54 Years Ago This Week

More than a half-century ago this week, the 1955 Washington Home Show was well under way. Newsworthy highlights included:

February 19 - Opening day meant coverage from two area radio stations. Listen to four hours of music broadcast live from the show by Fred Fiske of WWDC. Join Johnny Batchelder for the official opening and interviews on WRC.

February 19 - 27, 10:30 pm nightly - Let off a little steam at the evening square dance festival. You could be invited onstage to practice your steps with local professional and amateur square dance teams! Prefer to watch? You'll be treated to "unique, unrehearsed square dances by some of the most able square dancers in the metropolitan Washington area."

Sources:

Radio Highlights
The Washington Post and Times Herald (1954-1959); Feb 19, 1955; ProQuest Historical Newspapers The Washington Post
page 21.

Square Dancing At Home Show
The Washington Post and Times Herald (1954-1959); Feb 20, 1955; ProQuest Historical Newspapers The Washington Post pg. G2

Hope in the Star

The photo librarian at the DC Public Library reports that there are images of the Washington Home Show in the February, 1955 editions of the old Evening Star newspaper. She says if I can supply her with the dates and pages where the images appear, she can locate the original edition from the library's collection.

Little did I know that John, a resourceful follower of this serial, looked up Home Show images in the Evening Star on his own. Even more exciting, he believes one of the homes pictured may be the Customliner! John, thanks again for adding so much to the quest.

Next up: an appointment at the library.