Looking Back: Highlights of February 1962

By: HEATHER
BOGARD
Associate Editor

This week, we take a look back 60 years at the events of February 1962.
•The senior Girl Scout troop, after a successful candystripper program at Ardoin’s Sanitarium, chose babysitting as their next project. Mrs. Alice Lasseigne lectured the girls on babysitting, and troop leaders were Mrs. J.L. Ludeau and Mrs. J.C. Berzas. Senior girls participating in the program were Elaine LaTour, Anita Rozas, Susan Johnson, Evelyn Guillory, Linda Salvos, Jannie Lafleur, Sharlene Ortego, Gerry Curale, Vickie Lafleur, Annette Veillon and Debbie Dupuis.
•Over 80 men were registered for the retreat planned for Our Lady of the Oaks in Grand Coteau. Emery Deshotel served as retreat chairman for the Mamou Knights of Columbus, and St. Ann pastor Rev. J.A. LeBlanc was in charge of the Mamou retreatants.
•Mr. Harold Monier and Mrs. Evangeline L. Manuel were named Mamou’s Man and Woman of the Year.
•Bishop Maurice Schexnayder declared the month of February Catholic Press Month for the Diocese of Lafayette.
•Under the direction of Prof J.D. Lafleur, chairman of the arboretum committee, Ville Platte High School FFA and 4-H members helped to plant a variety of trees in the newly-established arboretum at Chicot State Park.
•Elaine Perron, the daughter of Representative and Mrs. Eddie Perron of Ville Platte, was among those named as one the University of Southwestern Louisiana (USL)’s beauties and favorites.
•The Evangeline Homemakers Club drew 100 ladies from throughout the parish to participate in various contests, including a style review, as well as dress, apron, hat and shawl contests.
•Elva Jane Thomas, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lovency Thomas of Mamou, was the winner of the 1962 Homemake of Tomorrow Award. A senior at Joseph Celestine High School in Mamou, she received the award for receiving the highest score on the test of homemaker knowledge and her attitude toward homemaking.
•Sale items at LG Food Stores included: a gallon of LouAna oil ($1.69), fryers (.29 per pound), Mello Joy coffee (.50 per pound), 12-ounce jar of Jif peanut butter (.37 cents), and giant size Rinso Blue detergent (.69).
•Sale items at McCauley’s Furniture Store included: a three-piece bedroom suite for $99.95 and a 16-foot freezer for $229.50.
•Sale items at Sears included: a 30 inch Kenmore gas range for $139.95 and a Kenmore, seven-cycle fully automatic washer for $184.95.
•The featured movie at the Platte Theatre was “Back Street,” starring Susan Hayward and John Gavin. The featured movie at the Jan Theatre was “A Thunder of Drums,” starring Richard Boone and Luana Patten.
•Popular televisions shows of February 1962 included “Alfred Hitchcock Presents,” “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson,” “The Beverly Hillbillies,” “The Jetsons” and “McHale’s Navy.”
•Popular songs of February 1962 included: “Crying in the Rain” by The Everly Brothers, “So Long Baby” by Del Shannon, “Return to Sender” by Elvis Presley, “I Can’t Stop Loving You” by Ray Charles, and “If I Had a Hammer” by Peter, Paul and Mary.