1960s

1963 MRGO opens

The Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (MRGO) is opened to provide a short cut for shipping from the Gulf of Mexico to New Orleans. It allows saltwater from the gulf to enter the St. Bernard marshes and Lake Pontchartrain, causing the loss of freshwater marshes and the conversion to water of much of the St. Bernard wetlands. Photo credit: pubs.usgs.gov/.../photoetc/ slides/challeng/salt.htm

1960 Pontchartrain Beach postcard

1960'S Midway NOTICE THE JAX BEER SIGN IN BACKGROUND. BACK OF CARD HAS PRINTED IN SMALL TYPE "FUNSEEKERS FROLIC ON GAYWAY, PONTCHARTRAIN BEACH NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, SINCE 1939 PONTCHARTRAIN BEACH HAS BEEN THE MECCA FOR OUTDOOR SUMMER FUN IN NEW ORLEANS. IT IS LOCATED AT ELYSIAN FIELDS AVENUE AND LAKESHORE DRIVE. COLOR BY BOB GLANDER." "DIST. BY EXPRESS PUBLISHING CO., INC., METAIRIE, LA, KASTICHROME BY COLOUR PICTURE, BOSTON, MASS. 02130.

Civil Defense Fallout Shelter interior view

Interior view, ca. 1962. Looks like a scene from Dr. Strangelove. Source: http://nutrias.org/~nopl/photos/civildefense/civdef.htm

1960 - Fats Domino at Lincloln Beach

National Public Radio (NPR) includes "The Fat Man's" 1955 song Ain't That a Shame in their listing of the most influential pieces of American music of the 20th century. See the link below for Nick Spitzer's profile of Fats Domino, who was born and raised in New Orleans, and learned to play rhythm and blues piano from an older relative. He had many big-selling hit songs, including Blueberry Hill, Walkin' to New Orleans, Blue Monday, and I'm Walkin'. Ain't That a Shame was his first hit not recorded in New Orleans, and it was also the first to crossover from the R&B charts to the mostly white pop charts of the day http://search.npr.org/cf/cmn/cmnps05fm.cfm?SegID=73610

1961 - Sam Cooke at Lincoln Beach

1960 A view of the shorleline at West End

in a Chubb & Son magazine advertisement featuring the Southern Yacht Club.

1963 Postcard of the Causeway (still one span)

Titled LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN TOLL BRIDGE, NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA. Shows the toll booths.

1960s Pontchartrain Beach Kiddieland postcard

Reads KIDDIE LAND AT PONCHARTRAIN BEACH ON THE SHORES OF LAKE PONCHARTRAIN LOUISIANA. "A CHILD'S PARIDISE OF RIDES AND GAMES".

1960s through 1980s - Bali Hai at the Beach

An infamous Tiki Bowl from the Bali Hai restaurant at Pontchartrain Beach (below).

Tiki Lounge Glass - $ 14.00
From: The NEW YORK FIRST Company