Yesterday in La Crosse
The energy crisis was hitting the region, 45 years ago
Rising fuel prices and many shortages led to some changing habits around America late in 1973. A fuel cutback was blamed for the cancellation of two regular weekend flights between La Crosse and Chicago by North Central Airlines. The national average price for a gallon of gas went from 39 cents a gallon in ’73 to 59 cents the next year, and would not drop below 50 cents again. And in January of ’74, the U.S. would begin year-round Daylight Saving Time as a way of reducing energy use.
Channel 19 had a daytime TV show called “Today’s Woman,” hosted by former Miss Wisconsin Joan Gillette of La Crosse. Shortly before Christmas, one of Joan’s guests was Paul Pappas of the Elite Restaurant in La Crosse, demonstrating how to make holiday snacks including ribbon candy.
And a Milwaukee man had a message for whoever stole the Santa Claus decoration from his porch. Archie Raid posted a big sign in his yard, which read “May the Xmas thieves who stole my Santa rot in hell.” Naughty at Christmas, 1973, yesterday in La Crosse.