Derby Gisclair

We'll be looking for you at the next Third Thursday Lecture on Thursday, August 14, 2025, at 7:00pm at the East Bank Regional Library. Our speaker will be noted historian and author Edward Branley. We hope to see you there!

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Not long after Lind’s visit, the Baroness Pontalba returned to Paris with two of her sons, Alfred and Gaston, where she remained in her mansion on the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré for the rest of her life.

Over the next thirty days, Lind performed numerous concerts, the first of which took place at the St. Charles Theatre on February 10, 1851. Tickets were $5.00 for first and second tiers and orchestra seats, $3.00 for the pit, and $2.00 for the gallery. (continued)

The Baroness had only returned to New Orleans in 1848 after which she began construction for the Pontalba buildings. Designed with Paris’ noted Place des Vosges in mind, the buildings were completed at a cost of $300,000 (approximately $10.3 million today). (continued)

... unnoticed by the crowd. There she was to be the guest of Micaela Almonaster, Baroness Pontalba, at her home in Number Five of the Pontalba buildings. She made a grand entrance on the second floor balcony shortly after her arrival and everyone enjoyed a hearty laugh. (continued)

... it conveyed her to the Pontalba buildings. This, however, proved to be one of Barnum’s frequent mischievous tricks, as the lady he escorted was not Lind, but his wife. Several minutes later, Lind arrived at the Pontalba building’s rear entrance in a rather dingy looking hack, ... (continued)

Internationally known opera singer Jenny Lind, “the Swedish Nightingale,” visited New Orleans in 1851. Her arrival by boat with showman P.T. Barnum on February 7, 1851, was met by large and enthusiastic crowds who trailed behind her carriage as ... (continued)

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"Most people play a fair game of golf… if you watch them."
~ Joey Adams

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There is a second image in the collection which is labeled “St. Charle Street Fire Towers” which only further makes me believe that this is Carondelet Street, not Canal Street.

... St. Charles Street and shows a teamster moving toward the photographer. On the left side of the image is a steel structure which I posit is the base of one of the moontowers that were installed up Carondelet Street, not St. Charles. (continued)

From a bound volume of photographs from the Yale University Library from an unidentified amateur photographer depicting a trip made to Texas, Louisiana, and California from January to March 1893. The handwritten entry identifies this as ... (continued)

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... Royal Street/St. Charles Avenue where the statue of Henry Clay presided in the neutral ground.

... 1858 business directory, he later relocated to 103 – 105 Canal Street (later renumbered 615 – 617 Canal Street) which would place this at the intersection of Exchange Place. To the left out of the picture would be the major roundabout at ... (continued)

While we are certain that the photograph was taken on Canal Street, let’s try to pinpoint exactly which corner is involved. The key is Maurice Scooler’s jewelry store in the right background. While his business was established in 1842 and was listed at 154 Old Levee Street in the ... (continued)

... converted on September 15, 1894, this provides some indication for the probable date of this photograph. The Prytania line ceased operation on October 1, 1932. This would be an early example of Franck’s photography as he did not open his commercial studio until 1905. (continued)

The New Orleans City Railroad began operation of Prytania line began in 1861 from downtown through the Garden District all the way to Audubon Park. In that streetcars began the process of converting from animal power to electric power in 1893 and that the Prytania line was fully ... (continued)

From the archives of the Historic New Orleans Collection, we have this undated photograph from Charles Franck of the horse-drawn Prytania streetcar, car number 65. There is also a sign on the very top of the car that reads Audubon Park. (continued)

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A juvenile White Ibis foraging for breakfast.

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"Next up is Fernando Gonzales, who is not playing tonight."
~ Jerry Coleman

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... was at home mingling with mobsters and movie stars among his patrons. In 1954, Diamond Jim took over the historic La Louisiane Restaurant at 725 Iberville Street, renaming it Moran’s La Louisiane.

...wasn’t just marketing — it was a reflection of his over-the-top hospitality, diamond-studded décor, and Italian specialties, especially his wife Mary’s legendary meatballs. Born James Brocato, Moran was a boxer, barber, restaurateur, and occasional bodyguard to Huey P. Long, and ... (continued)

Located at 809 St. Louis Street, Diamond Jim Moran’s guest book read like a Who’s Who of celebrities who would flock to his establishment to enjoy “Food for Kings” and perhaps trip the light fantastic at the Elbow Room. The tagline “Food for Kings”... (continued)

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... another of his favorite institutions. For his civil contributions, Newman was awarded the Times-Picayune Loving Cup in 1903, only the second person to be so honored. Newman died after a lengthy period of ill health on November 30, 1909, at his home on St. Charles and Foucher Streets.

... American City Railway and Light Company. An active philanthropist, Newman donated the funds to establish a school, originally to educate the children from the Jewish Children's Home, another of his charities. The Uptown school still bears his name. Touro Infirmary was ... (continued)

... later sold to establish a mercantile business he called Maison Blanche. But his fascination with street rail did not diminish and he eventually pulled together street rail system in New Orleans, Nashville, Birmingham, Memphis, Little Rock, and Houston under the umbrella of the ... (continued)

... money lending. During the Civil War, he and his brothers established a bank at 27 Camp Street. He would later move his operations to 26 Carondelet Street in 1876. In the ensuing years, Newman branched out into a variety of businesses. He bought the Carrolton Railroad, which he ... (continued)

Born Isidore Neumond in Kaiserlautern, Rhenish Bavaria in 1837, the family changed their name to Newman before Isidore Newman came to New Orleans in 1853 as a penniless 17-year old. He started working as a bookkeeper, but was soon engaged in ... (continued)

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He should melt right in.

These laggards LEOs need body armor to arrest a pregnant woman. How brave of this squad of manly men.

A great vantage point for fish spotting.

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