From the Sepia Socialite, May 1942: Webb’s Nite Club Is Alex.’s Principal U.S.O. Center “One of the favorite spots in Alexandria is the Webb’s Night Club located at the corner of Mill and Princeton Streets. C.M. Webb and M.L. Webb (top picture), brother combination that manages this place, has provided Alexandria with high type night club entertainment for over a year. The place was opened on June 16, 1940, upon an initial investment of $5,000.00 and its estimated value today is more than $20,000.00. The Webb brothers own the property upon which the structure is built, which is beautifully decorated with neon signs, completely air conditioned and offers superb night club accommodations for the Negro citizenry of Alexandria. Webb’s Night Club has been designated as U.S.O. headquarters for soldiers. (Note M.P.’s in bottom picture.) The twelve employees receive an approximate average monthly salary of $500.00. The place does a mammoth business, selling up to 175 cases of beer each week. The brothers have bought and paid for a very beautiful home at 2506 Wise Street where their mother and father, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Webb, live. The father is a pioneer of Louisiana, a free man of color, born in Rhinehart, Louisiana. He was formerly a cattle dealer, farmer and real estate dealer. Some of the outstanding bands of the bands of the nation frequently appear in the Webb Night Club, such as ‘Fats Waller’, ‘Bama State Collegians,’ etc. The Webbs in bringing this type of entertainment to Alexandria have offered the draftees and soldiers in this section the type of entertainment they otherwise would not have gotten. Currently, the Camp Claiborne Band furnishes music for the draftees occasional amusement. Comprising this band are famous maestros from Cab Calloway, Louis Armstrong, Earl Hines and other big bands, who are draftees. Big programs are scheduled for the Fall and Winter season at Webb’s. Watch the columns of the ‘Socialite’ for announcements of special attractions.” ...
Dancehalls in Rapides Parish
Murphy’s Dance Hall and Skating Rink
From Sepia Socialite, May 1942: Murphy’s Dance Hall and Skating Rink Is Alexandria’s Largest “Located on the old Boise Highway 20, the Murphy’s Dance Hall and Skating Rink is one of the most colorful play spots in the Central Louisiana area. Mr. George Murphy, owner and manager of this swell night spot, has wedged his way deep into the hearts of many pleasure seekers. The dance hall where Earl Hines recently played to more than 2,100 people is one of the finest of the state. He has a very beautiful bar, sells all kinds of liquor and soft drinks and sandwiches. Many of the big bands of the nation have played at Murphy’s place in the years past, a special show. The place was opened in 1936, and since that time Mr. Murphy has enjoyed a progressive business venture. He owns a forty acre tract of land upon which he operates a farm. Assisting him in his business is his capable wife, Mrs. Wilhelmina Bowen Murphy, and Dotson Johnson. The place is modernly equipped throughout and is so constructed as to offer the maximum of cool breezes during the summer. In addition to the dance hall and skating rink, there are five tourist cabins with two rooms to each. In the top left picture Mr. and Mrs. Murphy stand ready to greet hundreds of soldiers and civilians who gather at the famous rendezvous nightly. Top right picture, Mr. Murphy turns on one of the ceiling fans in the longhair. Bottom left picture shows the scenic Murphy estate of forty acres dotted with tourist cabins, and in the foreground of his park. In the bottom right picture Mr. Murphy supervises the construction of their new home, which will be the last word in modernization and comfort. ‘I owe this to Mrs. Murphy…we have worked hard, and are entitled to some comfort,’ stated the modest spoken owner of all these surveys.” ...
Rollerland Club
Mentioned in Louisiana and Texas garage magazine Brown Paper Sack, issue #1, January, 1997 in the article “The Barracudas″: “(The Barracudas) were happening in the area throughout ’65 and ’66, opening for ‘hitmakers’ like John Fred and the Playboys, Dale and Grace, and Dallas Frazierat the Rollerland Club in Alexandria.” ...
Lake Shamaree Bar
From “Forest Hill, Louisiana: A Bloom Town History” by Chere Coen: “If the soldier could, he would visit the nearby local tavern, the Wigwam that was located along the banks of an old mining pond” in Forest Hill, wrote Roger Butter in ‘Camp Claiborne: Only the Memories Remain.’ The Wigwam later became the Lake Shamaree bar, once frequented by George Jones and Willie Nelson.” ...
Wigwam
From “Forest Hill, Louisiana: A Bloom Town History” by Chere Coen: “If the soldier could, he would visit the nearby local tavern, the Wigwam that was located along the banks of an old mining pond” in Forest Hill, wrote Roger Butter in ‘Camp Claiborne: Only the Memories Remain.’ The Wigwam later became the Lake Shamaree bar, once frequented by George Jones and Willie Nelson.” ...
Herbie K’s
Matchbook cover: Herbie K’s Oyster House and Cocktail Lounge “The World’s Worst Service” Lee St. Extension Alexandria, LA ...
Golden Slipper
Mentioned in “Louisiana Fiddlers” by Ron Yule and Bill Burge: Ed Johnson recalled that Country fiddler Bob Henderson played at the Golden Slipper in Woodworth, during 1948 and 1949 with a band. “The band included Jimmy Johnson, (electric guitar and fiddle), Happy McNichol (drums), Pete Singley (upright bass) and Bob (fiddle and guitar).” ...
Turner’s Hall
Newspaper mention of dance given by young ladies of Pineville, 1887: http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82003389/1887-08-24/ed-1/seq-3/ ...
Bucket of Blood
Mentioned in “Louisiana Fiddlers” by Ron Yule and Bill Burge: Rainbow Ramblers with Jimmie Davis played there on Central Louisiana tours. “It had not gotten its name because the place served Bloody Marys or was a blood donation site. This place was rough. The nightly fight and bloodbath broke out about 11 o’clock, and before long the whole place was filled with a frenzy of wild fighting, swinging drunks, and crazed dancers. The band finally got in on the act (they had been drinking, too). During the melee, some guy ran in and tried to hit Cecil Burge with his fist. Like a scripted movie scene, Cecil whopped him over the head with his fiddle and down the man went. He did not stay on the floor very long. He came flying up with a drawn knife and hit Cecil in the throat. Guy Allen, the tenor guitar and bass player, grabbed Cecil when he saw him go down and held him. Before long, he felt something warm on his leg and in his boot. It was CecilÕs blood. They rushed him to the hospital and Guy recalled, ‘I could feel his blood sloshing in my boot as I walked.’ Guy would later become a Baptist minister and serve congregations in Pineville and DeRidder.” ...
Dave Rachal’s House
Mentioned in “Louisiana Fiddlers” by Ron Yule and Bill Burge: Dave Rachal held a house dance in the early 1920s where a fight broke out and a fiddle was broken over a man’s head- Dave Rachal gave the fiddle to six year old Ray Beebe, who repaired it and learned to play on it. ...