debut in the summer of 1942. The "Bambi Bolka" featured "twittlehop" steps which were patterned after the prancing of the fawn. Do you dancers remember the Bambi Bolka? Mixer dances were needed for the crowded USO centers ... square dancing was even going to enjoy a return to popularity, the dance teachers thought.

Locally -- just during 1942 -- the bands that were playing were Lee Baron and his new Sensational 10 Baronets, the Garnis Donner's Orchestra, the Sammy Haven Orchestra, Don Kelly and the Esquires, Guy Ellsworth and his Orchestra, Dick Stagameyer and His Troubadours, the Ten Merry Millers of Music, Major Best and his Orchestra, Elwood Best Orchestra, Don Loflin Orchestra, at places like the Memorial Auditorium, the McCook Dance Garden and Rutt's Hall in McCook, Frank Hall in Indianola and Hil-Top Pla House or just the Hilltop in Culbertson.

A new first for McCook ... female gasoline pump attendants. Al F. Schnoor, local Firestone manager, said that his company had employed women service station attendants at Omaha, Grand Island, Council Bluffs and Sioux City and it had worked out quite well. Here in McCook the "pioneers in the new field" were Mrs. Bernice Dike and Mrs. Gladys Colling. The Sept. 1, 1942, Gazette article said that it was the first time in McCook that women had been employed as full-time regular workers to service cars at any of the larger service stations.

North Platte was experiencing an epidemic of infantile paralysis. The Aug. 29, 1942, Gazette repor-ted three new cases of polio, bringing the total number of cases to 24. Seven deaths had been recorded in North Platte and several cases were very serious. Sunday schools and Labor Day picnics in the area were being canceled for the time being.

I'm always drawn to the sale bills in the old newspapers because I would so have liked to have been there for them. Fred T. Hansen was having a night auction on Thursday, Sept. 3, 1942, at 7:30 p.m. at 1204 Main (Norris) Street. The ad said that they were leaving McCook and would sell the following at public auction: Oak roll top desk, oak library table; 12 x 15 Oriental rug in excellent condition; 8'3" x 10'6" velvet rug in jade green; a 6x7 Axminister rug and a bassinette among other things.

All ex-service men were invited to a meeting in the Legion Room at the City Auditorium on Tuesday evening, Sept. 1, 1942, at 8 o'clock. The Committee had secured for the entertainment of the men a "Miss Chalene Sinclair" with her new dance and acts.

Keith McCaig, manager of the McCook Brown-McDonald store was given the additional title of chairman of the Victory Garden organization by Clyde Noyes, Red Willow county agricultural agent.

His "coffee cup" friends taunted him saying that the store manager couldn't possibly raise a better garden than they could ... so he took on a space 60' by 80' in the neighborhood and proceeded to clear the ground. He then purchased two tons of sheep manure for six dollars, put it on the land and let it set over the winter.

The store manager planted the first of the peas on March 10, 1942, and since he was spading the whole area by hand, finished planting the large area about the middle of June. Most of the crop was producing its second crop when this article by Gazette reporter Doris Minney came out in the Aug. 28, 1942, Gazette.

McCaig said in the interview that, "the most important part of raising a garden is fertilizing it." As far as controlling bind-weed, McCaig suggested putting a chicken-pen over the patch of the weed and the chickens would soon have it killed out by eating every green spear they found.

In this Aug. 28, 1942, article McCaig reported that he had sold approximately $130 worth of tomatoes, Bermuda onions, carrots, corn, beets, beans and peas besides what he and his family had eaten and canned.

The only complaint the chairman of the Victory Garden organization had was that the garden interfered with his fishing. He said that gardening and fishing were a lot alike though, "You can't worry and work in a garden at the same time." The McCaigs used their earnings from the garden to purchase War Bonds.

Speaking of gardening ... is anyone interested in having a Farmer's Market again this year? Everyone seemed to enjoy it in years past. Anyone interested in volunteering to meet and greet the vendors on Saturday mornings?

Maybe three times all summer? Call me. That fresh garden produce is so good and visiting with all the folks who come down to buy is really fun too.

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