VOL. 37—NO. 44
TWENTY PAGES
SOUTHERN PINES. N. C.. THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER 20. 1956
TWENTY PAGES
PRICE TEN CENTS
~K
' ♦ A *-4
DRIVE STARTS SOON
Speaker Cites Big Growth In Boy
Scout Program, Urges Cooperation
RELAXING BETWEEN TAKES, Sara Seegar
and Richard Trask, stars of a forthcoming “Big
Story” television program that was filmed par
tially in Southern Pines Saturday, get a few tips
on how a scene should be acted from Stuart
Rosenberg, director of the show. Mrs. Valerie
Nicholson, free lance reporter who was involved
LOCAL PEOPLE IN REAL-LIFE ROLES f
in the real-life story on which the television
show is based, and Clegg Maye, who was also
involved, are sitting on the back of the bench
listening to Rosenberg. Scene of the shooting
was on the northeast corner of Broad StA and
Penn. Ave. (Pilot photo)
‘Big Story’ Television Show Filmed Here Saturday;
Legal Difficulties Cleared; Will Be Shown October 12
Courtroom Also
*
Used As Scenes
For Production
There was one remark that a
number of people in Southern
Pines and Carthage kept repeat
ing Saturday: Making a televi
sion show is very hard work.
Television camera crews and
a directing staff from New York,
here to film action and back
ground shots for a forth'ftoming
“Big Story” show that involves
free lance reported Valerie Nich
olson of Southern Pines, shot
footage most of the day, taking
time out from a very busy sched
ule only for a quick bite of lunch.
Stuart Rosenberg, young Nev/
Yorker who is directing the
show, said the filming here was
“just ordinary, not much to it,
although I do think you people
down here are a bit better at
picking up this game than most
people we’ve had experience
with.”
The show, which will be enti
tled “Nightmare,” has one dis
tinction that is a rarity in tele
vision: most of the “walk-on”
parts, and other bit parts that do
not require any dialogue, are be
ing played by the actual persons
involved in the action.
As most readers now know, the
show revolves around events
leading up to a trial, and the ac
tual trial itself, held in Carthage
last May in which Mrs. Nichol
son was the principal state wit
ness in a case in which a former
practicing psychologist of South
ern Pines was apcused of crimi
nal libel.
The filming started in the
courtroom in Carthage early Sat
urday morning when workmen
set up gihnt floodlights and sta
tioned the cameras at strategic
points. Sara Seegar, who plays
the part of Mrs. Nicholson in the
show, was filmed in several
scenes Of the courtroom part of
the drama. She took the witness
stand and went through the mo
tions of testifying. Voice for the
scenes jvill be dubbed in the
show later in New York.
In another courtroom scene a
crowd, madeup of people who
were anxious to “be on TV so my
friends can see me,” as one boy
put it, was shot several times to
PTA TO MEET
The Southern Pines Parent-
Teacher Association holds its
first meeting of the fall to
night (Thursday) at 8 o'clock
in Weaver-auditorium. There
will be no formal program.
Supt. A. C. Dawson will in
troduce the new teachers, and
after a brief talk about the
school, open house' will be
held in the home rooms, to
give parents an opportunity
to visit their children's rooms
and become belter acquainted
with their teachers. Later, the
crowd will come together for
a social hour.
show emotion on their face. Ros
enberg expresses complete satis
faction in the reality of the
scene.
Playing their actual parts in
the show were P. H. Wilson, who
was prosecuting attorney in the
trial of last May, Judge J. Vance
Rowe and Solicitor W. Ldmont
Brown. Also on hand to be in
cluded were Sheriff C. J. Mc
Donald, Clerk of Superior Court
Carlton Kennedy and Southern
Pines police chief C. E. Newton.
No voice equipment was used
m the courtroom scenes but
later, when the crew moved to
Southern Pines for several se
quences. the sound equipment
was used. Director Rosenberg
was silently complimented a
number of times for his gentle
ness in handling the principals
in the extreme heat of the day,
particularly in one scene that re
quired numerous shootings to
achieve the reality he desired.
Ken»y Holliday and Tommy
Clark, two 12-year olds, were
filmed as they met Mrs. Seegar
on the street. Both fluffed their
lines once but came through the
second time.
Richard Trask, 17, who has ap
peared in a wide assortment of
roles both on television and the
stage, played the part of Clegg
Maye, a Gibsonville tednager.
Rosenberg said the cost of the
production would run “some
where between 35 and 40 thous
and dollars, not very much when
you consider the costs of some
half-hour productions.”
He pointed out that the sav-
(Continued on Page 5)
Mrs. Nicholson
Agrees Not To
Press Civil Suit
“The Big Story” production
based on experiences of Mrs. Val
erie Nicholson, plaintiff in the
trial in which Vincent J. Daly,
former practicing psychologist'
was convicted of criminal libel,
has been postponed from the
scheduled date of September 28
to October 12, it was learned to
day. .
Change in the date of produc
tion was made, it was stated, to
allow general counsel for the
American Tobacco Company,
which sponsors the NBC-TV pro
gram, to perfect arrangements de
signed to safeguard the legal
rights of all concerned.
The postponement action was
taken following the receipt, by
the producers, of protests from
Daly, Miss Edwina Hallman, Mrs.
Martha Dixon Underwood, and
Brown and Manner, law firm of
-Albemarle, threatening injunction
if the show was not withdrawn.
Meantime telegrams from indi
viduals and organizations in
Southern Pines and environs had
been sent to Paul Hahn, American
Tobacco Company president, pro
testing any thought of cancella
tion^ of the show based on the
' (Continued on Page 6)
No Outside Fire
Servi(5e Till Fee
Paid, Town Warns
Homeowners who live outside
the corporate limits of Southern
Pines were reminded today that
they would not receive fire ser
vice unless they had paid the fire
service charges, which were due
September 15.
Louis Scheipers, Jr., town clerk,
said that it was the practice of
the town to answer all calls to
homeowners who had paid the
charge, which is figured on the
basis of 25 cents per $100 coimty
valuation.
He said that any residents who
still desired the service, but who
had not paid the charge, could
obtain it by going to the munici
pal offices and paying.
Roy Armstrong, director of ad
missions at the University of
North Carolina, told members of
the Special Gifts committee of the
forthcoming Boy Scout drive last
Thursday night that scouting was
on the upswing throughout the
country and that there was a “ter
rific need” for expansion of the
program.
Mr. Armstrong, who has work
ed with the Scout program for
many years, said that the budget
increase for 1957 in Occoneechee
Council, which serves Moore
County, is up eight per cent over
1956, although the increase in the
“boy crop” is up more than 15 per
cent. Total budget requirements
^or the 12-county area this year is
$159,000, he said.
The budget in 1947, just 10 years
ago, was only $37,000, which Arm
strong used as an illustration of
the great expansion of scouting in
the area.
Armstrong also pointed out that
the council had organized 115 new |
units in 1955, a record which he I
said was equalled by only three
other councils in the entire coun
try.
The meeting, which was held at
the Southern Pines Country Club,
was an informative session on
plans being made to finance the
scout program in the county dur
ing the next year.
William Burroughs of Pinehurst
is the chairman for the county-
v/ide drive, which wiU be held Oc
tober 2 “from dawn to dust.”
James Pleasants of Southern
Pines is chairman of the special
gifts committee, which will seek
to reach 15 per cent of the pros
pects for contributions on or be
fore October 2.
Committee members were re
minded at the meeting that the
success of the drive was of vital
importance.
“In 1952, the membership of the
Occoneechee Council was 7,000,”
Frank Yandell pointed out. “In
1956 the total number of scouts
had increased to 12,500.”
(Continued on Page 5)
County’s First Polio Case
The nine-month old daughter alytic. The girl, he said, had not
of an upper Moore County farm- j been given the Salk vapcine be
er is the first reported case >her age. She was re-
. . X, X X,. ,ported in good condition,
of polio in the county this year, \ • j j x x, x x,
Paul Butler, county chairman of ^e reminded parents that the
the National Foundation for in-’ vaccination program is still going
fantile Paralysis, said this morn- cautioned them against
jng.
The girl, Phyllis Diana Garner,
on and cautioned them
getting lax now that hot weather
is turning. “September and Oc-
, , ^ -r-r , tober are very bad months for
daughter^ ]\^. polio and every parent who has
Garner of Route 2, Carthage was ^ot had his child vaccinated
admitted to Memorial Hospital at ^t once,” Butler
Chapel Hill Monday, where it
was conf^ed she had contract- county nurses are now making
ed the disease. rounds of the schools in the
Butler said he had learned the county administering the vaccine
case was not diagnosed as par- to all children who will take it.
EARLY SUNDAY MORNING
Hot Water Tank Explodes, Leaving
5-Room Residence In Destruction
A five-room farm house in the | the blast shook the countryside
Democrats To Hold 10
Pre-Election Rallies
First Will Be
Held Saturday
At Pinebluf f
extreme western end of Moore
County was partially demolished
early Sunday morning when a 40-
gallon hot water tank exploded,
tore through the kitchen ceiling
and left the roof in total wreck
age.
The occupants of the house, Mr.
and Mrs. Dolan Hall and their
I two-year old son, were not at
home when the tank exploded.
I An examination of the ruins
showed that a part of the heavy
metal tank was found in a field
about 200 feet away. A comer
piece of the house was found
about 300 feet away, and wreck
age from furniture was scattered
in a r&dius of 50 to 75 feet in all
directions.
Hall, who is maintenance man
at Samarcand Manor near Eagle
Springs, had lived in the house
'only two days before the early
I morning blast. He and his family
were away on a weekend visit to
his mother’s home in Star when
Promotion Funds
Being Sought From
Business Interests
An effort to match a proposed
$2,000 advertising budget, set up
by the Southern Pines Town
Council last spring, has produced
an “almost 50 per cent” success,
it was announced this morning by
George Pottle, chairman of the
fund raising committee.
Pottle said the funds so far re
ceived came from hotel and motel
interests but that a concentrated
effort would be made in the next
few days to see local business and
professional people to raise the
remaining funds needed.
Deadline set by Council was
October 1. If, by that time; pri
vate interests succeed in raising
$2,000, Council will allocate a like
amount for advertising the town
and its various facilities in select
ed outlets.
Pottle said that if each business
in town gave a minimum of $20,
the matching funds could easily
be raised. He reminded people
that an advertising program is
desperately needed and caUed on
them for their assistance and co
operation in making the drive a
success.
Hoyt Thornburg, Candor post
office clerk, said he was awakened
by the explosion about 1 a.m. His
home is almost a mile away.
“I have seen wreckage as the
result of explosions, but never
have I seen such utter destruc-
(Continued on Page 5)
Blue Knights To
Meet Laurel Hill
Tomorrow Night
The Southern Pines Blue
Knights, so far dominating their
opponents with lop-sided scores,
will play their first district con
ference game tomorrow night at
Memorial Field when they meet
the Laurel Hill Red Raiders.
The team, already informed that
there is a possibility of a few
Duke University coaches sitting
on the sidelines, is expected to
show its best side as they lay their
perfect mark on the line.
Laurel HiU, defeated by Mt.
Gilead in its season opener, de
feated Ellerbe last week and is
vastly improved, according to
Southern Pines Coach Irie Leon
ard.
Leonard said that several mem
bers of his team had been plagued
with minor injuries during the
past week and might miss action.
Charles Watkins, regular wing-
back is out and :^bby Watkins,
who has been showing great
promise, has a wrenched back and
might not be available for the
game.
Don Walter came down with a
charley-horse earlier in the week
(Continued on page 5)
Young Democrats
To Hold Annual
Meeting Sept. 28
Henry Hall Wilson, president of
the North Carolina Young Demo
cratic Clubs, wiU. be principal
speaker at the annual meeting of
the Moore County YDC Friday,
September 28, it was announced-
today by Robert N. Page, III, of
Aberdeen, county president.
Hall, who is a prominent state
legislator and an attorney from
Monroe, will be only one of sev
eral speakers at the meeting,
scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m.
Page said that candidates for
president and other state-wide of
fices have been invited to attend.
The meeting will be held in the
courthouse in Carthage and all
members and prospective mem
bers are urged to*be present.
Adlai: **Doing Fine’*
So Say The Old Pros
By KATHARINE BOYD
“Hi! You just back from Wash
ington? See Adlai? How’s he do
ing?”
That’s the greeting, and the in
quiry follows so fast you let
courtesy go and juirvp right in.
“Well, I heard him at Hsirris-
burg in the campaign opener
speech and I heard him a couple
of days later at Fairfax, Virginia,
and then I went to the press con
ference, his first big one, at the
Sheraton Hotel on Monday; he
looked fine and he sounded fine
to me; but: ‘how’s he doing?’
Who knows?”
And that’s it; Who knows?.
Who can tell? But some of the
wise birds who are following him
so closely, the reporters from the
big papers and the acute cam
paigners, mutter that they be
lieve he’s doing just fine.
They say there’s been a dis
tinct lift both to Adlai and to the
atmosphere that surrounds him
during the last two weeks. They
attribute it to different things;
some say it was the Maine elec
tion of a Democratic governor
and one representative, maybe
two, that started it; some say
that it started earlier, in fact
right after the Republican con
vention with its rigidly rigged
platform and candidates, and the
hand of the stage-manager heavy
on the reins; some believe that
the Suez crisis has made a good
many folks think again about the
gyrations of the Republican sec
retary of state; it has made them
nervous and inclined to take
more seriously the Democratic
candidate’s criticisms of the Ad
ministration’s handling of for
eign policy. However, whatever
the reason given by the one you
talk to, the opinions exgpressed at
'10SE9I
. . . HUNTING FOR
JOE SMITH NOW
the three cairpaign gatherings
last week were distinctly favor
able to the Democratic cause.
“The Democratic tide is ris
ing!” said the candidate, and
folks in general echoed his
words.
At Harrisburg, the affair seem
ed more like a convention than a
rally; the crowd was so big and
so noisy, the arena so enormous
. . . the food so scarce.
It was supposed to be a dinner,
but not many saw hide nor hair
of the country ham and so on
that had been used as bait for the
crowd. A good many wise ones
ate first; the others found only
a glutinous chocolate jelly-roll
affair squatting balefuUy on the
paper plates, as cold and as solid
and as heavy as a paper weight.
(Continued on page 20)
Ten rallies, designed to whip
up enthusiasm among Moore
County Democrats in preparation
for the general elections Novem
ber 6, have been scheduled by
the county Democratic Executive
Committee, it was announced fol
lowing a meeting last week.
Speakers for all the rallies
have not been announced as yet,
according to W. Lamont Brown,
chairman of the Executive Com
mittee, but three have accepted:
L. Y. “Stag” Ballentine, A. Paul
Kitchin and John Lang.
Brown said that all members
of the Executive Committee as
well as the various county candi
dates for election and present
county officials would attend the
rallies.
The first rally will be held Sat
urday at 7:30 p.m. at Pinebluff
Lake with Brown and two former
chairmen of the county’s Demo
cratic Executive Committee —
Judge W. A. Leland McKeithen of
Pinehurst, and M. G. Boyette of
Carthage, district solicitor — as
speakers.
“The real purpose of this rally,”
Brown said, “is to set the stage for
the other ones that will be held
between then and election day.
We plan to lay the plan down—
tell those present that it is abso
lutely necessary to get out a big
Democratic vote this fall.”
Brown further commented that
if “we can persuade all the regis
tered Democrats in this county to
vote, and vote the straight Demo
cratic ticket, we will win in No
vember. I and the other mem
bers of the Executive Committee
feel that the precinct leaders and
workers will do that.”
Terry Sanford of Fayetteville,
former state senator and a promi
nent Democrat in state circles, will
be principal speaker at a fund
raising dinner at the Carthage Ho
tel in Carthage Monday night at
7 o’clock.
T. Roy Phillips of Carthage, din
ner chairman, said a big program
had been planned and urged a big
turnout.
Tickets will be $5 each with all
proceeds above the actual cost of
the meal going into the Moore
County Democratic campaign
fund.
The rest of the schedule will
be as follows:
September 29—-at Robbins
School for Spies, Spencerville
and Robbins, at 7:30 p. m., L. Y.
Ballentine, N. C. Corhmissioner
of Agriculture, speaker.
October 9—Vass-Lakeview at
Vass Community House, 7:30 p.
m. John Lang, secretary to Con
gressman C. B. Deane; of the
8th North Carolina Congressional
District, speaker.
October 12—Carthage-Eureka
at Coiurthouse, 7:30 p. m.
(Continued on Page 5)
Aberdeen Baptists
Will Occupy New
Church Sept. 30
The cornerstone of the new
First Baptist Church in Aberdeen
will be formally laid at services
Sunday, September 30, it has
been announced.
The new church, which is
almost completed, is located on
U. S. Highway 1 just north of
the main business area of Aber
deen.
The Rev. Eugene Deese, pastor,
will preach the inaugural ser
vice at the regular 11 o’clock
worship service, followed by the
laying of the cornerstone conduQt-
ed by Dr. M. A. Huggins, execu
tive secretary of the Baptist
State Convention.
Members of the church will
spread an elaborate dinner im
mediately following the corner
stone ceremonies, and will have
an opportunity to inspect the
entire building between 2:00 and
4:30 p. m.
Other services of the day in
clude Sunday School at 9:45,
meeting of the Training Union
at 6:30, and Evening Worship at
7:30, at which the Rev. Zeb A.
Caudle, former pastor, will preach,
preach.