33. Interview with Singer Sybil Gage

33.  We interview Sybil Gage.  Born and raised in New Orleans, Sybil Gage had front row schooling  in what makes that city great.  Now living in Florida, Sybil's performances transport  locals and tourists  back in time  to Storyville.  The  “Little Dynamo” is slinky in sequins, funky in fishnets, and tantalizing in her trademark powder puff pumps. Did I mention hats!  She sings Pre-War Blues, Vaudeville, Traditional Jazz, and many her own compositions. We talk to Sybil and listen to several of her songs.  A real treat for the new year.

1. This week in Louisiana history.  January 2, 1860 Seminary of Learning of the State of Louisiana near Pineville, Louisiana opened with Col. William Tecumseh Sherman as superintendent, would later become LSU, Seminary opens with five professors and 19 cadets.
2. This week in Louisiana.
   
   Lady Techsters vs Southern Miss
   January 08, 2014

   Website

   Thomas Assembly Center, Ruston, LA 71270

   Come support the Lady Techsters as they take on their opponent on home court! General Admission ~ $10.

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32. Interview with Novelist Andre Rome

32. We interview Andre Rome. He has published his first novel, Hallowed Be Thy Name.  After Maria and Joey are trapped on their roof for several days after a hurricane, a boat mysteriously washes up to their rescue. They are shocked when they miraculously find an abandoned baby in the boat. Their lives take a dangerous turn for the worse when their miracle baby becomes the target of assassins determined to eliminate the threat that he may pose to all organized religions.

1. This week in Louisiana history. Dec. 28 1862. (Old) State Capitol burned by Union Soldiers
2. This week in Louisiana.  
   December 27, 2013 - December 28, 2013
   Creole Christmas
   523 St. Ann Street
   New Orleans, LA 70116
   504-524-9118
        Guests take a self-guided tour of 5 homes in the French Quarter decorated in the Creole Christmas Style. At the final home, Spring Fiesta House, their is a presentation on Christmas during the 19th century. Refreshments are provided. Tours are family friendly and all money raised goes to the Friends of the Cabildo, support organization for the Louisiana State Museum.

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31. Interview with poet David Middleton

31.  We interview Louisiana poet David Middleton.  Dr. Middleton grew up in North Louisiana, and our interview focuses on his poems that reflect those experiences. Middleton is professor emeritus from Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana, where he served as professor of English, Poet-in-Residence, Distinguished Service Professor, Alcee Fortier Distinguished Professor, and head of the Department of Languages and Literature.  He has published the books The Burning Fields, As Far as Light Remains, and The Habitual Peacefulness of Gruchy. His poems have appeared in The Southern Review, The Sewanee Review, Louisiana Literature, The Lyric, and elsewhere.

1. This week in Louisiana history.  Dec. 25, 1861. The Trent affair ends with release of Commissioners Mason & Slidell to the British (see Nov. 8, 1861 - Confederate Commissioners James Mason & John Slidell are seized by union navy ship USS San Jacinto off the British ship "Trent" on high seas in
   violation of international law. )
2. This week in Louisiana.
   December 20, 2013 - January 2, 2014
   Traveling Smithsonian Exhibit "The Way We Worked"
   Downtown Minden
   Minden, LA 71055
   318-371-4258
   The exhibit is sponsored by the Louisiana Endowment for the
   Humanities.

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30. Grandissimes. George Washington Cable.

30.  We discuss The Grandissimes, by George Washington Cable.  Perhaps Cable's best-known work, The Grandissimes is set in New Orleans at the time of the Louisiana Purchase.  Travel back to a time of duels, gambling, masked balls, voudou, Papa Lébat, plaçage, corsairs, and, of course, yellow fever.

1. This week in Louisiana history. Dec. 15 1802. Pres. Jefferson, worried of French takeover of Louisiana, seeks to purchase Isle of Orleans.
2. This week in Louisiana.
   Yuletide on the Bayou
   December 14, 2013
   337-369-2330
   102 W. Main Street
   New Iberia, LA 70560
   Gingerbread House Competition among Girl Scouts Pine to the Gulf

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29. All the King's Men. Robert Penn Warren.

29. Our discussion of Robert Penn Warren's All the King's Men.  Winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 1947, it was made into movies of the same title in 1949 and 2006.  This novel is one of the most important of the 20th century, and it introduces the character of Willie Stark, a fictionalized version of Huey Long.

1. This week in Louisiana history. Dec. 8 1872. P. B. S. Pinchback, 24th Governor of Louisiana. Pinchback made history by becoming the first African-American governor in American history.
   
2. This week in Louisiana.
       December 5, 2013 - December 8, 2013
   Christmas Belles
   Dixie Center for the Arts
   Ruston, LA 71270
   318-255-1450
         A church Christmas program spins hilariously out of control in this Southern farce about squabbling sisters, family secrets, a surly Santa, a vengeful sheep and a reluctant Elvis impersonator. It's Christmas-time in the small town of Fayro, Texas, and the Futrelle Sisters-Frankie, Twink and Honey Raye-are not exactly in a festive mood. Their hilarious holiday journey through a misadventure-filled Christmas Eve is guaranteed to bring joy to your world!
        General Admission Ticket prices at the door are $12 adults $6 students.

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28. Interview with Jennifer Reeser about The LaLaurie Horror, Part II.

28. Part II of our interview of Jennifer Reeser, author of The LaLaurie Horror. It's been a good year for Madame Delphine LaLaurie.  This infamous lady was perhaps the United States' first serial killer, running her own house of horrors in old New Orleans.  Now Jennifer Reeser has written an epic about Madame LaLaurie in the style of Dante's Inferno.  Oh, and by the way, Kathy Bates is currently playing Madame LaLaurie in American Horror Story: Coven. It's a really good year for Madame LaLaurie.

1. This week in Louisiana history. Nov. 23 1794. St. Louis
   Cathedral dedicated.
2. This week in Louisiana.
   November 23, 2013
   Turn on the Holidays
   780 Front Street
   Natchitoches, LA 71457
   800-259-1714
   A Louisiana Main to Main Event with children's activities,  entertainment, fireworks and more. There will also be the opening night ceremony where over 300,000 Christmas bulbs and 100+ riverbank set pieces are turned on.  Free admission on the downtown riverbank.

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The Louisiana Anthology Home Page.

27. Interview with Jennifer Reeser about The LaLaurie Horror

27.  We interview Jennifer Reeser, author of The LaLaurie Horror.  It's been a good year for Madame Delphine LaLaurie.  This infamous lady was perhaps the United States' first serial killer, running her own house of horrors in old New Orleans.  Now Jennifer Reeser has written an epic about Madame LaLaurie in the style of Dante's Inferno.  Oh, and by the way, Kathy Bates is currently playing Madame LaLaurie in American Horror Story: Coven. It's a really good year for Madame LaLaurie.

1. This week in Louisiana history. Nov. 30 1791. Gov. Carondelet takes control of Louisiana
2. This week in Louisiana.
   Noel Acadien au Village Every day From November 30, 2013 until December 23, 2013
   200 Greenleaf Drive
   Lafayette, LA 70506
   337-981-2364
          Noel Acadien au Village is the largest Christmas festival in Louisiana and features half-a-million lights, including the fully lit 19th century Acadian Chapel, themed Acadian home porches, and lighted holiday displays, live entertainment, carnival rides, local cuisine, photos with Santa, holiday shopping, and more. New displays this year include the Gingerbread House, LED-lighted Chapel, along with Papa Noel in a Pirogue, Tunnel of Lights, and Floating Christmas Trees on the Bayou.
          The event is open nightly from 5:30-9:00 pm (weather permitting). Advance tickets are available for $7 each at Acadiana Shop-Rite stores and $9 at the gate; children 4 and under are free. The full entertainment and nightly promotion schedule can be found on our website in late November.

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The Louisiana Anthology Home Page.