[Dixielandjazz] Roosevely Hotel N.O. lives again

[macjazz]

Al Belleto's chart of Mountain Greenery has got to be one of the all time 
goats! (If my memory serves.)

Mart

Martin D. McKay, Designated Listener

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Don Ingle" <cornet at 1010internet.com>
To: "Martin D. McKay" <macjazz at comcast.net>
Cc: "Dixieland Jazz Mailing List" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 17, 2010 3:05 PM
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Roosevely Hotel N.O. lives again


>I was working with Ted Weems in 1954 and we had a one-month stay at the 
>N.O. Roosevelt Hotel in November. After months of one-nighters, it was a 
>chance to get clean laundry, decent sit down dinners without having to rush 
>to load up for the next gig 200 or more miles away. It was especially good 
>news for me because I called my bride-to-be Jean and told her to get her 
>lovely ass down to N.O so we could get spliced.  She did and we were 
>married Christ Episcopal Church on Canal Steet across from the Vieux Carre' 
>with Ted Weems as proxy father of the bride and the whole band as wedding 
>party. Good N.O. gumbo sticks - we celebrated 54 years of wedded bliss this 
>past November.
> Ordinarily Leon Keller led the house band in the Blue Room, but would be 
> off when traveling engagements  were booked in.
>
> Well, GOOD NEWS! The Roosevelt, after decades of being a chain hotel under 
> another name and getting to be a frazzled old lady with a shop worn look, 
> was bought by a new group, and is again the Roosevelt Hotel, with a 
> refurbished Blue Room that will again feature live music, touring bands 
> and  a well restored interior and rooms.
>
> We had planned to go down to N.O. to celebrate our 50th, but the Katrina's 
> storm hit the area and put a stop to those plans. We hope to make it down 
> one year soon while breath and $$ last, but we hope that this venture is a 
> big success.
>
> As to those radio broadcasts from there, they were all that kept us awake 
> on late night drives from one-nighter to one-nighters. (The sun has riz 
> and the sun has set - and we ain't out of Texas yet!) That big watt 
> station could be heard in north Michigan as well as Denver and L.A. They 
> also broadcast live sets of the Al Belleto (sp?) sextet,with some lovely 
> charts and fine players.
>
> So, mentions of the Roosevelt were most welcome - brought many memories of 
> happier days for working bands - I thought some might like to know that 
> the Grand Old Lady of Canal Street is  back and looking younger and pert 
> for her years.
>
> Don Ingle
>
>
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