Can you tell me what Lu and Charlie's is?

A Reader

Photo by Jason Jones/UNO

Ellis Marsalis (pictured) and Milt Hinton helped found the nonprofit Lu and Charlie's Preservation Society, which seeks to preserve African-American history and culture through lectures, workshops, forums and concerts.

Dear Reader,

Lu and Charlie's Preservation Society is a nonprofit organization. It was named for the famous New Orleans jazz club and restaurant. The society was inspired by Milt Hinton and Ellis Marsalis and was founded in 1998 to "document, preserve, and promote the legacy of African Americans." They want to teach African-American history and culture, and to that end, they offer lectures, workshops, forums and concert tours.

Lu and Charlie's was located at 1101 N. Rampart St., in a building that was first known as the Dupaquier House, named for its original owner, Dr. A. Dupaquier, who built the residence in 1879. In the 20th century, the building housed a number of restaurants and night clubs. In the 1970s, it became Lu and Charlie's, a focal point for modern jazz in New Orleans. Owned by Charlie Bering, this amazing place saw the likes of Ellis Marsalis, James Booker, Alvin Baptiste and Lady B.J. Even though he was still in his teens, Wynton Marsalis played there. It was a sad day when the club closed in 1978.

Here are a few of the many words of praise about the jazz club:

"Lu and Charlie's was a welcoming kind of place where a lot of musicians went to evolve their techniques and talents. A lot of giants have sprouted up there." -- Henry Butler

"Having a place like Lu and Charlie's to work allowed me to learn." -- Ellis Marsalis

"Lu and Charlie's was the bastion of local modern jazz in New Orleans, setting a precedent that later would be followed by night clubs such as Rosie's and Snug Harbor. Artists such as Ellis Marsalis, Henry Butler, James Black, and James Carroll Booker performed there, attracted not only by the prospect of a place that permitted musical expression but also by the special ambience. ... It was a welcoming place. Lu and Charlie's benefited from an esprit de corps which helped sustain and nurture modern jazz in New Orleans at a crucial stage in its development. It was the life line that made the future possible." -- Bruce Raeburn, Curator, Tulane Jazz Archive

"It was the Preservation Hall of contemporary jazz." -- Quint Davis, executive director New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival

Hey Blake,

I have about 30 Louisiana public welfare tokens given to me by my grandfather. Are they worth anything?

Jerry

Dear Jerry,

Well, Jerry, something like that is worth what someone will pay for it. I've seen these tax tokens for sale on eBay for a starting bid of $4.99.

The state of Louisiana began issuing tax tokens -- 1 mil and 5 mil -- in conjunction with the Luxury Tax Act of 1936. A tax of 2 percent was placed on selected items, but there were many exemptions. The theory was to tax items that were considered luxuries but exempt those deemed necessities. Well, let me tell you, this drove folks crazy because items like bread in loaf form and tomato juice in bottles were not taxed. However, bread in bun form and tomato juice in cans were considered luxuries. We were not shocked to know that nightclubs in Louisiana were not taxed.

Needless to say, the tax was very unpopular. People hated carrying around all of the little coins, and many people just tossed them in the street when they got them in change. Waitresses complained when they got them for tips.

When on Jan. 1, 1938, the sales tax rate was lowered to 1 percent, a new tax token was issued -- the Public Welfare tax token. The proceeds from this tax were dedicated to public welfare and the state hospital board.

About 70 million tax tokens eventually were made. When the system was abandoned in December 1940, folks could redeem them for cash, but only 27 percent of the tokens were ever cashed in.

The 30 tokens you own might be worth something to collectors, since folks collect just about everything.