Photo from Johnnie Allan Image Collection, Center for Louisiana Studies, Univeristy of Louisiana at Lafayette: L-R, Preston Manuel, Morris ‘T-Boy’ Courville, J.B. Fuselier, Elvis Soileau Courtesy of Preston Manuel and Ann Savoy. Opelousas- Ville Platte highway Cajun- b/n Point Blue & Opelousas on 749- Aldus Roger & the Lafayette Playboys were frequent performers- Nick Fontenot met his wife there 1959: parents did not allow him to go to dances in Ville Platte because it was too rough! Aldus Roger and the Lafayette Playboys- Hicks Wagon Wheel Special ...
Foxy Lady Lounge
From scn.org/zydeco/backissues/zguidela.html :” Zydeco Dancer’s Travel Guide to Louisiana” Last updated in January 1998: “(Foxy Lady Lounge is) Southeast of Ville Platte on Highway 167” ...
Duff Martin’s Dance Hall
Duff Martin Dance Hall located in Devilier building, Ville Platte Newspaper reports of dancehall fire killing 28: clip from St. Landry Clarion, November 29, 1919 http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn88064250/1919-11-29/ed-1/seq-1/ Newspaper clipping reporting 28 people died in a fire on November 22, 1919: http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn88064069/1919-11-27/ed-1/seq-1/ Newspaper clipping of report of fire from The Bienville Democrat, November 27, 1919 https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn88064069/1919-11-27/ed-1/seq-1/ ...
Dilly Duck Club
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 ...
Club Rendezvous
Terry McDaniel: “I’m from Pine Prarie, which was somehow a dry ward in the 1950s. I was a regular patron at both the Evangeline Club and Club Rendezvous from 1956-64. My buddies and I would take dates to the Evangeline Club to dance, then we’d take them home and go to Club Rendezvous, where the girls had looser restrictions and hours. They were nice girls- but Club Rendezvous was a little lower class than the Evangeline Club and the clientele less prestigious.” From “Images of America: Ville Platte”, Arcadia Publishing, 2014 by Jean Keisel and Jane Vidrine: “During the 1940s and 1950s, this building housed the Club Rendezvous, owned by Hubert Demoruelle. The Rendezvous was a popular nightclub where locals could hear and dance to big bands and jazz groups. Local talent was often featured there too. In the back was a card room, with a craps table and slot machines. Later, it was briefly called the Jungle Club, then it became the Kit Kat Lounge.” Cliff Manuel worked there (1932-1942) and sent postcards to his grandfather (Hubert “Pappy” DeMoruelle) during his time overseas in World War II. ...