Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Memories of the Roosevelt Hotel?
Posted by Kevin Allman on Tue, Jun 16, 2009 at 10:15 PM
Noah Bonaparte Pais' wonderful cover story this week about the rebirth of the Roosevelt Hotel seems to have stirred up a lot of memories for locals (and check out his extended interview with David Cuthbert, who practically grew up there, Eloise-style).
The other night I was in a United Cab and the driver spun me a great story about taking his first formal date to the Roosevelt's Blue Room to see Dean Martin. "It cost $26, which was a fortune for me," he said. "But I thought I was really hot stuff!"
On our Facebook page, Katy Moran shared:
Ah, yes, the Blue Room! Jimmy and I rarely missed a Saturday night there during the '60s. After dinner at Moran's we'd take a pile of friends there to dance to Leon Kelner, later to Dick Stabile, then read about our antics in Tommy Griffin's column the next week. Especially memorable acts were Jerry Vale, Sergio Franchi, Sonny and Cher (we fed them at Moran's when they first began), Tony Martin (always with Cyd)....
I figure some of y'all probably have memories of the Roosevelt, the Blue Room, the Sazerac Bar, the angel-hair lobby -- why not share 'em here? We'd love to read them.
Speaking of...
-
A note to our readers
- Jan 10, 2012
-
Ken Korman joins Gambit as contributing writer
The New Orleans writer will be covering the film/DVD scene for Gambit.
- Dec 29, 2011
- More »
Comments (3)
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My mother, recently deceased, used to tell me stories about the Roosevelt Hotel!...Going backstage to meet Frankie Avalon after her first taste ever of "liquid courage"!
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I remember so well going to the Roosevelt Hotel when I was young because my father, Don Lewis, was the News Reporter for WWL, as well as the announcer for Dawnbusters and MC for Leon Kelner and his Band of Renown, brought to you from the Blue Room of the Roosevelt Hotel. My sisters (Jeanne Lastrapes Elizardi and Donna Lastrapes Davies) and I felt so privileged to go to walk through the lobby (I still remember the carpeting) to go the station, even performing on the Dawnbusters program. We loved going to the Blue Room, pretending we were adults. When I moved to Chicago, I was thrilled to hear that people here had heard of the Roosevelt Hotel in New Orleans because of the broadcasts on 50,000 watt clear channel station, WWL. I'm delighted to hear that it's back, and will return next time I go home. Linda Lastrapes Martin Evanston, Illinois
As my sister Linda wrote, I, too, remember so fondly visiting the Roosevelt Hotel many times. Trips to see our father at WWL radio, and as teenagers, going to a "nightclub" to enjoy the entertainment in the Blue Room. I especially remember the angel hair ceilings at Christmas and Millie, the coat check lady outside the Blue Room. When I moved to Chicago, I was thrilled to be able to hear Daddy on the Blue Room broadcasts on Sunday night in the car. My husband's parents spent their honeymoon in New Orleans in 1940 and stayed at the Roosevelt Hotel. I can't wait to see it next time I'm in New Orleans. Donna Lastrapes Davies Evanston, Illinois
