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Story
August 18, 1955
The Prison Mirror
Stillwater, Washington County, Minnesota
What is this article about?
The 1955 Washington County Fair near a prison subjected inmates in cell hall A to loud music from amateur competitions and fireworks on August 14, contrasting sweet vocals with cowboy tunes, ending with a quip about delayed celebrations.
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Singers, Musicians, Fireworks Assail Captive Ears
The Washington County Fair held its 1955 meeting on the Fair Grounds, three blocks east of the prison, last Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
A loudspeaker came in loud and clear on the dark side of cell hall A throughout the weekend. Saturday night amateur competition presented entertainment. Renditions of Summertime, Something's Got to Give, How Important Can It Be, and others were given by female vocalists. A sparkling piano interpretation of Malaguena also bounced along the walls.
Sunday night proved quite a contrast to the sweet music and subtle keys of the night before. The music, as identified by one listener, was "Real, genuine, horse-evidence and gun-powder style." Minnesota's answer to Gene Autry exploded with everything from Back In the Saddle Again to Mule Train hey, there! A half-dozen small fry labored over a few bars of Davy Crockett while the cowboy took a break.
At fifteen minutes to ten, brilliant and multi-colored sky rockets began exploding beyond the frosted windows of cell hall A. The explosions reverberated down the long, and—until then quiet, corridor of the cell hall. One anonymous character made the observation that Minnesotans are always behind the times, as witness the fireworks on August 14th and nary a sound had he heard on the Fourth of July.
The Washington County Fair held its 1955 meeting on the Fair Grounds, three blocks east of the prison, last Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
A loudspeaker came in loud and clear on the dark side of cell hall A throughout the weekend. Saturday night amateur competition presented entertainment. Renditions of Summertime, Something's Got to Give, How Important Can It Be, and others were given by female vocalists. A sparkling piano interpretation of Malaguena also bounced along the walls.
Sunday night proved quite a contrast to the sweet music and subtle keys of the night before. The music, as identified by one listener, was "Real, genuine, horse-evidence and gun-powder style." Minnesota's answer to Gene Autry exploded with everything from Back In the Saddle Again to Mule Train hey, there! A half-dozen small fry labored over a few bars of Davy Crockett while the cowboy took a break.
At fifteen minutes to ten, brilliant and multi-colored sky rockets began exploding beyond the frosted windows of cell hall A. The explosions reverberated down the long, and—until then quiet, corridor of the cell hall. One anonymous character made the observation that Minnesotans are always behind the times, as witness the fireworks on August 14th and nary a sound had he heard on the Fourth of July.
What sub-type of article is it?
Curiosity
What themes does it cover?
Misfortune
What keywords are associated?
Washington County Fair
Prison Noise
Amateur Music
Fireworks
Cowboy Singer
Where did it happen?
Fair Grounds, Three Blocks East Of The Prison
Story Details
Location
Fair Grounds, Three Blocks East Of The Prison
Event Date
1955, Last Friday, Saturday, And Sunday; Fireworks On August 14th
Story Details
Loudspeaker broadcasts of amateur singing and piano on Saturday night, followed by cowboy music and children's performances on Sunday, culminate in fireworks explosions reverberating through cell hall A, with an inmate joking about Minnesotans' delayed Fourth of July festivities.