Buster’s Night Club

Status: Closed

Parish: Calcasieu

Location: Vinton/East Orange

From http://www.texasfreeway.com: “On the left side of the road, between the river and the mile-long bridge, (…was…) Buster’s Night Club/East Orange, La. (It) was established by M.J. ‘Buster’ Johnson in the early ’30s, and billed as ‘The Spot You Should Not Miss.’ Johnson is said to have booked popular bands into his night spot regularly including, for a one-night stand, Guy Lombardo. (Later, Buster’s 2 was opened at the end of Cemetery Road, off Highway 90, where the Louisiana travel center now stands.)”

From www.orangeleader.com: “Buster’s Night Club was one of the nicer clubs. Johnson demanded that his customers treat each other with respect. He allowed no cursing in his club and would throw out anyone who violated his rules…Johnson always wore a coat and tie. ‘If you want to run a nice club, you have to look nice. I always wear a nice suit. I treat my customers nice until they get out of line,’ said Johnson in an interview.” In the mid to late 1960s, it was known as a “raunchy” state line bar that was frequented by Janis Joplin and her group of guy friends- “good girls” didn’t go there.

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Photo Credit: Orangeleader.com