In February of 1940, Albert and Elsie Flatau left the cold wintery months of Minnesota to travel to Louisiana. They traveled by car with friends, Art and Ethel Hanneman. One of their destinations was to visit Elsie's sister, Emma, and her family in Ponchatoula, Louisiana. They traveled to Alabama during the last week of February, then headed on to Ponchatoula, Louisana. While in Louisiana they drove an hour from Ponchatoula to New Orleans with Emma and her husband, Clint, to tour the seaside docks and other areas of New Orleans. The foursome then traveled on to Mississippi, Florida and up through Georgia, Tennessee, Missouri, and finally back home to Perham.

Clint & Emma and five of their eight children were at the family home when Albert & Elsie came to visit. The Parks lived at 39266 John Wild Road, Ponchatoula, LA.

The following is taken from a booklet that was written for Albert and Elsie’s 65th Wedding Anniversary celebrated on August 14, 1983.

Mississippi and Louisiana in 1940

In March 1940 Albert & Elsie traveled to Mississippi and Louisiana to visit relatives. They were accompanied by Art and Esther Hanneman. They then traveled to Florida, stopped at Atlanta, Georgia where the world premiere of “Gone with the Wind” made its debut. They toured Norris Dam at Knoxville, Tennessee, and continued their trip going throughout the Ozarks before heading home.

Check out the video on YouTube when Gone with the Wind premiered.