Dancehalls in Natchitoches Parish

Comus Club

From http://www.canerivernha.org/historic-natchitoches: “Blanchard Building – Also known as the LaCoste Building, this building was constructed in 1850. The second floor was a dance hall called the Comus Club. The building is one of two in Natchitoches that retains its original carriage drive from the street into the rear courtyard.” Washington Street, Natchitoches ...

Jungle Bar

Dayna Bowker Lee: “If you’re driving to Natchitoches, there’s (an) old hall still standing on Hwy. 1 not too far south of Cloutierville on the east side of the road. It’s a huge red barn structure. I’m pretty sure I have a photo of it, and I think it was called the Jungle Bar.” ...

Roque’s Grocery

Dayna Bowker Lee: “Roque’s Grocery, which is a neighborhood grocery, dance hall, and live music venue, is still operational as far as I know – it’s at 235 Carver Avenue in Natchitoches.” ...

White Elephant

Dayna Bowker Lee: “There were a few halls in Cloutierville. One was the White Elephant near the intersection of Hwy 1 and 495 on the west side of Hwy. 1…” ...

Kirkland’s Hall

Dayna Bowker Lee: “Across the river (from the area of the Blue Moon) on Hwy. 119 was Kirkland’s Hall, aka, the Friendly Escape. It stood until the 1990s when it collapsed – it was not too far south from Frenchie’s…” ...

Blue Moon

Dayna Bowker Lee: “Just down from Wood’s (Hall) on the same side of the river, Hwy. 484, was the Blue Moon on the Roque Brother’s property, across from the store.” ...

Wood’s Hall- The Friendly Place

Dayna Bowker Lee: “On Hwy. 484- Also known as “Friendly Place”” From http://winhttp.nsula.edu/regionalfolklife/crcc/WoodsHall.html : “Although it is no longer in operation, Wood’s Hall was the most successful Creole juke joint on the river. At various times, there were at least ten ‘halls’ in operation along Cane River. Before Wood’s Hall closed in the 1980s, it was the gathering place for Cane River Creoles. The Hall was open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights. Admission was free except on Sundays, when the weekly dance was held. Two Creole storytellers talked recently about their memories of Wood’s Hall. ‘They had quite a few people when Wood built that hall and when they saw the business that he had, there were quite a few people along here to build halls, but they never made it. . . . No one ever did draw business away from Wood’s.’ ‘It cost $1 to get in when there was a band – Yuke and Dumah [LaCour] and them.’ ‘But you had your dollar’s worth of fun… You’d wish Monday would never come. It was funny, but they never had a dance on Saturday where you didn’t have to do anything on Sunday, but they had them on Sunday night and you’d be sicker than three dogs the next day.’ ‘You’d be working in the hot sun the next day with a wine hangover. And Daddy would say, “You had your fun last night, now have your fun today.” About 8 that morning you’d say, “I ain’t never going to take another drink.” ‘Yeah, but you couldn’t wait until next weekend.'” ...

Fiesta Club

From http://www.crt.state.la.us/Assets/OCD/hp/nationalregister/historic_contexts/The_African_American_Experience_in_Louisiana.pdf: “(A) popular club in Natchitoches Parish that offered African Americans opportunities for recreation and entertainment they could not enjoy at other local venues (was) the Fiesta Club…The Fiesta Club was the place to be on Sunday afternoons where the activities included horse races, football, baseball, and billiards.” ...

Moonlight Inn

From Louisianafolklife.org: “In the early 1950s, Herman White on guitar and his brother who had taken up fiddle began playing country music shows at theaters and schools. Gradually, the band grew to an eight-piece band known as the Louisiana Ramblers and played area clubs such as the Moonlight Inn at Marthaville.” ...