50 Years Ago

Monday, November 15, 1971

Rockmart plant turns out giant Mickey Mouse figure

The Aviation and Industrial Products Division of the Rockmart plant of Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company has just completed its sixth inflatable cartoon character to be used in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade in New York City.

The latest is Mickey Mouse, the world’s best known and loved cartoon character and creation of the late Walt Disney. As a balloon, Mickey stands 60 feet tall, 35 feet from fingertip to fingertip, with a body 18 feet in diameter.

It required 800 yards of fabric, 75 gallons of paint, and more than 2,000 man hours to build. His estimated weight is 350 pounds and approximately 9,500 cubic feet of helium will be needed for inflation.

Mickey will have 36 ropes attached to him, with one man holding each rope to guide him on his lofty way along the parade route.

The city of Rockmart cited Goodyear workers for their contribution to the entertainment of the many people who will view their handiwork on Thanksgiving Day.

Wednesday, November 17, 1971

Trapped mom drops children to son three stories below

Trapped in her apartment by an arsonist’s blaze, a Brooklyn mother today dropped seven of her children to her 16-year-old son standing three stories below and then jumped to safety herself.

All the children were treated at a hospital and released in good condition. The mother, Mrs. Virginia David, 38, was reported in fair condition with a possible concussion and fractured left wrist.

Police arrested her estrange husband, Lee David, 41, and charged him with second degree arson in connection with the blaze.

Fire officials said the blaze was said about 1 a.m. in the stairwell above the second floor landing. Heavy smoke and flames trapped the family in their third floor apartment.

Gary David, jumped first from a rear window into the backyard and then caught or broke the falls of seven brothers and sisters ranging in age from 5 to 18 and his mother police said.