Why is distributor pointing away from #1 on TDC?

My first car, a 57 Chev 265. One day in the gas station, the jock was checking my oil. "They did that" back then LOLOL. This was summer of 66. He looked at my dist. and announced "how does it run, your distributor and wires are in the wrong place" LOLOL At the time I didn't know there was a "right" way to install it!!!