Monday at Morning Call

Need that jolt of joe to get your morning going? If you were in New Orleans circa July 1960 (that’s almost 63 years ago for those of you who don't have a calculator), you would probably be at Morning Call, which was New Orleans’ Most Famous Coffee Drinking Place. Or so says the slogan. Forget the coffee, I’m more interested in the vintage T-Bird!



Just as an FYI, Morning Call is not the same as Café du Monde, which is in the same area but about a block away. If you look on the left of this shot, you can see Morning Call in the background.



And it looks like both places are still in biz. I’m not a huge coffee guy, so I typically go to du Monde for the beignets.



See more New Orleans photos at my main website.

Watercolor in Jackson Square

This vintage October 1958 image just screamed at me when I saw it…in a good way. The dapper watercolor artist in New Orleans' Jackson Square is painting a dignified lady in a navy blue dress and pearls. She was snapped mid-conversation; I am sure the artist was charming her with his Van Dyke-esque beard.

A closeup of his work:



I wonder if the sketch at right is a self-portrait?



Today, you can still find street artists in Jackson Square, although they do not seem to have the appeal of our 1958 subject.



More Jackson Square in New Orleans photos on my main website

Vintage Mardi Gras, Pt. 2

More vintage New Orleans Mardi Gras photos (on the actual day that Mardi Gras is celebrated), beginning with three 1946 shots.

I'm not quite sure what this "hobo" has on his "Chicken Inspector" sign, but it might be part of a fraternity gag.



This sheik gives Rudolph Valentino a run for his money; his harem girls are very lovely!



This is why I have no desire to go to Mardi Gras. Wall-to-wall people. Get me a balcony, please!



How about these creative signs? "Alcoholics Unanimous," "Don't Laugh - Your Kid May Be Up Here!" and "Danger! Hangovers Under Construction."



In the float seen in this shot, The Prisoners of Love are wearing prison garb. Rubenstein's Department Store, visible in the background, is still in business and has been since 1924.



How are you celebrating Mardi Gras today?

See more vintage & current New Orleans photos from my collection on my New Orleans web pages.

Traveling Thursdays: Vintage New Orleans, Pt. 2

Welcome to the "Jazz Corner of the South," Jazz, Ltd., conveniently located on Bourbon Street.

Va-va-voom! Who the heck is Sheeba? I have a feeling our photographer has moved to a different club than Jazz, Ltd. to capture this particular shot.



Perhaps Chez Paree? All I know is I wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of Candie Barr, aka The Texas Terror!



Back to some less "seamy" view of New Orleans:



A little alley with an artist, attempting to capture the flavor of New Orleans with her brush and paper:



Here's a closeup of her painting; wonder what happened to it?



How about a nice cup of java at the world famous Café du Monde? I'm not much of a coffee person, but a beignet sounds like heaven right now.



These two are in hog heaven, completely unaware of the photographer capturing their gluttony for all to see some 50 years later.



See more vintage and contemporary New Orleans photos at my main website.

Traveling Thursdays: Vintage New Orleans, Pt. 1

New Orleans Square is pretty much my favorite section of Disneyland, so it's not surprising that I also love the real thing. These vintage shots from October 1960 are a great assortment that showcase this beautifully decadent city. In the first image, you can see Fernandez's Wine Cellar, located in the ground floor of the Pontalba Apartment building, located across the street from the famous Cafe Du Monde Coffee Stand, which was also owned by the Fernandez family. Hubert Fernandez bought the Coffee Stand in May 1942 from Fred Koeniger. In 1972, The Fernandez family closed the Wine Cellar in order to devote their energies to the Cafe Du Monde. The Wine Cellar appears to be getting a delivery from The Magnolia Liquor Co., which apparently is still in business. And as if that weren't enough for one photo, how about all those cool vintage autos?

A view of The Cathedral-Basilica of St. Louis in Jackson Square:



I wonder if Walt ever shopped at Ida Brener's? Surely he and Lillian stopped by here at least once!



Two of Antoine's. Boy could I go for a Peach Melba right now!



This photographer and I are on the same page; be sure to cover your shot both horizontally & vertically!



See more vintage and contemporary New Orleans photos at my main website.