What's in a Name?: Lecompte (2005)
Lost Louisiana
Details
Collection:LPB
Genre: Documentary
Place Covered: Lecompte, Rapides Parish, Louisiana, 31.088570, -92.396137
Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority
Date Issued: 2005-12-08
Duration: 00:08:54
Subjects: History | Horse racing | HORSES | Lea's Lunchroom (Lecompte, La.) | Food | Pies | JOHNSON, LEA | Tonight show (Television program)
Contributors:
- Whinham, Charlie Host
- Woods, Virnado Photographer
- Carnal, Evelyn Interviewee
- Jones, Rosa Interviewee
- Thigpen, Charles Interviewee
- Trailer, Toby Interviewee
- Johnson, Lea Speaker
- Carson, Johnny Speaker
Description
This segment from the “What’s in a Name, Part 1” episode of the series “Lost Louisiana” from December 8, 2005, features Charlie Whinham’s visit to Lecompte in Rapides Parish. He talks to Evelyn Carnal, the director of the Lecompte Historical Museum, and Mayor Rosa Jones about the town being named after a mid-19th century racehorse named Lecomte and the letter “p” being added to the town’s name after a painter misspelled it on the train depot in 1882. He also tours Lecomte’s former racetrack with resident Charles Thigpen. Next, Whinham visits Lea’s Lunchroom, the establishment that gives Lecompte the designation as the “Pie Capital of Louisiana.” He speaks to general manager Toby Trailer about the restaurant and his grandfather Lea Johnson’s famous appearance on “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson” in 1989.