Museum of the Gulf Coast

09/03/2026

The Museum will be closed on Monday, 9/7 for Labor Day.

We will be open at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, 9/8.

Have a safe and happy holiday!

09/02/2026

Happy Birthday Jimmy Clanton

Born: September 2, 1938
Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Jimmy Clanton, often called the “swamp pop teenage idol,” rose to fame after writing and recording the hit song “Just a Dream” in 1958 for the Ace Records label. The single reached No. 4 on the Billboard chart, sold over a million copies, and established Clanton as a major figure in the emerging swamp pop and New Orleans R&B sound. He performed on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand and toured with top artists of the era, including Fats Domino, Jerry Lee Lewis, and The Platters.

Clanton formed his first band, the Rockets, in 1956 while attending Baton Rouge High School. As one of the few white singers to emerge from the New Orleans R&B/rock ’n’ roll scene, he became a key voice in the teen-music wave of the late 1950s and early 1960s. All seven of his U.S. Top 40 hits were released on Ace Records. His biggest successes included “Just a Dream” (Pop No. 4, R&B No. 1 in August 1958), “Go Jimmy Go” (No. 5 in early 1960), and “Venus in Blue Jeans” (No. 7 in 1962). In early 1961, Clanton was drafted and served two years in the U.S. Army, yet he continued to chart hits such as “Don’t Look at Me” and “Because I Do.” His only U.K. chart entry, “Another Sleepless Night,” reached No. 50 for one week in July 1960.

Clanton also appeared on the big screen, starring in Alan Freed’s rock-and-roll film Go Johnny Go and later in Teenage Millionaire, with music arranged and produced by Dr. John and trumpeter/arranger Charlie Miller. During his peak years, he was managed by Cosimo Matassa, the influential New Orleans studio owner and engineer who shaped the city’s signature sound. In May 1960, Ace Records announced in Billboard that Philadelphia had declared the week of May 16 “Jimmy Clanton Week.”

In the 1970s, Clanton worked as a disc jockey at WHEX in Columbia, Pennsylvania, and continued performing in oldies revues, maintaining a lasting connection to the fans who helped make him a teen idol of the swamp pop era.

09/02/2026

Happy Birthday Archie Bell

Born: September 1, 1944
Henderson, TX

Archie Bell was born in Henderson, Texas, and grew up in Houston, where he began singing at the age of five in a Baptist church in the city’s Fifth Ward. While attending E.O. Smith Junior High School, he formed a vocal quartet called the Drells—later known as Archie Bell & the Drells—featuring Billy Butler, Joe Cross, and James Wise. The group first made their mark performing at school talent shows and neighborhood sock hops. Discovered by Skipper Frazier, they recorded their debut single, “She’s My Woman, She’s My Girl,” in San Antonio in 1960.

In 1961, Bell received his draft notice, and the group’s future appeared uncertain. One day, while Bell was feeling discouraged, Billy Butler lightened the mood by showing him a dance he called “the tighten up.” Bell transformed that bit of slang into a new groove-oriented song. He has often said that the spoken intro—“We don’t only sing, but we dance just as good as we walk”—was a direct response to a DJ who remarked after President Kennedy’s assassination that nothing good came out of Texas. Bell wanted listeners to know that Archie Bell & the Drells were from Texas—and proud of it.

“Tighten Up” was released in 1967 and quickly became a regional hit in Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. While Bell was stationed in Germany with the U.S. Army, the song was picked up by Atlantic Records for national distribution. It debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 on March 30, 1968, and reached No. 1 on May 18, also topping the R&B chart. When Bell returned from military service in April 1969, the group toured extensively and followed up with hits such as “I Can’t Stop Dancing” and “(There’s Gonna Be A) Showdown.”

The staying power of “Tighten Up” remains undeniable. In 2004, Texas Monthly ranked it No. 5 on its list of “The 100 Best Texas Songs,” and Rolling Stone placed it at No. 265 on its “500 Greatest Songs of All Time.” Today it is widely regarded as one of the earliest funk hits, a foundational record in the genre’s evolution.

09/01/2026

Out of an abundance of caution for the safety of our patrons, volunteers, and staff, the Museum will be closed Tuesday, 9/1. We plan to open at 9 a.m. Wednesday.

Please stay safe and we'll see you when we reopen!

08/31/2026

Does anyone from Orange remember the Whangdoodle Cafe?

A young woman stands outside the Whangdoodle Cafe in Orange, Texas. The photo is undated, but it may be the late 1940s because I found some advertisements from 1947. It was on Green Avenue. I almost didn't post this because it's lacking in clarity and it's way too contrasty, but ... "Whangdoodle Cafe?" There's no way I can NOT post a photo of a place with that name.

Courtesy The Portal to Texas History.

08/31/2026

Happy Birthday Jordan Babineaux
Born: August 31, 1982
Port Arthur, Texas

Jordan Babineaux attended Lincoln High School in Port Arthur before continuing his education and football career at Southern Arkansas University. At SAU, he became one of the most accomplished players in school history, setting multiple Gulf South Conference records. Against Delta State in 2003, he recorded 208 kickoff return yards and two kickoff return touchdowns, including a 100-yard return that tied the NCAA Division II record.

In 2004, Babineaux signed with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent and developed into one of the team's most versatile defenders, playing both cornerback and safety. He became known for making big plays at critical moments, earning the nickname "Big Play Babs."

His most famous play came during the 2007 NFC Wild Card Game against the Dallas Cowboys. After quarterback Tony Romo mishandled the snap on a potential game-winning field goal, Babineaux made a diving tackle near the 2-yard line, preserving Seattle's 21-20 victory and creating one of the most memorable moments in Seahawks playoff history.

After seven seasons with Seattle, Babineaux joined the Tennessee Titans in 2011. That October, he returned an interception 97 yards for a touchdown against the Cleveland Browns, adding another dramatic play to his NFL career. He played three seasons with Tennessee before retiring from professional football in 2014.

Following his playing career, Babineaux moved into broadcasting, returning to Seattle as an analyst for 710 ESPN Seattle's Seahawks pregame and postgame coverage. His brother, Jonathan Babineaux, also enjoyed a long NFL career as a defensive tackle with the Atlanta Falcons. Together, the Babineaux brothers represent one of Port Arthur's most successful football families.

08/31/2026

Happy Birthday Frank Robinson
August 31, 1935 – February 7, 2019
Beaumont, Texas

Born in Beaumont, Frank Robinson became one of the most accomplished and influential players in Major League Baseball history. During a 21-year career from 1956 to 1976, he played for five teams and became the only player ever named Most Valuable Player in both the National and American Leagues.

Robinson won the NL MVP in 1961 after leading the Cincinnati Reds to the pennant. After joining the Baltimore Orioles, he captured the 1966 Triple Crown and AL MVP award, batting .316 with 49 home runs and 122 RBI. That same year, he led Baltimore to its first World Series championship and was named World Series MVP after the Orioles swept the Los Angeles Dodgers. He helped the Orioles win another championship in 1970.

A 14-time All-Star, Robinson batted .300 or better nine times and hit at least 30 home runs in 11 seasons. He retired with 2,943 hits, 586 home runs, 1,812 RBI, and 5,373 total bases. His home run total ranked fourth in MLB history when he retired.
Robinson made history again in 1975 when he became Major League Baseball's first Black manager, serving as player-manager of the Cleveland Indians. He later managed the San Francisco Giants, Baltimore Orioles, and Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals. In 1989, he was named American League Manager of the Year while leading the Orioles.

Following his years on the field, Robinson held several executive positions with Major League Baseball and continued advocating for diversity and fairness within the sport. He was later named Honorary President of the American League.

Robinson was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 1982. His legacy as an MVP, Triple Crown winner, World Series champion, groundbreaking manager, and baseball executive secured his place as one of the most important figures in the history of the game.

08/27/2026

Happy Birthday Jack Camp
Born: August 27, 1916 - Jennings, Louisiana
Hometown: Port Arthur, TX

Died: June 7, 1942, Midway Islands

Jack Camp of Port Arthur, a 1934 graduate of Port Arthur High School, had just completed his law degree from the University of Texas when the United States entered World War II. As a member of the Naval Reserve, Ensign Camp was called to active duty and assigned to Patrol Squadron 44 on Midway Island, where he served as a pilot of a PBY Catalina seaplane.

During a scouting patrol, Camp’s crew spotted a Japanese carrier group advancing toward Midway. Though their slow-moving aircraft came under heavy enemy fire, they managed to relay vital information back to U.S. forces before being shot down. The intelligence gathered from that mission proved critical to the American victory in the Battle of Midway.

Wounded during the attack, Camp was helped into a life raft by surviving crewmates, but the raft was strafed by enemy aircraft, killing him. He was buried at sea on June 7, 1944. Ensign Jack Camp’s bravery and sacrifice stand as a powerful reminder of the courage shown by young Americans who gave their lives in service to their country. He is honored as a member of the Museum of the Gulf Coast’s Notable People Hall of Fame.