Purple Peacock
Status: Open / Seasonal
Parish: St. Landry
Location: Eunice
1467 E Laurel Avenue/ 3284 Hwy 190: Listed in the 1971 & 1989 Polk Eunice City Directory: Included in Emily Ardoin’s 2014 thesis “Fais do-do to ‘Hippy Ti-Yo’: Dance Halls of South Louisiana”: “The Purple Peacock is a swamp pop venue located on the highway in Eunice. It was opened in 1964 and still opens once a year (for a Mardi Gras dance). The building is of a frame construction, has a side gabled and metal roof, no parapet, and has a concrete pier foundation. The dance floor is constructed of wood strips. Overall interior layout is mostly the same, but the original bar was removed and two new bars were added. Some interior finishes have been altered, but the owner says the carpet on the walls is original (has been painted black). Exterior now clad with corrugated metal panels; rumored to have been wood siding originally.”
Gallery:
Photo Credit: Photo from the Johnnie Allan Collection at the Center for Louisiana Studies, University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Interior photo courtesy of Emily Ardoin. Exterior medium format photos by John Sharp.
david lambdin
I sat on the stage at this night club in 1966 while the English Band THE ZOMBIES played .
The entire dance hall was in total pandemonium as the band tried to play.
Eventually the ZOMBIES ran off stage never to return.
One Hell of a Party!
Reagan Manuel
My great Uncle Horace Manuel was manager there at one time I believe. He was from Duralde. That’s where my great grandfather, Colin Manuel, had a farm. Cotton, then rice. If anyone has info or pics I would appreciate that being shared w me. Thanks.
Charles Arthur Frazier
When I was at Fort Polk Louisiana I had a pass one weekend. I went to this place with a couple of buddies who appreciated the kind of music they played then. Soul music. The bet time I ever had.