Our Back Pages February 1955

Page 1

Our Back Pages

A LOOK INSIDE THE ARCHIVES AT ONE OF OUR CLASSIC ISSUES FROM NINE DECADES OF NEW MEXICO MAGAZINE.

February 1955

Ever since young John Griswold came to Radio Station KOB in Albuquerque and started his morning record show with the lilting name of “Jonny G from KOB,” listeners have fallen under the spell of his cheerful chatter and stayed with him ever since. Two Christmases ago, when Jonny told how someone broke in to the Salvation Army office and stole $400 collected in Santa’s kettles, his listeners phoned in enough pledges in 15 minutes to more than make up for the loss. “People are really good-hearted,” says Jonny. “All you have to do is bring things to their attention.”

Bandelier National Monument. Photo by State Tourist Bureau.

In one case, reported by the Albuquerque Journal in 1954, a car was thrown from the road by a dust devil of great proportions. Though none of the passengers was killed, all were taken to a local hospital for care and treatment. The U.S. Weather Bureau advises giving these whirls the right of way whenever possible. Such violence is, of course, exceptional. Most dust devils are small, almost gentle conical winds that populate the deserts and mesas during most of the months of the year. They start with fresh vigor, become dense with dust, and whirl like dervishes along the many horizons and ridges of the land. Performers, if you will, that suddenly disappear into the wings of the sky.

White Sands Fair White Sands like a nymph of old Lives in a world apart, Her beauty etched in perfect lines By time’s majestic art. Her countenance is clean as snow, As bright as specter’s shroud, Sculptured in billows of pure white As tufts of summer cloud. Her hair is rippling wave on wave, By passing winds caressed, And sky leans down to softly touch Blue fingers to her breast. —Orval Ricketts

The Game Department stands ready to help any group of women, organized or unorganized, to develop conservation programs. It will send speakers, movies, consultants. Here and now, it tosses a couple of suggestions to the ladies of New Mexico for mulling over. Suppose that every fourth meeting were devoted to a women’s conservation program. Wouldn’t Father be willing to babysit?

VOLUME 93, ISSUE 2 New Mexico Magazine (ISSN 0028-6249) is published monthly by the New Mexico Tourism Department at 495 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87501-2750. SUBSCRIPTION PRICE: $25.95 per year, $45.95 outside the United States. Periodicals postage paid at Santa Fe, NM, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to New Mexico Magazine, PO Box 433148, Palm Coast, FL 32143-9881. Copyright © 2015 by New Mexico Magazine. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. The magazine is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs, or artwork.

72  NEW MEXICO | FEBRUARY 2015


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