The Outsiders of New Orleans: Loujon Press

Weddle

Weddle

Hey Everybody:

Here are a couple of more links some of you might find of interest. The first is for the Brooklyn Independent Film Series screening of The Outsiders of New Orleans, which saywhat mentioned earlier.

http://www.brooklynindependent.com/

This second link is for a book talk and movie screening I'll be doing at the University of Alabama next week. I don't expect you guys to show up for these things--though it would be lovely if you did--but I thought you might like to see the promotional stuff.

http://coolathoole.blogspot.com/2007/11/bohemian-new-orleans-story-of-outsider.html

Okay, I'd better get to work. Hope all's well with everyone out there....

All best,
Jeff
 
Bukfan

Bukfan

"The law is wrong; I am right"
I received the DVD today. I like the film very much! Great that it shows how the printing was done and how the books were assembled. I had never seen the Miller books before so it was nice to finally see them. It's great to watch the old home movie clips of Lou in Pirates Alley etc. It gives you a good impression of the French Quarter back then with all the artists and musicians. I think the film told the story of the Loujon Press very well and it was a joy to watch Lou talk about it. I'm glad that we finally got both a book and a film about Loujon Press! They deserve it!
 
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Weddle

Weddle

I'm really glad you liked the film. I think Wayne did a tremendous job with it. Isn't it great to see and hear Lou? And to have a little bit of Jon in the old home movies--fantastic.
 
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Bukfan

Bukfan

"The law is wrong; I am right"
How old is Lou? When was she born? - In the Loujon book it says that Jon was born on Feb. 1, 1905, but not when Lou was born (unless I missed it). It does say however, that she lived with her family in 1938 and was 21 when she met Jon. That would make the year of her birth 1917 and then she would be 90 years old in 2007. But in the documentary it's said that she's "well into her nineties"! So how old is she exactly and when was she born? Does anyone here know?
 
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Weddle

Weddle

Lou is unwilling to talk about her age, but she is roughly 11 years younger than Jon. She was born, I believe, in either 1916 or 1917.

All best,
Jeff
 
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Bukfan

Bukfan

"The law is wrong; I am right"
Thanks, Jeff! Yes, 1916 must be the year because I found another reference about it on page 53 in your book: " April 29, 1961, was Louise's forty-fifth birthday." So that settles it...
 
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Weddle

Weddle

Aha! I can't remember half of what's in the book. I had to give a twenty-five minute talk about Loujon last night and was reduced to writing out a lecture and pretty much reading from the pages, which is a horrible way to speak to people.

I'm glad you found the info you were looking for.

All best,
Jeff
 
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M

MULLINAX

That's nothing.

I give lectures without notes and WITHOUT having read ANY background material.

Shamelessness can be a virtue.
 
Weddle

Weddle

You're very welcome.

I went to the New Orleans premier on Thursday and it was fantastic. The movie was shown in this great old neighborhood theater called the Prytania. The place has 260 seats and about 200 of them were filled. The crowd included young and old, some of Lou's friends from back in the day among them.

The theater has a huge screen and it was quite a treat to see the film like that.


After the show, there was a reception at the Upperline Restaurant, which is also featured in the film. (It's the place where Noel Rockmore's painting, Homage to the French Quarter hangs.)

The audience laughed in all the right places and clapped enthusiastically at the end. Then some of us were called up on stage for a Q & A session. It was Wayne Ewing (producer & director), Curtis Robinson (producer), Ed Blair, Lou Webb, and me.

Wayne held the microphone and asked for questions. The very first one blew us all away.

A man down on the front row asked if Lou would like a rent-free apartment in the French Quarter for the rest of her life!

Now, for various reasons that I won't go into here, it's not completely clear that she'll decide to make that move. But she might. Regardless, it was an incredible, humane, and selfless offer for this gentleman to make.

There were lots of other great questions about the film, Loujon history, etc., too.

All in all, this was one of the most wonderful, amazing, satisfying days of my life.

All best,
Jeff
 
Black Swan

Black Swan

Abord the Yorikke!
Hello Jeff,
I was so hoping that something like that would happen. See how far a selfless gesture goes. I am waiting to see what she decides to do. What a beautiful person. She inspires love.
 
mjp

mjp

Founding member
Weddle said:
A man down on the front row asked if Lou would like a rent-free apartment in the French Quarter for the rest of her life!
Click to expand...
That doesn't surprise me, I had the same feeling after seeing the film. I don't have an apartment to offer (so maybe it's easy to feel that way), but if I did...
 
Father Luke

Father Luke

Founding member
Simple, but all I am able to offer

Jeff? I just wanted to say that you bring so much to this Forum, and I felt
compelled to thank you for all I've gotten from you.

Thanks.
 
Weddle

Weddle

I really appreciate your saying this. I began reading Bukowski back around 1979 and went for many years being the only person I knew who appreciated his work. It's wonderful to see how many faithful readers he has at this point.

I'm glad I'm able to give a little bit back for all of the pleasure and solace Buk's work has given me through the years. I'm especially glad that I've been able to give a little something back to Louise Webb. She's one of the finest people I've ever known.

Many thanks for your kind words.

Black Swan said:
I was so hoping that something like that would happen. See how far a selfless gesture goes. I am waiting to see what she decides to do. What a beautiful person. She inspires love.
Click to expand...

She does indeed. What a lovely way to put it.

mjp said:
That doesn't surprise me, I had the same feeling after seeing the film. I don't have an apartment to offer (so maybe it's easy to feel that way), but if I did...
Click to expand...

Nah, my gut tells me you'd help her out in a heartbeat.

All best,
Jeff
 
skiroomalum

skiroomalum

That doc is good. Jeff Weddle's book Bohemian New Orleans (which is referenced somewhere on here) is also a a very informative and interesting look at the Webbs.
ir
My post was moved to
the appropriate thread, so please ignore my redundancies.
 
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BukFan Brad

BukFan Brad

If it's still available, I'll see if I can get the DVD for XMas. I've always been interested in Loujon Press, ever since reading Hank's letters.
 
B

BUKFAN78

I was holding off on purchase but think I definitely will. I was just in New Orleans a few weeks back and walking along Royal Street wondering where exactly Loujon Press had been. I found somewhere that it was along Royal Street but that was all. Does it say in the film?
 
Bukfan

Bukfan

"The law is wrong; I am right"
The Webbs and Loujon Press lived at 638 Royal Steeet in the late 50's and early 60s, and they lived at 1109 Royal Street from May 1964 to June 1965. I believe they also lived at 618 Ursulines Street at some point, probably after they left Royal Street.
 
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