Return Flight

Restoration of the New Orleans Lakefront Airport

The Lakefront Airport terminal in New Orleans is undergoing a complete restoration returning the building to its original Art Deco appearance and grandeur. Filmmaker Bess Carrick’s documentary, Return Flight, will chronicle this remarkable, once in a lifetime restoration of one of the very few remaining Art Deco terminal buildings left in the United States. Focusing on the artisans as they recreate the interior of the airport Carrick’s film will follow these expert craftsmen as they undertake the restoration of the grand lobby and atrium’s original marble, terrazzo, plaster and the Art Deco lighting fixtures.

Featured in the film will be Richard Stewart, Premier Source, and Clyde Martin, American Tile and Terrazzo, who will restore all the grand staircase steps, the marble walls and columns, the terrazzo floor and mosaic using marble specific diamond honing techniques and special grinding applications to the terrazzo. Southern Stucco and Raymond Pertuit with Ad Graphics will match and recreate the beautiful aviation themed WPA style plaster and decorative elements that appear throughout the lobby and atrium ceilings. These artifacts are unusual because they depict tools used to build aircraft and dials and gauges from the early days of aviation. Master glass craftsman, George Scott, will recreate the Art Deco lighting fixtures, such as the enormous pendulum chandeliers that hung from the ceiling of the grand atrium down into the lobby.

Architect Alton Ochsner Davis, with Richard C. Lambert Consultants, who is the chief architect for the Lakefront Airport project, will take viewers on a historical tour of the airport’s extraordinary beginnings under the direction of Huey P. Long and Abe Shushan. Alton’s passion for this project infuses our film’s story as he brings the viewer with him as he follows the restorations underway through to the installation and grand opening to the public in 2012. The completion of this Art Deco jewel is the most interesting of all the building ventures to come out of the devastation of hurricane Katrina.

Carrick joins with Jackson Hill, Jim Land and WLAE, the New Orleans affiliate for Louisiana Public Broadcasting – PBS, in the creation of this hour long documentary for television.

To be featured in the opening visual credits of this film as a major sponsor and receive VIP status at all of our events please contact Bess Carrick at 504-202-1504 or Butler Burdine at 504-710-4001. To make a tax deductible contribution to our 501-c-3, please make checks payable to:

Educational Broadcasting Foundation
521 Baronne St. Suite 405
New Orleans, LA 70113.

Please contact Producer, Bess Carrick, at 504-202-1504 with any questions or for more infomation.

The filmmakers acknowledge the wisdom and hard work of the Non Flood Protection Asset Management Authority commissioners who created the opportunity for this historic building to be returned to its original Art Deco grandeur and into commerce as it once again serves the people of New Orleans and the lucky visitors who arrive to visit by air.