January 2023

Hello again, my CLDA and Industry colleagues,  

We are in the home stretch of this year’s CLDA Final Mile Forum. With only 4 weeks to go until we gather at the Hyatt Regency in New Orleans, you should be getting fired up – a blazing fire (probably a bad pun and segue into today’s CRESCENT CITY CULTURE, as you will learn). However, if you HAVE NOT registered yet, remember that it will be MARDI GRAS, and our hotel block ends THIS MONDAY, January 16th. Let’s use them and not lose them.

Over the last few weeks, I have brought a New Orleans vibe to you by sharing some of New Orleans’ culture and introducing you to some of the personalities who have left an impression on and within New Orleans. There were, and are, some unique individuals that have shaped the landscape of your city and state. To say that we have had some unique characters here is an understatement. You could look to our politicians whose stories and antics could provide enough material for a good fiction novel, except that many of them happen to be TRUE. Meet two of these colorful characters – The Governor and the Stripper. And a little sidebar story relates to me and my quest to find a name for our company. I think you will connect those dots shortly.

Earl K. Long was the Governor of Louisiana for three separate terms; he was the younger brother of one of our other Governors, “The Kingfish” Huey Long. He got his taste for politics by campaigning for his older brother. Both were very flamboyant men.

When Earl Long returned to the top spot in Louisiana in 1948, he was known for many things. “Uncle Earl,” as he was called, was known for his advocacy for the “common man” and his entertaining behavior. His rambling “all over the map” one-hour speeches were also a trademark of Uncle Earl, and he even spent some time in a mental institution towards the end of his last term. But there was one other thing that this flamboyant man was known for…his open affair with Fannie Belle Fleming, better known as Bourbon Street burlesque dancer Blaze Starr.

Fannie Fleming was 15 and working in a doughnut shop in Washington DC when Red Snyder walked in and “discovered her.” She was a beautiful girl, and he convinced her she could be in show-biz. Soon after, her stripping career began in Baltimore. It was Snyder who came up with the Stage Name Blaze Starr. She brought style and glamour to the world of Burlesque with her elaborate costumes and colorful performances, such as the “exploding couch.” She would eventually stretch out on a couch in her routine and press a hidden button to release smoke. She earned the nickname the “Hottest Blaze in Burlesque.”

As her fame grew, she traveled around the country, eventually finding a new home in New Orleans, specifically at the Sho-Bar on Bourbon Street. It was 1959 when a married Earl Long and company walked into the Bar. Long was so taken by her beauty that upon the conclusion of her act, he went to her dressing room and asked her out to dinner. The romance began. Long was not timid about his relationship with Starr, although he never did get divorced from “Miss Blanche,” his wife.

Blaze Starr was loved by many. Her glamour, combined with a man in his 60’s trying to reinvent his life, led to this unusual and unique love affair. Blaze Starr’s memoir, written in 1974, led to the 1989 movie about her life and romance with Governor Earl K Long… “Blaze” starring Paul Newman as Uncle Earl.

Here is a little more about the romance between the Governor and the Stripper.

I think you have connected those dots, but one night in 1991, my quest for a name for our company culminated with us popping a “tape” into our VCR (Remember those). I was looking for a name for our courier division to separate it from some of the other types of transportation services we were offering, thus giving that division its own identity. What we call today re-branding. I wanted the new name to depict speed and yet still be able to tie it to our main company and logo. After going thru all of the typical “express” and “fast” names, I was at a loss. Then on that night in 1991, after deciding to chill at the house, the opening marque shined on our TV – “Blaze.” My lightbulb finally lit up.

February 9th will be here soon, so make your plans NOW to join us in the Big Easy and learn more about our unique characters as you experience the CRESCENT CITY CULTURE!

See you in four weeks!

Hello again, my CLDA and Industry colleagues, 

It’s getting close! We have now flipped the page from 2022 to 2023. That means we will be together at our Final Mile Forum here in New Orleans in about a month. And that means if you haven’t registered yet, time is running out. But it also means that you might want to start thinking about something that is definitely part of our CRESCENT CITY CULTURE and something New Orleans is known for – great food! And great food in NOLA isn’t just where you will see a white tablecloth. Some of the best food can be found where elbows on the table are allowed – our sandwich shops. Get hungry, my friends. 

Hoagie, Hero, Sub. We all know the names of sandwiches served on a “submarine” or “tubular” shaped bread roll stuffed with cold cuts and cheese. However, when you venture down to Bayou Country, one name reigns supreme when it comes to the sandwich of choice…. THE PO-BOY!

Upon your descent into the Big Easy next month, and as you walk around the French Quarter, you will notice places where the glow of neon announces the sandwich as if it was a Marquee promoting the hottest Jazz Band in town. This hand carriable meal of French Bread stuffed with your favorite meat or seafood is served in varying lengths, usually from 6 inches to a feast size of 15 inches. Although, I would argue that trying to “carry” a Roast Beef Po-boy (the most popular and arguably the first) is extremely difficult. For that, you must be stationary and have plenty of napkins while preparing for your gravy bath.

The “POOR BOY” sandwich has a long history in New Orleans. Today’s modern version hasn’t changed much since the original Poor Boy sandwich was introduced many years ago. I say “many” years ago as opposed to “X number” of years ago because there is a bit of controversy as to when and from whom the term Poor Boy originated. 

It has been written that as early as 1910, references to the Poor Boy Sandwich were made. Jazz great Sidney Bechet referred to the sandwich when he had recently hired an unknown cornet player named Louis Armstrong. After paying Armstrong and the other members of the band 50 cents for their gig, he said they went out and got a beer and a “Poor Boy” sandwich with their earnings. Bechet made this reference several years later as he reflected on those times in the early 1900s. Some believe that he learned of the Poor Boy name later on and just made reference to it at this point in his life.  

The most accepted version of the origin of the name came around 1929. Bennie and Clovis Martin, who were Street Car Conductors originally (Yes, there are Street Cars in New Orleans, not Cable Cars or Trollies), opened a small coffee shop and Restaurant in the French Quarter in 1922. When their street car brothers went on strike in 1929, they vowed to ensure they would be fed. “We fed those men free of charge until the strike ended. Whenever we saw one of the striking men coming, we would say, ‘Here comes another poor boy.”

Growing up, I also was told that the original Poor Boy sandwich was a roast beef “debris” sandwich. My version of the story points out that the Martin Brothers would offer the men a large piece of French Bread. After slicing lengthwise to open it up, they would ladle the gravy onto both sides with just the “debris” of the cooked roast beef included. This was a “cheap” or “poor” version of a sandwich, but because of the bread and its size, it was quite filling. Today, the “Po-boy” is prepared with anything you can think of.  

The name and where it originated might still have some uncertainty. And one person’s version will differ from another, as this 2016 article point outs. But, no matter how, when, or who gets the naming credit, one thing for sure is that the Po-Boy is an ingrained part of our CRESCENT CITY CULTURE!

Since most of our FMF attendees will be spending time downtown, here are some great places to get a good Po-Boy in or near the French Quarter. 

Killer Po-Boys  http://www.killerpoboys.com/

Johnny’s Po-Boys 511 St Louis NOLA 70130 (no website)

Mahony’s (two locations) https://mahonyspoboys.com/

Another place that had some good Po-Boys back in the day was Mothers. Still good but has gotten to be a little touristy. I think you would still enjoy it and be a little closer to the FMF hotel. https://www.mothersrestaurant.net/

For those who want to venture outside of the French Quarter, here are my two favorite places in the city for Po-Boys:

Parkway Bakery – Mid City New Orleans – Get the Roast Beef. https://parkwaypoorboys.com/

Domilise’s – Uptown New Orleans – you can’t get any more “neighborhood” than this. http://www.domilisespoboys.com/

Can’t wait to see you next month!