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University Daily Kansan Thursday, Dec. 18, 1958
A Summing Up
This fading year was one in which youth was labelled a willing supplicant before the altar of conformity. In conforming, it is supposed, we lose our intellectual curiosity and interest in the outside world.
But interested or not, world events shape our future. Silent dismissal will not negate the world beyond the narrow scope of college life. We may go to our graves uncaring, but those graves may be in China. For the most ominous event of 1953 was the rise of China as a major power. As China grows, so grow the chances for war, and this silent group will be the one to fight it.
We may ignore the signs that point to the future. The terrible pressure of race hatred, the rising strength of Asia, the spread of moral bank-
Our lives will also undergo a deep sea-change as man forces his way into space. We will buy space with our lives and toil and money, and the new frontier must be built by us.
rupty—all may seem remote. But these things are shaping our world. If we cannot solve the problems, we must suffer them.
This year seems like any other, a continuation of the same events, pressures, forces. The significant changes are obscured by daily events that loom large through proximity.
What is important this year? The Fifth Republic of France, which may change the direction of the West. China, building furiously. The invisible moonlets hanging in space. The terrifying prospect of a world atomically armed to the teeth.
If there is a single thing such a world needs, it is this: Trained minds. Minds which can deal with problems greater than ever before.
Such minds are the end products of education combined with hard mental labor. That is what we should remember from this year and every year of our lives. —Alan Jones
The American Scene
Americans "hooped" it up in 1958!
Hula-hooping gave Americans relaxation and exercise, and brought the hoop manufacturers a million dollars.
While whirling the plastic circles around his waist, the American hummed "Tom Dooley," the "Purple People Eater" or "The Witch Doctor."
France's Brigitte Bardot was the sex queen of the movies, while Tony Perkins became an idol of the American female.
The hula-hoop craze began last summer. It was started by the Wham-O Manufacturing Co., but before the craze was over at least 40 other novelty makers had hopped on the hoop wagon.
Everyone from small children to town mayors spun the brilliantly colored hoops around their waists. Even songs were written about the hula-hoop.
The name Bardot has **become** a symbol of sex within the last year. Wherever her name appears on a marquee, the theater is packed. A towel, or sometimes a sheet, draped around her has become her badge. Her clothes are more often off, or nearly off, than on.
Tony Perkins was one of the box office attractions for women. His "Desire Under the Elms" was much talked about.
Hollywood personalities also made headlines about other matters.
Zsa Zsa Sza Gabor and Kim Novak were given expensive sport cars
just for being friends of the Dominican playboy, Rafe Trillo.
Americans were extremely interested when Lana Turner's daughter stabbed to death Lana's ex-boyfriend. Again, they showed avid curiosity when Liz Taylor broke up the marriage of Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher.
The younger generation was enthused with "Zorro" and bought Zorro hats, rings, ties, shirts, whips and masks.
Quiz shows were having difficulty in holding their audiences and with the government, which investigated several of them.
Elvis Presley, king of rock 'n' roll, was drafted last spring and was later sent to Germany. Ricky Nelson let his hair grow and shot to singing success. Johnny Mathis was the new star among the ballad singers, although Perry Como was still scoring high on record lists.
Novelty songs made money this year. "The Purple People Eater" sold well over 1.5 million records.
The Kingston Trio was the newest and most popular vocal group of the year with its recording of "Tom Dooley," a folk song which they gave a modern touch.
Humor in America followed the surcastic vein shown on contemporary cards: "Speaking as an outsider, what do you think of the human race?"
People discussed Harry Golden's book, "Only in America." It became one of the most talked about books when the story came out that Golden was an ex-convict.
Americans also discussed "The Memoirs of Field-Marsal Marsh Montgomery," relating his experiences in World War II and implying the war could have been won sooner if he had been in command.
In general, although everyone talked about small cars, the larger cars still outdistanced them in new car sales. Most 1950 models this fall are wider, longer, lower and have less chrome.
Among the college set, the Ivy League still held on firmly in men's styles. However, women's skirts were shorter so that knees showed occasionally. Included in the wardrobe of most young women were the colorful "skins" or "tights," worn with skirts, shorts and skorts. The balloon skirt was shown for evening wear, and the empire look was taking over for the chemise.
People worried about the U.S. pavilion at the Brussels World Fair. Some were in a frenzy about whether the Russians were ahead of us in education, and in the arms race.
The trials of Charlie Starkweather and his girlfriend, Caril Fugate, who went on a shooting spree in 1957, kept people talking. Although most felt Starkweather's death sentence was justified, a few felt sorry when 15-year-old Caril drew a life sentence.
And 1958 was the saddest year ever for Texans. With Alaska's entry into the Union, Texas was plummeted to second largest state.
-Martha Crosier
Docking Made the Big Kansas Story
On Nov. 4 the people of Kansas chose their man of the year—George Docking, the first Democrat ever re-elected Kansas governor. Six weeks later University Daily Kansan editorial writers, selected the governor's re-election as the state's top news story of 1958.
The governor's supporters shocked opponent Clyde Reed, Parsons newspaper publisher, and themselves as well, for not even the Democrats expected Docking's 100,000-vote margin.
To many Kansans the victory of the "right to work" measure—the No. 2 story—seemed a contradiction of the state's desire for Democratic leadership. But unlike the other five states where the measure was on the ballot, its passage was virtually assured from the time it was put there.
In third place was the announcement that 1958 crops would challenge the state's previous agricultural records. The wheat harvest totaled 284,526,000 bushels, third largest on record. Other totals: Sorghum, 119,480,000 bushels, second largest on record, and rye, 3,145,000 bushels, the largest ever recorded in the state. The corn crop was the largest since 1850.
Two disaster stories were 4th and 5th. A tornado struck El Dorado on June 11 killing 13 and leaving 50 homeless. One-month later, on July 11, flash floods caused an estimated $10 million damage at Atchison. Within a few
hours the water caused three deaths, destruction of 10 buildings and contamination of the city's water supply.
No. 7—The Boyt bank case. Jeff Williams, a cashier, disappeared June 30 with more than $26,000 embuzzled from the bank. Orion Williams, president of the bank, was arrested in October on the charge that he knew the bank was insolvent. A bank examiner's report eliminated shortages dated from 1925.
No. 9- Following logically behind a raise in income came a proposed tax hike. At the next session of the legislature, Gov. Docking will ask that property taxes, which now range from $12.70 to $44 per $1,000 assessed value, be staffed at $35 per $1,000 assisted value.
No. 8. The farm income increase of 12 per cent to $954,225,000. The $100 million jump increased the average to $8,555 per farm.
The other stories:
No. 6—Gov. Docking's appeal to a special session of the Legislature, for $16 million in additional revenue. The governor called the special session after the regular session failed to pass a sales tax increase giving a needed $57.5 million 'in taxes.
No. 10-The record-breaking snows which made February, 1958, the most severe since 1935. Fourteen inches of snow closed schools and paralyzed traffic.
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No. 11—The Oct. 5 bomb blast in the Wichita airport, which killed Forrest D. McCuiston, a Tulsa aircraft tool designer.
No. 13—The explosion which killed three amateur rocketeers and injured two more at Lawrence Gallery Chemical Co.
No. 12-A 200 per cent increase in the amount of land in the state soil bank program.
No. 15 - Former Kansas governor and Republican presidential nominee Alf Landon's campaign against the right-to-work measure.
No. 16—The international incident when Rafael Trujillo, son of the Dominican strongman, failed to graduate from the Army's Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth.
No. 14—The announcement that unemployment in Kansas has dropped 2.2 per cent below the national average of 12.3 per cent.
No. 17—The story of Major Russell E. Parker, "model student" at the Command and General Staff College, who was killed while attempting to rob a Kansas City, Mo. theater.
No. 19 - The fire which destroyed half of a Newton shopping center.
No. 18-The federal government's $11,000 tax lien against former Gov. Fred Hall.
No. 23—The outbreak of sleeping sickness which hit Colby in early June. —Jack Fenton
The novel fared well in 1958 literary production with many good additions to the world's libraries.
But there were only a few books of earth shaking significance.
Undoubtedly the most heralded book, and probably the greatest of the year, is Boris Pasternak's Nobel Prize-winning novel, Dr. Zhivago. Perhaps Russia's favorite living poet, Pasternak staked his reputation on this courageous work.
Russia was furious. The book was banned in the Soviet. But a copy of the manuscript already had been sent to Fasternak's Italian publisher, who released the book.
Doctor Zhivago became a sensation. People praise it as a denunciation of communism. Communists call the book "treason." Others feel the novel tells a man's true and sincere impressions of his society.
The next best novel also was written by a Russian, Celita, by Vladimir Nabokov, is the most controversial book since Peyton Place.
Nabokov's main thread concerns the unnatural desire of a man for girls between 9 and 14.
Please Don't Eat the Daisies, by Jean Kerr, is one of the finest humor books of the year. H is Mrs. Kerr's first book.
Many biographies have found the bookshelves and one of the best is Herbert Hoover's The Ordeal of Woodrow Wilson.
The Steadfast Man, by Paul Gallico, has been called one of the better accounts of St. Patrick.
Ont. acknowledged great historical work was published. Winston Churchill released his fourth volume in the "History of Modern Civilization" series, The Great Democracies.
Two studies are on our list because of their pertinence to today's world situation. John Gunther's Inside Russia Today has been on the best-seller list since the author published his impressions of an experience-packed six-week tour.
Gen. James M. Gavin wrote War and Peace in the Space Age after his sudden retirement from a high Army position. Gen. Gavin is highly critical of the way the armed services are being run.
Our final two books on the top ten lie in the scope of general professions and art. Tea Pots on Wheels, by Lucius Beebe and Charles Clegg, is another excellent book by the two railroad specialists. This book is about narrow-gauge railroads in the Colorado Rockies, and is both nostalgic and humorous.
The Picture History of Painting, by E. W. and Dora Janson, is one of the best collections of reproductions of the world's fine art works. With more than 500 photographs (103 in color) the book ranges from cave-painting to recent masters. John Husar
BB and Westerns in'58
Movieland 1958 had a year of its own—a year which revolved about Brigitte Bardot and a thirst for the unusual.
Chained together, Sidney Poitier and Tony Curtis led the audience through great acting, as they are hunted down by a sheriff and his posse.
In spite of all the stereo, depth and color on the modern screen, the American people accepted with open arms a black and white production which featured acting as its only specialty—"The Defiant Ones."
Another 1958 movie long to be remembered is Tennessee Williams' "Cat on a Hot Tin Root. Outstanding were the superior acting, the personal charm, and excitement of Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Newman and Burl Ives.
The unique film of the year was one either dearly loved or hated by the critics. Hemingway's "The Old Man and the Sea," starring Spencer Tracy.
Nineteen fifty-eight reverted from the serious to the humorous with Leslie Caron as "Gigi," a little French girl whose guardian family tries to convert her to the family's plan—the life of a money-seeking mistress.
"Indiscretet," with Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman, was a conventional but delightful comedy of upper-class manners.
Adult Westerns came to the movie screen in a manner that recalled "High Noon" or "Shane," with "The Big Country," starring Gregory Peck and Jean Simmons.
Other notable films of 1958 included "The Horse's Mouth," with Ailee Guinness; "The Young Lions," "Me and the Colonel," "The Reluctant Debuntante," "The Key," "Damm Yankees," "The Brothers Karamazov" and "The last Hurrah." In 1958 everyone from children up to white-haired grandmothers turned from the dying quiz programs to Westerns on television.
The two Ferrys, Mason and Conno, led in their fields, drawing Saturday night watchers through their wit and case.
"Gunsmoke" again headed the list, followed by "Have Gun, Will Travel," "Maverick" and "Zorro," with his "Z," for the kids.
It was also a year of spectaculars, with such TV productions as "Kiss Me Kate" and "Wonderful Town."
This year's entertainment has been unusual and spectacular. It's not all Miss Bardot either. Remember, there are horror movies like "The Blob," which descended upon us, like it or not.
—Jeanne Arnold
Dailu Francis
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