French in the Morning 02: Happy Fats & CB Radio in Rayne

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 23:42 — 41.9MB)

In the second episode, I start discussing the AMAZING 1959 master’s thesis about French-language radio from Elizabeth Roberts, a student from LSU. Her study provided a model for my own work. Here’s a map she included that shows the areas of Louisiana with a heavy French population. No surprise, this is where most all the radio stations she documented were located.

Here’s a listing of the radio stations in her thesis.

But, as with all studies, there are some mistakes. About the performer Happy Fats, she said he appeared on both the Grand Ol’ Opry and the Amos ‘n’ Andy radio show. I asked a local expert on Happy Fats, Tony Olinger, about that claim.

I was surprised that Tony knew my grandfather, John”Tic Toc” Richard. I knew that was his CB handle in the 1970s. I did not know that was also the name of his watch repair shop. Here’s an ad from 1965 for this shop. I’m also posting the newspaper article that I discuss in this particular episode.

Share this: