I remember our priests at Mater Dolorosa. There were Father Whitney and (Monsignor) Father Joseph. Father Joseph used to try and keep us out of Arnaud's Drug Store on Carrollton and Willow St. He and I did not like each other. He would always watch my friends and me when we hung out in Arnaud's. One day we were standing by the juke box and "Great Balls Of Fire" was playing. He walked over and reached behind and unplugged the juke box. Mean old man.
We used to have king cake parties. I was surprised to find out that McKenzie's Bakery is no more.
I read one of your letters from Rosalyn Dodds about the snowball stand on Plum St. Mr. Williams had that on the side of his store, not from our house on Burdette St. Also, my older sister lived in Nix Library, even our doctor was Dr. Nix.
Do you remember a local band called "The Barons?" In 1958 when I was going with their guitar player we met ELVIS. I still have his autograph saying "Thanks, Elvis Presley" written on the back of a post card from the Roosevelt Hotel.
My sister Betty Owens sang every Saturday night in 1947 at Uncle Roy's Barn Dance at Municipal Auditorium, when she was about 14 years old. There were many country singers and movie cowboys that would be there. I was about 6 years old but remember it well. It was broadcast live on WDSU radio. We have been searching all over for anyone who remembers the old barn dance.
Later she joined the Dukes of Dixieland, and in 1955 she married Freddie Assunto of the (REAL) Dukes of Dixieland at Mater Dolorosa Church, with Father Whitney as the officiant. Pete Fountain was one of the groom's men, as was Frank Assunto.
Frank Assunto's son, Deano Assunto, has a nice site on the original Dukes of Dixieland at http://www.thedukesofdixieland.com .
It sure would be nice to find my old friends whom I have lost contact with. Keep this going forever. I love this site!
BOB:
Nice to share growing up experiences with a Carrollton gal. Father Joseph
never did win any popularity contests. I think he sucked lemons. And nothing
would beat a visit to the cool Poplar and Mecca theatres on a hot summer
night.
Nice to meet someone else who met Elvis when he was here filming "King
Creole." I met him at the door of his room in the Roosevelt and got
his autograph as Delores Hart took a picture of Elvis and me. Just a few
weeks ago (August 2003) I stayed overnight at the Fairmont (the former Roosevelt)
and they gave us a suite. Out of all the rooms to assign us in the entire
hotel, when we got there it was...Elvis' room...where I had met him all
those years ago. Staying in that room was surrealistic.
BOB:
Carrollton was a very unique neighborhood and I'm glad we had similar memories
to share, to the tune of the streetcar bell clanging. I wonder if the streetcars
up there still have that sign on top by the conductor that said "Do
not spit upon the floor.
BOB:
If you ever go on Jeopardy and the category is "Carrollton"
my money is on you! But how did you overlook Amy's Ice Cream Stand with
the outdoor tables and chairs, just to the left of the Betz Funeral Home,
and across Maple from the Mecca and the (future) Raven??
BOB: Those Stardusters sure looked sharp, marching sharply in those
crisp black uniforms with the silver sash. They were a highlight of every
parade they marched in!
I was reading some of the memories posted here, and they reminded me that the circle never ends. I remember a slumber party at Charlynn Mumphrey's house in the late 1960's or very early 70's. We were all huddled around the transistor radio in our Flower Power sleeping bags listening to the new song "Lady Madonna" by the Beatles on WTIX. We turned it low when the words "...baby at your breast" floated through the speaker. That was shocking back then. Charlynn's mom passed through the room and commented at how terrible that was for children to hear that on the air.
Today I pass by my 14 year old's room to hear some of the things coming out of her radio.
Amazing how I turned into Mrs. Mumphrey.
BOB:
Even quite a few banana banshees from Nick's wouldn't block out the filth
from today's music. And to think that I was called down by management in
1968 and put on probation for airing a hiccup during a joke bit!!
BOB:
I bet he was Harry Negosia. Sounds like his type of show. Ah, for the good
old days. But they were only 3/5 of a century ago! And who could ever forget
the DJ blooper back in those days when he referred to the Ink Spots as the
"Stink Pots."
BOB:
Wow, seems Johnny Drake rode into the sunset around 1970, never to be heard
from again. But we'll put the word out and see if anyone knows of his whereabouts.
And the pics of the "Krewe of Q" (I wonder if they stole that
from the "Krewe of 'TIX") are enthusiastically welcomed, unless
Walton and Johnson are only wearing jockstraps in the pics!
Anyway, I distinctly remember the "inhaling-sounding" jingles at the top of the hour on WTIX ("David Nebel show time"). Both WNOE and WTIX sounded great. Your site says that WTIX eclipsed WNOE in the early 60's. But I got the impression from listening that they were neck-in-neck in 1964. Was I wrong? Did they keep trading places through the mid-60's?
I remember hearing Ted Green at night on WTIX and CC Courtney opposite Green on WNOE. New Orleans top 40 radio was terrific in those days. Then, when I visited my brother around 1976, Courtney was back on mornings during the Buzz Bennett era. I liked Courtney and thought he was kind of unique-sounding in both slots.
I have 2 more questions: I attended Mardi Gras in either 1977 or 1978. At the time, Terry Young was all over the air at WTIX. I remember his sound well. In 1982, a notorious night jock turned up at Hot Hits WCAU-FM in Philly named Terry Young. He was kind of a screamer and sounded a lot different from the Terry Young on WTIX. But were they one and the same?
When I first visited in 1964, Poppa Stoppa was the afternoon jock at WNNR; I assumed he was black. I see from your site that there were at least 2 Poppa Stoppas. My question is, in the picture with the mayor, which one of the 2 gentleman is Poppa Stoppa?
Once again, great site!
BOB:
Wow, lotsa ground to cover here.
Glad you mentioned WNNR, "The Center Aisle Of Your Radio Dial." I loved that little station...a 250 watt monument to what can be done without #$@%$ consultants.
WTIX & WNOE didn't trade places during the '60's. We kicked 'NOE's ass. End of story.
CC Courtney was unique in any air shift he found himself. He was the ultimate DJ in my opinion. He's a prince of a person who was born with the charisma that haunts people forever. Once they meet him they never forget him.
Terry Young ended up in PA for several years after his TIX tenure. Terry's good friend and TIX Alumnus Marty With The Party tells me that seems to be the same Terry Young.
There were3 Poppa Stoppas (3 Poppas Stoppa?) ... Vern Winslow (later Dr. Daddio), Duke Thiele and Clarence Heyman. Clarence is the one in the pic with Mayor Schiro, and he was the most well-known Poppa Stoppa, carrying the title from the late 50's until he passed away in 1999.
Whew! After all that I need a Bud Light. Back later!!