The Sun remembers 1951: News of the day

Friday, July 14, 2000 | 8:47 a.m.

Headline: New Soviet Atomic Explosion!: Believe Russians Testing Atomic Guided Missiles

Story: Russia's second A-bomb explosion in nearly two years was announced by the White House today, and one congressman said it may mean the Soviet Union is working on guided missiles with atomic warheads ... Congressional leaders emphasized that the U.S. is still far ahead of Russia in the atomic arms race but that the new test shows Russia is making ominous progress. They added that it underscores the need for civil defense preparations in this country.

Headline: Lake Mead Area Top US Tourist Attraction for '51.

Story: With the close of the travel year of Sept. 30, the Lake Mead National Recreational Area broke all its previous travel records and became the nation's foremost tourist attraction for 1951 within the National Park system, George F. Baggley, superintendent, announced ... Travel into the Lake Mead area reached the total of 2,052,086 visitors on the last day of the travel year, or 16.78% more than last year's high of 1,757,882.

Headline: City to Hold Confab on Controversial Issue of Smoking in Theaters

Story: The controversial issue of smoking in theaters was expected to be resolved today at a conference between Fire Chief Harold Case, City Mgr. Chet Shelley, and Paul Sperling, president of the Nevada Theatres, Inc. owners and operators of the Palace, Fremont and Huntridge theatres. Expressing the opinion that while he did not feel smoking in reserved sections constituted a fire hazard, Chief Case told city officials in session here last night that use of cigarettes "did present a panic hazard."

Headline: Giants Win National Pennant

Story: Bobby Thomson smashed a three-run homer into the left field stands in the ninth inning today to give the New York Giants the National League pennant with a 5 to 4 victory over the Brooklyn Dodgers in the most fantastic baseball comeback of all time. Never had there been a finish like this. Nor will there probably be another in our times. There just couldn't be.

Headline: Bobby Thomson 'Rode on a Cloud'

Story: (By Bobby Thomson, as told to the United Press:) I didn't run around the bases -- I rode around 'em on a cloud. Wow, I still don't know what time it is or where I am! Frankly, I don't care. Going around those bases in the ninth inning, I just couldn't believe what was happening to me. I felt as if I was actually living one of those middle-of-the-night dreams. You know, everything was hazy. I heard yells ... I saw paper flying ... I noticed people jumping in the air but through it all, I just kept riding high on that cloud.

Headline: Yankees Rated 17-10 Favorites

Story: The New York Yankees are 17 to 10 favorites to whip the Giants in their crosstown world series, according to the Nevada Turf Club. The club said bets on the Giants for the entire series were being accepted at 10 to 17 odds. As for tomorrow's opening game, the Yankees are favored 18 to 10 if the Giants start Dave Koslo against Allie Reynolds, as announced. If Koslo starts, bets on the Giants were being accepted at 10 to 17 odds.

Headline: Rogers Hornsby Fired

Story: Rogers Hornsby, the baseball Hall-of-Famer who led Seattle to a Pacific Coast League pennant this year, was fired tonight as the team's manager. Emil Sick, owner of the Seattle team, said he had given Hornsby until today one week ago to make up his mind about returning "Apparently he hasn't done so," Sick said. "He's through. I will not renew his contract."