E-MAIL MEMORIES, PAGE 25
As for me, I graduated from Ben Franklin in 1977, Louisiana College in 1981, an M.S.W. from Tulane in 1982 and then married a Pennsylvania girl in 1983 who moved me up north in 1985. I went on to get a Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Studies, wrote two books, four book chapters, and a dozen or so professional articles. I am now Associate Professor of Sociology at Gwynedd-Mercy College just outside of Philadelphia. Sure is a long way from the Lower Ninth. I love visiting family and miss the food. Have a po-boy for me, Bob. As they say, you can take the boy out of the Ninth Ward, but.....
I'd love to know what you think of the pictures and if you have any memories of the restaurant or my grandparents. Thanks for keeping me in touch with my roots.
BOB:
What a great story. I didn't know them but wish I had. Sounds so much like
the bar and restaurant my grandparents had (Compagno's Bar & Restaurant
on South Carrollton Ave. at Maple St., now Madigan's) for so many years
around that same time as yours did. Now that you've made me hungry I'm gonna
have a juicy and sloppy roast beef poboy, on nice firm french bread with
shredded lettuce, creole tomatoes, extra pickles, mayo and melted swiss...just
for you up in Pennsylvania...enjoy!
Music: Navy Blue, Kiss Me Sailor-Diane Renay; Dominique-The Singing Nunn; The Wedding-Julie Rogers; Judy In Disguise-John Fred. There are millions, but these bring back the most memories.
Commercials: Sears ("Sears has a ding-a-ling, Sears has everything).
Regal Beer ("Red beans and rice and Regal on ice"). Also Jax, Dixie, and Falstaff.
Bubba Oustalet Ford, Dick Bohn Ford ("Colonel Dick Bohnegard"), Mike Persia Chevrolet ("Get your Chevrolet from Persia, Mike Persia Chevrolet" to the beat of Indian drums). Dumas-Milner Chevrolet, Joe Paretti Pontiac, John Gimma Chrysler/Plymouth.
Rex Root beer ("Say it-Gimme a REX!). In other parts of the country it was "Fanta" as it was a Coca Cola product. Also Barq's Root Beer, my personal favorite.
Movies at the Saenger Theatre, Godchaux's, Maison Blanche, DuSay's Pets, Chevy National ("Putting you first keeps us first Chevrolet!). Werlein's Music, Broussard's Music. George Harrison did a Beatle/station promo.
On TV I remember Morgus, and John Pela's Saturday afternoon dance party show( I remember a Halloween show he did and a Beatle song Parody: I Want to Bite Your Hand).
There are other things, but I'll have to dig deep, and this should do. I would like to bring up the Jayne Mansfield tragedy in a later email.
BOB:
John Pela personally did a Beatles bit for Halloween? Now *that* must be
as high on his memory list, right there with when he did an afternoon TV
show as "Captain Mercury," dressed in a tin foil space suit.
My experience with the Jayne Mansfield tragedy is reported in detail
at HERE,
including the exact location of the crash.
BOB:
Where ya'at, Jerry? Congrats on owning a station. You've done well and we
all fondly remember your great years on B-97. Now, coming from the DJ ranks,
put out a sign on the front door: "NO #$@&*@# CONSULTANTS ALLOWED!"
I moved from NO in 1988 and still miss it. Thanks for keeping the old memories alive. I remember Hopper's Drive Inn in Kenner, makin groceries at Schwegmann's, Frostop Root Beer, Dixie Beer, King Cake parties, swimming at the Old Beach, riding the Zephyr and the Wild Maus, the Mardi Gras fountain on the Lakefront, Manuel's Hot Tamales, Po-Boys from Johnny's in the Quarter, Maison Blanche, meeting under the clock at D. H. Holmes ... the list goes on and on. Do your remember the promos WSMB used to run - "Don't sit under the apple tree with anyone else but me and WSMB?" My Dad was a real Nut and Jeff junkie. I loved those promos.
Anyway Bob, thanks for the memories and keep up the good work.
BOB:
That was probably the same WLSU equipment I cut my teeth on in September
of 1965. Junk, but what character. We really *did* ride on top of those
huge turntables. Yes, WSMB was nothing if not ... unique! By the way, guess
what was at ... 1825 Tulane.
Love your site.
BOB:
Nice to hear from a Behrman Bee. Thanks for visiting my cyber-hive!
BOB:
Yes, WWL Radio was a giant at one time. Those were the days of imagination
and creativity in radio. I don't have to tell you how pitiful it has become,
in a business today of all money and no balls. And yes, Peter Toma and his
Orchestra were the headliners at the Blue Room in the Roosevelt Hotel (now
the Fairmont) for many years, and their beautiful live music did dance thru
the 870-AM airwaves for years at night, enchanting far away cities with
live magic from New Orleans. If anyone contacts me with recording info on
Peter Toma I'll let you know!
Bob, my married name is Cathy Thornton. I don't know if you know, but Joe died several years ago. So sad. He was so young. I live in Birmingham, AL. He would call me usually around Christmas and sing something for me. I would usually hang up in tears. He loved to sing so much. I did too, but I moved on and had a family and that is my life. I miss his calls.
This has brought back so many memories, like when "I See You" came out and Poppa Stoppa's radio station played it. Joe was always at the station for many years before that. He told the story of how he and a friend would go to Larry and Katz and bring back something in a shoebox. You can just guess what. Ha! Ha! We really did have some fun.
I am so excited to refresh my memory. I sang with the Sparks at the Stardust Lounge on Metairie Rd. for a long time. Also worked the Swamp Room with Johnny Bonvillien, the best steel guitar man in the business. I understand he has a music store in N.O. now. We turned it into a popular after hours bar. The diamonds and furs would arrive after 2 or 3 every night. Funny the things one remembers.
A visit to WTIX was the funniest thing that ever happened to us.
We arrived at the studio . The station manager was tied up and it would be awhile before we could see him. It was a hot summer day , so we decided to go get some ice cream, The DJ said get him some too. We get the ice cream and my car is not air-conditioned. Here is the picture, I am holding mine and Joe has one in each hand. After about 3 minutes, it starts to melt. Needless to say, the bedlem in that car reached a fever pitch all the way to the studio. When we got there, the DJ had come out to meet us. There Joe and I were, covered in ice cream . Everytime I tried to tell him what happened, I would start laughing and of course Joe was doing the same. Talk about your professional demeanor! I'm afraid, that was the real Cathy and Joe.
BOB:
Cathy Burns & Joe Wegmann were icons on the radio and at hops and night
spots in the mid-60's. I was honored to receive this email.
In 1964, they had a local hit called "I See You." The irony
was that Joe was blind. WTIX DJ Ted Green booked them into several record
hops, and he told me that when Joe sat at the piano and he and Cathy began
singing "I See You" you could hear a pin drop and there was never
a dry eye in the place ...
As I grew up in teen years me and my friends would go to "The Beach" and I still had this fear the "Zephyr" would eat me alive!!!! I rode the Wild Maus once but I loved the Galaxy and the Music Express. I was sorry the Haunted House burned. I liked the little red bat cars.
One day I took my chance and I rode the ZEPHYR!!! I never got off ... it was so rough and the wheels screeched and just the sound of that steel rubbing was a feeling in itself. I was sorry to see the Beach go, I had many great memories there. I am a avid Rollercoaster maniac and I have travelled many places to ride the fastest, longest, highest, roughest ones in the country. It's surely a huge rush!!! Thanks for the memories.
BOB:
You should have been in the car with me the last time I rode the Zephyr,
right before Pontchartrain Beach closed. The whole place was getting shabby
as the end drew near, and I believe that extended into maintenance of the
rides as well. Halfway up the first hill I discovered the handlebar would
not lock over my legs and I had to ride the whole thing, up and down those
hills and around those sharp curves, hanging on to the outside of the car!