Club Rendezvous
Status: Closed
Parish: Evangeline
Location: Ville Platte
Terry McDaniel: “I’m from Pine Prarie, which was somehow a dry ward in the 1950s. I was a regular patron at both the Evangeline Club and Club Rendezvous from 1956-64. My buddies and I would take dates to the Evangeline Club to dance, then we’d take them home and go to Club Rendezvous, where the girls had looser restrictions and hours. They were nice girls- but Club Rendezvous was a little lower class than the Evangeline Club and the clientele less prestigious.”
From “Images of America: Ville Platte”, Arcadia Publishing, 2014 by Jean Keisel and Jane Vidrine: “During the 1940s and 1950s, this building housed the Club Rendezvous, owned by Hubert Demoruelle. The Rendezvous was a popular nightclub where locals could hear and dance to big bands and jazz groups. Local talent was often featured there too. In the back was a card room, with a craps table and slot machines. Later, it was briefly called the Jungle Club, then it became the Kit Kat Lounge.”
Cliff Manuel worked there (1932-1942) and sent postcards to his grandfather (Hubert “Pappy” DeMoruelle) during his time overseas in World War II.
Contact Info: N
Photo Credit: Artwork by Leah Kiesel
Richard DesHotels
Nice details pertaining to the Club Rendezvous in Ville Platte LA (1939-1984). A couple of clarifications: Cliff Manuel did work at the Club Rendezvous, but not from 1931-1942. The club opened in 1939. Hubert “Pappy” DeMoruelle was not Cliff’s grandfather, just a friend and employee.
The club was enlarged during the mid 1940’s to accomadate the large crowds, many soldiers from Ft. Polk La. The club was built to provide live “popular” music to the area. French music was seldom heard from the Club Rendezvous. Although local star, Jimmy C. Newman, got his start at the
Club Rendezvous with Happy Fats and the Rayne-Bo Ramblers, it was country swing that they played. Big Bands (brass) performed at the club frequently. The first band that performed at the Club Rendezvous was named “The Martels.” They were a brass band from Opelousas LA. Doc Guidry from
Crowly LA was another regular performer.
After “Pappy” retired in 1952, Cliff Manuel leased the Club Rendezvous for a while and then he and his brother, Jessie Manuel, opened their own club, The Jungle Lounge, a mile west of the Rendezvous. The Club Rendezvous later became THE KIT KAT .