Dancehalls in Calcasieu Parish

Blue Moon

3205 Ryan Street: 1970 Polk Directory: Mary Margaret Sabatier’s grandad owned- The working neon sign is in her sister’s yard in Lake Charles- turned into a Kappa Sig frat hangout. From http://library.mcneese.edu/depts/archive/SWLAMusicians/encycloaj.htm: “The Blue Moon was a club in Lake Charles located across from the Green Frog on the corner of Broad Street and Highway 14.” ...

Blue Jean Club

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

Bevo’s

Located on Hwy 90 (Broad Street) in Lake Charles. Photo from Facebook group “If you grew up in Lake Charles, then you remember…”, uploaded by Laura McDaniel   ...

Bat Gormly’s Nite Club

Matchbook cover Bat Gormly’s Nite Club: Dine and Dance 4 miles west of Lake Charles, LA Bingo Nightly No Cover Charge except on special occasions Mentioned in online forum: West of Lake Charles on Hwy 90- 1950’s-1960’s? ...

Bamboo Club

1000 Highway 14: 1970 Polk Directory: Fats Domino & Little Alfred played there, mentioned in Today’s Cajuns, Philip Gould. From http://www.hechicero.com/louisiana/sundownplayboys.html: “Lionel Cormier died onstage June 5, 1971, at the Bamboo Club in Lake Charles. The occasion was the city’s annual Cajun Day, one of several events held each year to celebrate with hours of non-stop French music and hundreds of cases of beer. According to stories, Mr. Cormier’s band, the Sundown Playboys, were in the middle of “La dernière valse (The Last Waltz)” when his time came. Contrary to the sometimes-encountered belief, however, he had just finished pumping out the Church Point Two-Step when he had his heart attack.” From http://library.mcneese.edu/depts/archive/SWLAMusicians/encycloaj.htm: “The Bamboo Club was located on Ryan Street near Court Street in the 1950s. Later, the club moved to Highway 14. The annual Contraband Days festival was first held at the Bamboo Club, but later moved to the Lake Charles Civic Center.” ...

Jungle Club

From http://library.mcneese.edu/depts/archive/SWLAMusicians/encycloaj.htm: “The Jungle was a club located near the Bamboo Club in downtown Lake Charles in the 1950s.” ...

Geaux Geaux

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 ...

Moulin Rouge

Owner was Hammie Fontenot- Hwy 90 west- Bobby & Marella Caffey & Eldine & Ernest (Ben) Benoit. Built in 1946- Leo Soileau’s band played there “nitely”. Photo from the Johnnie Allan Collection at the Center for Louisiana Studies, University of Louisiana at Lafayette. ...