French Quarter in New Orleans in Orleans Parish, Louisiana — The American South (West South Central)
Italian Hall
1020 Esplanade Ave.
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, December 23, 2011
1. Italian Hall Marker
Inscription.
Italian Hall. 1020 Esplanade Ave.. This imposing complex was assembled out of old buildings (one by architect James Gallier, dating to 1835) and new construction from between 1912 and 1920. As the Unione Italiana, which combined many Italian benevolent societies, it was the home of both the Contessa Entellina Society Band, made up of Albanian-Sicilian Italian-Americans and the Roma Band, of Sicilian Italian-Americans. During their rivalry a musician could be in one, not both. Many jazz bands played here for dances including the New Orleans Rhythm Kings upon their return to New Orleans. In 1929, it housed the Jones-Collins Astoria Hot Eight recording session, the first racially-integrated recording in New Orleans; Westwego-born clarinetist Sidney Arodin (Arnondin) jumped the color barrier. New Orleans Jazz Commission – 2001
This imposing complex was assembled out of old buildings (one by architect James Gallier, dating to 1835) and new construction from between 1912 and 1920. As the Unione Italiana, which combined many Italian benevolent societies, it was the home of both the Contessa Entellina Society Band, made up of Albanian-Sicilian Italian-Americans and the Roma Band, of Sicilian Italian-Americans. During their rivalry a musician could be in one, not both. Many jazz bands played here for dances including the New Orleans Rhythm Kings upon their return to New Orleans. In 1929, it housed the Jones-Collins Astoria Hot Eight recording session, the first racially-integrated recording in New Orleans; Westwego-born clarinetist Sidney Arodin (Arnondin) jumped the color barrier.
New Orleans Jazz Commission – 2001
Erected 2001 by New Orleans Jazz Commission.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Arts, Letters, Music. A significant historical year for this entry is 1912.
Location. 29° 57.926′ N, 90° 3.793′ W. Marker is in New Orleans, Louisiana, in Orleans Parish. It is in the French Quarter. It is on Esplanade Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1020 Esplanade Avenue, New Orleans LA 70116, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Louisiana’s River Parishes. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Deep South, on the Gulf Coast, and in the Great River Road Region. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the Viceroyalty of New France, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, the Louisiana Purchase, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, December 23, 2011
2. Italian Hall Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on February 12, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 3, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 1,632 times since then and 45 times this year. Last updated on January 26, 2012, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. Photos:1, 2. submitted on January 3, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.
