Come on and hear Alexander’s halftime band…49 years ago

In 1969, La Crosse State brought in John Alexander from the University of Missouri to succeed Ralph Wahl as director of the Marching Chiefs band.  “Dr. A” got to campus in time to prepare the musicians for a major trip, to march in the 1970 Rose Parade in Pasadena.  During his long career with the university, the band’s name changed from Marching Chiefs to Screaming Eagles.  Alexander led the band to a number of other parades and NFL halftime shows.

Weekend dinners were a bargain at places like Von Ruden’s Bar in Melvina, near Sparta.  A Friday fish fry at Von Ruden’s cost $1.35.  For a nickel more, you could get fried chicken on Saturday nights. 

In the days of sit-ins, and the TV show “Laugh-In,” the Holiday Sports Center advertised a “look-in” for 1969, for some of its popular items like outboard motors.

At the Tony Awards on Broadway, “1776” was named the best musical.  Some of the actors winning Tonys that year would become household names…like Angela Lansbury, Jerry Orbach, James Earl Jones, and Al Pacino.  Stars of the stage 49 years ago, 1969, yesterday in La Crosse.