Dancehalls in Iberia Parish

Purple Onion

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.” ...

Rhonda’s

Mariana Titus: Owned by Mr. Jim Lanclos- still alive & in Franklin Nursing Home ...

Rockabye

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 ...

Gib’s Place

Also called Gibby’s: 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.” ...

Alcee Richard Dance Hall

John Broven’s “South to Louisiana” book states that Alfee Bergeron started played there in 1924. ...

White Oaks

John Hebert: Owned by Eraste “Doc” Segura- located on Avery Island Road Josh Caffery: “White Oaks Bar and Grocery on the Avery Island Road, owned by Phyllis Bourque, grand-daughter of Julien Hoffpauir and also descended from the Seguras. The original White Oaks was a grocery/dancehall run by a Segura ancestor and would have been around in the 1930s. Area is known as White Oaks because of enormous White Oaks supposedly planted by Jean Lafitte!” ...

Broussard Barn Dance

Linda LeBlanc: 50’s, 60’s (pre-civil rights era). Dubbed “Paper Bag Dances” as one had to be no darker than a paper bag to enter. Older, younger Creole crowd from all around Acadiana (parents and eligible young girls/guys). Dance was actually held in a barn; cleared of animals and debris on Sat. nights. Jay Nelson Band, Cookie and Cupcakes, local swamp/pop, R&B. ...