Gerry Claude’s Jazzy Ride
Gerry Claude’s “Jazzy Ride” has been installed in its new home in Magazine Court located near 3806 Magazine Street. Roslyn and James Schneider are this car’s sponsors and are happy to bring a spark of art to the courtyard. You can read more about Gerry Claude, and see her sketches of her streetcar, on her blog by clicking here.
2 comments Nola | Streetcar Photos
[...] Claude’s second streetcar is called Throw Me Something Mister (her first car, Jazzy Ride, is here). It’s located on the riverfront, right outside of the Imax theater at the Aquarium of the [...]
Street cars made transportation in New Orleans affordable (7 cents 2/3 transfers), comfortable, and timely–knowing your route you could plan to be on time for whatever you had to do. Peak work times always had extra cars. Conductors got to know regular riders & vice versa–sometimes they would go a little slower for certain stops to “catch” a certain person or call a certain street to awaken a sleepy rider. They could tell you directions to most any place around the city and which cars would be best to get you there. Conductors would help people who needed help getting up or down, carrying large packages, or with children. It was fun to go up and stand by the motorman. Another plus was you got to know people & talk to them while waiting for your car or riding to your “stop” or sharing your newspaper with them. Chivalry was a way of life. Only after I was an adult did the fare go up to a dime.
The only thing I hated was black people had to sit in the back of a sign. Sometimes whites would see empty seats in front of them empty & not move up so more black people could sit down. I always felt this was so very unfair to see them crowded in the back. When this law was changed I felt so extremely happy–at last the law was just and everybody could choose to sit more comfortably.
The worse thing that happened for people esp. the poor and for our environment was re-placing the street cars with dirty busses that were never as dependable, affordable, or on time–a whole new culture re-placed the comrade of the “ole street car days”.
I understand street cars are having a come-back–perhaps the best elements of an older, friendlier culture will return as well. This will be such a blessing for all of us and our environment. Viva la street car!!!