This week 79 years ago: Cherry harvest ‘best crop’ in history, Famous band comes to Polson

The Flathead Courier, July 31, 1947

Cherry harvest nearly over

By the end of this week the sweet cherry harvest in this county will be drawing, and early next week it will be all to a close over until the season of 1948.

There is no doubt that the present season produced the best crop in the history of the cherry industry, and each succeeding year will see it grow and expand way beyond the fondest hopes of those who are now engaged in cherry growing.

It was expected that this year's crop would be upward of three-quarters of a million pounds of cherries to go through the new packing plants. On Monday, half a million pounds had gone over the packing tables, and since then, about 40 tons have been going out daily. It now looks like the crop will go somewhat higher in tonnage than anticipated.

Cherries from the Flathead have gone to practically every state in the Union, and, from the reports, they are reaching their destination in first-class condition. The weather has not been too bad for the harvest, and very few cherries have been damaged by the rains over the past several days.

With a continuance of fair climatic conditions, the 1947 crop will be in the hands of the consumer in good condition.

The way it looks now, by next year the Flathead Sweet Cherry Growers Association will need a larger plant to handle the increasing business. It was a step forward when the Polson Produce Co. had this fine building built this year. 

The management of the Courier is proud of this achievement and has nothing but best wishes for a continuance of the growth of the industry, and also wishes to compliment those who are responsible for the erection of the packing plant, and the best luck we can wish them is that they have to enlarge the building next year to handle the crop.

Famous band coming here

It was in 1927 that Red Nichols and his "Five Pennies" burst upon the jazz scene. The personnel shifted from time to time but included among the early Five Pennies groupings are many of today's well-known bandleaders.

The records he made in those years are considered jazz classics today and list such celebrated names as Benny Goodman, Charlie and Jack Teagarden, Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey, Gene Krupa, Joe Sullivan, Artie Shaw and the late Glenn Miller.

During this period, he expanded his "Five Pennies" into Red Nichols and His Orchestra. With this larger group, Red set something of a record in Hollywood night spots by playing a year's engagement at Club Morocco and then being rehired for another six-month stay.

Red Nichols and his orchestra will appear here in person at the Polson Country Club on Saturday, Aug. 2, for the regatta dance.

12th annual regatta will open Saturday for big two-day event

The 12th Annual Polson Cherry Regatta, a two-day show this Saturday and Sunday, promises to be the best regatta ever held in Polson. 

Top-notch drivers, almost doubling last year's list, will be here, giving spectators the thrills and spills of this. Added attractions will be featured at both the Regatta and Showboat programs.

The welcoming address will be given Saturday afternoon at 2:30 by Mayor Pearce, immediately after which the races will start. The race schedule for the first day will include three heats of C Service Hydro, three heats of C Racing Runabout, and two heats of B Hydro.

An impressive array of drivers will be here to give keen competition in all races. Listed for the B Hydro group are: Kenneth Sandon, Polson; Jack Haines, Missoula; Jack McGinley, Ferdig; W. T. Cooksley, Missoula; Julian Hughes, Missoula; Ray Markus, Whitefish; Ivan Wiggin, Missoula; and Chuck Mercord, Whitefish.

Racing C Hydro: Ray Boettcher, Polson; Al Croonenberghs, Missoula; George Herzel, Polson; Lawrence Deist, Kalispell; Alvie Leighton, Polson; Clarence Eckholt, Somers; Don Haines, Missoula; Jack McGinley; Ferdig Paul Clapp, Missoula; and Rip Johnston, Helena.

C Service Hydro: George Reksten, Polson; Lawrence Deis, Kalispell; Ray Boettcher, Polson; George Caras, Missoula; Eddi Pinkney, Polson; Jerry Baldwin, Kalispell; Rip Johnston, Helena; Walter Morris, Missoula; Jack McGinley, Ferdig; and Willard Schwartz, Whitefish. 

Racing C Runabout: George Herzel, Polson; Russell Deist, Kalispell; Alvie Leighton, Polson; Paul Clapp, Missoula; Rip Johnston, Helena; Walter Morris, Missoula; Willard Schwartz, Whitefish; and Clarence Eckholt, Somers.

C Service Runabout: Eddie Pinkney, Polson; Russel Deist, Kalispell; George Reksten, Polson; Willard Schwartz, Whitefish; Ray Boettcher, Polson; Gordon MacPherson, Butte; Walter Morris, Missoula; Rip Johnston, Helena; George Caras, Missoula.

A fine exhibition of water skiing will take place between racemen taking off in formation and making three loops around the course. After the first loop, they will be joined by two girls who will also make three loops. After the third loop, the men will drop off and prepare for the next act, leaving the girls to continue their third loop alone …