147. Renée Sentilles’ interview about Adah Isaac
Menken. Renee has written a major biography about Menken, Performing Menken: Adah Isaacs Menken and the Birth of American Celebrity. The actress grew up in New Orleans and became the United States' first celebrity, as well known for her lifestyle as for her acting. This week we interview her about Loreta Janeta Velazquez, who wrote the memoir The Woman in Battle after the Civil War describing her adventures during the Civil War. She both dressed as a man to serve as a soldier, and as a woman to carry out her spying assignments.
- This week in Louisiana history. March 12, 1817. Miss.
Steamboat Navigation Co. seized Capt. H. Shreve's boat, the
Washington.
- This week in New Orleans history. Andrew Jackson Young, born
March 12, 1932 in New Orleans, is an American
politician, diplomat, activist and pastor from Georgia. He has
served as a Congressman from Georgia's 5th congressional
district, the United States Ambassador to the United Nations,
and Mayor of Atlanta.
- This week in Louisiana.
Iowa Rabbit Festival
March 18th, 2016 - March 19th, 2016
Burton Complex
7001 Gulf Hwy, Lake Charles, LA 70607
337-436-9566
Website
Burton Complex
Celebrating the economic and culinary impact rabbits have in
Southwest Louisiana, the annual Iowa Rabbit Festival is a
one-of-a-kind event, from the rabbit gumbo to crowning the new
Miss Bunny, who will go on to represent the festival at other
state-wide festivals and competitions. The family-friendly
event has some of the best music in the area from the Iowa
High School Marching band to local Cajun favorites. This
festival has it all, from great food to live music and
cook-offs! All proceeds from the festival go to support the
community of Iowa and various other youth organizations,
schools and not for profit groups.
- This week in Louisiana history. March 5, 1766. Antonio de
Ulloa becomes the first Spanish governor of Louisiana; arrives
in New Orleans but does not take possession.
- This week in New Orleans history. March 5, 1999.
Reverend Avery Caesar Alexander died (June 29, 1910 - March 5,
1999). Reverend Avery C. Alexander was an important
leader in the struggle for civil rights for black
Louisianians. A member of the NAACP, Rev. Alexander traveled
statewide participating in voter registration drives in the
years before the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed. In New
Orleans, he helped to organize several boycotts against white
businesses to hire blacks for jobs above the "broom and mop"
level. He also led a successful boycott against New Orleans
Public Service, Inc. to hire the first black bus drivers. Rev.
Alexander participated in marches with the late Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr., including the march from Selma to
Montgomery, Alabama and the first and second marches on
Washington. He also was involved in sit-ins to integrate lunch
counters all over New Orleans.
-
Iberia Performing Arts League Presents, “Jesus Christ,
Superstar”
March 3rd, 2016 - March 20th, 2016
Essanee Theatre
126 Iberia St., New Iberia, LA 70560
337-364-6114
Website
Listen in iTunes.
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| Adah Isaacs Menksn |
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| Renee Sentilles |
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| Lamar White |
145. Today we interview Jericho Brown. He grew up in
Shreveport, Louisiana, and worked as a speechwriter for the
mayor of New Orleans before earning his PhD in literature and
creative writing from the University of Houston. Brown is
the author of two books of poetry. His most recent collection, The New Testament (Copper Canyon Press, 2014), was described
by Yusef Komunyakaa as a chronicle of “life and death, personal
rituals and blasphemies, race and nation, the good and the bad”
that illuminates “scenarios of self-interrogation and near
redemption.” His first collection of poetry, Please (New
Issues, 2008), won the 2009 American Book Award.
Also this week, we have part 1 of an interview with Lamar White
about the special session of the Louisiana legislature addressing the
budget crisis.
- This week in Louisiana history. February 27, 1827, New
Orleans kicks off its first Mardi Gras.
- This week in New Orleans history. Ralph A. Shultz (May 20,
1898 - February 27, 1994) lived to the age of 95. R.
Shultz's Fresh Hardware and residence at 1720 Lake Avenue in
Bucktown -- Local legend says that Ralph added “Fresh” to his
general store and bar sign during prohibition to let patrons
know he had a fresh keg of home-brewed beer on tap. He also
sold trawl, crab, and crawfish nets, bait, tackle, boats,
motors...just about anything needed to capture the bounty of
the lake. During the 1950s he was an outspoken representative
against the banning of commercial fishing in Lake
Pontchartrain and for government intervention in improving its
ecosystems. His home and store are gone.
- This week in Louisiana.
Black Heritage Festival
March 4th, 2016 - March 6th, 2016
Lake Charles Civic Center
900 Lakeshore Drive, Lake Charles, LA 70601
337-436-9588
Website
Lake Charles Civic Center
The annual Black Heritage Festival will be held March 4-6 and
feature live entertainment, mouthwatering food, and great
family fun. The festival brings together the cultures of
Africa and Southwest Louisiana and highlights the best in the
community. Celebrating diversity, culture and education,
the festival is filled with legendary Zydeco, Jazz, R&B
and Gospel performers.
Listen in iTunes.
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144. One of the things that makes Louisiana
unique among the other states is our legal system, and our guest
this week, Vernon Palmer, is an expert on that system. In part
1, we discuss the Code Noir; in part 2, the Code
Napoléon. For more information, check out his book Through
the Codes Darkly: Slave Law and Civil Law in Louisiana.Vernon
is the Thomas Pickles Professor of Law at Tulane University Law
School and the co-director of its Eason Weinmann Center of
Comparative Law. Palmer received in 2012 the degree of Docteur
Honoris Causa by Paris-Dauphine University and received
both the Palmes Académiques and, in 2006, the Legion
of Honor from the French government. Palmer was born in
New Orleans, Louisiana, and attended New Orleans Academy, Newman
High School and graduated from Jesuit High School in 1958.
He is a graduate of Tulane University (B.A. 1962, LL.B. 1965
with Law Review Honors) and Yale Law School (LL.M. 1966), where
he received a Sterling Fellowship. Palmer graduated from
Pembroke College, Oxford University in 1985, where he received
his Doctorate of Philosophy.
- This week in Louisiana history. February 20, 1811. President
Madison signed bill providing for Louisiana's statehood.
- This week in New Orleans history. February 20, 1811.
President Madison signed the bill providing for Louisiana's
statehood.
- This week in Louisiana.
New Iberia Azalea Trail
March 1st, 2016 - April 30th, 2016
Iberia Parish
Main St, New Iberia, LA 70560
337-365-1540 | 888-942-3742 | 337-367-3791
Website
Iberia Parish
Delicate Azaleas bloom early each Spring flooding the
landscape with a sea of red, pink, white, purple and
salmon. Our easy self guided driving tour offers a
glimpse of all the beautiful flowers along the trail from the
miniature varieties to the massive.
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143. One of the things that makes Louisiana
unique among the other states is our legal system, and our guest
this week, Vernon Palmer, is an expert on that system. In part
1, we discuss the Code Noir; in part 2, the Code
Napoléon. For more information, check out his book Through
the Codes Darkly: Slave Law and Civil Law in Louisiana.Vernon
is the Thomas Pickles Professor of Law at Tulane University Law
School and the co-director of its Eason Weinmann Center of
Comparative Law. Palmer received in 2012 the degree of Docteur
Honoris Causa by Paris-Dauphine University and received
both the Palmes Académiques and, in 2006, the Legion
of Honor from the French government. Palmer was born in
New Orleans, Louisiana, and attended New Orleans Academy, Newman
High School and graduated from Jesuit High School in 1958.
He is a graduate of Tulane University (B.A. 1962, LL.B. 1965
with Law Review Honors) and Yale Law School (LL.M. 1966), where
he received a Sterling Fellowship. Palmer graduated from
Pembroke College, Oxford University in 1985, where he received
his Doctorate of Philosophy.
- This week in Louisiana history. February 13, 1899. Lowest
temperature ever recorded in Louisiana, Minden, -16° F.
- This week in New Orleans history. February 13, 1872.
First Rex Parade. Lewis J. Salomon reigned as Rex during the
organization's first parade on February 13, 1872. The
theme was "Triumphal Entry." The official anthem of Rex, "If
Ever I Cease to Love," was a hit song of the early 1870's era
from a musical comedy named "Bluebeard."
- This week in Louisiana.
Diary of Anne Frank
February 18th, 2016 - February 21st, 2016
Ruston Community Theater
212 N. Vienna St., Ruston, LA 71270
318-255-1450
Website
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142. Robert King of the Angola
Three was in solitary confinement for almost 30 years. We talk to Robert about his early life, his imprisonment and activism in Angola,
and his life since his release. We start today's episode with a quote from a young Samuel Clemens about his first Mardi Gras.
- This week in Louisiana history. February 5, 1817. Jean
Lafitte died in battle off coast of Honduras.
- This week in New Orleans history. Born in New Orleans on February
6, 1944, Wilson Turbinton (known as Tee and Willie Tee)
arranged, co-wrote and led the band on the Wild Magnolias'
self-titled 1974 debut album. The popularity of that
recording, and the subsequent They Call Us Wild introduced the
Mardi Gras Indians' street-beat funk to the world.
- This week in Louisiana.
Alexandria Mardi Gras
February 7th, 2016
Downtown
707 Main Street, Alexandria, LA 71301
318-442-9546 | 800-551-9546
Website
Experience Mardi Gras family style! The weekend begins with a
Friday afternoon Classic Cars and College Cheerleaders
parade followed by the Taste of Mardi Gras. Saturday is the
Children's Parade, and Sunday is the Main Parade. Routes and
more information is available at www.alexmardigras.com.
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141. Kristen Becker interview, part 2. For 15 years, Kristen has loved bringing her raucous
point-of-view comedy to audiences all over the continent.
Toronto’s Xtra! lauded her “brash and
personal humor.” As the winner of the Queen City Comedy
Competition, she took the largely male-dominated genre by storm.
A comedian who happens to also be an out lesbian, Becker
consistently wins the hearts of all audiences, straight and gay
alike, with her unapologetic humor. Her childhood, divided
between the Rust Belt and the Deep South, has left her uniquely
able to connect with all manner of people. She has been
part of comedy routines like Dykes of Hazard and Loosen the Bible
Belt, in which she teams up with Jay Bakker, son of Jim
and Tammy Faye Bakker. Quinn Warner joins us today as a guest host. Warning--today's episode has explicit language and content.
- This week in Louisiana history. January 30, 1704. Bienville
told that "Pelican" was on its way with 27 young girls, the
Casket Girls.
- This week in New Orleans history. January 30, 1980.
Professor Longhair died. He was born Henry
Roeland "Roy" Byrd on December 19, 1918, in
Bogalusa, Louisiana. He made a living as a street hustler
until he started to play piano seriously in his thirties. He
taught himself how to play on a piano with missing keys, so
his style became distinct. When he began his career in New
Orleans in 1948, Mike Tessitore bestowed Longhair with his
stage name (due to Byrd's shaggy coiffure). Longhair first
recorded in 1949, creating four songs (including the first
version of his signature song, "Mardi Gras in New Orleans"
His pet numbers were "Tipitina" and "Go to the Mardi
Gras."
- This week in Louisiana.
Cajun Ground Hog Day
February 2nd, 2016
Bouligny Plaza
102 W Main St, New Iberia, LA 70560
337-365-6773 | 337-367-9640
Website
Bouligny Plaza
Annual event where New Iberia's own version of the traditional
groundhog, Pierre C. Shaddeaux, a native nutria, emerges to
predict weather the weather for the next six weeks…etiher a
long or short spring depending on if Pierre sees his shaddeaux
or not.
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