Echoes Of Laughter - 001 10/10/2010 - Ponchartrain Beach Amusement Park, New Orleans, Louisiana  1928 - 1983

Echoes Of Laughter - Episode# 001 10/10/2010 - Ponchartrain Beach Amusement Park, New Orleans, Louisiana 

Welcome to Echoes Of Laughter Introductory Show. This is T. Mic and I will be your host on our journey through history as we explore the amusement & theme parks of yesterday. This will be a monthly podcast and will feature interviews and discussions with individuals intimately involved with these attractions and the people that enjoyed them. We’ll travel back in time to the heyday of these parks and emurse you in the experience of visiting these parks in a way that you will never have the opportunity to do physically today.

On this episode we’ll visit the Pontchartrain Beach Amusement Park. Once located on the shores of Lake Pontchartrain in New Orleans, Louisiana. We’ll feature interviews with John DeMajo and Mike Loisel.

Mr. DeMajo is a retired engineer and lived within viewing distance of the park for several decades and was a frequent visitor to the park. He shares with us his many experiences with “The Beach” from the 1940’s until the closing of the legendary park and some of the more technical aspects of the park from inside sources as well as his own knowledge as an engineer.

Mike Loisel experienced the park many times as a child and teen in the later years leading to the parks closing as well. He shares with us some of his more memorable experiences as well as some insights on how todays youth could benefit from experiencing life from the way it used to be done vs. living life through the virtual reality of video games and indoor entertainment. 

The year is 1832 and the original Port Pontchartrain lighthouse begins operating near the shore of Lake Pontchartrain. While this is not the “Milneburg” (often mispronounced as the “Milenburg”) lighthouse that still stands near the banks of the lake at the end of Elysian Fields Avenue on the current grounds of the UNO Technology Park, it is the beginning of a series of events that led to the creation on the beloved, and sorely missed Pontchartrain Beach Amusement Park. As mentioned, the current lighthouse that still stands as a lone sentinel and icon for “the Beach” was actually constructed in 1855 and was actually located several hundred feet out in the lake itself along with the caretakers home and another structure built on pylons and shined until 1929. It was located in Milneburg, a once popular early resort area on the lake at the terminus of the Ponchartrain Railroad line often referred to as the “Smokey Mary”. The “Smokey Mary” also provided access to the many camps that dotted the shoreline as well as the hotels, restaurants, roadhouses, shooting galleries, bathing facilities and fishing piers. It has been said that it was at Milneburg’s dance halls and bars that much of New Orleans’ early jazz was first heard. During the depression in the late 1920’s and early 30’s the WPA (the Works Progress Administration) launched an ambitious project to reclaim almost a mile of land on the southern shores of the lake. Sand was pumped from the bottom of the lake to forma a new shoreline located behind a concrete seawall. Enter Harry Batt, Sr., businessman, showman, and entrepreneur. He sub-leased land from the original owners of Ponchartrain Beach Amusement Park, located near the old Spanish Fort at Bayou St. John and he became it’s sole proprietor during the depression in 1934.  Reletively soon after the land reclaimation project was completed Harry Batt, Sr. moved the park to it’s new location at the end of Elysian Fields Avenue in 1939 and a legend was born… Ponchatrain Beach became New Orleans’, and Louisianas’ largest and most popular amusement park. It continued to grow over the years with the addition of larger and more thrilling rides and attractions . The Beach served hundreds of thousands if not millions of people over its’ 51+ years of existence under the Batt’s family ownership. Of course the people of New Orleans constantly visited “The Beach” but it was also visited and known by residents from around the state of Louisiana, the United States and from around the world. The Beach closed it’s gates forever in 1983…but it will forever live in the the hearts and minds of those who loved it so…

 

Direct download: AMMN_EOL_001_10_10_10.mp3
Category:EOL -- posted at: 12:02am CDT
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The Tour Bus Music Show - Episode# 006 10/10/2010 - Interview and Music with Steve Blaze of Lillian Axe

 

 

Episode# 006  10/10/2010  The Tour Bus Music Show – Steve Blaze Of Lillian Axe

 

In this weeks episode we will be featuring Steve Blaze of Lillian Axe. Lillian Axe has experienced almost everything playing music professionally has to offer…monster tours, major record label contracts, music videos (when MTV still played music videos), fame, fortune, and performing to millions of fans in their amazing career and even after 25+ years they are showing no signs of slowing down. They have just released their 10th album, Deep Red Shadows and been honored by being inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall Of Fame. The only thing that these things have done is fan the flames even hotter for this veteran rock band and drive them to accomplish even more.

 

Steve Blaze, the founder and one of the amazing guitarists in the group, sits down with me Bozo, and Ana for an amazing 90 minute interview. We feature tracks from Deep Red Shadows and he shares with us what is currently happening with the group, their past, and what’s coming in the future for the group. He also provides us with his insight and experience in the music industry and the changing trends of listeners, fans, and music in general.

 

 

Steve had plenty to say and we were treated some extreme hospitality on his part of allowing us to do the interview in his personal studio. He introduced us to his wife, Julie & his daughter, and in a real surprise to us, his handsome little son, Jude. I, T Mic, had been acquainted with Steve for many years and knew he was a good guy, but sitting down with him for a few hours while recording this interview and talking with him off the record before and after. I have to say that I never had a clue as to what a kind & respectable man he was and that he has more good character than any pro musician I have ever known.

 

The episode is 120 minutes and 11 seconds in length, which is longer than any episode we’ve done to date. But in the editing process we found that there was just such an abundance of good content that we didn’t want to take away from the experience by cutting it. Therefore, I would recommend that if you don’t have time to listen to it all at once, break it up and listen to it over a few sessions. But listen to the full interview, none the less. It was great!

 

You can find out more information about Lillian Axe at: www.lillianaxe.com  for band info, booking information, to purchase their albums, or to get any of their cool swag.

 

 

Thanks again to Steve for taking the time to talk with us and his hospitality while conducting this interview and being so accommodating during the production of this episode.

 

Look for our next show coming 11/26/2010 when we will be featuring Patrick Kennison & Jesse “Bawls” Billson of HEAVEN BELOW.

Direct download: AMMN_TTBMS_006_10_10_2010.mp3
Category:TTBMS -- posted at: 12:00am CDT
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Abandon All Hope, Halloween in the Swamp 2010 –  002 10/3/2010 – The 13th Gate - Baton Rouge, LA

Abandon All Hope, Halloween in the Swamp 2010 – Episode 002 – The 13th Gate - Baton Rouge, LA

In this episode we talk with Dwayne Sanburn, owner of The 13th Gate, about his 40,000 square foot nightmare located at 832 Saint Philip Street, in downtown Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Located in a former slaughterhouse turned sporting goods store, the attraction actually encompases 2 buildings. The building itself actually was constructed in 1849 and has a long history of “interesting” activity happening there aside from it’s present use as a haunted house.

Dwayne shares with us his inspiration and drive to create one of the best “haunted” attractions in the nation and how it has evolved over time, with the help of our burgeoning movie industry talent, to become a nationally recognized, acclaimed, and award winning attraction. We then take a audio walkthrough of the attraction, but don’t worry it won’t spoil it…it has been edited and it changes somewhat night to night in how things are presented and we do not detail which are of the attraction we are in…have fun. We rate this attraction as a definitely a not-to-be-missed event open during the months of September & October in downtown Baton Rouge!    

Dates & Hours

Louisiana's Ultimate Haunted House

September 23rd - October 16th

Thursday, Friday & Saturday Nights 6:30pm-11:30

October 21nd-31st

Every Night 6:30pm-Until the last victim gets in!

November 5th and 6th   "Flashlight Fright Nights"

7pm-until!

(Travel through a completely dark 13th Gate armed only with a couple small finger lights per group!)

 

832 St Phillip Street

Downtown Baton Rouge, LA

Under the I-10 River Bridge

Next to Belle Casino and Pastime Restaurant

 

Hotline 225-389-1313

2010 Admission $20.00

 

Direct download: Abandon_All_Hope_-_The_13th_Gate_002_10-3-10.mp3
Category:AAH -- posted at: 1:42am CDT
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Abandon All Hope - Halloween In The Swamp 2010 - 001 10/3/2010 - The House Of Shock - New Orleans, Louisiana

Abandon All Hope, Halloween In The Swamp 2010 – Episode 001 – The House Of Shock, New Orleans

In this episode we go behind the scenes at The House Of Shock in New Orleans, Louisiana. This nationally recognized attraction has been featured on numerous television shows, The Travel Channel, and all over the online world. T. Mic, Ana & Bozo venture into the inner-sanctum of the attraction for an in-person interview with two of the owners, Ross and Jay as well as fellow shockers Dave, Freddy and Ashley; we find out what goes into (and who is involved with) creating and continuing to run this award-winning horror festival for 18 years now.

Ross & Jay also share with us the attractions long history, current events, the challenges & rewards of operating the festival & attraction and a little on what’s in store for the future of this monstrosity. We’ll find out about the community of “Shockers” who prey upon your deepest fears and what everyday life is like for those who make fear their business…

The House Of Shock Horror Festival is rated as a Not-To-Be-Missed Attraction In October!

More information can be found at: http://www.houseofshock.com

Directions: The House of Shock is located at 319 Butterworth St. Jefferson, LA. 70121, right outside of New Orleans. 

SCHEDULE

The House of Shock is open these nights in October, 2010:

1, 2

8, 9

14, 15, 16, 17

21, 22, 23, 24

27, 28, 29, 30, 31

Tickets go on sale at 7:00 pm at the box office (in front of the haunted house) on OPEN NIGHTS ONLY.

The haunted house opens at 8:00 pm.

The Box Office closes at 11:00 pm on Fridays & Saturdays, 10:00 pm every other night.

The haunted house closes after all ticket holders have been through the house - this can range between 11:00 pm and Midnight.

If you arrive after the Box Office has closed, you may still see people waiting in line to go through the haunted house - these people bought their tickets BEFORE the Box Office closed.

Those asking to purchase tickets after the Box Office has closed or whining because they didn't get there on time will be fed to our Hellbeasts.

 

Direct download: AMMN_AAHHITS10__001_10_3_10.mp3
Category:AAH -- posted at: 12:00am CDT
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Abandon All Hope, Halloween in the Swamp 2010 –  003 10/3/2010 – The Myrtles Plantation  St. Francisville, LA

Abandon All Hope, Halloween in the Swamp 2010 – Episode 003 – The Myrtles Plantation  St. Francisville, Louisiana

In this episode we talk with Mrs. Hester, Manager Of The Myrtles Plantation. She takes us back into the history of this beautiful, yet very haunted, home. Built in 1796 this current day bed & breakfast is nestled among the ancient oaks on it’s present 10 +/- acres, of its once 5000 acres. It’s present quiet, serene beauty is in contrast to the violence that the home has been witness to in it’s 214 years of existence. Mrs. Hester recounts the history of the home, grounds and stories relating to some of the plantation’s more “permanent” residents.

The home, as we mentioned, is a functioning bed & breakfast and has a number of rooms both in the home and located around the grounds. It also has a wonderful restaurant & gift shop on grounds. In addition to overnight rooms the plantation offers both daytime standard tours & nighttime “mystery” tours.

More information on the plantation can be found at: http://www.myrtlesplantation.com/.

Hours and information can be found below:*

HISTORIC TOURS DAILY:   9 AM TO 5:00 PM, EVERY HOUR AND HALF HOUR; $8 PER PERSON, $4 CHILDREN 12 & UNDER

MYSTERY TOURS:   FRIDAY & SATURDAY EVENINGS AT 6, 7 & 8 PM; $10 PER PERSON, RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED

 

Accommodations  Information*

Room Rates and Descriptions

We would like to thank you for your interest in The Myrtles Plantation. We operate year round as a full service Bed & Breakfast. Below you will find a brief description of each room along with the current rates. All rates are based strictly on double occupancy, with the exception of The Caretaker's Cottage, which sleeps up to 4. All rooms include a continental breakfast and a historical tour of the home. There will be an 11% tax added to the total cost of all overnight stays.

Guest room on the 1st floor of the home:

We have one overnight guest room on the 1st floor of the home: The General David Bradford Suite has one large bedroom with a four-poster full size bed and a private sitting room. Two verandahs adjoin the suite. This room has a private bath with a shower.         $230.00 per night

Guest Rooms located upstairs in the main house:

The Judge Clarke Woodruff Suite is the only room with access to the foyer and main staircase at the close of the day. It has a large bedroom with a sitting area and a four-poster queen size bed. This room has a private bath with a tub.    $230.00 per night

The Fannie Williams Room has a full size bed, private bath with a shower that is located in the hallway just a few steps away from the room.  $175.00 per night

The Ruffin-Stirling Room has a large four-poster queen size bed, private bath with a shower also located a few steps away from the room, in the hallway.   $175.00 per night

The William Winters Room has a four-poster queen size bed and private bath with a tub in the room.     $200.00 per night

The John W. Leake Room has a four-poster full size bed and a private bath with a shower in the room.  $200.00 per night

Guest Rooms located on the grounds:

The Caretaker's Cottage is a rustic cottage with a queen size bed, a set of bunk beds and private bath with a shower. It has a fenced yard, a front porch and is located behind The General Bradford House.           $250.00 per night

The Azalea, Camellia, Magnolia, and Oleander Garden Rooms each has a queen size bed and a private bath with an antique clawfoot tub.    $115.00 per night

 

  • Rates are current as of October 5, 2010 but are subject to change without notice. Please visit the Myrtles Plantation web site for current information.

 

Direct download: AMMN_AAHHITS10__003_10_3_10.mp3
Category:AAH -- posted at: 12:00am CDT
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