Old Louisiana's Governors Mansion

Old Governors Mansion

Foundation for Historical Louisiana's Old Governors Mansion Page
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This fall ('09), I toured the mansion upstairs for the first time and I was surprised by all of the tales the guide told of the Governors families who lived in the house and all of the memorabilia and personal property of the past Louisiana Governors to resided there.

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Movie Houses

The normal dating night was Saturday, and the usual method of dating was the double-date. There would be a movie, at the Rex on Plank Road (now a furniture store), or the Hart or Paramount* downtown. There were other movie houses around, but they lacked the class of these movie houses. There was the Istrouma on Scenic Highway, the Avenue on Weller Avenue, the Tivoli on Main Street, the Louisiana on Third Street, and the Regina on Plank. All have vanished except the Regina, where once we attended Saturday matinées to watch cowboy movies, now turned into a skin flick palace. [excerpt from "The Dawn of Cool" Here, by Smiley Anders] *Formerly, the Columbia Theater.

Thanks to Smiley, I've learned of three theaters I never knew existed - the Istrouma, the Avenue, and the Tivoli. Thanks Smiley!

I only learned about the Louisiana this year ('09). There was the Robert E. Lee Theatre too.

From a reader regarding one I missed:

Saw your info on Baton Rouge theaters and saw the old Ogden Park Theater on Government Street was missing. It was a block east of BRHS, on the north side of Government Street (3021), across from the west wing of buildings in Westmoreland Shopping Center [where Radio Shack still is]. The center where it was located is still there. It was operating until sometime in the early 60’s. Had a 3 for 1 special on Saturdays of bad science fiction movies . Parents dropped you off at 10 and you didn’t have to be picked up until 3!!!! [parents loved it!] -Cliff Lee

"The Grand Theater stands out as the only remaining black theater in the Baton Rouge area. Dating from the early 1890s, the Grand operated as a "Negro opera house and dance hall", and later as a movie theater. Through the years, famous black entertainers performed there. The City is hoping to rehabilitate the Grand Theater by turning it into a jazz museum
entertainment center." Source (Data subject to change over time.)

The Louisiana Movie Theater

 The building now has two address's, 336 Third St. is one. 
The Building has the year 1913 on it above the upstairs windows.

There used to be a ticket booth and wide bay entrances on both sides.

 Up these stairs to a movie screen of long ago.
Stairs, between Louisiana Theater and the former Latil's stationery, leading up to a 
movie screen of the Louisiana Theater.

Louisiana Theater welcome sign
atop stairs in above photo.

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The Port Allen - Baton Rouge Ferry on the Mississippi

BATON ROUGE - PORT ALLEN FERRY

BOAT NAME:  THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE

"Copyright David Meare Oldham England, 1965.  All Rights Reserved."

1965 Photo, used by permission.

Name: CITY OF BATON ROUGE

    Type: Size: approx. 250'

    Launched: 1870s?

    Area: Miss R.

    Owner: Anchor Line

    Captain and pilots: Capt. Bixby, Horace; Richie, George, pilot.

 http://www.riverboatdaves.com/riverboats/c-1-5.html#CBATO

Historical Marker at Port Allen Landing Site of Old Ferry

Marker reads:

OLD FERRY LANDING

Port Allen - Baton Rouge Site

1820 - 1968

Horses and wagons first used the ferry, the gradually giving way to cars and trucks. Pedestrian traffic was always an important part of the ferry service. At one time all east - west traffic traveling on U. S. 190 crossed the Mississippi River at this site. [end]

The Baton Rouge ferry was a two boat operation; the ferry cease operation in 1969 when, and because, the new Mississippi River bridge opened.

Baton Rouge Ferry -1938 [by Fonville Winans, a Southern U. Photo]

Another photo [on Weblo.com]

 Levee Steps

Here is some old, well built, steps leading up just about where the ferry landing was, the steps may have been made just for ferry access. I was born in Baton Rouge 60 years ago and these steps have always been here. The date of construction is probably sometime in the 1930's.

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