McKenzie's...Out of business July17, 2001
E-MAIL MEMORIES, PAGE 2
JIM MARTEL:
I really enjoyed your web page which listed memories of New Orleans from
the 50's, 60's, and 70's. Although I grew up in Houston, I was born in New
Orleans, and was baptized at Mater Dolorosa (by Father Joe-Joe I believe).
I often visited my aunt and uncle Frank & Shirley Drexel when they lived
on Carrolton & Spruce Street (two houses down from the Spruce Street
cleaners).
Another uncle - Louis "Red" Martel - said that he used to
work with someone named Bob Walker at a company called A.B. Clark Lumber.
Since "Walker" is a fairly common name, it's possible he may be
referring to a different individual.
One of my brother's New Orleans memories is the old "Crystal Preserves"
billboard from the 50's with its prominent chef. I think the sign is still
standing.
One of my memories is taking the passenger train across the incredible
Huey P. Long Bridge. As we crossed the river, you could probably hear a
pin drop inside the passenger cars.
Thanks for sharing your memories with us.
BOB:
Boy, a lot of people certainly knew Father Joseph from Mater Dolorosa, huh?
I was an altar boy there and hated serving with him because his sermons
were so long. And with his thick Polish accent the only word you could understand
was "money," and he said it often!
No lumbermen in my family. My dad worked in the bottle shop at the real
Jax Brewery. What a great job...they could drink free beer on their breaks!
The Crystal Preserves chef is still on the sign just off Carrollton
by Tulane Avenue, but he has to stretch his neck over the top of the interstate
now to watch the cars. The whiff of smoke that used to come out of the pipe
next to the chef as he "cooked" hasn't been seen in years though.
Just as gone as the Falstaff weather ball down the street!
FATHER MONTY:
Hello Bob: This is Father Monty! I've just bumped into Rodney Fertel "The
Gorilla" right here at President William Jefferson Clinton's Boyhood
Town in Arkansas. I'm writing a piece about him, do you have any facts about
Rodney's run for mayor of New Orleans and his encounter with Huey P. Long
or the story behind him bringing back two gorillas from Singapore to New
Orleans? Love your webpages!! Neat stuff.
BOB:
Actually I thought Rodney Fertel was dead. All I remember about him is that
he ran for Mayor of New Orleans in the mid 60's and getting two gorillas
for the Audubon Zoo (there were no gorillas in the zoo at the time) was
his platform. He lost the race but he did bring two gorillas to the Audubon
Zoo anyway after the election. Then we all lost track of Rodney. That's
all I remember. Welcome him back to the land of the living for me!
SUZY:
Hi Bob! Found your web site the other day and hope you can help me. In the
70's I had gotten a catalog from DuSay's Pet Store and I had purchased many
products for my dog. I would love to know if they are still in existance
and if so, what is the address. Hope you can help!
BOB:
Nope, Suzy, I'm afraid the Dusay's coupons in the catalogue are no good
anymore. Dusay's Pet Store went out of business around the mid-80's. I think
the dogs were barking too loud and disturbing the Archbishop at the Seminary
across the neutral ground on Carrollton Avenue!
JANA:
Hi Bob. I really enjoy your website. I'm looking for some WNOE and WITX
surveys from 1950's or 60's. Can you help me out or do you know anybody
that can help me out? Thank you.
BOB:
I should have collected those surveys all along but didnt. Every now and
then I meet up with somebody who has collected them but I couldn't put my
hands on some old surveys right now if I had to. So I guess I'm not much
help outside of the two surveys I have displayed on my site, both of which
came from other people. Geez, and I did the layouts on those TIX surveys
weekly from '69-'75, even the one I have posted with Lou Saint on it (I
took that picture too). But I didn't collect them. My prize survey though
would be one from WNOE with pictures of C.C. Courtney and Lou Kirby, if
I could find one. Wish I could be of more help. If I can get more surveys
I'll post them.
(Update in September '02: Surveys are now included in our directory page,
along with C. C. Courtney's page at http:radio_courtney.html.)
SONIA:
Back in the seventies, there was a song played every May around graduation
time. What was the name of the song, and who was the artist that performed
it? Back then I listened to you on WTIX.
BOB:
That was "Graduation Day" by Stark Whiteman, a member of the Crowns
and the Jokers. It was first released in 1959 and was played every year
on TIX and other stations until we had to deal with the corporate and brainless
"a-holts" of the radio industry and out of town owners and consultants
who knew/know nothing about the wonderful history of music in New Orleans
and couldn't care less.
NEAL IN JACKSONVILLE:
During my high school days in Tallahassee (50's) I listened to WWL and the
music from the Roosevelt. A drive to the "coast" (as we called
it), alone or with a date, was enhanced by the sophisticated music from
old New Orleans. There are some references to Leon Kelner in the Blue Room
on the web. I recall another band from the Fountain Lounge I believe. Was
there a Peter Toma, His Accordion and Orchestra? If you know anything about
these bands and if any recordings are available please post some info on
your wonderful site or email me.
BOB:
Yes, Peter Toma and his accordion did grace the Fountain Lounge in the Roosevelt.
Those occasional polkas kept the place jumping, I'm sure. The other bandleaders
in the Blue Room after Leon Kelner included Jan Garber, Dick Stabile and
Herb Tassin. I don't know if any recordings were made or still exist by
any of these music men. But if you find any, the next time one of those
obnoxious drivers pulls up next to you playing rap music with volume and
bass that makes your car quake, turn up your Peter Toma and his Accordion
CD even louder.
ROBERT CAIRE:
Bob, I stumbled onto this website the other day, IT IS GREAT!!!!! I went
to school with one of city's oldies DJ's BLAIR "ON THE AIR." Blair
and I took Home Economics at East Jefferson High School. At the time we
were at East Jeff it was not co-ed, so the guys took Home Economics so we
could go to Riverdale, our sister school and use their facilities, since
the Home Ec program was new at EJ and we did not have the sewing and cooking
facilities. It was great to be in a classroom with girls even though it
was not that often.
I have a lot of memories listening to THE MIGHTY 690. One that I remember
the most was the song GRADUATION DAY, when I was a senior in 1976. Whenever
I heard that song it made me think that geez, my parents were right, your
school days were the fun days. I keep in touch with my best friends even
though I no longer live in New Orleans, and when I come into town every
Mardi Gras we talk about the "old days" out at the lakefront,
good grade days at Ponchartrain Beach and "ring day" at TEKE BEACH,
listening to WTIX and drinking "Miller ponies." TEKE BEACH was
another name for the "Old Beach." The area is located not far
from the Bayou St. John bridge, on the UNO side of Lakeshore Drive. That
area was a GREAT makeout site, until they installed the gates in the mid
'70's and closed it on weekends.
I have lived in Sacramento, California since 1985, however I visit my
old home at least once a year, and visit old friends. I just want to thank
you again for the years I listened to you on WTIX, and for this great website,
to keep new orleans radio history alive.
BOB:
I think they hung a "Wanted" posted with Blair's picture on it
both at the Old Beach and EJ. And no need to explain where the Old Beach
is...we've all been there for varying degrees of debauchery. Enjoy California...we'll
eat some spicy crawfish tails and suck da heads...and drink some ice cold
Dixie in the sun out at the lakefront...and think of you!
A senior in '76 huh? Wasn't that about the time the dreaded Hall &
Oates crawled out of their hole?
TERRY:
Can you tell me more about Henry Dupre? Is he the man I remember sitting
in an easy chair during the holidays asking viewers to remember the children
in New Orleans? I seem to remember that it was a "Toys For Tots"
promotion. This commercial has been on my mind lately and I as I look on
the 'net you seem to have the most info about him.
By the way my dad ran the Camellia Grill from 1962 almost until his
death on 1977. I remember Mrs. Cook. She made the most awesome pecan and
chocolate cream pies in the world.
BOB:
Henry Dupre started off with the "Dawnbusters" wake-up radio show
on WWL 870 in the Roosevelt Hotel (with live orchestra and guests) around
the late 40's and 50's.
Next he was "Uncle Henry" on "Popeye and Pals" on
WWL-TV Channel 4 from the late 50's thru the mid-60's. I can still see him
smiling in his sailor uniform and cap!
After that, as he grew old and his health deteriorated, he did features
for Channel 4 and he did run the Toys For Tots program for many years. As
I recall he died in the 1980's.
I grew up and lived at 8115 Maple St., a block down Carrollton from
Camellia Grill, till 1966. So I probably at least saw your dad there on
the other side of that shiny counter. Got lotsa fried chickens from that
place in my time. We damn nearly put dem Camellia Grill fried cluckers on
the endangered species list.
To this day my idea of culinary heaven is a fried chicken and fries
(and Mrs. Cook's chocolate pie) from Camellia Grill, and 2 dozen Manuel's
Hot Tamales (on different days of course).