Page 8 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Thursday, December 31, 2020 Malden Today, Tomorrow and Yesterday – Malden 1967: Part One By Peter F. Levine T he next couple of Malden: today, tomorrow, and yesterdays will be the equivalent of summer reruns. Not sure if they even do summer reruns any longer, but here ya go anyway. This column appeared a few years back. It was a wicked blast to write and readers liked it (“Mikey likes it!”). Back by popular demand: “Malden in 1967.” Part One: Malden in 1966 was designated as an “All American City.” All American banners were flying high across our main streets and Malden had the swagger of a city on the rise; the future looked bright going into 1967 and in honor of the 53rd anniversary of the Summer of Love here is a snapshot of Malden as we appeared in that lazy, crazy, hazy yesteryear: “Torby” Macdonald represented us in Washington. Malden’s John Volpe was Governor. Walter Kelliher was Mayor. Paul H. Phaneuf was the Superintendent of Schools. The legendary Bill Tighe was the head football coach at the High School. The equally as legendary Eddie Melanson was the Director of Athletics and Physical Education. Michigan Governor George Romney is trying to persuade Massachusetts Governor John Volpe not to enter the 1968 GOP New Hampshire Presidential Primary. Romney figures having Volpe in the primaries will draw his support away. Volpe is being mentioned in some circles as a GOP Vice Presidential candidate in 1968. Volpe has deep Malden ties and calls the All-American City home. The Vietnam War is raging. It is dividing the country. Tens of thousands gather in Washington (and around the rest of the country) to protest. Malden is no exception. On May 29, Army SSGT Edwin Casaletto of Malden dies when his jeep crashes while on Tour Malden Square in the mid-1960s (Courtesy Photo) of Duty in South Vietnam. His name can be viewed on Panel 21E, Row 9 on the Vietnam Veterans Wall. Many brave Maldonians will go off to fight in Southeast Asia; you can view memorials to the ones that did not come home scattered across the city. Cable TV is coming to Malden in 1968. C.A.T.V. as cable was called in those days may be “piped” into the homes of Malden subscribers via a community antenna service come the New Year. Malden, Medford and Somerville are the first communities in the Metro Boston area to take any definite steps towards bringing the miracle of C.A.T.V. to their residents. There was no Square-killing, environmentally hostile, citizen-unfriendly building in the middle of Pleasant Street! Muhammad Ali is stripped of his Heavyweight Boxing title for refusing to be inducted into the army. The Fourth of July winners at Trafton Park as reported by Councillor John Drummey and Chairman Mike Trodden were (future Boston Bruins star) Andy Brickley, who won the boys sixyear-old race; Mike Duggan and Danny Murray won the threelegged boys race ages nine to 11. At Forestdale, the age nine to 11 boys sack race was won by Greg Lucey and partner Ricky Taich; Cathy Winslow won the 11-12 girls sack race and Mark Angrisano participated in the bean bag game for boys three to five. Waitresses are wanted at the Kernwood on Dartmouth Street. In early 1967, Malden resident Albert DeSalvo (aka the alleged Boston Strangler) is sentenced to life in prison. DeSalvo lived on Florence Street and would frequent many of the bars in the area, such as the West End Grille and Charlie Brown’s on Pleasant Street. Dr. West’s Medicine Show and Junk Band featuring Lisbon Street’s Norman “Spirit in the Sky” Greenbaum have a Billboard Top 100 hit in 1967 with their “psychedelic” number “The Eggplant That Ate Chicago.” The average cost for a gallon of gas is 33 cents. The average cost for a new home is $14,250. The average yearly income for an American is $7,300. The Monterey International Pop Music Festival is taking place in California, featuring MALDEN: TODAY | SEE PAGE 13
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