Center for Louisiana Studies Archival Catalog

American Rice - Food for the World

16mm film by Kennedy Film Productions

-Machines replacing animals to help produce rice
-Rice in Asia, Africa and Europe
-First rice planted in North America
-Preparing soil for rice planting
-Machines used to plant rice
-Making rows for proper irrigation
-Planting, Fertilizing
-Harvesting rice - drying and being stored at the rice mill
-Sorting and grading the rice
-Refining the rice - Brown and white rice
-Quality certification
-Different rice dishes made around the world

Featuring: Rice, work, farming, foodways

Interview with J.C. Alpough

00:30 - Drafted into the service, went to Camp Funston in Kansas;
01:30 - Came down with Pneumonia and Influenza after being shipped to France;
02:05 - After getting sick, was sent back home to a camp in Mississippi and then Hoboken, New Jersey
02:20 - Didn't see any battle. Mentions that that was the first time he left home;
04:00 - The weather was bad in France while he was there - cold and rainy, stayed in canvas tents
05:00 - Says that he met many French people while there, but had trouble understanding them. He says they were nice to him;
06:00 - He saw some wounded soldiers while in France and that he feels very lucky to still be alive;
07:45 - Came into contact with German prisoners but wasn't allowed to talk to them;
09:20 - Description of a typical day while in the service;
10:20 - Talks again about not being able to understand the French people he met.
10:55 - Says that they never had a day off in the army and says the happiest day of his life was when he found out he was coming back home;
12:45 - Talks about his trip back to the US and about his return home. Arrived home in March on a train out of Camp Shelby;
14:55 - Received a bonus payment;
15:40 - He was a farmer before he went into the army. He went to school until the 7th grade, raised Catholic;
17:58 - Went back to farming and also got married when he returned from the service;
18:50 - African Americans were not allowed to vote when he went into the service, talks a bit about segregation in the army;
20:23 - Name of his Division (unclear) Company 806 Pioneer Infantry? Barry says that George Holmes was in Company 816;
22:00 - His birthday is June 6, 1894;

New Interview with John Stewart starts;

25:00 - Born in Jackson, LA in 1888; Was drafted in 1917
27:00 - His father was a cotton farmer. Was a fireman on the railroad after returning from the army;
27:30 - Was shipped to Camp Funston in Kansas, took a train from Donaldsonville;
28:25 - Talks about training at Camp Funston - tear gas training, was exposed to Mustard gas;
29:15 - Says he was rejected due to an injury, didn't go to France. Was in Company 805;
31:45 - Says that even thought they trained and marched together, he lived in segregated barracks;
32:45 - They had plenty of food, was payed $7.50 per month while serving; Next few minutes are unclear, talking some about benefits from the VA;
36:30 - Talks about when he came back from Kansas - went back to work, worked at Standard Oil in Baton Rouge and as a railroad fireman;
37:30 - Says it wasn't too hard for him to find a job, got a bonus after leaving the army;
39:10 - He says that he wanted to serve in WWII, but they wouldn't take him;
29:40 - Talks about how his family felt when he left; Didn't have voting rights when he was drafted;
40:50 - Talks about how happy family and friends were when he returned home, audio is difficult to understand;
41:40 - He says he wasn't scared to leave home;
42:50 - Talks about when he moved to Palmetto;
44:30 - Was also a fireman at the sawmill in Palmetto;
45:45 - More about being exposed to gas and being trained to use the gas mask;
47:20 - Discussing his discharge papers;
48:30 - Talking about hunting and life in the old days;
50:50 - Mentions that his father didn't serve in the army, talks about his dad's reaction to him being drafted;
54:00 - Flood of 1927, then mentions other floods that they had in the 20s;
53:30 - Barry asks if people working in the sawmill ever sang songs. John says he remembers them, but doesn't sing any;

Pre-run meeting morning of Mardi Gras, gathering outside the American Legion Hall - Mamou, LA with Captain Jasper Manuel (purple and yellow, with horn), Co-Captain Dale McGee (in green and red), and former Captain Mike Deshotels (in suit jacket)

Mardi Gras leaving town. Going down 6th Street on Mardi Gras morning under the leadership of Captain Jasper Manuel (purple and yellow) and Co-Captain Dale McGee (green and red). Note white flags.

Captain Jasper Manuel approaching house under white flag to ask permission for Mardi Gras to visit. Note Mardi Gras riders stopped at a distance on road.

Mardi Gras riders coming through gate, begging of charge.

Mardi Gras riders coming through pasture during charge.

Mardi Gras musicians' wagon, with Hampton Israel (plaid) on red accordion, Dennis Israel (sunglasses) on black accordion, and Gerald Gold (clown face).

Mardi Gras riders chasing chicken in pasture. Note unknown documenters in foreground.

Mardi Gras rider holding chicken high.

Mardi Gras riders visiting with host family and friends, with Barry Jean Ancelet (blue jean shirt) hugging Marc Miller (red hat and mask) in foreground, Paul Tate, Jr., in purple capuchon with mask hanging in background.

Mardi Gras riders on beer break between visits. Note rider in foreground with carpenter's belt.

Beer truck volunteers.

Mardi Gras riders leaving house after visit.

Mardi Gras run between houses, led by Captain Jasper Manuel (purple and yellow), Co-Captain Dale McGee (green and red), with BJA in clown mask on white pony in midground.

Mardi Gras riders eating gumbo back in town behind American Legion Hall, with Savy Augustin in brown jump suit (middle).

Mardi Gras rider dancing on horse.

Woman in town (not on run) with mortarboard hat dressed as man. Note painted mustache.

Band on street stage playing to crowd awaiting the return of the Mardi Gras run.