French Quarter Festivals, Inc. (FQFI) is outdoing itself in celebration of the 15th annual Satchmo SummerFest, putting on a variety of interesting events to supplement the festival’s musical acts and speakers. Last night, they rang in Louis Armstrong’s big weekend with a special screening at Le Petit Theatre of 1956 film High Society. Set in and around the famed mansions of Newport, Rhode Island and starring Grace Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Celeste Holm, and Armstrong himself, of course, the film centered around an upper class jazz musician (Crosby) trying to thwart his ex-wife’s (Kelly’s) second wedding while hosting a jazz festival on his property.

The film was entertaining, full of music, and unexpectedly goofy. There were a few exciting scenes where Pops showed his chops on screen (and showcased the over-the-top acting style he was so well-known for), but the film could have only been improved by more Satchmo.

In the spirit of the event, attendees dressed to the nines, and the elegant little theater was teeming with seersucker suits and Sunday hats from floor to balcony. Costumed dancers walked around serving champagne and popcorn, and the theater emptied out afterwards into the a live jazz performance by a group of New Orleans all-stars in the adjoining restaurant.

It was a lovely evening, and we’re looking forward to everything else FQFI has to offer this SatchmoFest!

David Torkanowsky, Stanton Moore, Calvin Turner and Eric Bloom were performing at Tableau after the screening