Friday, May 24, 2019

314. Anniversary Episode


314. This is the 7th anniversary of Louisiana Anthology, and the 6th Anniversary of podcast. Bruce and Stephen review the high points of the last year. The Anthology has almost 8,000,000 words now, and we talk about some of the interesting texts we added in the last 12 months. We also talk about some of the interviews from the last year.
  1. This week in Louisiana history. May 26, 1861. Civil War comes to La. as U.S. Navy begins Miss. River blockade.
  2. This week in New Orleans history. May 25, 1939. The Beginning of Lincoln Beach. Lincoln Beach was located near Little Woods along Hayne Boulevard west of Paris Road in a then remote location far removed from public transportation.  The ten-acre site was deeded to the city by Samuel Zemurray in 1938 and purchased within a year by the Orleans Levee Board which designated it as a swimming area for "colored" New Orleanians.  The WPA project would result in a sand beach similar to the one being designed at Pontchartrain Beach, but Linclon Beach's amusements and amenities would not compare to those which would be contained at the "white" amusement park.
  3. This week in Louisiana.
    June 7 - 9, 2019, 9:30 am - June 9, 2019
    42nd Cajun Heritage Festival
    Larose Civic Center
    307 E. 5th St.
    Larose, LA 70345
    985-693-7355
    State woodcarving championship, duck calling contest, decoy and shotgun raffle
  4. Postcards from Louisiana. Bruce listens to the Slick Skillet Serenades at the Apple Barrel on Frenchman St. in New Orleans.
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Thursday, May 16, 2019

313. Victoria Coy, Part 2

313. Part 2 of our interview with Victoria Coy. Victoria is a native Louisianian and Tulane alum, where she proudly received the 2009 Sylvia Dreyfus Memorial Award for leadership and activism on campus. Her dedication to social justice work has brought her all over the world; from Fiji where she opened the country's first rural women's crisis center, to Cameroon where she served as the Economic Development Advisor to the African Model Forest Network. Gun violence has been important to Victoria since the loss of two childhood friends at the hands of their father in her formative years. Therefore, upon returning home, her focus has shifted to ending Louisiana's dangerous and preventable gun violence epidemic. She founded the Louisiana Violence Reduction Coalition, which is the state's only state-specific gun violence prevention organization.
  1. This week in Louisiana history. May 18, 1896. LA. case of Plessy v. Ferguson, "seperate but equal."
  2. This week in New Orleans history. On May 18, 1959, the song "Battle Of New Orleans" by Johnny Horton became the number-one country single.
  3. This week in Louisiana.
    May 17-19, 2019
    Gonzales Jambalaya Festival
    219 S. Irma Blvd.
    Gonzales, LA 70737
    225-647-2937
    Your whole family will enjoy the vast variety of food, fun, music and activities that have made the Jambalaya Festival the can't miss highlight of the year. The festival features World Champion Jambalaya served daily, live music and entertainment, carnival rides, cooking contests, a variety of food and so much fun it takes four days to get it all in.
  4. Postcards from Louisiana. Bruce listens to Alexis and the Samurai at the dba in New Orleans.
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Friday, May 10, 2019

312. Victoria Coy, Part 1

312. Part 1 of our interview with Victoria Coy. Victoria is a native Louisianian and Tulane alum, where she proudly received the 2009 Sylvia Dreyfus Memorial Award for leadership and activism on campus. Her dedication to social justice work has brought her all over the world; from Fiji where she opened the country's first rural women's crisis center, to Cameroon where she served as the Economic Development Advisor to the African Model Forest Network. Gun violence has been important to Victoria since the loss of two childhood friends at the hands of their father in her formative years. Therefore, upon returning home, her focus has shifted to ending Louisiana's dangerous and preventable gun violence epidemic. She founded the Louisiana Violence Reduction Coalition, which is the state's only state-specific gun violence prevention organization. 
  1. This week in Louisiana history. May 12, 1678 LaSalle given permission to explore "Louisiana" by King Louis XIV.
  2. This week in New Orleans history. On May 11, 1988 a fire destroyed the third floor of the Cabildo, one of the principal buildings of the Louisiana State Museum. In the following years, the architects of the New Orleans firm Koch and Wilson, along with construction crews, labored over this national historic landmark's restoration. Although the Cabildo fire was tragic, it did present opportunities for an archaeological dig in the courtyard directly behind the historic landmark.
  3. This week in Louisiana.
    May 17-19, 2019
    Tunica-Biloxi Pow Wow
    Chief Joseph Alcide Pierite
    Pow Wow Grounds
    Marksville, LA 71351
    Friday. Education Day. Free.
    Saturday 10:00 am - 10:00 pm. $5.00 admission
    Sunday 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. $5.00 admission
    For centuries, neighboring nations have gathered for sport, singing, dancing, and feasting. Like any other good neighbor, Indian nations have also shared their crafts, music, and stories. The modern pow wow, as we know it, came into existence in the late 19th century especially as tribes moved closer together in the American West. No other event captures the American Indian spirit like the pow wow.  Dancers in colorful dress move gracefully around the ring, a steady drum beat directing their movements. Tradition is passed from one generation to the next. The Native attire worn and the dances, songs, and drum rhythms performed express traditions that began over 20,000 years ago.
  4. Postcards from Louisiana. Bruce listens to trumpeter ET in Jackson Square. 
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Friday, May 3, 2019

311. Jaya McSharma, part 2

311. Part 2 of our interview with Jaya McSharma, MD. "Hi! I’m Dr. Jaya McSharma. I’m an actor and writer currently living in Shreveport, La. I have loved acting and writing as long as I have been able to understand purpose and passion. It’s what sets my soul ablaze. My husband and I formed #McSharma Productions and had our first-ever short film, #BrownBridgetMD, selected as a top 20 finalist of the Louisiana Film Prize in 2018. I also won Best Actress at the festival! Currently we are in pre-production to take our short film and turn it into a TV or streaming series."
  1. This week in Louisiana history. May 4, 1970. T.H. Williams wins Pulitzer Prize for his biography, Huey Long.
  2. This week in New Orleans history. President John F. Kennedy delivers an address to a large crowd of people at City Hall [Duncan] Plaza, May 4, 1962.
  3. This week in Louisiana.
    May 3-5, 2019
    Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival
    Celebrity crawfish eating contest, Cajun dance lessons, Cajun cooking demonstrations, Crawfish etouffée cookoff, parade, and music.
    The Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival has become one of the largest gatherings of world famous Cajun, Zydeco and Swamp Pop musicians and plays host to over 30 bands on three stages during the three-day festival.
  4. Postcards from Louisiana. Bruce listens to the band at the Funky 544 on Bourbon St.

Friday, April 26, 2019

310. Jaya McSharma, part 1

310. Part 1 of our interview with Jaya McSharma, MD. "Hi! I’m Dr. Jaya McSharma. I’m an actor and writer currently living in Shreveport, La. I have loved acting and writing as long as I have been able to understand purpose and passion. It’s what sets my soul ablaze. My husband and I formed #McSharma Productions and had our first-ever short film, #BrownBridgetMD, selected as a top 20 finalist of the Louisiana Film Prize in 2018. I also won Best Actress at the festival! Currently we are in pre-production to take our short film and turn it into a TV or streaming series."
  1. This week in Louisiana history. April 28, 1862. Forts Jackson and St. Phillip on the Mississippi river are surrendered to Union troops.
  2. This week in New Orleans history. The Illinois Central Railroad introduced the original City of New Orleans on April 27, 1947 as a daytime companion to the overnight Panama Limited. EMD E7 diesel locomotives pulled new lightweight Pullman Company coaches. The 921-mile route, which the City of New Orleans covered in 15 hours 55 minutes, was the longest daytime schedule in the United States.
  3. This week in Louisiana.
    El Festival Espanol de Nueva Iberia
    April 26th, 2019 - April 28th, 2019
    Bouligny Plaza
    102 W Main St,
    New Iberia, LA 70560
    337-349-7343 | Fax
    Website | Email
    Celebrating New Iberia's Spanish roots with "Dave Robicheaux Running of the Bulls" 5K race, re-enactment of the arrival of the Spanish on Bayou Teche, paella/jambalaya cook-off, fais-do-do at the Pavilion, food demonstrations, original Spanish family genealogy, guest lectures, exhibits, the Downtown Art Walk featuring a Spanish artist and more. Bouligny Plaza, 102 W. Main St., New Iberia, 337-349-7343.
  4. Postcards from Louisiana. Bruce listens to Tuba Skinny.
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Friday, April 19, 2019

309. Donna Pierite, part 2

309. Part 2 of our interview with Donna Pierite.  Donna is part of the Tunica-Biloxi Museum and Cultural and Educational Resources Center Library. Their gift shop is at 151 Melancon Drive in Marksville, or at the LA1 Shop at Paragon Casino Resort next door. For more information, call (800) 272-9767. She, Elisabeth Pierite-Mora, and John D. Barbry have written a book, entitled The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe: It's Culture & People. Donna her daughter, son and brother (Steven Madere) wrote and produced Tawaka (in Tunica "sub-commander"), the language and culture page that appeared in the Tunica-Biloxi tribal newspaper. Along with her husband, children and her brother, Mrs. Pierite has given various presentations at schools, universities and other venues, including performances at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
  1. This week in Louisiana history. April 23, 1831. Ponchartrain Railroad opened, first west of Alleghenies.
  2. This week in New Orleans history. On April 23, 1939, the Zephyr first whisked New Orleanians into the sky along its winding path around the park.  Harry Jr. remembered, when he was a twelve year-old, "It was fantastic to get on top of the Zephyr and see nothing but cow pasture as far as you could see in Gentilly".
  3. This week in Louisiana.
    Festival International de Louisiane
    April 24th, 2019 - April 28th, 2019
    11:30 am - 10:00 pm
    Downtown Lafayette, Louisiana
    315 Lee Ave,
    Lafayette, LA 70501
    337-232-8086
    Website | Email
    The 32nd annual Festival International de Louisiane will be held in Downtown Lafayette, April 25-29, 2018. Featuring six music stages, arts and crafts vendors, local food and other family-friendly activities.
  4. Postcards from Louisiana. Bruce listens to the Glen David Andrews Band.
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Friday, April 12, 2019

308. Donna Pierite, part 1

308. Part 1 of our interview with Donna Pierite. Donna is part of the Tunica-Biloxi Museum and Cultural and Educational Resources Center Library. Their gift shop is at 151 Melancon Drive in Marksville, or at the LA1 Shop at Paragon Casino Resort next door. For more information, call (800) 272-9767. She, Elisabeth Pierite-Mora, and John D. Barbry have written a book, entitled The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe: It's Culture & People. Donna her daughter, son and brother (Steven Madere) wrote and produced Tawaka (in Tunica "sub-commander"), the language and culture page that appeared in the Tunica-Biloxi tribal newspaper. Along with her husband, children and her brother, Mrs. Pierite has given various presentations at schools, universities and other venues, including performances at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

  1. This week in Louisiana history. April 15, 1795. The Pointee Coupee Slave Rebellion.
  2. This week in New Orleans history. Born in New Orleans on April 13, 1926, Cosimo Matassa is the recording engineer and studio owner responsible for nationally renowned R&B and rock and roll recordings at his New Orleans studios. Matassa described himself simply as a "sound engineer" in a July 19, 1981 Times-Picayune article written by John Pope. He went on to say that his formula for success was not complicated in any way..."Do it live or do it over again until it was done right". He did it right for hundreds of young unknown musicians including Ray Charles, Fats Domino, Mac Rebbenack (Dr. John), Mickey Gilly and so many more from 1945 through 1968 in his studio in the Quarter and later in the Central Business District.  J&M recorded Alan Toussaint's first record, "The Wild Side of New Orleans" which was released by RCA Victor.  He recorded Aaron Neville's "Tell it Like it Is", Robert Parker's "Barefootin'", and Little Richard's "Tutti Frutti" in 1956 — a recording which has been acclaimed as a seminal Rock and Roll song.
  3. This week in Louisiana.
    46th Annual Street Rod Reunion
    April 13th, 2019
    7:00 am - 4:00 pm
    Boomtown Casino & Hotel
    300 Riverside Dr.
    Bossier City, LA 71111
    318-655-5838
    Website
    The Red River Street Rod Association Street Rod Reunion will be held at Boomtown Casino in Bossier City Louisiana. The event features  cars and trucks 30 years old and older. This event is free for spectators and open to the public. Come out and view stunning examples of Street Rods, Hot Rods, Custom Cars, Trucks. Food, music, entertainment, auction and fun.
  4. Postcards from Louisiana. Bruce listens the the Milly Raccoon Band.
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