Quote of the Week (Quarter if you are paying attention): “I was station manager too…in 1998”
Blogosphere Brings Bulletin Back: Vincent and I have been experimenting in the Blog- World and figured that was ample excuse to bang out a bulletin. Here are some of the highlights to date in “09.
WTUL/New Orleans: I had passed on my 30th Tulane reunion, because I only knew a few classmates who would be likely to return. When my college radio station announced a reunion, I could not resist. TUL was staffed by students from many different class years, and most of us lived a good part of our college career, spinning records, producing newscasts and just hanging out in the basement studios of WTUL.
I alerted Monaghan that we would be descending on Molly’s at the Market and that’s were the reunion got its unofficial start.
Pictured are Maurice Roe (longtime pal and Station Manager ’77, Charles Driebe & Bob Dabney (World of Jazz Hosts ‘75-‘78) and your humble reporter (aka Station Manager ’75-’76).
The current staff was kind enough to turn over the airwaves to a bunch of us from “back in the day,” and I got to host the weekday morning show that I used to alternate with Kathy Fishman. DJ Cupcake helped me keep the show on the air and right-side up as we did the 8am-10am show on Friday morning. It was around 9:45 on one of those Friday morning shows back in 1975, that I picked up the request line and got a job offer from WQUE-FM, a commercial rock station. I asked only one question, “Are you going to pay me?”
About three months after I was hired at WQUE- I finally got the guts to ask them, “Why did you pick me?” Easy they said, “We liked the music you played.” You will understand a lot about the radio business when you know that they had hired me to host the morning show on an automated radio station…where of course I had no say in any of the music that was played.
It was during the get together at Molly’s that a classmate was talking how it had been ten long years since she was in charge at WTUL…and then she uttered the above mentioned Quote of the Week. Upon hearing those words, Dabney and I did our calculations…let’s see she was in charge in 98 and that was ten years ago. Then, we were in charge in ‘75 …damn! That was 34 years ago.
Jude Acers Rematch: No return to New Orleans is now complete with out a brief duel with Jude at the chess table. Broome is always kind enough to give me a couple warm up games, and then it is just me versus the Decatur street chess master. I played well enough on day one that I almost managed to take a game. As my reward, Jude suggested I return for another round before my departure. He then dispatched me with added gusto, just so the first day’s effort did not go too far to my head.
New Orleans Pal Updates: Thanks to Brobson and Ken for use of their slave quarter and a great dinner at a sibling of the old G&E Courtyard Grill which just opened in Metairie. To Brian Fitzgerald who hosted a wonderful welcome home party, complete with wait staff where New Orleans jetsetters like Ron Swoboda and “Country Kate” Caraway were in attendance. To Carlton who treated me to a fine dinner at the new Besh restaurant called August. Carlton is working at another local restaurant and doing well. To Keith who brought me up to Magazine Street for oysters. Kit and Billy welcomed me for a surprise breakfast at their place; the surprise was on them, that I was coming. Kit rewarded Dabney and me with signed copies of her latest book, New Orleans Classics Gumbos and Soups. Also can report good times were had with Jeff McNeilly, Broome and Ashley, the unstoppable Peggy, Jim Jr & Alana and the entire staff at Molly’s and of course Viezer who passed along his usually unbeatable horse picks (rumor has it a local former newsman may have bested him this time around).
Street Hockey Survivors: The Longman clan once again returned to Long Island for the annual street hockey clash. Nephew Nick donned a jersey and took to the rink for the first time, along with Vincent’s brother-in-law Jonathan. Both provided much needed fresh legs and kept the Longman’s ahead of the competition for another year. As always wounds and goals were celebrated at Christiano’s…home of Billy Joel and LI’s best pizza.
Steve Ross and NY Culterwatch: Swoboda was once again in attendance as dad hosted us to night of Steve Ross at the Algonquin—which is about the best place to enjoy New York’s finest cabaret performer. Steve was great and we have also been catching his appearances at the fine performing arts theater at the Metropolitan Museum. Other recent cultural highlights have included Guys and Dolls on Broadway and the “Great” and I caught the Modest Mouse concert at Terminal Five which is one of Manhattan’s best venues for catching bigger name acts in a smaller setting.
Current Reading: I heartily recommend Clive Stafford Smith’s Eight O’Clock Ferry to the Windward Side which tells the story of our nation’s unfortunate torture policy from one of the few lawyers who was regularly inside Gitmo. I know Clive from his days defending death penalty cases in Louisiana and he is both a terrific lawyer and compelling writing. Better late than never, I also suggest Rise of the Vulcans which explains Bush policy through major forces in the lives of key policymakers, and how those experiences motivated their decision. Both are now cheap reads in paperback.
Wow! You sure did a lot while you were in N.O.!! Congratulations! Tell us...how did you manage to get around to all of those places? Phew. Did you rent a car? And how about getting to the airport? How DID you manage ALL OF THAT?????
ReplyDeleteLet's just say it pays to have old friends...
ReplyDeleteand even better is they are still allowed to drive in Louisiana.