RIP: Rest In Peace

Rest In Peace: Tiger Theater in New Orleans

The Tiger Theater on Franklin Avenue in New Orleans

This is the old Tiger Theater, a sister to two other old, long-shuttered New Orleans movie houses: The Pitt and The Delta.

The Tiger Theater opened in 1950 and closed nearly a quarter century later in 1973. In 1974, the theater would reopen as a porno house called the Riget. One imagines this was to save money on an expensive sign as the new tenants could just swap a couple letters and voila!

In 1976 the Riget would morph into the Grit Adult Theater enjoying a four year run til closing for good in 1980.

Earlier this week it was razed.

RIP: Rest In Peace, Texas Barbecue

The Devil And John Mueller

The Devil And John Mueller

John Mueller hated the word pitmaster. We used to laugh at how common the usage of the word had become over the last few years. If you can fire up a bag of Kingsford charcoal you’re a pitmaster these days.

I didn’t start regularly eating Texas barbecue until the 80s but back then when we talked about the men who smoked the meat we called them pitbosses. Continue Reading

RIP: Rest In Peace

LLoyd Price Is Dead

Lloyd Price

The fighting pride of Kenner, Louisiana, Lloyd Price has died at age 88. He was a teenage sensation who burst on the national scene after recording a handful of early hits at Cosimo Mattasa’s J&M Studios on the edge of the French Quarter in New Orleans.

I wrote a feature on him in April of 2020. more

RIP: Rest In Peace

Ernie Ladd Died 14 Years Ago Today

Big Cat Ernie Ladd’s “Throwdown” BBQ Restaurant in New Orleans

The Big Cat, Ernie Ladd died 14 years ago today. He was one of the greatest athletes to ever come out of Louisiana and his passing left a 6′9″ hole in the fabric of our state.

After his career in the NFL and professional wrestling was over he opened Big Cat Ernie Ladd’s “Throwdown” BBQ Restaurant in New Orleans on Broad Street.

Did you eat there?

I’m writing a feature on the great man and will publish it in the coming weeks.

RIP Mr Ladd.

RIP: Rest In Peace

Rest In Peace: Gert Town Native Tami Lynn aka Gloria Brown

Publicity photo of Gert Town Native Tami Lynn aka Gloria Brown

New Orleans native Tami Lynn née Gloria Brown is dead at 78 years of age. I wrote a feature on her recently for my New Orleans Album of the Week series.

“Do you remember your first love affair?”

Tami Lynn née Gloria Brown whispers on Introduction To A Love Affair, the first cut off her debut LP Love Is Here and Now You’re Gone.

It’s heart-wrenching.

Tami Lynn grew up in the hard-scrabble Gert Town section of New Orleans 16th Ward. To this day there are parts of the neighborhood that have dirt streets and houses without indoor plumbing. more

RIP: Rest In Peace

Rest In Peace: Rhumba Congas Drummer Uganda Roberts

Rest In Peace: Uganda Roberts

Uganda Roberts didn’t become friends with Professor Longhair til 1972. By that time the not-yet 30 year old drummer had already carved out a nice niche for himself in the New Orleans jazz community. You could see him around town at places like Lu & Charlie’s on Rampart Street where a pitcher of cold draft beer would run you $3 or Holly’s a few blocks away on Basin Street. Continue Reading