One of my favorite movies of all time is Woody Allen’s classic 1987 film “Radio Days.” This movie is a delightful blend of history, radio, music and nostalgia from the late 1930s and 1940s. It takes place in Rockaway, N.Y., in the outskirts of New York City on the Atlantic coast, not too far from where my wife grew up.

I always loved this film because of the glimpse into the past and the great music that was popular at the time. That is my favorite genre of music, so that is part of the reason I like it. One of the last scenes of the movie shows many of the radio personalities on a rooftop in New York City on New Year’s Eve, ringing in 1944. The famous folks wonder if future generations would know of them and if they would be remembered. I can say that probably many folks in 2026 would not remember radio shows from the early 1940s, so in that way the movie is a little prophetic. This is the way of all things, though.

Looking back on New Year’s Eve celebrations in our area in the past is always interesting. Going back to the New Year’s Eve celebrations to bring in 1956, 70 years ago, there was a lot of anticipation on both sides of the river but, according to reports, the new year came in quietly.

According to the Steubenville Herald-Star on Jan. 2, 1956, “Steubenville greeted the New Year Sunday with mild revelry and prayers that expressed sincere wishes for peace, prosperity and good health among all people. The city was free of any traffic accidents, and no violence of any kind was reported. Actually, the arrival of 1956 was observed quietly and safely. Nightclubs and taverns were crowded. Revelers were noisy but behaved. Others celebrated by attending dances at country clubs and lodge clubs. Some went to midnight movies at the theaters, and many stayed at home for family gatherings or joined neighbors for New Year Eve parties. Police, state patrol and sheriff’s office said the celebrating was marked without incident for the first time in many years.”

In Weirton, the paper reported a similar story, “Residents of Weirton and near-by communities welcomed the New Year in rather sedate fashion, as district police reported one of the quietest and most orderly New Year’s celebrations on record. While hundreds celebrated the arrival of 1956 at dances and parties in clubs, many others attended watch night services in churches. Chief of Police David Reese said that only one accident occurred in the city during the celebration period and that this was not brought about by the holiday festivities. He said, ‘There were lots of people out and lots of cars on the streets, but I never saw them more orderly. The traffic on the overhead bridge, although fairly heavy, was the slowest I ever saw. Nearly everyone drove carefully.’ Chief Reese had 19 policemen on duty during the period. Dances were held at the Williams Country Club, Eagles lodge, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Moose, Elks, Pleasant Valley and Knights of Columbus. A New Year’s Day dance was held Sunday in the Community Center from 8 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. The dance, open to the public, was the only activity scheduled at the center during the New Years holidays.”

Another cool aspect of New Year’s celebrations is to honor the first baby of the new year. Steubenville’s new baby was a little boy born to Viola and Byarie Jones of 811 Sherman Ave. at 6:05 a.m. at Ohio Valley Hospital.

In Weirton, the New Year’s baby was Jeffrey Carlton Cross, born at 12:01 a.m. to Mr. and Mrs. Carl E. Cross of 319 Greenbrier Road at Weirton General Hospital.

The Weirton Daily Times had kept a pretty extensive record going back to 1933 with the birth of Terry Lee, child of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Turner of Pittsburgh Road. In 1955, the first birth was Linda C., daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony D’Alesio of 386 Angela St.

Here we are 70 years later celebrating the same important milestones, still reporting on the new year and the new life born on this most special day.

The new year always will have the promise of the future and of a fresh beginning. I hope that 2026 will be filled with hope and joy for you, dear readers, as it has for the past 70 years. Those same sentiments of peace, prosperity and good health expressed in the paper of that time are still my wish for you, today.

Happy New Year to all of you.

(Zuros is executive director of Historic Fort Steuben)