Nashville Then: Best of 1964

High school students peer inside the Faith 7 space capsule Jan. 8, 1964, that Maj. Gordon Cooper flew 22 times around the Earth. The spacecraft will be on display at the National Guard armory on Sidco Drive through Dec. 12th.

Rabbi Zalman I. Posner, center, instructs a fifth grade class in Hebrew Jan. 9, 1964 at the Akiva School he founded. The children at the school begin studying Hebrew in nursery and kindergarten classes.

Fats Domino, rock 'n' roll pioneer, "Blueberry Hill" singer, 89.

Snip! And the $7 million Silliman Evans Bridge is formally opened by Mrs. Silliman Sr., left, as Metro Mayor Beverly Briley watches Jan. 14, 1964.

Mrs. Charles Pirkle of Nashville, checking out a Girl Scout cookie Jan 31, 1964, has been named the chairman of the 1964 Girl Scout Cookie Sale, which will take place Feb. 26 through March 7 in 33 counties throughout Middle Tennessee and southern Kentucky.

Nashville Symphony string quartet member Joan Mack, left, holds the cello forward so that delighted Stokes School students may pluck the strings and ask questions Feb. 6, 1964, about the fingering boards, the F-holes, pitch and how music is made.

Paul Stookey of the folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary signs autographs for fans before performing for an audience of nearly 7,000 at Municipal Auditorium for a two-hour performance. The group sang their hits during the concert sponsored by the United Cerebral Palsy Fund.

Mrs. David Majors, left, and Joe Becker are all smiles Feb. 11, 1964, as they show off their new hairstyles that were influence by the Beatles, the phenomenally successful singing group from England.

A Kids Day crowd of 10,231 at Municipal Auditorium Feb. 16, 1964, waits for the start of the second period between the Nashville Dixie Flyers and Knoxville Knights. It was the biggest crowd to see a hockey game in Nashville and is believed to be one of the largest to see an Eastern Hockey League match.

Construction crews are busy these days tearing out the inside of Jubilee Hall, shown here Feb. 26, 1964, built on the Fisk University campus in the 1870s. But the outside of this schoolÕs landmark will remain unchanged, except for a bit of freshening up, and is expected to present this face to the world for another century or more.

Nashville singing star Brenda Lee cuts a record, singing in a near-perfect German accent on Feb. 29, 1964. Within three days, she had learned all the German she needed to sing the songs. Lee is recording for Bobby Schmidt, a recording official from Hamburg, Germany.

The opening time of Nashville's first Automobile Show had to move up a half- hour to accommodate the crowd at the doors of the Municipal Auditorium March 1, 1964.

His Excellency Joseph A. Durick, left, receives congratulations from a long line of guests during the reception at the Andrew Jackson Hotel March 3, 1964. That morning he was installed bishop coadjutor of Nashville in mass at the Cathedral of the Incarnation.

As the fans give Pot Graves (22) a victory ride, Donelson is the king of Tennessee basketball. It took a decade, but the champions from Region 5 brought Nashville the TSSAA state title with a 68-49 victory over Clarksville before a Vanderbilt Gymnasium crowd of 7,400 and a live television audience March 14, 1964.

Sgt. Oscar Stone, right, assistant training instructor, demonstrates Marcj 20, 1964 the Thompson submachine gun for Metro police recruit Joseph Herrod during a training session.

Tennessee U.S. Sen. Albert Gore, right, announced his candidacy for a third term with his 15-year-old son, Albert Jr., at his side in Nashville March 23, 1964. He said he was tired of having to be coy with supporters and newsmen who asked his intentions.

Middle Tennesseans fought a mischievous wind that tried to run away with all the Easter bonnets on parade March 29, 1964. Another bonnet hits the dust as Mrs. Stephen Schillig, left, of Estes Road makes a grab for her errant finery at a downtown Nashville church. Her husband turns to assist her.

Hank Williams Jr., left, and his band perform for an overflow crowd of 4,000 at the state Democratic Party fundraising dinner at the Fairgrounds Coliseum April 1, 1964, which featured Undersecretary of Commerce Franklin D. Roosevelt Jr.

Franklin D. Roosevelt Jr., center, undersecretary of commerce, signs an autograph for an admirer as he leaves the state Democratic Party fundraising dinner at the Fairgrounds Coliseum April 1, 1964.

Twelve L&N Railroad cars of a 47-car freight train lie in a jumbled mass April 20, 1964 after derailing along Harding Road during a 3:30 a.m. wreck. Railroad, telephone and electric repair crews are digging into the big cleaning up job.

Evangelist Oral Roberts, left, celebrates with Ed Halliburton, center, of Acklen Avenue after placing his hands on him and offers a healing prayer during his crusade at the Municipal Auditorium in Nashville April 23, 1964.

Her smile has never lost its charm for young or old. That great trouper, Joan Crawford, right, flashes it for two youthful admirers, Julie Kay Schuffman, 9, left, and her sister, Jan Carroll, 12, daughters of Mr. and Mrs. E.J. Schuffman of Glengarry Drive. The veteran film star greets more than 15,000 fans during a Pepsi Open House at the Beaman Bottling Co. on Thompson Lane April 26, 1964.

Fellow civil rights demonstrators carried away an injured marcher after violence erupted when club-swinging police surged through the marchers at downtown Church Street April 28, 1964.

Metro policemen grabbed John Lewis, center, one of the leaders of the civil rights demonstrators at Morrison's Cafeteria on West End Avenue, April 29, 1964. Lewis was the first of many to be arrested by the police.

A Tic Toc Restaurant employee keeps an eye on one of the five groups of 25 demonstrators who paraded in front of the downtown store May 1, 1964. They marched in front of six segregated restaurants for two hours. Two of the marchers, John Lewis and Lewis Miller, were slightly injured during a scuffle in front of the store.

Henry Watkins of Tennessee State University missed on his first attempt in the high jump portion of the decathlon in the third annual Volunteer Games at Tennessee State May 1, 1964. Watkins was the THSAA champ in the high jump while at Pearl High School.

Dr. Martin Luther King speaks to an estimated 2,000 people packed into Fisk University in Nashville May 3, 1964. Dr. King urged the crowd to "make Nashville an open city."

Enjoying victory after Hidden Chance won the 23rd running of the Iroquois Memorial Steeplechase by four lengths May 9, 1964 are rider George Sloan, left, owner Calvin Houghland, and trainer Ed Lotze.

A Nashville Transit Co. bus travels its route in Hillsboro Village May 19, 1964. With numerous complaints, the president of the Nashville Transit Co. said he will urge his drivers to treat their smaller auto-driving brothers more courteously in the future.

People gather around the huge dual statue of Tennessee pioneers John Donelson, left, and James Robertson during its official dedication ceremony at historic Ft. Nashborough May 24, 1964. The historic handshake of the two, frozen in bronze by sculptor Puryear Mims at a cost of $50,000, depicts the two near a spot they actually met in the spring of 1780.

U.S. Sen. Hubert Humphrey, left, and Dr. Thomas Jones, former president of Fisk University, congratulate each other after being awarded honorary doctor of laws degrees June 1, 1964. Sen. Humphrey told the graduates their generation would witness the end of racial discrimination, poverty, disease and war during his speech at the school's 90th commencement.

Fans of Sunbeam bread file into the plant on Murfreesboro Road June 2, 1964, after the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the 75th anniversary of the American Bread Co. It was founded in 1889 by Charles K. Evers, father of Bernard Evers Sr., president of the firm; and Fred G. Faircloth, father of Mrs. Douglas MacArthur.

The famous Jordanaires belt out their rendition of "Don't Be Cruel" for an enthusiastic crowd at The Nashville Tennessean's Centennial Park concert June 7, 1964. Members are leader Gordon Stroker, left, Hoyt Hawkins, Ray Walker and Neal Matthews.

Mrs. and Mr. Duke J. Rose, right, listen to the music of Owen Bradley, whose orchestra played on the terrace of the Ingram's Swan Song party June 14, 1964, for out-of-town guests visiting during Swan Ball weekend.

Pam Parker, left, is the newly crowned Miss Davidson County while Jayne Ann Owens displays the smile and new crown of Miss Nashville after the Jaycees-sponsored pageant festivities at War Memorial Auditorium June 20, 1964.

Rep. Ross Bass pauses in his campaign for the U.S. Senate long enough to let barber W.D. Brown trim his hair at the Hermitage Hotel barbershop Jun 29, 1964.

Construction crews have almost completed the basic structure for the 10-story Edgehill apartment for the elderly, center, July 1, 1964. Building plans call for 90 efficiency and 90 one-bedroom apartments. The building is near Rose Park and is bounded by Twelfth Avenue South, Edgehill Avenue, Eleventh Avenue South and Horton Avenue.

As the summer months wear on, the lines on Saturday night in front of the Ryman Auditorium, such as this one July 11, 1964, on Fifth Avenue North for the "Grand Ole Opry" get longer and longer.

A distinct odor in the air lured spectators to the rear of the Metro Police Station July 17, 1964, where Chief H.O. Kemp was ordering the destruction of more than 200 gallons of white corn whiskey. Kemp said the untaxed whiskey was confiscated in the past several weeks by members of the patrol division and the newly formed white whiskey squad. Also destroyed were a still and a slot machine confiscated in raids.

A giant crane, anchored by the weight of another one lashed to it, lifts a 95-foot, two-inch steel truss, said to be the largest ever placed into a Nashville building in one piece July 19, 1964. Weighing 26,000 pounds, it is being placed atop the building adjacent to Jim Reed Chevrolet Co. for the Reed Company, which is adding a floor to the building. The present roof will be removed and a new floor hung from the steelwork.

Porter Wagoner has fun with someone in the audience as he performs with his band before a crowd of more than 5,000 at the Nashville Tennessean Centennial Park concert July 26, 1964.

Officials from Tennessee Highway Patrol, Metro Police and the Civil Defense are going over the map of heavily wooded area near Brentwood July 31, 1964. They are searching for a small private plane believed to be carrying Jim Reeves and piano player Dean Manuel that was reported down on a trip from Batesville, Ark.

John Hornaday, front, FAA investigator, takes notes of the position of the debris from the plane wreckage as country music singer Jim Reeves is identified by his wallet Aug. 2, 1964. Fellow music star and friend Eddy Arnold, white cap, views the body under the sheet. The bodies of Reeves and Dean Manuel were discovered in a wooded area near Brentwood.

Rep. Richard Fulton, right, and his two daughters, Linda and Donna, bite into a juicy watermelon slice Aug. 3, 1964, at a rally for his re-election to the 5th District congressional seat in the upcoming Democratic primary.

Sears is offering a savings of 2 cents per gallon of their gasoline at their auto service center next to their store on Lafayette Street in Nashville Aug. 5, 1964.

Gary Player, right, grins and swings during the clinic at Richland Country Club prior to the golf exhibition Aug. 13, 1964. HeÕs laughing at a remark by Arnold Palmer, left with microphone, who describes PlayerÕs shots.

Window washer Donald Cowell, 36, is on the job Aug. 17, 1964, on the 11th floor of the Sudekum building high above the intersection of Sixth and Church Streets. Cowell, who partners with his younger brother Charles on the job, washes windows on most of the tall buildings in Nashville.

Star-touched gondolas glided silently out of a misty sea into the Municipal Auditorium Aug. 20, 1964 and set 6,500 people to clapping during the 20th anniversary production of Holiday on Ice.

Two lines of veterans salute legendary Tennessee soldier Alvin C. York after his body was placed in a hearse for the trip home after losing the final battle at 76 at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Nashville Sept. 2, 1964.

A member of the Retail Clerks Union Local 1557 pickets the entrance to the Zayre store on Murfreesboro Road Sept. 7, 1964, because they were open on Labor Day. They also protested at the Giant K on Murfreesboro Road and Zayre store in Madison.

Jackie Bell, WLAC-TV Channel 5 exercise girl, goes into one of her exercises Sept. 11, 1964, which she does Monday through Friday at 8 a.m. on the station's "Trimmer Vue" program. WLAC-TV is celebrating it 10th anniversary in September 1964.

"How does she feel?" wonders Kimberly Ward, 5, of Heather Place in Nashville as she climbs a fence in the state livestock barns to get a closer view of a registered Jersey cow at the Tennessee State Fair Sept. 17, 1964. Kimberly, who is checking out the fair before it opens the next day, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Ward.

Clyde Frost of LaPoint, Utah, holds on for dear life with his left hand and tries to maintain balance with his other in bareback riding competition. Action came during the opening night of the Tommy Steiner Rodeo at Municipal Auditorium Sept. 17, 1964. Frost went on to place second in the event.

Keith Brewer, 14, of Grundy County munches on a foot-long hotdog, a tasty treat on a long, hot, dusty midway at the 59th annual Tennessee State Fair Sept. 24, 1964.

Shouting, cheering supporters crowd around President Lyndon Johnson, left, at the conclusion of his speech Oct. 9, 1964. The president is making his way to the Hermitage Hotel for a reception in his honor.

The elephants are one of the big highlights of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey circus at the Municipal Auditorium Oct. 24, 1964. More than 13,000 took in the two shows of "The Greatest Show on Earth."

Star Jimmy Dean, left, gets some tongue-in-cheek comments from his sidekick Rowlf, celebrated dog of the "Jimmy Dean Show," and Rowlf's "manager" (and voice) Jim Henson. They arrive at the Nashville Municipal Airport Oct. 26, 1964 for the taping of the show at the Ryman Auditorium.

Flowers and a giant key to the city are presented to Tennessee A&I State 's Olympic heroes Edith McGuire, second from left, Wyomia Tyus and coach Ed Temple, right, by Paul Startup, left, representative of Mayor Beverly Briley, as they arrive at the Nashville Municipal Airport Oct. 28, 1964. Looking on are Temple's children, Edwina and Lloyd Bernard.

This threesome will form the No. 1 line for the Nashville Dixie Flyers when they face the Jacksonville Rockets the next night at Municipal Auditorium in their home debut. Spraying ice Oct. 29, 1964 are wing Joe Zorica, left, center Ted McCaskill and wing Wayne Clairmont.

A family of musical talent, Earl Scruggs, left, of Flatt and Scruggs fame, has two instrument-playing sons playing together at home Oct. 30, 1964. Gary, 15, center, plays the 12-string guitar, and Randy Lynn, 11, has picked up the auto-harp.

Red Grooms and his bride, the former Mimi Gross, were in Nashville Oct. 31, 1964 on a visit with his family. Mimi, also a painter, is the daughter of the famous sculptor, Chaim Gross. Red Grooms, now living in New York, is among Art in America's new talent nominees.

Celebrating a Democratic sweep in the first two-seat Senate election in Tennessee in 30 years, Rep. Ross Bass, left, and Sen. Albert Gore and their wives flash victory grins Nov. 3, 1964 after turning back determined Republican opposition. Enjoying the moment are Mrs. Avanell Bass, second from left, and Mrs. Pauline Gore.

"All right boys, let's go. One, two and three with the 'Wabash Cannonball,' " says baseball great Dizzy Dean, left, with Ott Devine of WSM, "Grand Ole Opry" stars Roy Acuff and Pete "Brother Oswald" Kirby backstage at the Ryman Auditorium Nov. 5, 1964. Dean is in town for the WSM's "Grand Ole Opry" 39th annual birthday celebration.

Director Gene Nelson, left, and actress Susan Oliver arrive at the Loew's Theater in downtown Nashville Nov. 6, 1964 for the premiere of "Your Cheatin' Heart," the life story of late country music star Hank Williams Sr.

Church Street in downtown Nashville Nov. 28, 1964 is all dressed up for the holidays as shoppers start looking for gifts to buy.

The new liturgy of the Roman Catholic Church is the first step in a time of awakening, Thomas P. Duffy, right, tells the congregation of Christ the King Church in a historic service in which English was spoken in the Mass for the first time in the United States Nov. 29, 1964. There was general excitement with the congregation as they heard the Mass spoken in English as decreed by the Second Vatican Council last year.

A Confederate Civil War cannon is getting ready to boom out a salute Nov. 30, 1964, to the nearly 9,000 men who fell in the Battle of Franklin 100 years ago. Ceremonies during the three-day celebration of the battle's centennial ended with a memorial service honoring the Union and Confederate dead.

Prices and quality were up in the opening day sales of burley tobacco in the Middle Tennessee-Southern Kentucky area Nov. 30, 1964. Buyers inspect tobacco at the Franklin market, where the average price was $62.64 per hundredweight.

Busy shoppers turn their thoughts to Christmas and throng downtown in search of Santa's surprises Dec. 2, 1964.

Belmont College's Jerry Sullivan, center, grabs the rebound as David Lipscomb College teammates Terry Miller (53) and Bill Derra (11) look on. Belmont crushed the Bisons 88-56 during their homecoming and the opening of their new gymnasium Dec. 4, 1964.

Some of the 25 bands, 50 giant balloons and dozens of festively decorated floats march past more than 100,000 on West End toward Broadway during the 14th annual Christmas parade Dec. 6, 1964.

In regalia that would have looked at home here a century ago, Union troops march in a 45-minute commemoration parade in Centennial Park Dec. 12, 1964. The parade is the second event in the three-day centennial celebration of the crucial Civil War Battle of Nashville.

Cassius Clay, center, holding a Muhammad Speaks newspaper, held court before “his people” at the corner of 18th and Jefferson Streets in Nashville Dec. 12, 1964. Clay, who would rather be called Muhammad Ali, signed autographs for young and old alike after his bus made a stop.