World War II was winding down and Biloxi, Mississippi, famous for its seafood industry, found new life-blood when Keesler Air Force Base came to town, and with it thousands of young soldiers flooding town for decades to come.

The Klein family, founders of Klein's Biloxi Bakery 30 years earlier, opened a an ultra modern art deco restaurant that was "always hoppin'" seven days a week. Billy de Wolf and Elvis were among the restaurant's many famous and soon-to-be-famous clientele.

This photo, intended for the local newspaper, was cut in half to fit the publishing space. Two of the Klein brothers, Fred & Junie Klein, kept each half as a souvenir. I inherited one half from my dad. Last year, while visiting my uncle Junie I discovered the half in his scrapbook. With a little Photoshop magic the halves were re-united after a 65 year "divorce."

The chatter, laughing, music from the jukebox, the smell of burgers on the grill all come back when I see this picture. The building was demolished for a new Federal Court House in 1973. Today, the court house stands vacant, awaiting the wrecking ball. The Biloxi Bakery history, photos, stories and recipes can be found in the book Remembering the Biloxi Bakery, available from LULU.com. View full size.