MUSIC MUSEUM
Just want you [Jan Ramsey] to know your article is spot on! [Mojo Mouth: Are we missing a great opportunity? March 2015, wherein she advocates a music museum in New Orleans as part of the redevelopment of the World Trade Center building.]
—Paul Ballard, New Orleans, Louisiana
SMOKING BAN
I really enjoyed being in town for Mardi Gras, and your magazine [OffBeat] was a big help. Only unhappy part was the smoking in bars and clubs, and I noticed the discussion of it in your [Jan Ramsey] “Mojo Mouth” piece, particularly the line about statistics from other cities showing that smoking bans hurt business. That hasn’t been the case in New York. Twelve years after a ban was imposed here, after the same dire protests from the nightlife industry and the tobacco lobby, it seems like there are more bars and restaurants than ever, and many of them are packed.
—Chris Smith, New York, New York
BURGLARIZED
I couldn’t help laughing when I read the Letter to the Editor about a burglarized vehicle (OffBeat February 2015) and the pilfered record. Almost the same thing happened to me last year in New Orleans—nothing stolen, but a leather bag from behind my seat of a rental car, containing nothing but a Cajun cookbook and the October issue of OffBeat!
The question remains: who the hell needs to steal OffBeat, as it is free in New Orleans?
—Hans Ewert, Kasbach, Germany
THE BIG BEAT
I went to see The Big Beat: The Story of Fats Domino & His Band up at the Cinema Arts Centre in Huntington, Long Island, on Wednesday.
The movie had a lot of old footage of Fats Domino, Dave Bartholomew and his band, with some great New Orleans music history, videos of New Orleans and various bands and clubs going back to the ’40s and comments from Allen Toussaint and other New Orleans greats!
Afterwards, Joe Lauro from Sag Harbor, New York, who produced the movie, came out and talked about putting it together, and answered questions from the audience.
It brought back a lot of memories from my Alan Freed rock ’n’ roll days and my trips to the shows at the Brooklyn Paramount, where I saw Fats, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Lloyd Price and others.
Really great stuff, I’m sure your readers and fans would enjoy seeing this special movie!
—Julian Esposito, Huntington, New York
ABBEY ROAD COVER
Where was the current issue [March 2015] cover photo taken?
—John Bailey, New Orleans, Louisiana
It was taken on Gallier Street in the Bywater, in front of Alex McMurray’s house, next to Elizabeth’s.—Elsa Hahne
LINE-UP
The Who and Elton John as headliners for this year’s festival? Maybe I am dumb, but can someone explain to me their connection to New Orleans? This looks to me to be the most ridiculous line-up so far.
—Rolf Schubert, Cologne, Germany
DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT MEANS?
You cannot imagine how much this magazine [OffBeat] means to a native who has been residing in New York City for over three decades—seeing your [Jan Ramsey] vibrant red head and reading your column for over 10 years now!
Wish I could be down home for both festivities, Jazz Fest being my favorite. Too much on the plate for now.
Retirement beckons, this year though, and then it’ll be on!
A proud former Tremé resident.
—Robin Dorantes, Bronx, New York
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