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Between Ville Platte and Mamou: Murphy’s Y ...

Town & Country Club

Also known as Chicky Town. The owner was C.J. Broussard. In July 1954, Will Kegley stabbed Atlas Fruge there while Nathan Abshire and the Pine Grove Boys played. Ray Abshire grew up in the house next door and listened to the bands through his window growing up. Previously the building was a grocery and post office. DL Menard: “(when I was with Badeau and the Louisiana Aces) we played there every other Saturday.” Pat Richard: “Between Gueydan and Morse. On Saturday nights there would be a French band from 8-12 and then a Rock-n-roll band from 1-5 in the morning.” Charlie Simon: “The Riceville Club was my uncle’, Curtis Trahan’s club in the early 1960s . It was named “The Town and Country Club”. I was 9 years old at the time. Big names, such as Loretta Lyn, George Jones, Fats Domino played there. They served food there and had big card games. My uncle Curtis was a big influence on my life, he was larger than life. Believe it or not, he ran around barefooted 90 percent of the time. He passed away in 1966 from cancer. He was in his 40s. This is when the club changed hands and name.” ...

Alex Hernandez Dance Hall

William Thibodeaux: “It was a very violent place, like most of the old dancehalls of long ago. Nearly two months after Charles Lindbergh’s historic flight across the Atlantic in 1927, an excited crowd prepared for a night of fun-filled dancing at Alex Hernandez’s dancehall. Apparently Abraham Domingue was causing a ruckus. When Deputy Sheriff Willie Stutes of Duson tried to quiet him, he simply moved to another area of the dancehall and continued his disruption. The deputy went to Domingue again and asked him to leave. Fearing trouble, Alex Hernandez, the owner of the dancing establishment, grabbed Domingue’s arm to lead the trouble maker outside. And at about that time, which was a few minutes past midnight, Domingue used his other hand and pulled his 38-caliber colt revolver and began shooting. A total of three rounds were fired. The first going wild struck the floor, while the other two rounds went entirely through the body of Deputy Stutes, causing two wounds about an inch apart on the left side of his body. After exiting the officer’s body, one of the rounds struck 19-year old Earl Spell in the abdomen while the other only grazed 45-year old Sidney Foreman. Both men were friends of the shooter and were standing directly behind the lawman. Spell was taken to the Lafayette Sanitarian where he was listed in serious condition. Sidney Foreman, after refusing medical treatment went home and was taken care of there. Before falling dead, the deputy sheriff managed to hit Abraham Domingue over the forehead with his nightstick. After lifting himself off the floor, Domingue ran towards the entrance where he pointed his 38 into the crowd and pulled the trigger. Fortunately, his gun jammed and nothing happened. He then exited the dancehall and jumped into his automobile and fled. Dr. M.M. Mouton, the coroner, made his report shortly after the shooting. Lafayette Parish Sheriff J. Dassas Trahan wrote out an arrest warrant for Domingue. At about 11:00 a.m. Domingue, after conferring with his uncle Victor Simon, he reportedly turned himself in. Sheriff Trahan drove Domingue to the Acadia Parish jail in Crowley since his jail was still under construction. Deputy Sheriff Stutes left behind a wife and ten adult children. Dauterive Undertaking Parlors of Lafayette was in charge of funeral arrangements. Once his body was ready for burial, the body was taken to the home of the deceased, which was customary back then. Back in those days, particularly in that part of southwest Louisiana, it was like the Wild West. Honor was far more precious than life itself. It was a scene far too familiar in southwest Louisiana back then. It didn’t take much, a slight bump, a wink or a smile at the wrong girl, or even an innocent gaze that perhaps lingered too long would quickly erupt into a life or death altercation.” ...

Cypress Inn

“Many moons ago we would go to the beach and camp. When mom and dad would go the kids would too. Kids were allowed in the bigger dance halls back then. I can remember Joe Bonsall playing there but not a lot of the others, but the Manuel family band I do remember also.” Hollis Boudreaux ...

Wagon Wheel

Curly Domengeaux: Between Duson & Scott in 1930s- I went there every weekend with my parents. Strings bands played there- guitar, fiddle, snare drum & triangle- no accordions! They only had 4 people in th band in those bands- they didn’t charge to get in, nobody had no money to pay! ...

Banachek Lounge

Bobby & Marella Caffey & Eldine & Ernest (Ben) Benoit: “Tommy McClain played there a lot- it was really beautiful inside: it was after the Midway- Thibodeaux’s restaurant now- originally grocery store Tom Stanley: “I bartended at Judge Roy Bean’s back in the late 1970s and played drums for bands called Roadeo and The Marcus Jamer Band at places like Rimrock and Winchester Saloons, along with Grant St Dance Hall, opening up for The Radiators there once upon a time, and played in a houseband for a time at the Banacek Lounge. Trying to find old bandmates – and find out whatever happened to these places over the decades.” Nancy Moore: “The Banachek was in Duson, Louisiana was owned and operated by Alton Cormier. We went to the Banacheck every weekend in the 1970’s and 80’s for drinks and music. Down the street on the opposite corner (before the Banachek) was Leon’s Lounge owned and oprated by Mr. Leon Trahan (father of Cecil and Donald Trahan) That was the place to go in the 60’s…” ...

Cowgirl’s

Christine Prejean Ray: On Apollo Street- now it is a church ...

Felix Foreman’s Dance Hall

1910-1940: According to Noelie Provost, “Mr. Felix Foreman Sr., who lived in a two- story house on Cyret Street in Scott, opened a dance hall. The dances were held upstairs. The musicians were Bill Landry’s Band and the Louisiana Six. He had fans but the ceiling was very low and it was very hot. Mr. Foreman was very strict. There were benches all around the outside walls. Sometimes he would put the lights out for a few seconds. The building was built in 1895 by Duperon Morvant. Paul Begnaud lived there- On Cayret street- it burned- was across the street from Brandt’s Bar- Mout’s was behind it.” ...