Monday, April 30, 2018

Matchbook Monday

It's time for Matchbook Monday.  Some true gems of Jackson's past are posted below.  Feel free to add your stories or any information about them in the comments section as you enjoy these blasts from the past. Readers can email copies of any old matchbooks to kingfish1935@gmail.com. 


Leading the way is that ole South Jackson favorite, the Coachlight Inn.  Many a fight was fought and more than a few romances bloomed and died in the same wee hours of the night at this fine establishment.



The Chamber of Commerce got in on the matchbook action as well. 




The Walthall Hotel is faded but not forgotten in this matchbook.



What would a trip down memory lane be without a trip to the Governor's mansion?



15 comments:

Anonymous said...

I remember the piano bar at The Walthall Hotel. Nice warm place. God I'm getting old.

Chrisp B Bacon said...

Have you checked to see if the matches works?

Anonymous said...

Did they have better luck luring conventions to Jackson back then? Now we have a huge complex on Pascagoula St. and not one convention of note has booked there.

What does "The South's Most Complete Convention City" mean?

Louis LeFleur said...

Where's the guy from a week or so ago who was bemoaning the "Roachlight" as he called it? 11:33, you're asking for the logic of a COC add, let alone one from nearly 50 years ago? 11:28, I'm getting old too because I miss many things about the old Wathall. You know, Cotton tended bar there the last few years of its existence? Until lately, I saw him at the Lake Harbour Primos nearly every time I went there for lunch and had many a nice visit with him. Wish I knew how to get in touch with him. Ah, and the Governor's Mansion in Cliff Finch's day before they built the wall. Cliff Finch. Nuff said.

Anonymous said...

I miss Cotten. I have appreciated his gentlemanly bar-keeping presence and skills many times at many places over the years. Hey, Cotten - calling you out to say you are a Jackson gem for us old timers!

Thanks, KF, for the memories.

Anonymous said...

@ Louis LeFleur
everyone knows the nickname for the Coachlight Inn was the Roachlight Inn.

Anonymous said...

The Wathall had a great barber shop also. The people that worked there were priceless, and the dialogue/banter would have made an incredible TV show!

Anonymous said...

Tommy Keister was the barber at the Walthall for many years. A great guy.

Damn! The lights done come up said...

IF historic dive bars of Jackson were ever on a Monopoly Board, the old "Roachlight" would be Park Place and "The Hill" would be the Boardwalk. I think a book of matches from "The Hill" would be the Holy Grail of anybodys matchbook collection....just sayin'.

Anonymous said...

These are not nearly as cute as the one with the culinarily-challenged wife in a cage...

bill said...

The Walthall was my home away from home for years, and I had many a memorable night with Cotton solving the problems of the world. He's still around, I think. I see him every now and then at Primo's on Lakeland, still as dapper as ever.

Louis LeFleur said...

Bill @ 7:39, as said earlier, I used to see Cotton EVERY time I went to the Ridgeland Primos, which is frequently, but I haven't seen him in months now and am concerned given his age. He'd be in his upper 80's at this point. Lost his wife, Jean (of Jean's Dance Studio), 10 years ago. To my knowledge, his only close relative is a granddaughter that he and Jean raised (long story). I'm wondering if maybe he went to live with her in Texas (if I remember correctly). Anyone know of Cotton (Rudolf Carl) Baronich's recent where abouts?

Anonymous said...

Is he the same Cotton who was at George Street in the mid 80s? My mom would take me there for supper sometimes when I was a teenager, and he was always so nice.

Louis LeFleur said...

Yep, same guy, 12:16. Do a web search on his name. There are several articles about, or at least mentions of, him.

Louis LeFleur said...

Cotton lives!

The good news: I saw Cotton Barronich at the Ridgeland Primos during lunch today for the first time in months. The bad news: He was in a wheelchair and looked frail. He had someone who was obviously not a paid sitter tending to him. Didn't seem like the time to try striking up a conversation, so I won't even begin speculating on what happened, but I look foward to maybe having that opportunity soon.



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Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
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