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A Bit of Nostalgia by Grace Bankston

My first LSU game was in Sept. of 1958. I was a newlywed and my hubby decided we were going to start going to see LSU play. His hometown was 30 miles from Baton Rouge and he grew up listening to LSU on the radio. Little did we know that taking me to watch LSU was going to lead to this 25 years later.

My three brothers played high school football and they went to see LSU play and one had season tickets. So I was very excited that I would now get to go. I had only ever been to the LSU campus once in my life for an academic event in biology while in high school.

I got all dressed up for the game in one of my best dresses and put on my pointy toe high heels. Marvin wore a nice suit and we were off from New Orleans to Baton Rouge.

The games started at 8 p.m. back then. We probably walked a mile in those pointy, high-heeled shoes and suits and then up the ramps to our seats.

I immediately loved the whole pageantry of the band, the crowd, and, eventually through a patient husband, the game itself.

Every fall our lives was now set in stone- we would be in Tiger Stadium when the Tigers were playing. Eventually we made the out of town games too.

Remember, 1958 was LSU’s first National Championship, a perfect season of 11-0. What an inaugural season for me.

A Bit of Nostalgia Part 2:

On our way to the games from New Orleans, our first stop was usually Roussel’s on Airline Highway in LaPlace for drinks where we ran into other LSU fans doing the same thing. New Orleans bus groups would always stop in LaPlace or at Lambert’s in Sorrento, so you were always running in to LSU fans. Remember, buses didn’t have restrooms back then like they do today, so frequent stops were required.

Our next stop would usually be Frank’s Steakhouse in Baton Rouge for a great dinner before getting to Tiger Stadium. We had to eat and drink before going to the game in those days because we were dressed to the nines and it was unheard of to eat and drink out the back of a car or pickup truck! That just wasn’t done in those days. Lots of women wore real fur coats to the games then. I can’t imagine today sitting in Tiger Stadium dressed like that with expensive clothes on!

The funny thing is, there was always a strict No Drinking policy in place, but there was always a strong whiskey smell in the air, and when the game would end the stands would be littered with empty whiskey, vodka, and gin bottles!(Stay tuned for more.)

Celebrating 26 Years by Re-Opening on the West Bank

Thanks to your tremendous support of LSU, we are celebrating our 26th year in business. It’s hard to believe it’s been over 26 years since I first came up with the idea of an off-campus, LSU-only store to serve the New Orleans area. My husband and daughter thought I was crazy. Salesmen thought, “Lady, I’ll sell you some LSU things, but you’ll really need to do a general gift store. You’re 80 miles from campus.” Well, we’re still around and they’re not. I even underestimated the love our worldwide fan base has for LSU.

We opened our doors December 1st, 1983 in our small Harvey location. Through those doors walked the best LSU fans you can imagine. It was a place to sit and talk LSU all day, and regulars jumped right in and helped with answering the phones, pricing merchandise, etc. It became our LSU family.

Well, we’ll be back on the West Bank opening a new store at 1818 Manhattan Boulevard on December 1st, 2009, our 26th anniversary. We'll have both Saints and LSU. While Marvin and I are still retired, we’ll be around with Susan and look forward to seeing all our great friends and customers again. So please stop by and say hello. We look forward to seeing all of you again.

Grace Bankston

ABOUT TYGER GIFTS
LSU products such as caps, tees, polos, gifts and souvenirs are just a few of the reasons
you will want to visit Tyger Gifts online. For over 25 years, Tyger Gifts has pleased avid Tiger fans worldwide.
GEAUX TIGERS!

HISTORY
Tyger Gifts started in business December 1st, 1983, over 25 years ago. We have doubled our size but are in the same convenient location that we've been in for 25 years. Grace and Marvin Bankston, LSU fanatics since 1958, started Tyger Gifts in 1983 to service LSU fans in the greater New Orleans area. They are now retired and enjoying more LSU games than ever. They have been greatly helped by their daughter Susan who has now taken over. Their love and support for LSU Athletics has only increased over the years.

OTHER INTERESTING FACTS
The LSU colors of purple and gold were chosen as those are two of the three colors of Mardi Gras. Another school had already chosen the third color, green, and purple and gold were the most available material colors for band uniforms at the time. Interesting, huh?

ADDRESS
3030 Severn Ave., Suite 8
Metairie, LA 70002
CONTACT US!
PHONE: 1-504-885-6579
FAX: 1-504-885-0513
Email: tygergifts@aol.com

DIRECTIONS
From Interstate 10:
Exit at Causeway Blvd. North
Turn left on 17th Street
Turn left on Severn
Store located at 3030 Severn & 21st Street in the
Severn Village Shopping Center.

MAP
Click here for driving directions map: Tyger Gifts Map

HOURS OF OPERATION
Mon-Sat.: 10:00 AM-6:00 PM
Sunday 12:00 PM-5:00 PM
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