Rogers60

 

How clearly I remember my introduction to Bill Haley and what became known as "Rock 'n Roll." It was 1954. I was either in 6th or 7th grade. My brother and I went to a movie with our mom – it was the Liberty Theater. In those days, there was a lot more offered at movie houses than what you get today. Today, it's commercials, followed by blasting noises that make one want to drown out the noise by stuffing one's ears with popcorn (still bought in the lobby, where you could get yourself a treat – the popcorn couldn't be beat), and then the fine film feature. No double features today. No movies for less than a buck, either. What we got for our pittance-priced tickets was previews, news, a brief added feature and usually, a double feature. The feature I recall at that movie with my mom and brother (I don't recall the film) was a chubby guy with thin hair, checkered sport jacket, playing a bass fiddle with a group of guys backing him up, and he was wild. He fell to the floor with his fiddle, kept on playing, seem to be jumping around. I DO recall my mom saying something that disgusted her, perhaps it was, "This guy is crazy!" I remember thinking he was certainly unusual, never heard music like he was playing (I am pretty sure it was "Rock Around the Clock"), but he was catchy. So was his group – "Bill Haley and the Comets." Somewhere, I had learned enough science to make the connection – "Haley – Comet". But cometS? Neat!