Poodle skirts, drive-in movies, and the birth of Rock ‘n’ Roll— The 1950s were a golden era, marked by post-WWII prosperity leading to suburban augmentation and America’s growing love affair with consumer culture. The 1950s were a new beginning for the U.S., but what did they mean for our high school?
Mid-century Missoula was a quiet university town entombed in scenic mountains. Thanks to its logging and paper mill companies, the city fell victim to the same blossoming economy as its country. This was before I-90 invaded its mountains, carving its way through the valley— and before Missoula County High became Hellgate High School.
James Koble started as a freshman in 1948 and graduated with the class of 1952— the same year Queen Elizabeth ascended the British throne. He walked the halls before the sky bridge existed, before the new library was built, and he was there when President Richard Nixon addressed our local student body September 24 1952 and famously advised:
“Accept the challenge of dirty politics— that is what you should do. Work for what is right if you know you are right.”
Now 91 years old, Koble shared some old sentiments about Hellgate in the ‘50s.
Q: What was the school’s atmosphere like?
A: “Oh, it was strict. You didn’t come to school for any other reason than to learn, of course! It was terribly quiet in the halls some days, but not every day… Sometimes it was different.”
Q: Do you remember what the school sports were like?
A: “Football and basketball! But mainly basketball, don’t ask me names, but I remember having some very good players one year. I wanted to try out for sports, but my mother always told me I was much too small and fragile for football. So she put me into tap dancing!”
Koble is an entertainer at heart. He not only tap-danced his way through high school, but also his way through life. Appearing in shows, plays, and teaching classes, he made his passion a lifelong career.
Q: What was popular/trending back then?
A: “I’m not sure about everyone else, but for me it was Frank Sinatra. It still is. There were other bands too, I liked a lot of female singers, but nothing could ever beat Frank! My brother Ron used to impersonate him.”
Q: Did you have a high school sweetheart?
A: To be honest, I had two! I think I considered myself a ladies’man; they liked a guy who could move it. I wouldn’t dare take them to a dance, though, because they were older than me.
Q: What was your favorite subject?
A: I pretty much liked it all, though, except for foreign languages; I never excelled with new words.
Q: If you could give Hellgate students one piece of advice today, what would it be?
A: “Music music music, it’s all about the music. If you have an interest, chase it!. It doesn’t matter if you are bad, well… it kind of does, but you should still try!”
Today Koble lives in a snug retirement home, filling his days with beanbag baseball, TV, and —always— music. He has two loving children, and if you walk past his door, you’ll most likely hear Frank Sinatra crooning from his stereo.
His days at Missoula County High may be long behind him, but his spirit, like the bricks of our old Hellgate building, is still part of the foundation.
