Dancehalls in Acadia Parish

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. ...

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 ...

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 ...

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. ...

Quarter Pole

Dancehall / club, racetrack, horses, etc- Del & Herman Guillory ...

Rayne Drive Inn Dance Hall

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.” ...