Celebrate the 3rd of July…an idea promoted 47 years ago

In 1972, the 4th of July fell on a Tuesday, and the La Crosse Tribune suggested that Independence Day become a Monday holiday, for the sake of convenience.  Just one year before, the U.S. had started celebrating Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Presidents’ Day on Mondays instead of on their traditional dates.  La Crosse was preparing for an “Old Fashion 4th of July” celebration at the festgrounds for the long holiday weekend.  Riverfest wouldn’t come along for another decade yet.   

The Midwest was catching lottery fever.  Illinois and Michigan were competing to become the first Midwestern state to offer lottery games.  Wisconsin was still against it, though, with one Justice Department spokesman arguing that the biggest winner from a lottery would be organized crime.

On Thursday nights in the summer of ’72, TV watchers could see Dean Martin, “Ironside,” the final season of “My Three Sons,” and reruns of “My World, and Welcome to It,” a comedy based on the cartoons and writings of James Thurber.  On Channel 19 in La Crosse, you could watch Dick Cavett’s talk show at 10:30, and stay tuned at midnight to cook with the “Galloping Gourmet”…in 1972, Yesterday in La Crosse.