Louisiana Dance Halls | Dance Halls Archive - Page 132 of 173 - Louisiana Dance Halls

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.” Suzanne Breaux: “It was on way to Pecan Island.” West Summers: “This was a pretty ‘tough’ club, more fights there (than at) other (clubs).” Paul Breaux: “The Rock-a-Bye was a place that was well known for fights, and if hunters or fisherman stopped, they’d better behave themselves. I remember some hunters stopped one night and were from upstate somewhere, and one of them thought it’d get a laugh, if he started blowing on his duck call. Ambulance had to come pick the three guys up, because those inside, felt like they were being INSULTED, and that was a NO-NO. It’s located at the intersection of Hwy. 35 S. out of Kaplan, and Hwy. 82 coming out of Abbeville and turned in Esther and when it joined up with Hwy. 35, Hwy. 35 switched to Hwy. 82, which follows the coast to Pecan Island, Grand Chenere, Cameron and what was once know as Holly Beach, before Rita hit. The name Rock-a-Bye is so well known, the mention of it, makes most people know what you are talking about.” From information at the Kaplan Museum: “Rock a Bye Club: Located in Forked Island, this club was owned by Wilbert Gaspard. Various bands entertained the public. Wedding receptions were held there and the wedding march was a circle around the dance floor. Children were allowed in the building and many held their birthday parties there. This aerial picture of the dance club hung over the cigarette machine for as long as the Gaspard’s owned it. Their children also helped and often slept in a room near by.” Lurcey “Bruce” Broussard: “(…at the age of 16, I) decided to start my own group which I named ‘Bruce & the Rhythm Kings’. The original band members were (myself), Louis Meaux, Shelton ‘Shine’ Monic, Calvin Monic, and J.D. Villejoin. We played at the Kaplan High School gym and also at the American Legion Home while we were still in high school. The first club we played was the Pelican Inn in Kaplan in 1958. For eleven years, we played at Norma and Wilbert Gaspard’s Rock-a-Bye Club in Forked Island. We also played at the Rainbow Club in Kaplan on Sunday nights.” Featured in “Today’s Cajuns” by Philip Gould ...