Pittsfield High School Class of 1957 - 1957 in Review
Not only 1957 but all high school years in review
1957 was a great year and so were the years we spent at PHS before it. Rather than trying to list all the things that happened and what prices were, etc., we've done three things 1) We've listed a web site below so you can go to it to look up items and where you can also go to any year in the past century to see what grownups thought was important!
http://www.infoplease.com/year/1957.html
2) We've scanned and posted pages from a special issue of 'U.S. News and World Report' on what they termed 'A Year that Changed America' 1957. Look for it under Photo Galleries.
3) We've tried to put some info in this section that is not usually available - easily - elswhere.
Newpaper clippings, etc.
If you have any newspaper clippings of newspaper ads for stores that are long gone such as The Textile, Holden-Stone, Lincoln's, Besse-Clarke, Rosenfelds, the Rosa Restaurant, England Bros., etc. please scan them and send them along to Paul Venti for posting. Likewise, any clippings from the graduation day activities would be great. Ads for the Music Barn, etc. would also be good.
Anything that you think people would enjoy -- send it along.
Some facts about the Class of '57
Graduation Day was June 16, 1957. The temperature was 'terrifically hot' at about 85°.
417 Graduates
23 on Honor Roll
47 on Pro Merito list
85 people were in the Vocational section. Don Clark and Gerry Trottier won awards
500 people attended the Senior Prom in the gym on 6/13. The post-prom party was held at Eastover's Tally-Ho Barn. The dinner prior to the prom was held at the Wendell-Sherwood Hotel - since torn down and replaced by a upscale Holiday Inn.
Some Prices in 1957 in Pittsfield
A spring suit at Jay's would cost you $14 -- A Cut and styled Shampoo and set at the Tyler Street Beauty Bar aw $2.50 -- a 'figure builder girdle' at Margaret's Corsetry went for $8.50 -- Drip Dry slips (white only) cost $2.79 at The Textile -- a pair of men's chino slacks at Besse-Clarke's cost $2.99 -- a cold creme wave would cost you $5.50 at Carm's Beauty Salon but only $5 at the Mayfair Beauty Salon -- Grant's was selling fleece line sweatshirts for $0.77 -- Newberry's sold boys' t-shirts at 4 for $1 -- A Kenmore washer cost $168 and the dryer was $128 -- a 'big' 2-door, 12 cu.Ft. refrigerator cost $299. HOWEVER, compare the wage of $0.75 an hour as a starting wage at the GE straight out of high school and it doesn't look as rosy. Imagine working almost 4 hours to buy a slip (white only) today!
Miss Pittsfield of 1957
In June, 1957, Miss Pittsfield was crowned. Her name was Heather Nesbitt and she was a 1956 graduate of PHS. To show you how things have changed, the Eagle recorded these figures (no pun intended): Weight, 115 lbs.; measurements 34-22-34.
Her prize - a $250 Scholarship to North Adams Teacher's College (now Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.)
Business Items in 1957
On June 17, 1957, at 1 PM, the DJ Industrials were at 513.97. -- the Railroad Index were at 147.39 -- the Utility Index was 75.19 shares. 1,100,000 shares of stock were traded.
Companies based in the Berkshires were Berkshire Hathaway, Chapman Valve, Consumer Dry Goods, Eaton Paper, Forbes and Wallace, New England Lime, Package Machinery, Springfield Fire and Marine Insurance, Sprague Electric and Stanley Home Products, Agricultural National Bank, Berkshire Gas, Berkshire Trust, Pittsfield National Bank, Western Massachusetts Companies
Music Barn
A great jazz venue in the mid 50's was the Music Barn in Stockbridge. Condos now occupy the spot. Here are some of the great names that appeared in 1957: Ella Fitzgerald, Ethel Waters, Dave Brubeck, Gerry Mulligan, Lionel Hampton, Duke Ellington, Woody Herman, Modern Jazz Quartet, Oscar Petersen, Dizzy Gillespie, & Jimmy Giufre, Also the Weavers, Mahalia Jackson and Tom Lehrer.
Here are the Top 100 Hits of 1957
1.....All Shook Up .....Elvis Presley
2.....Love Letters In The Sand .....Pat Boone THE #1 SONG ON GRADUATION DAY!!
3.....Jailhouse Rock .....Elvis Presley
4.....Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear .....Elvis Presley
5.....April Love .....Pat Boone
6.....Young Love .....Tab Hunter
7.....Tammy .....Debbie Reynolds
8.....Honeycomb .....Jimmy Rodgers
9.....Wake Up Little Susie .....Everly Brothers
10.....You Send Me .....Sam Cooke
11.....Butterfly .....Andy Williams
12.....Too Much .....Elvis Presley
13.....Round And Round .....Perry Como
14.....Butterfly .....Charlie Gracie
15.....Diana .....Paul Anka
16.....Chances Are .....Johnny Mathis
17.....Party Doll .....Buddy Knox
18.....That'll Be The Day .....Buddy Holly & Crickets
19.....Don't Forbid Me .....Pat Boone
20.....Young Love .....Sonny James
21.....Little Darlin' .....Diamonds
22.....So Rare .....Jimmy Dorsey
23.....Bye Bye Love .....Everly Brothers
24.....Great Balls Of Fire .....Jerry Lee Lewis
25.....Teenage Crush .....Tommy Sands
26.....All The Way .....Frank Sinatra
27.....A White Sport Coat & A Pink Carnation .....Marty Robbins
28.....Raunchy .....Bill Justis
29.....A Teenager's Romance .....Ricky Nelson
30.....Whole Lot Of Shakin' Goin On .....Jerry Lee Lewis
31.....School Day .....Chuck Berry
32.....Searchin' .....Coasters
33.....I'm Gonna Sit Right Down & Write Myself A.Letter.....Billy Williams
34.....Old Cape Cod .....Patti Page
35.....Peggy Sue .....Buddy Holly & Crickets
36.....Moonlight Gambler .....Frankie Laine
37.....Kisses Sweeter Than Wine .....Jimmy Rodgers
38.....Silhouettes .....Rays
39.....Be Bop Baby .....Ricky Nelson
40.....Marianne .....Hilltoppers
41.....Come Go With Me .....Dell Vikings
42.....Gone .....Ferlin Husky
43.....I'm Walkin' .....Fats Domino
44.....Rainbow .....Russ Hamilton
45.....Dark Moon .....Gale Storm
46.....The Banana Boat Song .....Tarriers
47.....Marianne .....Terry Gikyson
48.....Raunchy .....Ernie Freeman
49.....I'm Walkin' .....Ricky Nelson
50.....It's Not For Me To Say .....Johnny Mathis
51.....Tammy .....Ames Brothers
52.....Short Fat Fannie .....Larry Williams
53.....Why Baby Why .....Pat Boone
54.....Banana Boat (Day-O) .....Harry Belafonte
55.....Melodie D'amour .....Ames Brothers
56.....Party Doll .....Steve Lawrence
57.....Happy, Happy Birthday Baby .....Tune Weavers
58.....Blue Monday .....Fats Domino
59.....Send For Me .....Nat King Cole
60.....Mr. Lee .....Bobbettes
61.....Dark Moon .....Bonnie Guitar
62.....Remember You're Mine .....Pat Boone
63.....Freight Train .....Rusty Draper
64.....Little Bitty Pretty One .....Thurston Harris
65.....It's You I Love .....Fats Domino
66.....Jingle Bell Rock .....Bobby Helms
67.....Fascination .....Jane Morgan
68.....My Special Angel .....Bobby Helms
69.....White Silver Sands .....Don Rhondo
70.....Young Blood .....Coasters
71.....Over The Mountain, Across The Sea .....Johnny & Joe
72.....I Like Your Kind Of Love .....Andy Williams
73.....Rock & Roll Music .....Chuck Berry
74.....Keep A Knockin' .....Little Richard
75.....Valley Of Tears .....Fats Domino
76.....Just Between You & Me .....Chordettes
77.....Put A Light In The Window .....Four Lads
78.....You Send Me .....Platters
79.....Hula Love .....Buddy Knox
80.....I Dreamed .....Betty Johnson
81.....In The Middle Of An Island .....Tony Bennett
82.....Who Needs You .....Four Lads
83.....I'm Available .....Margie Rayburn
84.....Start Movin' .....Sal Mineo
85.....Whispering Bells .....Dell Vikings
86.....The Twelfth Of Never .....Johnny Mathis
87.....My Heart Reminds Me .....Kay Starr
88.....Raunchy .....Billy Vaughn
89.....Oh, Boy! .....Buddy Holly & Crickets
90.....Jenny, Jenny .....Little Richard
91.....Rock-A-Billy .....Guy Mitchell
92.....Mangos .....Rosemary Clooney
93.....Shish-Kabob .....Ralph Marterie
94.....Love Is A Golden Ring .....Frankie Laine
95.....You Don't Owe Me A Thing .....Johnny Ray
96.....Silhouettes .....Diamonds
97.....Four Walls .....Jim Reeves
98.....Shangri-La .....Four Coins
99.....Mama Look At Bubu .....Harry Belafonte
100.....Love Is Strange .....Mickey & Sylvia
1956 Top 100 Songs
The Top 100 Songs of 1956
1.....Singing The Blues .....Guy Mitchell
2.....Don't Be Cruel .....Elvis Presley
3.....The Wayward Wind .....Gogi Grant
4.....Heartbreak Hotel .....Elvis Presley
5.....Hound Dog .....Elvis Presley
6.....Rock and Roll Waltz .....Kay Starr
7.....Memories Are Made Of This .....Dean Martin
8.....The Poor People Of Paris .....Les Baxter
9.....Love Me Tender .....Elvis Presley
10.....My Prayer .....Platters
11.....Lisbon Antigua .....Nelson Riddle
12.....I Almost Lost My Mind .....Pat Boone
13.....Moonglow and Theme From 'Picnic' .....Morris Stoloff
14.....The Green Door .....Jim Lowe
15.....The Great Pretender .....Platters
16.....I Want You, I Need You, I Love You .....Elvis Presley
17.....Hot Diggity .....Perry Como
18.....No, Not Much! .....Four Lads
19.....Blue Suede Shoes .....Carl Perkins
20.....Honk Tonk (Parts 1 & 2) .....Bill Doggett
21.....Blueberry Hill .....Fats Domino
22.....Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera) .....Doris Day
23.....Canadian Sunset .....Hugo Winterhalter
24.....Allegheny Moon .....Patti Page
25.....Love Me .....Elvis Presley
26.....Just Walking In The Rain .....Johnny Ray
27.....Ivory Tower .....Cathy Carr
28.....True Love .....Bing Crosby & Grace Kelly
29.....I'm In Love Again .....Fats Domino
30.....Standing On The Corner .....Four Lads
31.....Hey! Jealous Lover .....Frank Sinatra
32.....The Flying Saucer (Parts 1 & 2) .....Buchanan & Goodman
33.....On The Street Where You Live .....Vic Damone
34.....Tonight You Belong To Me .....Patience & Prudence
35.....Band Of Gold .....Don Cherry
36.....I'll Be Home .....Pat Boone
37.....Moonglow and Theme From 'Picnic' .....George Cates
38.....You've Got The Magic Touch .....Platters
39.....More .....Perry Como
40.....Friendly Persuasion .....Pat Boone
41.....A Tear Fell .....Teresa Brewer
42.....Born To Be With You .....Chordettes
43.....Memories Are Made Of this .....Gale Storm
44.....Why Do Fools Fall In Love .....Frankie Lymon & Teenagers
45.....A Rose And A Baby Ruth .....George Hamilton IV
46.....The Happy Whistler .....Don Robertson
47.....Long Tall Sally .....Little Richard
48.....See You Later, Aligator .....Bill Haley & Comets
49.....Ivory Tower .....Gale Storm
50.....Teenage Prayer .....Gale Storm
51.....Canadian Sunset .....Andy Williams
52.....The Fool .....Sanford Clark
53.....Be Bop A Lula .....Gene Vincent & Blue Caps
54.....A Sweet Old Fashioned Girl .....Teresa Brewer
55.....DungereedOLL .....Eddie Fisher
56.....The Tender Trap .....Frank Sinatra
57.....Moritat, Theme From 'The Three Penny Opera' .....Dick Hyman Trio
58.....Rock Island Line .....Lonnie Donegan
59.....Song For A Summer Night .....Mitch Miller
60.....Glendora .....Perry Como
61.....Long Tall Sally .....Pat Boone
62.....Transfusion .....Nervous Norvus
63.....Cindy, Oh Cindy .....Vince Martin & Tarriers
64.....Why Do Fools Fall In Love .....Gale Storm
65.....Walk Hand In Hand .....Tony Martin
66.....After The Lights Go Down Low .....Al Hibbler
67.....Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody .....Jerry Lewis
68.....Cindy, Oh Cindy .....Eddie Fisher
69.....Juke Box Baby .....Perry Como
70.....Chains Of Love .....Pat Boone
71.....Soft Summer Breeze .....Eddie Heywood
72.....It Only Hurts For A Little While .....Ames Brothers
73.....Band Of Gold .....Kit Carson
74.....Ivory Tower .....Otis Williams & Charms
75.....Angels In The Sky .....Crew Cuts
76.....Night Lights .....Nat King Cole
77.....Two Different Worlds .....Don Rondo
78.....You'll Never Know .....Platters
79.....Are You Satisfied? .....Rusty Draper
80.....Eddie My Love .....Fontane Sisters
81.....Mama From The Train .....Patti Page
82.....Gonna Get Along Without Ya Now .....Patience & Prudence
83.....Moritat, Theme From 'The Three Penny Opera' .....Richard Hayman & Jan August
84.....Go On With The Wedding .....Patti Page
85.....In The Middle Of The House .....Vaughn Monroe
86.....From The Candy Store On The Corner..... .....Tony Bennett
87.....Since I Met You Baby .....Ivory Joe Hunter
88.....Garden Of Eden .....Joe Valino
89.....Why Do Fools Fall In Love .....Diamonds
90.....Tutti Fruitti .....Pat Boone
91.....When The Lilacs Bloom Again .....Helmut Zacharias
92.....Mary's Boy Child .....Harry Belafonte
93.....Picnic .....McGuire Sisters
94.....Mr. Wonderful .....Sarah Vaughn
95.....I Want You To Be My Girl .....Frankie Lymon & Teenagers
96.....St. Therese Of The Roses .....Billy Ward & Dominos
97.....It Isn't Right .....Platters
98.....How Little We Know .....Frank Sinatra
99.....Chain Gang .....Bobby Scott
100.....Jamaica Farewell
