Back in the Day

Drawing from the Pilot’s expansive archive, Virginian-Pilot news researchers Maureen P. Watts and Jakon Hays look back at our local history. We'll post old photos, stories, advertisements, historical front pages and popular columns unearthed from yesterday’s papers; giving readers a glimpse of this region we call Hampton Roads. Feel free to leave comments or remembrances.

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All images are property of The Virginian-Pilot. Use without permission is prohibited.

Category: Local History

■ 21 February 2012 | 11:53 AM

''Sweet Daddy'' Grace Parade - Norfolk 7/6/1952

Charles Manuel ''Sweet Daddy'' Grace was born Charles Manuel Degrace in Portugal in 1881 and emigrated to the United States in 1906. He made his living as a railroad cook until he was called to the ministry, organizing the House of Prayer For All People in Massachusetts around 1920. He first came to Norfolk in 1926. By 1930, a building for his Norfolk congregation had been constructed on East 17th Street, and a parade was held annually in July to celebrate the founding of the first Norfolk church.

Bishop Grace was a frequent visitor here, and maintained a penthouse at Grace Village Apartments, an 11-unit building painted red, pink and white, which he built on Princess Anne Road in 1952. By the time of his death in 1960 there were three Houses of Prayer in Norfolk - on Church Street, Bowden's Ferry Road and Freemason Street - and more than 300 churches with an estimated 3 million followers in 67 cities nationwide.

The Freemason Street church, where the congregation worshiped from 1955 to 1960, was built in 1828 as Christ Episcopal Church. After the Christ Church congregation built a new church, Christ & St. Luke's, at Stockley Gardens in 1910, the building was sold to Norfolk's Greek Orthodox congregation, who occupied it until the present Greek Orthodox Church was built on Granby Street.

Bishop Grace purchased the building in 1955 and his congregation painted the building red, white and blue. It remained a downtown landmark until it was torn down in 1972. After his death, Grace was succeeded by Bishop Walter McCullough of Washington, DC.

- Peggy Haile

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■ 17 February 2012 | 1:06 PM

Jayne Mansfield at the Golden Garter 5/31/66

Back in May of 1966, the Pilot’s own Mal Vincent received an assignment we’re pretty sure he was excited to have. He was tasked with interviewing Jayne Mansfield who was staying at the Mariner’s Motel (52nd & Atlantic) in Virginia Beach. The photo assignment instructed the reporters to interview Mrs. Mansfield poolside (if weather permits…see scanned photo assignment).

Unfortunately, viewing these shots, it appears the weather was not cooperative.

The interview seemed to go off without a hitch, and Mal had a lively discussion with Jayne.

The interview got off to a great start as Jayne, speaking on a couch backstage at the Golden Garter Club, assured Mal that she is “…just like any other girl.”

Mal played it cool and dropped his pencil on the floor.

For the interview and photo shoot, Jayne wore a tight pink knit dress with white boots. Between deep breaths she talked about male reactions to her act. “They’re all so nice.” She cooed. “They make me feel so wanted.”

Jayne told Mal that she was just ½ a year in credits away from receiving her bachelor’s degree in dramatic arts. She stated that her grade average is a high B and all doubters could check the college records.

Mal reminds us that the public has always been more interested in her measurement averages, which she publicizes as 41-18-35.

Below we are featuring 6 shots never before published.

We have also included the full interview.

Enjoy!

All photos by William J. Abourjulie

You may purchase any of the shots below HERE.

Larger version HERE

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■ 14 February 2012 | 4:53 PM

Jackie Robinson - Norfolk Oct. 11, 1953

Approximately 3,700 Hampton Roads baseball fans witnessed Jackie Robinson and his all star team defeat the Philadelphia stars (11-3) in an exhibition game held at Norfolk’s Myers Field.

There were two home runs in the game – one by Robinson and the other by Johnny Glenn (Glenn played for the Piedmont League Newport News Dodgers ).

Below, Robinson signs autographs for young fans and in the last two shots Robinson poses with Luke Easter.

Photos by Maddrey

You may purchase these shots HERE

We’d also like to mention a new product that we think our blog readers would find interesting.

The February edition of the Times of Tidewater is now available. It features stories and photographs from the archives of The Virginian-Pilot and Ledger-Star.

The February edition includes material originally published in February 1932, 1942, 1952, 1962 and 1972.

If you like the content featured here on Back in the Day, then we are sure you will find the Times enjoyable. You can order the newspaper from the Pilot store HERE.

larger HERE

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■ 10 February 2012 | 12:20 PM

Martin Luther King Jr. -Suffolk VA. 1963

It was the summer of 1963 and Martin Luther King Jr. was in town for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

In the photos below, Dr. King arrives at a press conference held at the Union Hall in Suffolk.

The conference was scheduled for 6p.m., and it preceded his address at Peanut Park where an estimated 5,000 people were expected to gather to hear his address at the statewide rally.

Over the next couple of weeks we hope to place the images and reports of the rally up on the blog.

All photos by Pilot staff photographers.

You may purchase the images HERE and view additional photos from the press conference.

larger version HERE

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■ 09 February 2012 | 11:04 AM

Mr. Johnny Cash - Norfolk, Sept. 1969

The photo archive yields more surprises.

Here are nine previously unpublished photos of Johnny Cash during a visit to Norfolk in September of 1969.

Cash had just set something of a Norfolk show business record over the previous weekend when he played to a packed house in the Arena for two performances with more than 1,000 people turned away for each.

The Pilot’s own Mal Vincent wrote a nice feature piece on Mr. John R. Cash and had a chance for a brief interview during a ride to Norfolk’s Forest Lawn Cemetery where Johnny placed a wreath on the grave of Judge George D. Hay, founder of the Grand Ole Opry.

During the drive to the cemetery, Johnny discussed with Mal his chief claim to fame as a child in Arkansas– the ability to pick 350 pounds of cotton a day. “I don’t think I’ll HAVE to be picking cotton again anytime soon” Johnny said. “I think I still could pick about 200, but I don’t plan to try it. I did pick a little last fall, to show June how to do it”.

June Carter was expecting their first child and was unable to join Johnny in Norfolk.

Johnny answered several more questions from Mal ranging from the popularity of country music to his television show and his desire to write science fiction stories when he settles down later in life.

Johnny instructed the driver to stop just outside the cemetery on Granby Street when a teen-age girl waved. She passed him a beaded Indian Headband through the window. “Thank you, honey,” he said as he waved back.

We hope you enjoy these shots of The Man in Black.

All photos by Charles Meads

If you would like to purchase any of the above shots you may do so HERE

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■ 07 February 2012 | 10:58 AM

15 Minutes with the Rolling Stones - July 4, 1966

Every so often, you stumble across something really special down in the basement archives.

Actually, this seems to be happening with a bit more regularity.

Several weeks ago, I was asked to poke around in the basement to see if we had any shots of a certain building in downtown Norfolk. As I flipped through the envelopes for the summer of 1966, I paused for a moment when I spotted the negative packet pictured below.

Below are ten never before published shots from that envelope. We hope you enjoy them.

At the end of the post you will find a link to the Back in the Day photo album where you can purchase the photos featured in this post as well as view 15 additional photos not included below.

Text accompanying the photos is taken from the published reports of the visit.

The Rolling Stones – England’s No.1 rock ‘n’ roll group plays at the Alan B. Shepard Civic Center on July 4, 1966. Some 3,500 screaming teenagers packed the house to see the five shaggy singers perform a 15 minute “concert” showcasing their hits, ‘I Can’t Get No Satisfaction” and “Mother’s Little Helper.”

The band’s plane landed at Norfolk Airport at 6:30 p.m for a 7:30 show at the Dome. After eating dinner on board the chartered plane, the group strolled briefly on the tarmac.

A fast, police-escorted limousine ride to Virginia Beach ends with the Stones being led into the Dome in the middle of a police flying wedge that pushed its way through the crowd.

The Stones’ act followed those of the Standels, The McCoys and the Syndicate of Sound. After the McCoys finished, the curtain was drawn and a line of policemen ringed the stage. From behind the closed curtains, the sounds of the Rolling Stones warming up became more regular until they burst out in their first song as the curtain opened.

To prevent a riotous situation from developing, a wall of policemen guarded the stage to discourage too much enthusiasm.

Virginian-Pilot staff writer Frank Delano had the opportunity to conduct a light-hearted interview with the group after the show.

-When asked what he thought of the Beatles, Jagger said “Nice lads”

-When asked if he thought their music was serious, Brian Jones said: “I think it’s a serious threat to juvenile morals.”

Describing the audience at the dome Jagger said they were “a rather quiet lot.”

Photos by Max Hertweck

Delano goes on to report that the Stones appear to be quiet young men, their show a loud multicolored, flailing affair. Colored spotlights danced quickly moving Jagger. At times, a barrage of flashbulbs lit the dome as brightly as sunlight.

You may view additional photos and purchase the above shots here.

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■ 05 January 2012 | 11:47 AM

Jazz legend Lionel Hampton jams at the Plaza Hotel and Lounge - 1957

The New Year brings some more surprises from the Pilot photo negative vault.

It was June of 1957, and Lionel Hampton and his band were in Norfolk. Pilot photographer Charlie Meads headed over to the famous Plaza Hotel and Lounge (The Hotel stood at 18th and Church streets and served as the only lodging in Norfolk for the black stars of the day who headlined the Attucks Theatre – the hotel was demolished in 1997).

It looks like the band had a wonderful time, and we are happy to post five never before published shots of this jam session.

The first two shots ran side-by-side in the paper with the caption reading:

Just a little jamming – Lionel Hampton, with Oscar Dennard at his left, helps out with “Ladybird,” a modern jazz piece some of the members of his band jammed on yesterday at The Plaza Hotel. In the photo on the right Elsie Smith, who plays the saxophone for Hampton, tries out a trumpet while Dave Gonzales looks on.