WYES, the New Orleans PBS affiliate known for its specials highlighting New Orleans culture, raises the curtain on a new special Wednesday that explores the popularity of Biloxi and what was once the Coast’s flagship hotel, the Broadwater Beach Hotel.
“It’s iconic, it was Biloxi,” says local historian and author Jane Shambra, who supplied many photographs and material for the 90-minute special, which also features a host of Biloxi notables, and Broadwater guests and employees. The program airs Wednesday at 7, 8:30 and 11 p.m.
Says WYES of the program: “Bathing beauty contests, schooners, early hotels, fantasy islands, pristine beaches, and a landmark lighthouse drew people to the Gulf coast. For many visitors, Biloxi and the Broadwater Beach Hotel are forever linked in their collective memories.”
The Broadwater Beach, originally opened in 1939, became a playground for the visiting movie stars, well-known politicians and other notables. In the 1960s, under the Brown family the property saw a major upgrade, with a $3 million covered marina and heliport, with hotel guests greeted under a wing-shaped canopy at the property’s entrance.
Shambra, who oversees the trove of local history memorabilia at the Biloxi Public Library, says the program will strike a fond, emotional chord for viewers. “This program is going to be a nice surprise for people,” she said. “This shows the importance of a historic place, and the role it played in our everyday lives. Whether you lived here or were a tourist, everybody had memories of the Broadwater. And this is a chance to re-experience that era.”
Among those reminiscing about the Broadwater are restaurateur and raconteur Bobby Mahoney, longtime Biloxian Delmar P. Robinson, historian Val Husley, Biloxi Historical Administrator Bill Raymond, and David “Paul” Spencer, president of the Joe W. and Dorothy Dorsett Brown Foundation, named for the original Broadwater owners, and underwriter of the WYES special.
The program also gives a nod to one of Biloxi’s longtime local musicians: “In his song ‘Down in Biloxi,’ composer and lyricist Ray Fournier captures the flavor of the city: ‘Every night and every day, they’re having a party down on the Gulf Coast, down in Biloxi.'”
See a video preview
See photos and more about the program
Read Wikipedia’s background on the Broadwater
Biloxi to offer expanded school registration
Biloxi Public Schools administrators are taking steps  to make it more convenient for parents to register their children in public schools Wednesday and Thursday.
Registration will offered in the afternoon and evening – from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. – on Wednesday and in the morning and afternoon – from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. – on Thursday.
See your guide to registration
News and notes reminders
City Council: The Biloxi City Council will be addressing the issues of baseball and myriad other topics this afternoon at 1:30. To see the agenda, click here.
Infrastructure: The city hosts a community meeting on Thursday evening at 6 at the Gruich Center to give residents a preview of the huge, $116 million, three-year infrastructure project coming to the area between I-110 and Point Cadet, north of the CSX railway. To read details, click here.
Point Cadet opening: Point Cadet Plaza will be dedicated with family fun and games — and a splash — Saturday from 4 to 7 p.m. To read details, click here.
