March 26 to 31, 1963:
If you were looking for the latest in aluminum storm doors, replica antique furniture and illuminated water features, the Watres Armory in Scranton was the place to be.
These items and much more were all featured at the Scranton Times-WELJ Home Show. In addition to providing the latest information and projects for around the house, the home show also included several educational displays and competitions.
Sandra Vail and Romayne Tomko, employees of The Scranton Times, cut the ribbon officially opening the Scranton Times-WEJL Home Show at the Watres Armory on March 27, 1963. Joining in the ceremony were officials from the newspaper and the radio station WEJL. From left: Vail, Joseph Muers, promotion manager at the Times; Cecil Woodland, general manager of WEJL; Frank Blewitt, general manager of the Times; and Tomko. Times-Tribune Archives
Portion of crowd that attended the opening night of The Scranton Times Home Show on March 27, 1963. Attendance figures out the total at more than 4,000 persons, a vast majority of them adults. Show will continue March 28 and 29 from 5 to 10pm, and March 30 and 31 from 2 to 10pm at the Watres Armory. Times-Tribune Archives
Students from Marywood College’s departments of art and home economics created informal and formal table displays. Home economics students put the displays together with items art students created.
Students from Technical High School and West Scranton High School displayed furniture and other household items they made in shop classes.
A family looks over the craftsmanship display put together by the students in the woodworking and arts departments of Scranton Public Schools at the Scranton Times-WEJL Home Show at the Watres Armory on March 29, 1963. The students manning the display are from left: Richard Grudeski, Kelly McHugh, Joseph Graham, Al Milo and Normand Townsend. Times-Tribune Archives
Senior home economic students at Marywood College display attractive table settings and art work in the college booth at the Scranton Times Home Show on March 28, 1963. At the table on the left are Geraldine Burns and Barbara Duffy. At the next table were Mary Ann Brady and Barbara Borrell. Times-Tribune Archives
Laurel Garden Club presented daily dry floral-arranging competitions during the show’s run. Each night, the arrangements were given out as door prizes.
Over the course of the show, visitors could take chances on an array of prizes that included a 1963 Mercury Comet four-door sedan, which Ernest Powell of Scranton ended up winning. Shorten Lincoln Mercury on Wyoming Avenue in Scranton donated the new car.
Ernest D. Powell receives the keys to his new car that he won at the Scranton Times-WEJL Home Show on April 1, 1963. Presenting the keys was James R. Shorten, president of Shorten Lincoln-Mercury Sales Inc. on Wyoming Avenue. Looking on is Claire Goodrite, manager of the Scranton Times Home Show. Times-Tribune Archives
Harry Bloomer, aka Blinkey, selected the winning ticket for the brand new Mercury Comet sedan giveaway at the close of the Scranton Times-WEJL Home Show on March 31, 1963. Times-Tribune Archives
Other prizes included a television set, sewing machines, a garbage disposal, a $500 gift certificate toward the purchase of a swimming pool and a $200 gift certificate to buy an organ.
More than 36,000 people attended the show. Entry cost 50 cents for adults and 25 cents for children older than 12.
Portion of crowd that attended the closing night of The Scranton Times-WEJL Home Show on March 31, 1963 at the Watres Armory. Total attendance for the five-day show passed the 35,000 mark. Times-Tribune Archives
Brian Fulton has been the librarian at The Times-Tribune for the past 15 years. On his blog, Historically Hip, he writes about the great concerts, plays/musicals and celebrity happenings that have taken place throughout NEPA. He is also the co-host of the local history podcast, Historically Hip. He competed and was crowned grand champion on an episode of NPR quiz show “Ask Me Another.” Contact: bfulton@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9140; or @TTPagesPast
