Sunday, June 20, 2010
Betty Fox on the closing of the Mother-in-Law Lounge
Posted by Kevin Allman on Sun, Jun 20, 2010 at 8:54 PM
This afternoon, we spoke to Betty Fox, the daughter of Antoinette K-Doe, who has been keeping the family's Mother-in-Law Lounge open for a year and a half since her mother passed away unexpectedly on Mardi Gras 2009. Betty sounded exhausted down to her soul.
"I really have to do this. It's actually overwhelming," she said. "Everybody has a certain niche for something. My mama's niche was this place, but it's not mine. It's just not mine. I been doing this a year and a half and I'm just tired."
Regarding the sale of the bar's contents, Betty said she was keeping the family's personal mementos (including the famous K-Doe mannequin, the costumes, and the photos), but would be selling the fixtures at a garage sale/silent auction on July 10. "I'm going to sell the tubs in the yard, and some of the household stuff, but I'm keeping the family things. I want to maybe open a museum in a year or so.
"Right now I need to find a house," she said. "I been sleeping on a couch in the bar for a year and a half. People don't know that. Upstairs, there's no electricity or water, there's mold, and the termites have eaten up everything, it's not livable ... people don't know the half of it. I want to get me a house.
"I have to do this," she said, "for my own sanity."
The garage sale/silent auction begins at 10 a.m. on Sat. July 10 at the Mother-in-Law.
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Comments (10)
Showing 1-10 of 10
I'll have some great memories of the Mother-In-Law Lounge. Wild shows, lots of sweaty dancing, my 30th birthday party, one of our potluck dinners...and man, those red beans. Thank you.
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Very sad to hear. New Orleans has plenty of bars, but very few establishments like the Mother-In-Law. Thanks to Betty for keeping it up as long as she did.
The Lounge was a one-of-a-kind institution, and had a great, long run. Wishing you happiness and good fortune, Betty. Thank you for everything.
Can the bar be a part of the silent auction? Never been there but I've heard about it over the years. Just something else that ain't dere' no mo'.
Sorry to hear this as my partner, Mary Lou, and I loved seeing Antoinette and family there. I believe K-Doe winked at me from his chair time to time, after all, he was "King of the World". Best wishes to the family.
Its OK K DOE Gotta do what ya gotta do No matter how many showers you take the FUNKs gonna stick ;) We all wish you the Best... Thank you for keepin it going for the last year Peace In The Neighborhood
Some of my best memories are of the Mother-in-Law, especially Ernie and Antoinette, upon hearing that a friend had been court-ordered to attend AA meetings, offering to hold the meetings there. In the bar. And Ernie performing with Johnny Rico, "that young man who sounds so much like Elvis Presley."
Honey, you've got to take care of yourself, and your sweet mama wouldn't want it any other way. Wonderful memories...dancing with my hubby who was then just a boyfriend. Then later bringing our little boy there to everyone. Best wishes on your next path. Love, the Kardon-Smith Family of NC.
I'm happy to know she's going to keep the photos. My pic of K-Doe from Jazz Fest 2001 is still on the wall in the Lounge (you can see it on my web site if you scroll down the main page). If you were quick enough, you spotted it in the May 9th episode of "Treme." Was supposedly lost in the storm, but obviously it survived. It would be nice to see it in a K-Doe museum some day. Best of luck and lots of love to Betty.
