MID-SOUTH MEMORIES
25 years ago — 1996
It was her third toy store of the day and Debbie Fields, mother of four, had that wild look in her eyes like she was at the end of her rope. But she trudged on, committed to her search. The search for Bubba. Fields was looking for a sillylooking $45 teddy bear with a deep Southern drawl called Real Talkin’ Bubba by Tyco. Press his left paw and he says things like, “Will you give me a big smackaroo kiss?” Press his right paw and he hiccups, sneezes or blows a kiss. Bubba is one of this year’s too-hot-toeven-find-anywhere toys — along with Tickle Me Elmo, a giggling Sesame Street character also by Tyco. And then there’s the infamous Nintendo 64 game system, and that darned Snacktime Kid, a Cabbage Patch doll by Mattel Inc. that eats but apparently never spits up. ”Why do you need anything else to feed?” said Fields, who was also searching for Snacktime Kid. “But my 10-year-old says that’s the neatest baby doll.” These are the things kids seem to want for holiday gifts this year.
50 years ago — 1971
Former Secretary of State Dean Rusk, former United States Ambassador to Japan Dr. Edwin O. Reischauer and Nationalist China ambassador to the United States James Shen will speak at the 1972 M.L. Seidman Lectures at Memphis State University. This year’s topic will be “China’s Open Wall,” and the three speakers have agreed to appear during February, March and April.
75 years ago — 1946
Except for the great steel mills and bituminous mines of the Birmingham Valley, the Southern states have yet to feel a serious industrial pinch from the soft coal strike. Although some consumers looked worriedly toward an uncertain future, the South generally was protected by the widespread use of gas and oil. 100 years ago — 1921
GREENWOOD, Miss. – Fire of unknown origin tonight destroyed 7,000 bales of cotton and one compartment of the Greenwood Compress & Storage Co. here, occasioning a loss of $900,000, practically all of which is covered by insurance.
125 years ago — 1896
The battle will be joined today between the Criminal Court and 109 members of the Saloon Keepers Association who have been indicted for retailing on Sunday. Their attorneys have been trying all week to reach an “understanding” with the prosecuting attorney, but have had no luck. Owners of several grocery stores which have bars attached also have been indicted.