25 Years Ago, June 1976

by Beverly Brown
 

It's June 1976. MGM and Universal studios announce plans to produce a sequel to Gone With the Wind.

Billionaire J. Paul Getty, 83, dies at his home near London.

The Boston Celtics beat the Suns for their 13th NBA title.

Adolph Zucker, founder of Paramount movie studio, dies.

The New York State Court of Appeals rules that the state's "Blue Laws," which ban the sale of certain items on Sundays, are unconstitutional

Britain loans the original Magna Carta to the United States for the Bicentennial Celebration.

The NBA and ABA basketball leagues merge.

The first women enter the Air Force Academy in Colorado.

"Sidewalk surfing" is becoming popular in our area and sales of skateboards are rising.

Marvin Park pool opens for the season.

A 28-year-old man from Japan apparently commits suicide by jumping from Owego's Court Street Bridge. The man, who was an employee of IBM-Japan, was supposed to return to Japan after completing a job in Endicott.

Two new businesses open in Owego - Needles and Points, and Music Box.

Ideal and Wilson Hospitals decide to merge.

The 6th Annual Owego-to-Nichols Raft Race takes place with 230 rafts being launched at Hickories Park. (See photos below.) Profits from the race will go to the new Conservation Education Center in Apalachin.

St. John's Ukranian Orthodox Church in Johnson City celebrates their 50th anniversary.

Horses are arriving at Tioga Park, the new quarter horse race track in Nichols, which is scheduled to open in a few weeks.

St. John of the Cross Carmelite Monastery in Waverly Hill will close by next year because of decreasing membership and the high cost of maintaining the property.

A Johnson City construction company wants to build a multi-million dollar shopping plaza and office complex near Tioga Park in Nichols.

Movies playing in local theaters include The Exorcist; W. C. Fields and Me; Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry; The Omen; Goodbye Norma Jean; and Midway (in sensurround).

Thursday night TV shows include The Mac Davis Show; The Waltons; Welcome Back, Kotter; Hawaii Five-O; The Streets of San Francisco; Barnaby Jones; Harry O; and TheOnedin Line.