From “Images of America: Ville Platte”, Arcadia Publishing, 2014 by Jean Keisel and Jane Vidrine: “The Teen-Age Center opened in the 1950s in Ville Platte’s City Park. Civic clubs got together to erect the building, which had a wooden dance floor and space for tables along the wall. The Center offered food and recreation as well as dances. It also served as a meeting place for civic organizations. After the Teen-age center burned down, it was replaced by the Civic Center.” The inaugural Louisiana Cotton Festival opening Contra-dance was held there in 1964. ...
Social Club
Social Club/Dancehall on west side of W. Railroad Avenue North Avenue (then #109) next to People’s Bank Trust Co.- backed up to the RR tracks- info from 1925 Ville Platte Sanborn Insurance Map ...
Snook’s Bar & Dancehall
Maurice Barzas and the Mamou Playboys Saturday night gig lasted 35 years after WW2, KBON Priscilla Alleman-Saturday night place: Hwy 22: by Teet’s Grocery ...
Rainbow Gardens Dancehall
From “Images of America: Ville Platte”, Arcadia Publishing, 2014 by Jean Keisel and Jane Vidrine: “The Rainbow Gardens dancehall stood across the street from the courthouse. It was also known as the fais-do-do. The entrance fee was 25 cents when Octave Fuselier was the proprietor. Only soft drinks were available in the dancehall. Someone who wanted an alcoholic beverage had to leave the dance and go to the saloon, conveniently located in another part of the building…Octave Fuselier owned the Courthouse Saloon and Restaurant, the Rainbow Gardens dancehall, a barbershop, and the Exchange Marketacross the street from the courthouse. The esablishment was open 24 hours a day. In the back room there were card games and slot machines, while a legal “bull pen” met inside the front door of the Rainbow Gardens.” From prairiedesfemmes.blogspot.com: “There used to be a big dance hall across from the Evangeline Parish courthouse in Ville Platte that people called the “Fais-Do-Do” but it was actually called the Rainbow Garden, or more commonly, “Le Hall ‘Tave” because it was owned by Mr. Octave Fuselier.” ...
Bank Note
Mamou played there August 3, 1990- photo from the Ville Platte memories FB group ...
Nonc Jake’s
Included in a 2006 Louisiana Cajun dance hall list compiled by WYNK Cajun DJ “Tee Mick” Abed, sent to me in personal correspondence from David Marcantel ...
Lodge Hall
Lodge hall on west side of High School Drive also called Conway (then #118-123)- info from 1938 Ville Platte Sanborn Insurance Map ...
Landreneau’s Hall
Newspaper item about quarterly meeting of the parish union there in The Opelousas Courier, June 16, 1888 http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83026389/1888-06-16/ed-1/seq-1/ ...
Jungle Lounge
Listed in “Readers recall clubs where they danced to Louisiana Music” from The Daily Advertiser, December 29, 1998: “Readers of The Daily Advertiser were asked to submit names of’ the clubs where they danced to Louisiana music in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s, with a brief recollection of what the club was like and who played there.” 1636 W. Main Street- Owned by Cliff & Jesse Manuel after WW2- then Eldon Manuel in 2007 ...
High Life
corner of 167 & Hwy 10- T Mamou- Fontenots from Belair Cove always involved in fhuge fights- put weevils under horse saddles so they would be irritated and jumpy, dumped red pepper on floor to break up dance ...