(Reader-friendly viewing of newspaper archives material)
May, 1958
(The Salisbury Times)
(Excerpts)
He Sends 'Em ----- Like Crazy
Haley's Comets Rock Shore Teenagers
By Jerry Kelly
(Of The Times Staff)
Bill Haley and his Comets blazed a glittering trail across the stage of the
Boulevard Theater last night. It was "crazy, man, crazy," all the way.
At least that is the opinion this morning of Salisbury's rock 'n' rollers who
got "sent."
Haley, one of the music's originators, gave local teeners some exciting
moments. He played before a nearly packed house of hand-clapping,
foot-stompers.
He was a solid success.
Before the curtains went up and the footlights went on, Haley looked like a
success. A mellow, mild-mannered man, he had just returned from two months tour
of South America where even the anti-Nixon demonstrations couldn't dim his
popularity.
In case you haven't a teenager at home to tell you who Bill Haley is, maybe
you'll recall him by some of the titles of his records. They include "Crazy,
Man, Crazy," "Rock Around The Clock," "Shake, Rattle, And Roll," and the
never-to-be-forgotten record which gave us the salutation "See You Later
Alligator."
They've sold 35 million records, not counting another million and a half in
albums, and have appeared in five motion pictures- twice featured.
"We were four years before everybody else with rock 'n' roll" says Haley. "We
started as a dance band; we wanted them to dance."
The sudden advent of Elvis Presley changed all that, though. He added a new
dimension to the music and put the kids to cringing, says Haley.
How does he dream up- to borrow a phrase- those crazy song titles?
"I hear them from the teenagers," he says. "The fellows in the band, and
myself compose all the tunes we use." Haley reasons its music for young people,
so he has to keep it in their vernacular.
"Like 'See You Alligator,' I heard that from a teenager."
The Pennsylvania native doesn't believe some of the theories that his kind of
music has a bad effect on young people. Says he:
"When a kid comes to our show he's had sixteen years of training- or lack of
it- from his parents. There's nothing we can do to influence a kid that
age."
Reminded that some boys and girls have been known to leave their seats during
the excitement of the music, Haley allowed: "If that happens we stop the
performance."
This was the group's first visit to Salisbury, although they've played all
around the state- Baltimore and Ocean City. "I'd like to come back. It looks
like we've got a good following down here" said Haley, looking out over the
audience.
An announcer introduced him and his band moments later and they began
rocking. When they started, the hand-clapping, foot-stomping began.
Youth was having its day.
August, 1920
(Cumberland Evening Times)
POCOMOKE CAN NOT HAVE PROF. FONTAINE
School Patrons There Seek in Vain to Have Him Released of Obligation to Come
Here
Despite persistent importunity on the part of the patrons of the schools
of Pocomoke City, Md., that Prof. E. Clark Fontaine be relieved of his
obligation to become principal of the Allegany County High School this school
year the school authorities here will hold him to it, feeling that in him they
have found the right man to build up the big local institution.
John W. Ennis, for the patrons of Pocomoke City High School, sent (Allegany)
county superintendent Edward F. Webb a telegram today stating that the patrons
had refused to accept Mr. Fontaine's resignation and asked that he be released
of any moral obligation here, as he was needed in Pocomoke. Prof. Webb sent a
reply that the position of the Pocomoke patrons was unfair to Mr. Fontaine and
the Allegany county board, and that Mr. Fontaine's growth depended upon
opportunities in a broader field.
Footnote: In 1948 Dr. Fontaine retired as supervisor of high schools for the
State Department Of Education and returned to live in Pocomoke City where he
began his teaching career in 1903.
September, 1941
(The Salisbury Times)
(Excerpts)
4TH BATTALION STATE GUARD IS COMPLETE
Two Additional Shore Companies Are Mustered
Completion of the Fourth Battalion of the Maryland State Guard was
accomplished last night when Company T at Pocomoke and Company B of Crisfield
were mustered into service.
Approximately 55 men were sworn into Guard service at the Pocomoke Armory,
while Crisfield mustered approximately 65. Capt. Rupert Catlin is company
commander at Crisfield, and Capt. Griffin Callahan heads the Pocomoke unit.
August, 1901
Excitement about the prospects of oil in the ground in the Pocomoke area
resulted in a number of prominent citizens forming The Pocomoke Oil Company to
fund the drilling of at least one well. A published report stated: Work will
begin at once, and everybody is watching results with eager interest.
March, 1894
(The Herald And Torchlight- Hagerstown, Md)
A champion eater in Snow Hill, Worcester county, recently ate twenty-eight
bananas, an orange, and a stew of oysters in fifteen minutes. He offered to bet
he could eat ten more bananas.
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