From Prohibition to Apparition:
The History and Mystery of Southport Hall
By Burke A. BeyerThis story begins as most of mine do … in a bar. I went to Southport Hall to see the live band karaoke show (every Tuesday night, 9 PM) and struck up a conversation with a cheerful and impish bartender, Mark Bagnetto, who just happened to be one of the owners. I told him that I loved the atmosphere and that it seemed to have some history. He then candidly unleashed the interesting (and sometimes sordid) story of Southport Hall.
Originally opened by gaming kingpin Joe Hyland in 1896, the hall was an illegal gambling speakeasy with roulette, Keno, poker, blackjack and craps. In 1933, after changing hands a few times, the gambling hall was sold to notorious Mafioso Carlos Marcello. It remained an illegal gambling hall with the unique advantage of being right beside the Jefferson/Orleans parish line. At one point, a tunnel existed that led right into New Orleans for an easy escape from Jefferson Parish police. Also advantageous was its location directly over the levee from the Mississippi River – an easy drop-off for bootleggers eager to supply the hooch to the gamblers. To this day, if you look under the giant painting over the sound console, you can still see the Keno board.
Nowadays, Southport Hall is a legitimate music club with bands every weekend, a live band karaoke every Tuesday, bike night every Wednesday, and private parties available. Southport Hall is definitely one of the best live music venues in town, as you can see the stage from anywhere in the club, the strong drinks are decently priced, and with plenty of overhead space, smoke is not the annoyance it generally is in local bars. I was already licking my chops over the salacious Southport story when Bagnetto spoke the magic words that sent me scurrying for my steno pad. “Did I mention we had a ghost?”
“You need to talk to ‘Pops;’ he had a close encounter with the ghost.” Bagnetto led me into the front bar to meet a strapping older gentleman who clearly was not the type to fall prey to hysterics. I asked him about his encounter with the apparition and he responded, “I never believed in those sons-a-bitches, but I was here by myself and walked into the back, when the door slammed shut and it sounded like all hell broke loose, like furniture was being thrown around.” I inquired whether he had actually seen the apparition and he said, “ I’ll be honest with you, I ran out of the building. I wouldn’t go back in until somebody else showed up. I still won’t come in here by myself.”
His sister Kathy also had an encounter with the spirit they affectionately named “George.” “I was in the kitchen and saw something out of the corner of my eye moving, when I turned to look, I saw a man with a long beard in what appeared to be a Confederate soldier’s uniform.” She was not the only person to see the full body apparition of a Confederate soldier; there have been a number of sightings.
Kathy did some research and discovered that a fort had existed just down the street from Southport on River Road and Causeway Blvd. during the Civil War. The location of most of the sightings is near the back of the building where the bathrooms are. I had ingested my fair share of beer at this point and eagerly staggered to the back bathrooms in the hopes of encountering “George,” or at least relieving the pressure on my bladder.
As is often the case in the line to the women’s bathroom, I made fast friends with the girl ahead of me. I informed her of the existence of a Southport ghost and we chatted about the possibility of life after death. After about ten minutes of trying to answer the existential enigma without another person entering, we decided to join the party in the bar. I reached for the door and said “’Bye George – maybe I’ll see you next time.” At which point the door slammed forward as if kicked from the other side. I hastily opened the door to an empty hallway … or was it? Suffice it to say, I’m a believer.
If ghosts and former gangster gambling halls aren’t your thing, you will still find great bands, great people, and great cocktails at awesome prices. If you’re afraid of ghosts, don’t worry: there are two other bathrooms on site and “George” only haunts the back bathroom. But if you are like me, you’ll suck down some liquid courage, maybe sing some karaoke, and head to the back to ghost hunt. One thing is certain though; you will not be bored or uninspired at the Southport Hall.