OST

John Broven noted that it wasn’t popular with the rough and rowdy crowd: “…the lights were bright and the girls were always escorted by their mothers.” OST stands for Old Spanish Trail. It always maintained a family atmosphere. Owner was Joe LaTour. Martha & Gene Royer- met there- “50 bars at one time- for white people!”Old Stinking Turtle” Mercedes Hollier- CFMA- “two rows of bleachers- no tables- just wide open for dancing. I didn’t like going there- my sister was older- I went because I had to- we din’t have no babysitters back then in those days. Cajun & COuntry Western bands played there- Happy fats LeBlanc & Merlin Thibodeaux”. Twice drank beer common- now an empty lot. ...

Kootsie’s

Photo of site by John Sharp Polk Street- Camey Doucet & Wayne Toups played there together- also Gilbert Suire. It was a smokey joint right by the railrod tracks ...

Ike’s Landmark

Included in a 2006 Louisiana Cajun dance hall list compiled by WYNK Cajun DJ “Tee Mick” Abed, sent to me in personal correspondence from David Marcantel ...

Hollywood Club

Photo from the Johnnie Allan Collection at the Center for Louisiana Studies, University of Louisiana at Lafayette. 1940s- Mercedes Hollier- CFMA- ” It was a nice place- no gambling- entered bar into dancehall- I have an old table from there- full of cigarette burns” corner of Branch & 6th. ...

Blue Goose Club

Marty Guidry: owner was Oneziphone Guidry- Located near the Opelousas, Gulf and Northwest Railroad, it stood at the corner of East Harrop and North Arenas Streets. Interestingly, the Blue Goose dance floor was circular rather than the traditional rectangular common in Cajun dance halls. Rayne-Bo Ramblers played (1930s) Joseph Falcon, a noted Cajun accordionist and the first person to record a Cajun song (“Allons a Lafayette”), began his career as a professional musician at the Blue Goose. One evening he decided to take his accordion with him to the fais-do-do at the Blue Goose. When the scheduled band didn’t show, Oneziphore Guidry asked Joe to play. At first he resisted, because he only played for fun and was unsure of himself. With much coaxing from Mr. Guidry, Joe did play and the crowd loved him. At midnight he received four dollars for his night’s work.” ...

Blue Gardenia

Images courtesy of Megan Barras Opened 1955,the club was named after the 1953 film “The Blue Gardenia” which featured Nat King Cole. Well known performers include Rockin’ Sidney, Clifton Chenier, Irma Thomas, Bobby Blue Bland, Earl King, and Solomon Burke. Ray Charles, en route to another gig, stopped to sit in with Burke in the mid- 1950s. The club also featured notable DJs: R.L. Boudreaux, Toka King, Joe Thomas and Raymond Simmons. It closed in 1993. ...