I have a number of vintage slides of New Orleans (aka "The Big Squeaky"), which was built after Walt Disney thought up New Orleans Square (needs verification). I've never made it down to Louisiana - I declined an opportunity to go to New Orleans for Mardis Gras because... well, because of Mardi Gras. But it's still a fascinating and unique part of the U.S.
Here's a nice look along Canal Street from November 1961, at the Baronne Street intersection, looking northwest. Photos of almost any city or town look so vital and prosperous, let's go to Kress for some loafers, and then to McCrorys for... whatever they sold. Up the street is the Saenger Theater, and further up, the Texaco Building.
Here's a screen grab from Google Maps, the city looks a little less energetic, though it might just be the gray skies.
Next is this neat shot of one of the streetcars in the city, which has the oldest continuously operating street railway system in the world. There were steam locomotives dating back to 1835 (as the vampires surely remember), with the switch to electric trams in 1895. Obviously there have been many changes and upgrades over the years. There are currently five operating streetcar lines in New Orleans: The St. Charles Avenue Line, the Loyola-Riverfront Line, the Canal Street Line (which has two branches), and the Rampart-Loyola Line.
I hope you have enjoyed your visit to The Big Squeaky!
Major-
ReplyDeleteMcCroy's was a five and dime store. The Saenger Theatre opened in 1927 and was the flagship of several Saenger theatres throughout the South - the New Orleans theatre being the largest of them all, seating 3,400 contained within an atmospheric auditorium. It continues operating today as a performing arts venue, now seating 2,736. LOOK HERE.
Thanks, Major.
We had McCrorys stores in San Diego … the Mission Valley Center location had two levels … on the level was the coffee shop & restaurant … it had stairs leading to it with planters and a glass atrium above … even when I was very young I knew it was very 1960’s . The lower level was where the toys were . They had a pretty extensive model railroad selection with lots of supplies , accessories and kits … almost as complete as a model railroad shop … a much bigger selection than Woolworths . But at the time it was very very popular .
ReplyDeleteThe first time I went to New Orleans I was astonished at the amount of shoe stores there were. Sometimes on the same block multiple locations of the same store ( like a Starbucks )
Haha! Let us count the hours to see how long it takes for the New Orleans Wikipedia entry to be updated to reflect Major's latest revelations regarding Walt Disney and "The Big Squeaky".
ReplyDelete1) We should also stop at "Allens Smart Shoes" and check out the latest 5G styles. We might even see Maxwell Smart (agent 86) there if we're lucky!
2) The screen grab definitely shows that the area has lost a lot of its character. The variety of signage in the first picture gives the eye a lot more to look at.
3) It's nice to see an old-style streetcar still in service. (This looks like the 1970s).There's a guy standing on the hood of the car on the left... WHY!!!
Nanook, thanks for the link to that photo. I love when a theater makes its inside look like its outside! Always seems so magical.
I don't think I've ever seen images of New Orleans showing the regular, modern part of town. We usually see the familiar French Quarter. Thanks for the trip Down South, Major.
I think Iger should tear down Disneyland's New Orleans Square, and build a recreation of these streets in it's place. They could even have a working streetcar attraction like the one in the second pic, and then they could close it down permanently in 12 years.
ReplyDeleteLike JB, I don't think I've seen pics of any other streets of New Orleans, outside the French Quarter.
Thanks, Major!
Lots of interesting little details in the first picture. There’s a streetcar in the center left distance. The Canal Street line will be shut down and replaced by buses in less than three years, only to be rebuilt in 2004. There’s an “out of town” mailbox at the extreme left; I guess that means there were small pockets of unincorporated land surrounded by the city. Directly above it is a sign announcing street cleaning hours. To the left of that is a sign saying you can only run, crawl, or stand still.
ReplyDeleteThe second photo shows an interesting juxtaposition of modes of public transportation. Streetcar 930 caught fire while in operation at some point but was restored to operating condition before 1970. You can see more photos of 930 HERE (although none showing fire damage). The streetcar is followed by a GM New Look transit bus, although there’s not enough information to tell which model. Read more about New Orleans’ New Look buses HERE.
Thanks, Major, for the side trip to the Big Squeaky!
The big squeaky. Sounds very "Mousical the Musical." other-wise known by the Broadway title "SQUEAK!" This particular New Orleans is a different one than what we think of as New Orleans: it could be Philly or another city... not that it's bad, it's just not the same as what lies a very short distance away. I do think everyone should see the "real" French Quarter at least once in their life. It is a place like no other in the US...save for a small slice of Disneyland. I was sent to do reparation after the hurricane, and will also say that it's something that everyone should all be a part of...and makes you very grateful. The citizens of NOLO were very happy and appreciative that we were there, and even months and months and months later: it was still a devastating sight. Mardi Gras: well....that has a certain audience that is not me. A quiet stroll at night in "The Quarters" will take you back a few hundred years. Stay off Bourbon St. If you take a little "street tour" via Google maps, you will see a few different kinds of street cars in this neighborhood. I'm glad they didn't pull an "LA" and dump them. They do give the city charm, and perhaps not as charming as these vintage photos, but still charming nonetheless. Go to New Orleans and see for yourself. Thanks Major!
ReplyDeleteIndeed, New Orleans might have more nicknames than most cities. I have a record called Crescent City at Midnight, which is fairly cool.
ReplyDeleteAgreeing with Bu here, the French Quarter is unlike any other place on earth, utterly unique. And stay off Bourbon Street, except to cross on the way to another street.
We rode one of the streetcar lines out to the end through the beautiful Garden District, where instead of turning around like San Francisco streetcars, all the seats somehow magically reverse and the train starts off in reverse, except now it’s forward. Hard to explain, go there and see it.
And the food, oh my goodness the food. Do not miss Commanders Palace, that is all.
Thanks Major, for the trip to NOLA, lots o good memories here.
JG
Nanook, I want to go to McCrory’s and see what I could get for a dime in 1961. The Saenger Theatre has been on this blog before, take a look HERE.
ReplyDeleteMike Cozart, interesting, there were so many Nation-wide stores that are mostly-forgotten today. Wow, I’d sure love to see a toy store from the 1960s! Just think of the incredible treasures. What’s the deal with New Orleans and shoe stores (as Seinfeld would say)??
JB, I’ve been thinking that I should be a Wikipedia contributor, I could certainly improve many articles with my deep knowledge. It’s shocking how bland and soulless the “today” photo looks, but this is typical of “then and now” comparisons. 50 or 60 years ago, towns were so lively, and now they’ve completely lost all the charm they used to have. Hey, yeah, look at that guy on the hood of his car! I guess that’s how they do things in the Big Squeaky.
TokyoMagic!, you have some exciting ideas, I will pass them along to Bob Iger and claim them as my own! “Say, Bobby, I had a brain storm last night!”. “No kiddin’?”.
Chuck, ha, I did not notice the streetcar in the distance in that first photo. For my closer photo of the streetcar, I said that NO had “the oldest continuously operating street railway system in the world”, but it was actually shut down in 1964 and then rebuilt in 2004? So much for “continuously”. I love the “Out Of Town” detail you pointed out! Listen, I had nothing to do with Streetcar 930 catching fire, even if I did have a can of gasoline and a cigar. I’m innocent! Interesting that there is a whole website dedicated to each of the streetcars. And the buses! Thanks Chuck.
Bu, imagine a Broadway musical that was just constant atonal squeaking! Even though the city scenes are not as unique as views of the French Quarter, I do still think that New Orleans has a character all its own. Maybe it’s the streetcars running along Canal Street? As I said in my post, I had a chance to go to NO, but did not want to see it during Mardi Gras, so I passed. I only regret it because I’ve lost touch with the girl who invited me, and she was really fun and cool. But it was years and years ago. I’m OK with touristy stuff up to a point, and then I feel like a rube (like when walking through Times Square). Having those streetcars back in action must have been a great thing for the city, I’ll bet the locals love them.
JG, actually NO is known as the Pillsbury Croissant City, but the confusion is understandable. Have you ever wrapped hotdogs in their croissant dough? Manna from heaven! Wait, the seats in the streetcar turn around? WHU? Now that I’d like to see. Commanders Palace, it sounds like they have those hotdogs in the croissant dough that I mentioned.
I desire the name of the streetcar.
ReplyDeleteMajor, sorry - I guess I wasn’t clear in my comment. The Canal Street line shut down for 40 years, but the St Charles Avenue line has been in continuous operation since service started on the line except for a few months after Hurricane Katrina.
ReplyDeleteJG, fortunately, Pat O’Brien’s has a side entrance off St Peter Street so you can avoid walking on Bourbon…and it’s right next to Preservation Hall.
Chuck, good point. One good reason for walking at least a short distance on Bourbon Street is to have a meal at Galatoire's. If you aren't wearing a jacket and tie, they will provide them to you temporarily from their lending library of men's haberdashery.
ReplyDeleteBTW typing "Why does Bourbon Street..." into Google search bar produces a very interesting series of auto-completes.
Major, the seats don't move, but somehow the seat backs shift from back to front, so you sit down facing the opposite direction, which then becomes "forward". They don't shift automatically, the passengers have to do it, on the orders of the operator.
Also, the Garden District is simply beautiful, miles of huge lovely homes, any one of which could be a model for a Haunted Mansion.
And I learned a new nickname for NOLA, thanks! I'm off to the market to get some croissant dough.
JG