This week in Big Easy History August 22nd - 31st
Welcome to Big Easy Life. It is (August 22 20) and it’s time for Today in Big Easy history
On this date in (1969)
Known as the Vieux Carré Riverfront Expressway, a 6 lane elevated highway along the river behind the French Quarter was an ill-received plan by New Orleanians who fought to prevent its construction through the French Quarter. The voice of the people was heard and the elevated expressway was never built. The freeway was removed from the Interstate System on this date. However, one component of the original plan, a six-lane tunnel, 690 feet long by 98 feet wide, under the Rivergate Convention Center (now Harrah's New Orleans Casino) was built and is presently used for valet parking.
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Welcome to Big Easy Life. It is (August 23 20) and it’s time for Today in Big Easy history
On this date in (1996)
Born in New Orleans on September 27, 1926, Audrey ("Mickey") Patterson passed away on this date. She grew up in Gert Town, and attended Danneel Elementary School and Gilbert Academy where Jesse Owens visited and told her class, “There is a boy or a girl in this audience who will go to the Olympics". She was 22 when she won her Olympic medal, covering the 200 meters in 25.2 seconds, winning her the bronze medal.
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Welcome to Big Easy Life. It is ( August 24 20) and it’s time for Today in Big Easy history
On this date in (1978)
Life Goes on Without Louis Prima as he passed away on this day in 1978 Leon Prima was a trained pianist who became a trumpet player and band leader .Prima composed "Sing Sing Sing" (now in the Grammy Hall of Fame) in 1936 before it became one of Benny Goodman's most popular swing era tune. Twenty years later Prima recorded "Jump, Jive and Wail" (1956) other Hits included "Just a Gigolo - I Ain't Got Nobody (1956)," "Buona Sera," (1956) "Black Magic (1958), and In 1967 his was the voice of King Louis the oragnutan in Walt Disney's animated film The Jungle Book
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Welcome to Big Easy Life. It is (August 25 20) and it’s time for Today in Big Easy history
On this date in (1984)
Truman Capote died in Los Angeles on this day. He was born ion New Orleans on Sept 30 1924 and was most known for his novel "In Cold Blood" from 1965
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Welcome to Big Easy Life. It is (August 26 20) and it’s time for Today in Big Easy history
On this date in (1876)
An ad on this date provides the schedule for the Camelia, a side-wheel steamboat which ran between "Lake End" (we know it as West End) and the Northshore. It carried U.S. mail daily between the cities of Mandeville, Lewsiburg, Madisonville, Covington, and New Orleans. The "elegant and very fast" steamer carried people twice each week. On Sundays the boat departed from West End at 7:30 A.M. and boarded to return at 7:30 P.M. -- depending upon the punctuality of the railroad which carried people to and from it. An identical excursion ran on Wednesdays, leaving New Orleans at 7 A.M. Cost there and back -- $1.
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Welcome to Big Easy Life. It is (August 27 20) and it’s time for Today in Big Easy history
On this date in (1932)
Jefferson Parish Sheriff Harry Lee, born in New Orleans on this date. He was, was first elected in 1979, as the 30th Sheriff and was re-elected six times, serving twenty eight years and six months
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Welcome to Big Easy Life. It is (August 28 20) and it’s time for Today in Big Easy history
On this date in (1990)
Mayor Sidney J. Barthelemy, dressed in an old-time bathing suit, opens New Orleans newest attraction the Aquarium of the Americas. This photo op preceded His Honor’s actual descent into the actual shark tank to settle a bet with the Aquarium director. Barthelemy had bet that Ron Forman, director of the Audubon Institute, would not have the facility ready in time !
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Welcome to Big Easy Life. It is ( August 29 20) and it’s time for Today in Big Easy history
On this date in (history)
You will see many posts today discussing the 1`5th anniversary of the land fall of hurricane Katrina. I will not in this short format attempt to give any insight to that trying day. I will take the time to wish my wife Happy Birthday Something that often gets foreshadowed by other historical events.
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Welcome to Big Easy Life. It is (August 30 20) and it’s time for Today in Big Easy history
On this date in (1956)
measuring 23.86 miles in length at a cost of $30.7 million. The original span of the causeway opened. Cars lined up bumper to bumper on the Metairie terminus to make the first trip across the Causeway on its opening day, The bridge was composed of 2,246 spans of concrete with two bascules (draw bridges) for large passing vessels. It reduced a trip across the lake from approximately 53 miles (driving around the lake) to 24 miles..
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Welcome to Big Easy Life. It is (August 31 20) and it’s time for Today in Big Easy history
On this date in (1969)
Two weeks after Woodstock, on Labor Day weekend of 1969's "Summer of Love", music festivals were held throughout the United States and Canada. But New Orleanians could travel just an hour away to their very own love in -- an event which was famously known and billed as the New Orleans Pop Festival. An estimated 30,000 young people trekked to the Louisiana International Speedway in Prairieville to seeJanis Joplin, Canned Heat, and the Grateful perform.Tickets ranged from $7.00 to a $16.00 weekend pass.