Would the biggest building in town need parking spaces, 34 years ago?

In 1984, the First Bank Place, now US Bank, was about to open at 2nd and Main. It would become the tallest office building in La Crosse, and city leaders were debating whether to build a parking ramp on the same block. The combined bank and ramp project would eliminate all the existing buildings on that block, but some businesses would be allowed to stay. John’s Bar on 3rd Street was incorporated into the new ramp.

WLCX Radio and its FM station, WLXR, were under new ownership in ’84, after being operated for years by Joe Rohrer and Jean Gitz Bassett. The two stations moved into the First Bank Place, leaving behind their long-time studios at 7th and King, across from the Country Kitchen.

And entertainment writers were lamenting the lack of good comedies on TV in 1984. “Happy Days” and “The Jeffersons” were wrapping up their runs. There were no comedy shows in the Top 10 for the entire 83-84 TV season, dominated by soap operas like “Dallas” and “Dynasty.” Later that year, the experts would declare that comedy had made a comeback, led by “The Cosby Show”…34 years ago, yesterday in La Crosse.