Famous folks Web thread tells interesting stories of visits

There’s an interesting “thread” on our Web site at www.iberianet.com, started by an item on our Forum titled “Famous people who lived in New Iberia” and then commented on by more than 20 others who offered comments about famous people in our community.

I’d not heard it before, but the original Forum post reported that billionaire Howard Hughes lived for a while in a home on Louisiana 182 near the airport, and Rex Reed, a once-famous film critic, lived for a while in a mobile home on Center Street.

That inspired others to comment on other famous people who visited our area, including:

• Actress Carrie Fisher was reportedly spotted in Bi-Lo.

• Singer Tina Turner used to perform at a local club.        

• Actor Brendan Fraser was spotted in town.

• TV news anchor Peter Jennings and his wife reportedly visited Avery Island.

• Shaquille O’Neal, LSU and NBA basketball star, has visited several times.

• Famed author James Lee Burke has a home here.

• Actors John Goodman, McCulley Culkin, John Candy and Chris Farley were all mentioned for having eaten years ago at LeRosier.

• Movie cowboy Gene Autry was here years ago.

• Elly Mae Clampett (Donna Douglas) reportedly milked a cow at a dairy in New Iberia.

There were other famous people mentioned in this thread as either being spotted here or at least that the person posting the comment said they’d heard the famous person was here.

I know actors Dennis Quaid and Kathleen Turner were here once while shooting a movie in the area and believe actor and comedian Dan Aykroyd was here a time or two.

And I think I recall President George H.W. Bush, father of current President George W. Bush, was here briefly to check on things in the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew.

No doubt there have been other celebrities spotted locally. Go to our Web site and check out the “Most Talked About Stories” on the front page. Scroll down and click on “All Talked About Stories” and you’ll find “Famous people who lived in New Iberia” and you can add to this list.

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I spent Saturday morning helping the New Iberia Rotary Club sell hot fried sweet potatoes at the sixth annual Lydia Cajun Food Fest.

It was a bit cool in the breeze that morning, but otherwise a beautiful day to be part of a big crowd having fun and helping to raise money for the Lydia Cancer Association.

This has turned into a really nice local festival, especially if you like to try interesting and tasty food. There were pork chop sandwiches, grilled quail wrapped in bacon, soft shell crab poboys, shrimp and crab bisque on crab cakes, carrot beignets, shrimp kabobs, fried dill pickles, funnel cakes, frog legs and lots of other tempting and tasty looking dishes offered.

Reports are there were good crowds on hand both Friday night and all day Saturday. Hope they generated a lot of money for the good works the Lydia Cancer Association is supporting. It sure was fun.

Will Chapman is publisher of The Daily Iberian.