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PUBLISHED WEEKLY
IN THE HEART OP
EASTERN NORTH
CAROLINA
Si Per Copy
NEW BERN, N. C., FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1964
NUMBER 45
It might be hard to find a
New Bernlan old enough to read
and write who doesn’t know
February 2 Is Groundhog Day,
What most of us are Ignorant
of Is the fact It Is also Candle
mas, a Christian festival that
since the 11th century has mark
ed the blessing of candles for
church use.
Seeing as how the groundhog
(really a woodchuck) got a full
view of his shadow this year,
we’re supposed to have rough
weather until the middle of
March, Fortunately, the rec
ords show that he Is less than
accurate as a prophet.
Cold spells notwithstanding,
from here on out, it did our
heart good the other morning to
count no less than a dozen
. robins on a single lawn around
the corner from where we live.
Surely, Spring must be on its
way,
WNBE-TV and ABC deserved
the tremendous audience en
ticed by excellent coverage of
the Winter Olympics In
Austria. Naturally, New Bern’s
sports fans were tuned in,
but thousands of folks who don’t
normally care for athletic
events also hovered by their
sets for the spectacular action.
- This may surprise you,
; Albums dealing with the life
^ and death of Jolui F. Kennedy-
some of them hastily prepared
after the President’s assas
sination—have been poor
sellers In our town. Even the
better discs are slow movers.
A similar lag has been noted
elsewhere.
Incidentally, magazine word-
age on Kennedy—though fairly
heavy—Is only a small fraction
of the reams of copy devoted
to Liz Taylor and Richard Bur
ton, Whether one admired JFK
or not, it seems a little sad
that his slaying has generated
less sustained Interest among
millions of Americans than the
prolonged Taylor-Burton af
fair.
Speaking of magazines,
here’s something for would-be
censors to ponder. Teen agers
aren’t the big buyers of ques
tionable reading material, here
In New Bern. A spot check
reveals that a majority of the
purchasers of trashy literature
are In their thirties or older.
Sales to men and women are
about evenly divided. “Con
fession” magazines—popular
for years and years—still hold
strong appeal for a certain
type of female.
Playing to a full house, night
after night. Is the dream of
every actor and actress. A tal
ented young New Bernlan—
Diane Bray—has had the dream
come true this week at East
Carolina College In Greenville.
Cast In the coveted role of
Anita in West Side Story, she
will perform before almost
4,000 persons during the four-
night run in McGinnis Audi
torium that ends Saturday. All
seats have been sold out for
more than a week.
The demand for tickets far
exceeded the supply. If you
missed out, you’ll have another
chance in July or August when
the award-winning musical is
scheduled for a week’s run
under a new East Carolina Col
lege project, sponsorship of
a professional summer theater.
West Side Story Is the 14th
annual musical sponsored by
EC’s Student Government As-
(Contlnued on Page 7)
•» ■>
S,
CONVERSATION PIECE—These four characters aren’t
New Bernians, North Carolinians or even Americans,
but we couldn’t in good conscience leave them off the
front page of The Mirror this week. The Beatles have
arrived from England, with their wild warbling and
shaggy-dog craniums. Ixical teen agers are delirious,
oldsters (forgetting how they once raved over howling
Cab Calloway) are bewildered and somewhat disgusted
Things will never be quite the same again.
, *•«
A HELPING HAND - Pictured here are eight of thir
teen men who comprLse the New Bern-Craven County
Rescue Squad, Additional members are now being re
cruited. Applicants must he at lea.st 21 years old. The
unit serves without pay. other than compensation one
gets for aiding a neighbor in distress. Seen, left to
ri-^ht, are Johnny Hodges. Lt. Larry Prokey, Lt. Bobby
Hill, Sgt. Lewis Mayo, Larry Peele, Chick Natella,
Robert Murdock and Capt. Herman Brinson.