More than 720 people dance to the music of The Novas, who won a Battle of the Bands competition on April 18, 1970, at Butler Cubs Hall on McKean Street.

The final round of the Battle of the Bands had hundreds of spectators come out to see and hear the best music Butler had to offer on April 18, 1970.

The Novas, a group of 14- and 15-year-old boys, won a recording contract at a Pittsburgh studio, and the band’s percussionist won a set of cymbals for being selected as the night’s best drummer out of the four finalist bands.

The Jaycees organized the event at Butler Cubs Hall, and the three other performing bands that night including the Westsiders, the Atlantic Ocean and the Galaxies. They each won prizes such as gift cards to a local music store as well as music equipment, including microphones.