NATCHITOCHES – The basketball magic of Pistol Pete Maravich that captivated fans first during his record-shattering LSU playing career from 1967-70 will be rekindled Thursday evening at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum in Natchitoches.
“Celebrating Showtime! LSU’s Spectacular Pistol Pete” is the theme for the evening, beginning at 5:30 and wrapping up about 7. There is a $10 admission charge for adults. Military and first responders get in for half-price while students and members of the FLASH (Friends of Louisiana Sports and History) museum support group are admitted free.
The “Showtime!” exhibit made its debut in the Atmos Energy Gallery on the first floor of the museum kicking off the 2024 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Induction Celebration on June 22. It will remain in place through Oct. 19 at the acclaimed 27,500-square foot state museum located at 800 Front Street across from the traffic circle in downtown Natchitoches.
The reception, hosted by FLASH, features nearly 70 photos of Maravich during his LSU years, including many backstage images previously unseen. All are part of the Musemeche Collection, nearly all taken by Baton Rouge photographer John Musemeche, who as a young sports journalist in Baton Rouge in the 1960s became friendly with Pistol Pete and his father, LSU head coach Press Maravich.
The “Showtime!” exhibit also includes an award-winning 8-minute mini-documentary film, “We Were Fans,” by Drew Tewell that features memories from Musemeche about those days, and footage of Pistol Pete in action. A scrapbook of newspaper clippings from throughout Maravich’s LSU career, painstakingly compiled by future Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne (then a Baton Rouge teenager), is included in the exhibit along with a copy of the “Maravich” magazine published by Musemeche and two friends in collaboration with the superstar and his father before Pete’s senior season.
Some Maravich teammates from their days as Tigers are expected to attend and participate in a panel discussion with Musemeche after the film is screened early in the 6 o’clock hour. Attire is casual.
The exhibit is underwritten with support from Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers and the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Foundation in collaboration with the Louisiana State Museum system.
Light food and refreshments will be provided, along with beer and wine for adults. Guests can browse the entire two-story museum, which includes more Maravich memorabilia along with a vast collection of state sports history, including the Heisman Trophy exhibit featuring items from the state’s five Heisman winners: Billy Cannon (Baton Rouge, LSU), John David Crow (Springhill High School), Joe Burrow (LSU), Devonta Smith (Amite High School) and Jayden Daniels (LSU).