North Tenth Street in the Miller-Roy Building Monroe, Louisiana From Sepia Socialite, May 1942: The Ritz Nite Club Is Monroe’s Sports Center “The Ritz Night Club in Monroe, one of the finest in the city, is one of the contributions to the sporting and entertainment world that Willie J. “Teedlum” Smith has given to this northeast Louisiana city. He is one of the most popular and best known men in town, especially famous for his sporting characteristics. He is well versed on the reputation and standing of all the leading bands, many of them having been booked by him. The Savoy Ball Room, also operated by him on North Tenth Street in the Miller-Roy Building, is the headquarters for the city sports and dance enthusiasts. Mr. Smith has only been in business for two years, but has always been outstanding as a true sportsman and a regular fellow about town. Recently he presented the ‘Rays of Rhythm,’ popular girls’ band. The bands brought to Monroe and northeast Louisiana under his promotion are: Earl Hines, who will play here on a return engagement in December, and Count Basie in January. Miss Mary Lee Moore, pictured, is the day manager of the Ritz Night club, that is located at Ninth and Layton Streets, and is on elf the finest entertainment spots in the city. Mr. Smith’s new Mercury was bought through Colored salesman Louis James. He reported its performance perfect after a trip to Detroit, Chicago, and other points this summer.” ...
Ritz Nite Club
From Sepia Socialite, May 1942: The Ritz Nite Club Is Monroe’s Sports Center “The Ritz Night Club in Monroe, one of the finest in teh city, is one of the contributions to the sporting and entertainment world that Willie J. “Teedlum” Smith has given to this northeast Louisiana city. He is one of the most popular and best known men in town, especially famous for his sporting characteristics. He is well versed on the reputation and standing of all the leading bands, many of them having been booked by him. The Savoy Ball Room, also operated by him on North Tenth Street in the Miller-Roy Building, is the headquarters for the city sports and dance enthusiasts. Mr. Smith has only been in business for two years, but has always been outstanding as a true sportsman and a regular fellow about town. Recently he presented the ‘Rays of Rhythm,’ popular girls’ band. The bands brought to Monroe and northeast Louisiana under his promotion are: Earl Hines, who will play here on a return engagement in December, and Count Basie in January. Miss Mary Lee Moore, pictured, is the day manager of the Ritz Night club, that is located at Ninth and Layton Streets, and is on elf the finest entertainment spots in teh city. Mr. Smith’s new Mercury was bought through Colored salesman Louis James. He reported its performance perfect after a trip to Detroit, Chicago, and other points this summer.” ...
Murphy’s Dance Hall and Skating Rink
From Sepia Socialite, May 1942: Murphy’s Dance Hall and Skating Rink Is Alexandria’s Largest “Located on the old Boise Highway 20, the Murphy’s Dance Hall and Skating Rink is one of the most colorful play spots in the Central Louisiana area. Mr. George Murphy, owner and manager of this swell night spot, has wedged his way deep into the hearts of many pleasure seekers. The dance hall where Earl Hines recently played to more than 2,100 people is one of the finest of the state. He has a very beautiful bar, sells all kinds of liquor and soft drinks and sandwiches. Many of the big bands of the nation have played at Murphy’s place in the years past, a special show. The place was opened in 1936, and since that time Mr. Murphy has enjoyed a progressive business venture. He owns a forty acre tract of land upon which he operates a farm. Assisting him in his business is his capable wife, Mrs. Wilhelmina Bowen Murphy, and Dotson Johnson. The place is modernly equipped throughout and is so constructed as to offer the maximum of cool breezes during the summer. In addition to the dance hall and skating rink, there are five tourist cabins with two rooms to each. In the top left picture Mr. and Mrs. Murphy stand ready to greet hundreds of soldiers and civilians who gather at the famous rendezvous nightly. Top right picture, Mr. Murphy turns on one of the ceiling fans in the longhair. Bottom left picture shows the scenic Murphy estate of forty acres dotted with tourist cabins, and in the foreground of his park. In the bottom right picture Mr. Murphy supervises the construction of their new home, which will be the last word in modernization and comfort. ‘I owe this to Mrs. Murphy…we have worked hard, and are entitled to some comfort,’ stated the modest spoken owner of all these surveys.” ...
Liberty Night Club
From Sepia Socialite, May 1942: Liberty Night Club First and Biggest in North-East Louisiana “Twenty-one years ago, Mr. Frank D. Thompson, better known to his friends as “Son” Thompson, was a mere bootblack among the hundreds of bootblacks in Louisiana. At the expiration of the twenty-one years, Mr. Thompson built and i snow operating one of the largest and most colorful night clubs in Monroe that is recognized as a night club in Northeast Louisiana. His club, which takes up more than one-fourth of a square, has the patronage of some 3,000 customers a week. The thirty-five cents that Mr. Thompson invested in the bootblack business has perpetuated itself into a $10,000 business. His club was the first night club to be opened in Monroe by white or Negro. Since that time, numerous clubs have followed. The opening night of the club was picturesque and will live in the minds o fNortheast Louisiana as a treat of a lifetime. The history of Mr. Thompson and the club of which he proudly boasts is intervened with the history of pleasure and good times in Monroe. A brief excerpt of Mr. Thompson’s history tells of the time when he was down to a mere eight dollars with family assets amounting to only ten dollars. This meager amount, which Mr. Thompson invested in a confectionary during a church conference gave him his second foothold in business. His experience during that conference is most interesting. After his money in the investment of the confectionery had been exhausted, Mr. Thompson accumulated more than $200 from his initial investment. He did not sleep with the $200 but immediately invested it in a cafe which now amounts to a $10,000 business. The Liberty Night Club, located at 901-905 Adams Street, is the last word in modern refrigeration, lighting, service and streamlined comfort. The club offers bar service where one may get the personal service of Mr. Thompson. A huge dance section (bottom picture) where one may dance to the tunes of the best bands. There are tables and booths for the comfort of its hundreds of patrons. Mr. Thompson plays an important part in civic and social activities of Monroe and Northeast Louisiana. He was elected Mayor of Little Harlem in Monroe. He is the state inner guard of the Elks, a member of the NAACP, a sponsor of the Tuxedo Boys Club and was the first Negro to serve on the Federal Grand Jury in Louisiana since reconstruction. Mr. Thompson is married to Mrs. Auburnia Thompson and has one daughter, Mrs. Juanita Duty, who operates the Duty Service Station.” ...
Kit Boutte’s Nite Club
From Sepia Socialite, May 1942: KIT BOUTTE’S NITE CLUB- NEW IBERIA’S OLDEST AMUSEMENT SPOT “Early in 1918 when Negroes of New Iberia had no place to go for leisure, entertainment and pleasure, Kid Boutte, popular and prominent sportsman and mail messenger for the United States Postoffice, opened the Kid Boutte Nite Club and offered to this vicinity clean, high-class entertainment for Negroes. The place is one of finest in the state, facilitated with fixtures valued at more than $10,000. Mr. Boutte has worked as a mail messenger at the U.S. Postoffice for twenty-four years and is the only Negro mail carrier in the city. He is a native of New Iberia and is one of the three surviving children of Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Boutte, pioneer settlers of this section. He has two sisters, Mrs. T.D. Hayes, wife of Dr. Hayes of New Orleans, and Mrs. T.D. Nelson of Berkeley, California. Mr. Boutte is an alumnus of Tuskegee Institute and was one of the first players of the Tuskegee band to tour teh country in 1911. He is a member of the Y.M.P.B.A. He attributes his success in business to hard work, staying on the job and satisfying his customer. The place carries a complete line of soft drinks and liquors with a recreational parlor in the rear, under the management of Adolph Boudin. Other employees are Alex Bernard, bartender; Mary Sion, Margaret Bernard, Bessie and Viola Smith, waitresses.” ...
Brown’s Place
From Sepia Socialite, May 1942 Rayville’s Most Promising Business Man- Walter J. Brown “Walter Jerald Brown, came out of Southern University to buckle himself down to the development of Brown’s Place; a cafe and amusement center in Rayville, Louisiana. Gathering together a little capital, Mr. Brown made his business bid for success by investing in improvements. his first step was to streamline his business with furniture and fixture of the latest designs. Steam tables were put in the kitchen. Modern refrigeration was installed behind the counter and streamlined stain proof tables and chairs were placed opposite the long counter that comprises the cafe section. The bar presently in process of renovation purports to be one of the finest in North Louisiana. Matriculating at Southern University, young Brown was a popular member of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. At home in Rayville he capitalizes on his popularity in his business.He and his mother, Mrs. Nutes French own considerable real estate in the city left by his late father, Mr. Walter Brown, who made his money as a cattle raiser. Upon final completion of Brown’s Place, which is pictured above, will be one of the finest night clubs in teh state owned and operated by Colored.” ...
Apex Club
From Sepia Socialite, May 1942: Apex Club’s Cocktail Lounge Is Last Word In “Atmosphere” “From all over the country they come by Macie Lamott’s Apex Club, and from everyone who has sipped a cocktail in teh cool, comfortable lounge comes the remark: “This is the swankiest nite club in Colored America.” And so it is, the large stucco building (picture upper right) sits on the corner of Louisa and Braddock Streets in the shade of a giant, moss-covered oak, surrounded by an acre of parking space. Canopied side entrances lead to a spacious, streamlined private dining room, the main dance floor, center right, and through the front to the main bar (bottom left). But the feature of the Apex Club is its beautiful cocktail lounge, (picture top left, bottom right), into whose portals only the sophisticated, properly attired, can enter. Prices are a little high, services a little more replete, and accommodations are a bit more comfortable but you have exclusiveness such as is here enjoyed by Charley Brook, Apex bartender and his pretty fiancee, Thelma Smith. Other employees of M. Lamott’s Apex Club include Gilbert W. Crawford, in charge of the cocktail lounge, Lottie V. Joseph, waitress, Clyde Leduff & Abbot Emerson, bartenders, Lee Ella Collins and Beatrice Davis, waitresses, and assistant Mgr. Louis Brooks. Make your next trip to Baton Rouge a purposeful visit to the Apex Club. Lots of people we know sneak over from New Orleans.” ...
Chester’s Cypress Inn
Owner Bobbie LaRose: Chester Boudreaux, Sr. converted his father’s old grocery store in a dancehall in the 1930s. The dancers wanted food, so a kitchen was added. The dancehall was popular in the 1940s but was closed close to 1950 when the activity around Morgan City slowed after World War 2. Now the building houses a popular restaurant that draws people from the surrounding area for their famous fried chicken. Chester’s Cypress Inn 1995 LA-20 Donner, LA (985) 446-6821 Mentioned here: http://blog.ponderosastomp.com/2011/05/rising-tides-threaten-the-swamp-pop/ ...
Courville’s Lounge
Reggie Matte play this first dance there in the mid to late 1960s- “Located in Church Point off the big road.” ...
Nee-kette’s
Eric Castille: This was a smallish bar down the road from the new high school, same side of the road as Walter Angelle’s Club. It was owned by Carlene Berard’s parents. ...