Photo from the Johnnie Allan Collection at the Center for Louisiana Studies, University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Part of the film “Walking to New Orleans” was filmed there. ...
Dancehalls in Lafayette Parish
Bayou Club
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.” ...
Belvedere Club
Ridge Road- Octa Clark & Amedee Breaux played there ...
Ben Hur Hall
Newspaper item: http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn88064250/1919-10-18/ed-1/seq-10/ ...
Blackie’s Country Club
Don Gassie: Blackies was located where N. Pierce had a bend to the right as you headed north. Could have been at the junction with Madeline or the next street to the north. If you did not take the bend you would go straight into the parking lot. The club was small, with a small raised stage on the left as you walked in. I only heard cajun music there. ...
Blue Angel Club
Photo courtesy of Tom Marcotte, circa 1986 714 S. Orange Street, Lafayette Joseph Frank: Black older folks; Blues/popular, local Zydeco bands- building stands ...
La Bon Ton Roule
Exterior photo posted in the FaceBook group Lafayette Memories by Kenny Gallagher 1102 North University Avenue, Lafayette – White night might have started there- it is listed in the 1977 Polk Directory 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.” Don Gassie: “I remember the Bon Ton as a white club (owner a Trahan?). At mandatory closing time (2AM, I think) the bouncers would push the people toward the door by holding a slap jack against the back of their necks. I remember one night there when a large and tall cajun named Gene got into an argument with a short but muscular hispanic guy. The short guy approached aggressively and claimed to be a pachuco. Gene stuffed him into the trunk of a car and the driver supposedly took him to hiway 90 outside of town and dumped him there.” Ben Sandmel- “It was on Washington Street here in Lafayette. Now it is a pool hall.” “Owner was Leodias Trahan” ...
Boo Boo’s Nite Club
Matchbook photo courtesy of Judith Meriwether Front bar photo courtesy of Margie Boulet LouisianaDancehalls.com reader comment Jane: “I remember how sad we were when Boo Boo’s burned down – we used to love to go dance to Beau Soleil there, among others, and every Sunday night there was a band. We used to dance to Marcia Ball and the Misery Brothers. By the way, we used to dance differently then. I never danced the way they do now with all the steps of the feet. I don’t know if we all danced a different version which wasn’t really Cajun, but since I grew up in Lafayette and learned to dance there, and everyone then danced like I did, then it wasn’t a real Cajun dance step we were all dancing. It sure was fun no matter which way you are dancing.” Coteau & Beasoliel played there- possibly old Midway Club? ...
Bourbon Barrel Lounge
707 Frontage Road: 1977 Polk Directory ...
BPOE Hall
From the book “Images de Lafayette: A Pictoral History”, edited by Paul F. Matthews: Elk’s Home located on Buchanan Street behind the Guaranty Bank & Trust on Jefferson- three floors, indoor pool on 1st, ballroom on 3rd- Mardi Gras dance Feb. 20, 1912- children & all ages ...