Lake Shore Club

All photos by John Sharp except the 1964 bingo flyer from Facebook group Lafayette Memories by Michael Touchet “BINGO IN THE ANCHOR ROOM!” Owner was E.J. Ayo- Ernest Tubb played there 1971 Included in Emily Ardoin’s 2014 thesis “Fais do-do to ‘Hippy Ti-Yo’: Dance Halls of South Louisiana”: “The Lakeshore Club is a waterfront dinner club on Lake Arthur. The club primarily featured swamp pop music. The construction is brick and concrete masonry unit, the roof is side gabled and metal, the foundation is a concrete slab. The dance floor is composed of acoustic tile. There is a bar located in the same room as the dance floor. The building is currently vacant but in good shape. The integrity of the original building is fair. Some interior finishes have noticeably been altered, but 1950s bar and concrete screen in restaurant portion remain. Integrity of dance hall space unknown.” All photos by John Sharp except the 1964 bingo flyer from Facebook group Lafayette Memories by Michael Touchet ...

Shop Lounge

Closed lounge in a old oilfield workshop ...

Silver Dollar

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.” ...

T-George’s

George Conner: “Located on 26- 2nd red light on Left- glass repair shop on site now.” Fran Morton: “I lived in Lake Arthur, LA for a good long while. Sunday afternoon we all gathered at “T-George’s” dance hall. Ceiling maybe 8’3″, dance floor on 17 degree slant. Fun? Good really ole time Cajun gentlemen playing fiddle,squeeze box, fiddle and an occasional triangle.” ...

George’s Club

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.” mentioned in Today’s Cajun- Philip Gould- 1980 ...

Beer 30 Lounge

Cajun bands on Sundays- building has previously been a movie theater, bar, and a roller skating rink. ...

Delia’s Lounge

Occassional music- Pine Hill Haints play there Mardi Gras day ...

Red Rose

George Conner: “Red & Delta Giles are the owners- he is former Mayor of Lake Arthur. The Red Rose has been open since the 1960s. It is north of town at 810 Iowa Avenue near Doland Avenue.” Included in Emily Ardoin’s 2014 thesis “Fais do-do to ‘Hippy Ti-Yo’: Dance Halls of South Louisiana”: “The Red Roseis located at teh edge of Lake Arthur and has primarily featured Cajun music. It is currently active (open). The construction is frame and the roof is front gabled and metal.” Cheryl Theresa Ringuette Ciamarra: “I grew up in New Orleans – a big city and had never seen a 4 H club or knew that Rice grew in Louisiana…so coming to Lafayette as a Freshman in college in 1974 the Cajun way of life was Culture Shock to this city slicker who had seen alot of bars and jazz and music in the French Quarter ..unbeknownst to my Devout Catholic Parents, but this Cajus French music was entirely NEW to me! I was in Lafayette Park in September listening to Clifton Chenier and a young guy named Zachary Richard playing music he called Zydeco! A college sorority sister Jerry Dugas said this music festival was NOTHING, if I was ready to see the REAL thing she would arrange to take me to THE RED ROSE in Lake Arthur where I could learn the authentic french 2 step and cotillian dancing from the local BEST Teacher her father the local radio DJ whe was named after. So we went to Lake Arthur one weekend and on a SUNDAY AFTERNOON he took 3 of us young 18 year old girls to the dance hall where only French was spoken. We were told to look and listen He patiently took us out on the dance floor one by one teaching us to waltz in the cotillian circles of circles style, IT WAS MAGNIFICIENT and every couple on the floor knew the dance kept their distance and were serious about dancing and having fun. It was so dark in there you would have thought it was Friday or Saturday night but it was in the middle of the day on SUNDAY! (Guess when you get that old they have more energy in the middle of the day LOL) Energy yes the dance went on for hours one band better than the next and I received a card that stated I had graduated from the Gerry Dugas School of Cajun Danicing! I have rarely enjoyed an evening out as much it was delightful and spent the next 4 years of my college life dancing until the sun came up at as many establishments we could find. I would only drink ice water after ten o o clock because as a true dancer knows it is more fun to dance than drink. Maple Leaf bar Uptown in New Orleans occasionally still has cajun bands on Thursday nights. If you get a chance to hear Rockin Doopsie don’t miss it!” ...