That’s all right, Elvis
25 years ago: 1988
July 4th popped and sizzled Monday — a celebration of sound and smell that gave body to a great 212-year-old idea. Firecrackers whizzed in the air and across lawns, almost muffling the sound of electric ice cream makers grinding on front porches.
The biggest display of f ireworks in Memphis came at about 9:30 p.m. at the end of the annual Star Spangled Celebration in Tom Lee Park. It filled the night sky over the Mississippi River with color, to the delight of thousands who lined the river or watched from downtown buildings.
50 years ago: 1963
Except for those five minutes of blaring noise, Memphis celebrated the Fourth of July in its usual, quiet, sober fashion yesterday. With business at a standstill, citizens made for the parks, playgrounds, golf courses, tennis courts and other places offering amusement. Even the 92-degree high registered at 3 p.m. was something Memphians had learned to expect, and the glaring sun failed to deter celebrants. The “Let Freedom Really Ring” noisemaking from noon to 12: 05 p.m. was judged an unqualified success.
75 years ago: 1938
Gettysburg, Pa. — Bound by comradeship, the straggling ranks of 2,000 veterans of the Blue and Gray today will begin their last retreat from the battlefield where they locked in deadly combat 75 years ago. They have been the guests of the Government at a week’s reunion here.
100 years ago: 1913
Police activity against “street walkers” and “mashers” was reflected yesterday in the arrest of 22 young women in a crusade begun by Commissioner Utley and Police Chief Hayes to “purge the city streets and parks so that decent people will not be insulted.”
125 years ago: 1888
Yesterday Memphians celebrated the Fourth by watching the fireworks display at Jackson Mound Park, the full-dress parade of the Merchants Zouaves, by making the atmosphere lurid by shooting off their own firecrackers, pistols and other peace-destroying devices but were spared the usual Fourth of July orations.