The Top 50 events of the past 50 years as selected by the Eyewitness News staff. The events are in chronological order and not ranked by importance.

1. THE KATRINA RECOVERY

FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, PEOPLE IN SOUTH LOUISIANA AND MISSISSIPPI HAVE BATTLED THE DEVASTATION OF KATRINA WITH FIERCE DETERMINATION.  MEMORABLE MOMENTS IN THE RECOVERY INCLUDE THE FIRST MARDI GRAS AFTER THE STORM, THE FIRST JAZZ AND HERITAGE FESTIVAL AND THE REOPENING OF THE LOUISIANA SUPERDOME.

2. HURRICANE KATRINA

AUGUST 29, 2005 – THE STORM WHICH CHANGED ALL OF OUR LIVES

3. REP. WILLIAM JEFFERSON INDICTMENT

ON AUGUST 3, 2005, FBI AGENTS RAIDED THE HOMES OF LOUISIANA REP. WILLIAM JEFFERSON.   INSIDE THE FREEZER OF HIS WASHINGTON-AREA HOME, THEY FOUND THE NOW INFAMOUS $90,000 IN GOVERNMENT-MARKED BILLS.  JEFFERSON WAS INDICTED ON JUNE 4 ON 16 COUNTS, INCLUDING CHARGES OF RACKETEERING, SOLICITING BRIBES, MONEY LAUNDERING AND OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE.  HE MAINTAINS HIS INNOCENCE.

4. CONGRESSIONAL SEX SCANDALS

THE SHOCKING REVELATION CAME IN JULY 2007 THAT REPUBLICAN SENATOR DAVID VITTER WAS IDENTIFIED AS A CLIENT OF THE SO CALLED D.C. MADAM.  FOR LOUISIANA RESIDENTS IT WAS REMINISCENT OF ANOTHER D.C. SEX SCANDAL; ONE THAT KEPT LOUISIANA CONGRESSMAN BOB LIVINGSTON FROM BECOMING SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE IN 1998.

5. CORRUPTION PROBES

THE RECENT GUILTY PLEA BY CITY COUNCILMAN OLIVER THOMAS WAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST-PROFILE DEVELOPMENTS IN THE ONGOING FEDERAL CORRUPTION PROBES WHICH HAVE ALSO NETTED A FORMER ORLEANS PARISH SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, A FORMER JEFFERSON PARISH JUDGE, SEVERAL BUSINESSMEN AND OTHERS.

6. LSU WINS NATIONAL FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

IN JANUARY 2004 THE LSU TIGERS CAPPED A MAGICAL SEASON BY WINNING THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RIGHT HERE IN THE SUPERDOME.  THE TIGERS BEAT NUMBER ONE OKLAHOMA IN THE TITLE GAME, TO BRING HOME THE SCHOOL’S SECOND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.

7. EDWIN EDWARDS CONVICTED

AFTER YEARS OF DODGING CORRUPTION ALLEGATIONS, FOUR TERM GOVERNOR EDWIN EDWARDS WAS INDICTED ALONG WITH HIS SON STEPHEN ON NUMEROUS CHARGES IN A CASINO EXTORTION SCHEME.

AFTER A LENGTHY TRIAL, A JURY FOUND THE FORMER GOVERNOR GUILTY ON 17 COUNTS AND EDWARDS WAS SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON.

8.  WOMEN IN POLITICAL POWER

GOVERNOR KATHLEEN BLANCO, SENATOR MARY LANDRIEU AND FORMER LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR MELINDA SCHWEGMANN ARE JUST THREE EXAMPLES OF WOMEN WHO ROSE TO POLITICAL POWER IN THE 1980S AND 1990S, BUILDING ON THE LEGACY DEVELOPED BY LEADERS LIKE REP. LINDY BOGGS AND FORMER NEW ORLEANS CITY COUNCIL MEMBER DOROTHY MAE TAYLOR.

9. NOPD SCANDALS – ANTOINETTE FRANK, LEN DAVIS

THE MID 1990S WERE A DARK TIME FOR THE NEW ORLEANS POLICE DEPARTMENT.  TWO SCANDALS IN PARTICULAR ROCKED THE NOPD INCLUDING THE ARREST AND CONVICTION OF AN OFFICER WHO ORDERED A HIT ON A WOMAN, WHO HAD FILED A COMPLAINT AGAINST OFFICER LEN DAVIS AND HIS PARTNER.   LESS THAN 6 MONTHS LATER, IN MARCH OF 1995, POLICE OFFICER ANTOINETTE FRANK WAS ARRESTED FOR MURDERING THREE PEOPLE DURING A ROBBERY AT A VIETNAMESE RESTAURANT IN NEW ORLEANS EAST WHERE SHE HAD WORKED SECURITY DETAILS.   ONE OF THE VICTIMS WAS FELLOW OFFICER RONALD WILLIAMS JR.

10. BRIGHT FIELD DISASTER AT THE RIVERWALK

IT WAS A CLEAR DECEMBER AFTERNOON IN 1996 WHEN THE FREIGHTER "BRIGHT FIELD" LOST POWER ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND DRIFTED TOWARD THE FLAMINGO CASINO AND THE CREOLE QUEEN.  THE FREIGHTER NARROWLY MISSED THE BOATS AND CRASHED INTO THE HILTON HOTEL, THEN GRINDED IT'S WAY INTO THE RIVERWALK MALL.  WHILE DOZENS WERE HURT AND SHAKEN UP, MIRACULOUSLY NO ONE DIED.  THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD BLAMED THE CRASH ON THE SHIP’S OWNER FOR NOT MAINTAINING THE ENGINES.

11. FAIR GROUNDS FIRE

ON A CHILLY DECEMBER NIGHT IN 1993, A PIECE OF HISTORY WENT UP IN FLAMES, AS THE FAIR GROUNDS RACE COURSE CAUGHT FIRE.  PATRONS WERE LAYING DOWN BETS IN THE OFF TRACK BETTING PARLOR WHEN THE FIRE THAT STARTED IN THE JOCKEY'S DRESSING ROOM QUICKLY SPREAD INTO A MASSIVE 7 ALARM BLAZE.

WHEN FIREFIGHTERS FINALLY BROUGHT THE BLAZE UNDER CONTROL, INVESTIGATORS DETERMINED THE FIRE WASN'T DELIBERATELY SET. THEY BLAMED IT INSTEAD ON A FAULTY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

THE OWNERS DIDN'T GIVE UP, AND SET UP TEMPORARY STANDS WHILE THEY BUILT A NEW GRANDSTAND.  AND ON THANKSGIVING DAY 1997 THE FAIR GROUNDS WAS REBORN. ITS MULTI MILLION DOLLAR REPLACEMENT RESURRECTED A NEW ORLEANS LANDMARK.

12. CASINO GAMBLING/LOTTERY LEGALIZED

THE EARLY 1990S BROUGHT BIG TIME GAMBLING TO THE METRO AREA AMIDST TURMOIL AND FANFARE.  IN 1991 THE STATE APPROVED THE LICENSING OF 15 RIVERBOAT CASINOS, INCLUDING TWO IN JEFFERSON PARISH: ONE  ON THE WESTBANK, THE OTHER IN KENNER.  NEW ORLEANS SNAGGED TWO RIVERBOATS AND THE ONE AND ONLY LAND BASED CASINO.  IN MAY 1995, HARRAH'S OPENED AT THE END OF CANAL STREET, IN PLACE OF THE ONCE GREAT RIVERGATE.

MORE LOUISIANIANS ALSO COULD PLACE THEIR BETS IN THE FORM OF THE LOTTERY WHICH WAS LEGALIZED ABOUT THE SAME TIME.

13. DUKE VS. EDWARDS ELECTION

IN 1991, LOUISIANA VOTERS WENT TO THE POLLS TO CAST BALLOTS IN A GOVERNOR'S RACE THAT PITTED FORMER KU KLUX KLANSMAN DAVID DUKE AGAINST FORMER THREE TERM GOVERNOR EDWIN EDWARDS.  THE POPULAR SAYING, "VOTE FOR THE CROOK.  IT'S IMPORTANT” SUMMED UP MANY PEOPLE’S FEELINGS.  EDWARDS WON IN A LANDSLIDE.

14. 1988 REPUBLICAN CONVENTION

IT WAS THE GRAND OLD PARTY, NEW ORLEANS STYLE.  IN AUGUST OF 1988 REPUBLICANS CELEBRATED THE NOMINATION OF GEORGE H.W. BUSH AS THEIR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE.  THE THREE DAY AFFAIR WAS A ROLLICKING POLITICAL SHOW AND PUT NEW ORLEANS ON THE NATIONAL SCENE.

15. CABILDO FIRE

WHEN BLACK SMOKE FILLED THE NEW ORLEANS SKYLINE IN MAY OF 1988 LOCALS WERE HORRIFIED WHEN THEY REALIZED IT WAS THE HISTORIC CABILDO.  BUILT JUST BEFORE 1800, THE CABILDO WAS THE SITE OF THE SIGNING OF THE GREATEST LAND ACQUISITION IN U.S. HISTORY: THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE.   THE FIRE DESTROYED THE PRECIOUS CUPOLA THAT SITS ATOP THE CABILDO, ALONG WITH MOST OF THE  BUILDING’S THIRD FLOOR.  FORTUNATELY FIREFIGHTERS WERE ABLE TO SAVE MANY OF THE IRREPLACEABLE ARTIFACTS.  A PAINSTAKING RESTORATION BEGAN AND SIX YEARS LATER THE CABILDO REOPENED.

16. SAINTS’ FIRST TRIP TO THE PLAYOFFS

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS FANS, WHO HAD WAITED 20 YEARS FOR A WINNING SEASON, WOULD FINALLY GET THEIR WISH IN 1987.  A WEEK AFTER CLINCHING A WINNING RECORD, A VICTORY OVER TAMPA GAVE THE TEAM ITS FIRST SPOT IN THE PLAYOFFS.  OWNER TOM BENSON. WHO HAD JUST PURCHASED THE TEAM TWO YEARS BEFORE, STARTED TAKING TO THE FIELD FOR POST GAME CELEBRATIONS AND THE BENSON BOOGIE WAS BORN.  BEFORE IT WAS OVER, THE SAINTS WOULD REEL OFF 9 STRAIGHT WINS AND FINISH THE SEASON A TEAM BEST 12-3.  ONLY THE DOMINATING SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS KEPT THE SAINTS FROM THEIR FIRST DIVISION TITLE.  IT ALL  ENDED 3 DAYS INTO 1988, BUT A  DISAPPOINTING BLOWOUT LOSS TO THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS IN THE PLAYOFFS WAS MERELY A FOOTNOTE TO A SEASON THAT WAS CLEARLY “HEAVENLY.”

17. PAPAL VISIT

FOR THREE DAYS IN SEPTEMBER OF 1987 NEW ORLEANS WAS BLESSED WITH A VISIT FROM POPE JOHN PAUL II.  THE HOLY FATHER’S ITINERARY INCLUDED A MASS FOR THE CLERGY AT ST. LOUIS CATHEDRAL, A VISIT TO THE SUPERDOME FOR A MEETING WITH BLACK CATHOLICS, AND A YOUTH RALLY, AND THEN A HUGE OUTDOOR MASS AT THE LAKEFRONT.

18. 1984 WORLD’S FAIR

YEARS OF PREPARATION AND PLANNING CONVERGED IN MAY OF 1984 AS THE LOUSIANA WORLD EXPOSITION OPENED.   BETTER KNOWN AS THE WORLD'S FAIR, THE MULTI-MILLION-DOLLAR PROJECT TRANSFORMED 80 ACRES OF THE WAREHOUSE DISTRICT INTO AN INTERNATIONAL PLAYGROUND.  BUT THE EVENT SPED INTO FINANCIAL PROBLEMS, AND CRASHED INTO BANKRUPTCY.  WHILE MANY INVESTORS LOST MILLIONS, THE EVENT DID HAVE A POSITIVE LASTING IMPACT ON THE CITY, IN THAT IT LED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE WAREHOUSE DISTRICT AND RIVERFRONT, INCLUDING THE MORIAL CONVENTION CENTER.

19. PONTCHARTRAIN BEACH CLOSES

FOR DECADES THE PLACE TO BE WAS ALONG LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN, WHETHER IT WAS AT PONTCHARTRAIN OR LINCOLN BEACH.  PONTCHARTRAIN BEACH OPENED IN 1928 BUT  DIDN'T SETTLE INTO ITS FAMILIAR SPOT AT THE END OF ELYSIAN FIELDS AVENUE UNTIL 1939.  LINCOLN BEACH OPENED THE SAME YEAR, SERVING AS THE PLAYGROUND FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS UNTIL 1965 WHEN INTEGRATION MADE IT OBSOLETE.   IN 1983 PONTCHARTRAIN BEACH’S OWNERS DECIDED IT WAS ECONOMICALLY UNFEASABLE TO KEEP THE PARK OPEN AND SEPTEMBER 23 MARKED ITS CLOSING DAY.

20. PAN AM FLIGHT 759 CRASH

ON JULY 9, 1982, ALMOST AS SOON AS PAN AM FLIGHT 759 HIT THE STORMY JULY SKY, THE JET CRASHED INTO A KENNER NEIGHBORHOOD.

WIND SHEAR, THE PHENOMENON CREATED BY A SUDDEN CHANGE IN WIND VELOCITY, WAS PINPOINTED AS THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH.  146 PEOPLE ON BOARD DIED, AS DID 8 PEOPLE ON THE GROUND.

21. AUDUBON ZOO MAKEOVER & AQUARIUM DEBUT

THE ZOO WHICH MANY CALLED AN “ANIMAL GHETTO” UNDERWENT A TRANSFORMATION BEGINNING IN THE 1980S, UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF AUDUBON INSTITUTE CEO RON FORMAN.  THE ZOO HAS SINCE BECOME A NATIONAL ATTRACTION, AND THE INSTITUTE ALSO DEVELOPED OTHER FACILITIES, INCLUDING THE AQUARIUM OF THE AMERICAS WHICH HAS BECOME A WORLD-CLASS FACILITY AS WELL.

22. NEW ORLEANS FOOD & MUSIC SHINE ON THE NATIONAL SCENE

IT WAS THE RIGHT TIME AND THE RIGHT PLACE FOR MANY NEW ORLEANS MUSICIANS IN THE 1980S, WHEN THEIR WORK WON THEM NATIONAL ACCLAIM.  THE BIRTHPLACE OF JAZZ HAD ALWAYS BEEN KNOWN FOR NURTURING ALL TYPES OF MUSIC BUT IN THE 1980S IT SEEMED LIKE NEW ORLEANS MUSICIANS, INCLUDING WYNTON MARSALIS AND HARRY CONNICK JR., EXPLODED ONTO THE SCENE.  THE CITY'S CUISINE WAS ALSO KICKING INTO HIGH GEAR ABOUT THE SAME TIME, THANKS TO CHEFS PAUL PRUDHOMME AND EMERIL LAGASSE, RESTAURANT LEGEND ELLA BRENNAN, EMERIL LAGASSE AND OTHERS, WHO HELPED PUT CAJUN AND CREOLE COOKING ON THE NATIONAL MAP.

23. RETAIL ICONS START TO DISAPPEAR

IN THE 1980S, THE BUSINESSES, BUILDINGS AND ICONS THAT MANY NEW ORLEANIANS GREW UP WITH STARTED TO DISAPPEAR.  THE CANAL STREET SHOPPING EXPERIENCE THAT SO MANY REMEMBER WOULD BEGIN TO FADE INTO MEMORY, WITH THE CLOSING OF STORES LIKE D.H. HOLMES, MAISON BLANCHE, GODCHAUX'S, WOOLWORTH'S AND SO MANY MORE.  RETAIL REALITIES IN THE 1990S ALSO SAW THE END OF THE SCHWEGMANN'S SUPERMARKET CHAIN AND THE BELOVED K&B DRUGSTORES.

24. OIL BOOM & BUST OF THE 1980S

THE 1980S IN NEW ORLEANS WERE A TIME MARKED BY BOTH BOOM AND BUST, WHEN IT CAME TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY.

IN THE EARLY PART OF THE DECADE “BOOM” WAS THE BUZZWORD, WITH OIL PRICES DOUBLE WHAT THEY HAD BEEN.

BUT THEN IN 1986, PRICES BEGAN TO PLUMMET AND THE IMPACT WAS DEVASTATING.  OIL-RELATED JOBS DISAPPEARED AS QUICKLY AS THEY CAME AND UNEMPLOYMENT SKYROCKETED.

25. ALGIERS 7 SCANDAL

IN 1980, A SCANDAL ROCKED THE NEW ORLEANS POLICE DEPARTMENT, FOLLOWING THE MYSTERIOUS KILLING OF OFFICER GREGORY NEUPERT IN THE FISCHER HOUSING PROJECT IN ALGIERS.  IN THE DAYS THAT FOLLOWED, POLICE OFFICERS ALLEGEDLY BENT THE RULES OF POLICE CONDUCT AS THEY COMBED THE PROJECT TO FIND THE KIILLER OR KILLERS.   THEIR INVESTIGATION CULMINATED WITH AN EARLY MORNING RAID AND  WITHIN 3 MINUTES, 3 PEOPLE WERE ALL SHOT TO DEATH BY POLICE GUNS.  7 OFFICERS WERE CHARGED AND A 3 WEEK TRIAL ENDED WITH A SPLIT DECISION: 3 OF THE OFFICERS WERE FOUND GUILTY OF CONSPIRACY AND BEATING A WITNESS, BUT FOUR OTHERS WERE FOUND NOT GUILTY.

26. HARRY LEE ELECTED SHERIFF

IN 1979 MOST PEOPLE CONSIDERED HARRY LEE  A LONGSHOT WHEN HE RAN FOR SHERIFF OF JEFFERSON PARISH.  THE SELF-DESCRIBED “CHINESE COWBOY” BECAME ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL AND POPULAR POLITICIANS IN THE STATE, AND ONE OF JEFFERSON PARISH’S LONGEST-SERVING LEADERS.   IN RECENT YEARS LEE'S HEALTH HAS BEEN HIS TOUGHEST BATTLE, INCLUDING HIS CURRENT FIGHT WITH LEUKEMIA.

27. 1979 POLICE STRIKE CANCELS MARDI GRAS

IN 1979, THE NEW ORLEANS POLICE WENT ON STRIKE, DOING SOMETHING THAT ONLY WAR AND WEATHER HAD DONE BEFORE: CANCEL MARDI GRAS.

28. DUTCH MORIAL ELECTED MAYOR

IN MAY 1978, ERNEST “DUTCH” MORIAL BECAME THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN MAYOR OF THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS.  "FIRSTS" WERE REALLY NOTHING NEW FOR THIS NATIVE SON, WHO WAS THE FIRST BLACK MAN TO GRADUATE FROM LSU LAW SCHOOL, THE FIRST TO BE ELECTED TO THE LOUISIANA HOUSE SINCE RECONSTRUCTION, AND THE FIRST BLACK APPELLATE COURT JUDGE.   HE WOULD SERVE UNTIL 1986 AND DIED SUDDENLY IN 1989.  HIS SON MARC WOULD BE ELECTED MAYOR IN 1994.

29. MAY FLOODS

ON MAY 3, 1978, THE SKIES OPENED UP AND DUMPED MORE THAN 10 INCHES OF RAIN ON THE METRO AREA.  THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM COULDN'T KEEP UP AND  MANY PEOPLE HAD TO ABANDON THEIR CARS TO AVOID BEING TRAPPED IN THE RISING WATER.  THE AREA WOULD SEE ANOTHER INFAMOUS MAY FLOOD IN 1995, WHEN RAIN FELL IN THE DOUBLE DIGITS IN A SHORT TIME FRAME, FLOODING THOUSANDS OF HOMES IN THE METRO AREA.

30. CONTINENTAL GRAIN ELEVATOR & LULING FERRY DISASTERS

IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS OF OCTOBER 20, 1976, A NORWEGIAN FREIGHTER LUNGED TOWARD A FERRY CROSSING THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER HEADED FROM DESTREHAN TO LULING. THE VESSELS CRASHED, PLUNGING DOZENS OF PEOPLE INTO THE COLD RIVER.  78 PEOPLE DIED IN ONE OF THE NATION'S WORST FERRY DISASTERS.  ABOUT A YEAR LATER, JUST THREE DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS, AN EXPLOSION RIPPED THROUGH THE CONTINENTAL GRAIN ELEVATOR IN WESTWEGO, KILLING 36.

31. NBA IN NEW ORLEANS – THE JAZZ & HORNETS

WITH  FANFARE USUALLY RESERVED FOR MARDI GRAS KREWES, THE NEW ORLEANS JAZZ ARRIVED  IN 1974.  THE JAZZ SCORED EARLY  WITH FANS  BY AQUIRING FORMER LSU SUPERSTAR “PISTOL PETE” MARAVICH FROM ATLANTA.  IT TOOK THE JAZZ THREE WEEKS TO WIN THEIR FIRST GAME AND THE TEAM FINISHED ITS FIRST YEAR WITH THE WORST RECORD IN THE NBA.  THEIR RECORD IMPROVED, AND THEY PLAYED 5 SEASONS IN NEW ORLEANS BEFORE MOVING TO UTAH.  BUT THE  CITY KNOWN FOR SECOND LINING WOULD GET A SECOND CHANCE, WHEN NEW ORLEANS LANDED THE CHARLOTTE FRANCHISE IN 2002.

32. LOUISIANA SUPERDOME OPENS

ON AUGUST 3, 1975 THE MAMMOTH SUPER STRUCTURE IN DOWNTOWN NEW ORLEANS KNOWN AS THE LOUISIANA SUPERDOME OPENED FOR BUSINESS.   IT WAS CONCEIVED BY BUSINESSMAN DAVE DIXON AS A WAY TO COAX THE NFL TO NEW ORLEANS BUT THE EXPENSIVE PROJECT WAS AN EXTREMELY TOUGH SELL TO THE REST OF THE STATE BECAUSE OF THE TREMENDOUS COSTS.  BUT IN 1966 THE STADIUM WAS APPROVED AND CONSTRUCTION ON THE LARGEST DOME IN THE WORLD BEGAN 5 YEARS LATER.

33. HOWARD JOHNSON’S SNIPER

ON A SUNDAY MORNING IN JANUARY 1973, A SNIPER NAMED MARK ESSEX HOLED UP INSIDE THE DOWNTOWN HOWARD JOHNSON’S  MOTEL, TERRIFYING THE CITY AND HOLDING POLICE AT BAY.  IN ALL, POLICE SAID ESSEX TOOK HALF A DOZEN LIVES, INCLUDING THOSE OF SEVERAL FIRST RESPONDERS AND HOTEL WORKERS AND GUESTS.  HE HIMSELF WAS GUNNED DOWN BY SHARPSHOOTERS AT THE END OF THE 13-HOUR STANDOFF.

34. DEADLY 1970S FIRES

THE 1970S SEEMED TO BE THE DECADE OF DEADLY FIRES IN NEW ORLEANS, INCLUDING ONE AT THE HOWARD JOHNSON HOTEL WHICH KILLED 5 PEOPLE, AND A FIRE IN 1972 AT THE DOWNTOWN RAULT CENTER.  4 PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN THAT INCIDENT.  IN 1973, 32 MEN AND WOMEN WERE KILLED IN A FIRE AT A GAY NIGHTCLUB IN THE FRENCH QUARTER CALLED THE "UPSTAIRS LOUNGE."  MANY SUSPECT ARSON, BUT NO ONE WAS EVER ARRESTED FOR THE CRIME.

35. REP. HALE BOGGS DISAPPEARS

HE WAS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL MEN IN WASHINGTON, AND A GIANT IN LOUISIANA POLITICS.  SO WHEN THE NEWS CAME IN OCTOBER 1972, THAT HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER HALE BOGGS' PLANE HAD DISAPPEARED DURING A CAMPAIGN TRIP WITH A COLLEAGUE IN ALASKA, THE NEWS MADE NATIONAL HEADLINES.  HIS WIFE LINDY AND THEIR CHILDREN HELD OUT HOPE THAT HE WOULD BE FOUND.  A MONTH LATER, VOTERS RE-ELECTED HALE BOGGS TO CONGRESS BUT HOUSE MEMBERS EVENTUALLY DECLARED HIS SEAT VACANT. EVENTUALLY, MRS. BOGGS WOULD RUN, AND WIN HER HUSBAND'S SEAT IN CONGRESS.  VOTERS WOULD RE-ELECT HER 7 TIMES.

36. JAZZ FEST IS BORN

WHEN THE NEW ORLEANS JAZZ AND HERITAGE FESTIVAL HIT ITS FIRST NOTE IN APRIL 1970 IN CONGO SQUARE, ONLY A FEW HUNDRED PEOPLE SHOWED UP. FATS DOMINO, PETE FOUNTAIN AND THE METERS PLAYED THE FIRST FEST.  AND NO ONE COULD HAVE IMAGINED WHAT THE EVENT BECAME AFTER MOVING TO THE FAIR GROUNDS IN 1972.

PRODUCER QUINT DAVIS HAS GUIDED IT INTO ONE OF THE PREMIER MUSICAL EVENTS IN THE WORLD.

38.  HURRICANE CAMILLE

ON AUGUST 17, 1969, HURRICANE CAMILLE SENT PEOPLE IN NEW ORLEANS AND ALONG THE GULF COAST SCRAMBLING FOR SAFETY.  AS THE STORM  ROARED TOWARD THE AREA IT PRODUCED  WINDS GUSTING UP TO 220 MILES PER HOUR.  IT WAS THE MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST THAT WOULD SUFFER THE WORST OF CAMILLE'S WRATH.  CAMILLE IS STILL ONE OF THE MOST INTENSE AND DEADLIEST STORMS TO HIT THE UNITED STATES.

39. A JFK CONSPIRACY?: CLAY SHAW ARRESTED

FROM THE CITY WHERE LEE HARVEY OSWALD WAS BORN CAME THE NEWS THAT DISTRICT ATTORNEY JIM GARRISON HAD ARRESTED BUSINESSMAN CLAY SHAW FOR HIS ALLEGED ROLE IN A CONSPIRACY TO MURDER PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY.   AFTER A TRIAL WHICH GRABBED INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES, IT TOOK THE JURY LESS THAN AN HOUR TO FIND CLAY SHAW NOT GUILTY. 

40. CARNIVAL CHANGES OF THE 1960S

IN 1967, A NEIGHBORHOOD CARNIVAL KREWE CALLED ENDYMION WAS BORN.   TWO YEARS LATER, BACCHUS STAGED ITS FIRST PARADE.

AS BOTH GREW, THEY WOULD HELP TURN CARNIVAL INTO MORE OF A TOURIST ATTRACTION AND PUT THE  WORD "SUPER KREWE" INTO OUR VOCABULARY.

BOTH HAD CELEBRITY GUESTS AND BIGGER FLOATS, WHICH ALSO MEANT THEY, AND OTHER PARADES, COULDN'T ROLL IN THE FRENCH QUARTER AS KREWES HAD DONE FOR OVER A CENTURY. 

41. NFL IN NEW ORLEANS – THE SAINTS ARE  BORN

ON ALL SAINTS DAY 1966, NFL COMMISSIONER PETE ROZELLE ANNOUNCED NEW ORLEANS WOULD HOST THE NFL'S 16TH TEAM.

THE SAINTS WERE THE BABY OF BUSINESSMAN DAVE DIXON WHO PROMOTED NFL EXHIBITION GAMES HERE AND WORKED FOR YEARS TO SECURE NEW ORLEANS A TEAM.

TEXAS OILMAN JOHN MECOM BECAME THE TEAM'S MAJORITY OWNER AND TOM FEARS WAS NAMED THE FIRST HEAD COACH.

42. RIVERFRONT EXPRESSWAY CONTROVERSY

THE END TO THIS CONTROVERSY MARKED ONE OF THE FIRST VICTORIES FOR PRESERVATIONISTS IN THE CITY, WHO WERE SUCCESSFUL IN DEFEATING PLANS FOR A RIVERFRONT EXPRESSWAY, DESIGNED TO CARRY CARS ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER THROUGH THE FRENCH QUARTER, A SIX-LANE, 40-FOOT HIGHWAY BLAZING PAST ST. LOUIS CATHEDRAL.

43. POYDRAS STREET REDEVELOPMENT

IN THE MID 1960S THE CITY SAW ITS BUSINESS CENTER SHIFT FROM CANAL STREET  TO POYDRAS.  IT WAS THE DAWN OF THE DOWNTOWN HIGHRISE IN NEW ORLEANS.

44. HURRICANE BETSY

THE STORM THAT BECAME KNOWN AS BILLION DOLLAR BETSY WAS THE COSTLIEST IN U.S. HISTORY.  WHEN IT CAME ASHORE SEPTEMBER 9, 1965, BETSY CLAIMED AT LEAST 75 LIVES IN MISSISSIPPI AND LOUISIANA.

44. STREETCARS LEAVE CANAL STREET

THE CANAL STREETCAR WOULD LEAVE CANAL IN 1964, TO BE REPLACED BY BUSES.  BUT 40 YEARS LATER, AFTER A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR PROJECT, THE STREETCARS WOULD RETURN.

45. THE BEATLES PLAY CITY PARK

BEATLEMANIA CAME TO NEW ORLEANS WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 16, 1964 WHEN THE BEATLES PLAYED CITY PARK STADIUM.  13,000 SCREAMING FANS PUT UP $5 TO SEE THE FAB FOUR IN THEIR FIRST U.S. TOUR. 

46. NASA COMES TO NEW ORLEANS

AS THE SPACE RACE OF THE 1960S HEATED UP, SO DID NEW ORLEANS' REPUTATION AS A KEY PLAYER IN THAT CHAPTER OF HISTORY.  THE NASA PLANT AT MICHOUD IN NEW ORLEANS EAST OPENED IN 1961.

47. GROWTH OF THE SUBURBS

BY THE LATE 1950S ORLEANS PARISH WAS FAR AND AWAY THE LARGEST IN THE STATE WITH MORE THAN 600,000 PEOPLE.  BUT THIS WAS ALSO A TIME WHEN PEOPLE FLED BY THE THOUSANDS TO SUBURBS IN ST. CHARLES, ST. BERNARD ST. TAMMANY AND JEFFERSON PARISH.

48. SCHOOL INTEGRATION

THE CITY WAS UNDERGOING PHYSICAL CHANGES IN THE LATE 1950S... AND WAS ABOUT TO ENDURE MUCH BIGGER CHANGES IN SOCIETY AS WELL.  IN 1960, A FEDERAL JUDGE ORDERED THE CITY'S SCHOOLS TO BE INTEGRATED.  THE CHANGE WOULD START SMALL, LITERALLY, WITH SIX SCHOOLCHILDREN.  ONE OF THEM, FIRST-GRADER RUBY BRIDGES, WOULD WALK INTO HER NEW SCHOOL, FRANTZ ELEMENTARY, ON NOVEMBER 14, 1960.

49. GREATER NEW ORLEANS BRIDGE OPENS

A VERY VISIBLE SIGN OF PROGRESS WENT UP IN THE CITY ABOUT THE TIME  CHANNEL 4 SIGNED ON THE AIR: THE GREATER NEW ORLEANS BRIDGE. JUST AS THE CAUSEWAY DID FOR THE NORTH SHORE IN 1956, THE BRIDGE OVER MISSISSIPPI RIVER OPENED UP A NEW WORLD ON THE WESTBANK WHEN ITS FIRST SPAN OPENED IN 1958.

50. UNIVERSITY OF NEW ORLEANS OPENS

WHEN WWL-TV SIGNED ON THE AIR IN 1957, NEW ORLEANS, THE MOST POPULOUS CITY IN THE STATE, STILL DIDN'T HAVE A PUBLIC UNIVERSITY.  BUT THAT SOON CHANGED WHEN LSUNO ACQUIRED AN ABANDONED U.S. NAVY AIR STATION RIGHT NEXT TO LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN.  IT OPENED TO STUDENTS IN 1958.