Jeanette (Bourque/Leger) Wickham: “My mother and father grew up in the Northern outskirts of Crowley, Louisiana past the old stock yard and near a coulee that goes to Ville Platte. My mother lived there since 1916. “In the 1930s, her family (Quebedeaux/Leger) used to have house dances for surrounding relatives and friends. It was my mother’s job to attend to the old RCA phonograph record player with the records in the order of songs to be played , changing the records out as each song ended. Her brother, Dennis was a naturally gifted musician and he could play the guitar, accordion, fiddle, and harmonica without ever having taken a music lesson in his life. So, naturally she grew up listening to his music and others.” ...
Teen Age Center
Terry McDaniel: “I’m from Pine Prarie, which was somehow a dry ward in the 1950s. The Rock Island Line railroad ran south through Turkey Creek, Pine Prairie, Easton, and Barber Spur on down to Mamou. Before anyone could drive, my buddies and I would jump onto south bound train cars and jump off in Mamou. We’d walk over to the Teen Age Center and go to dances. We’d usually just catch a ride back home in a car.” ...
The Pavillion
Fulton C. Felterman, Jr.: “(The Pavillion) was built in Patterson about 1900 or earlier, torn down in the 1930s and the lumber used to build a gymnasium at Patterson High School. Later, the gym was moved to Hattie Watts Elementary School and still later the building became an American Legion Post.” ...
Air-o-way Club
Lian Cheramie: “In the 30’s and early 1940 it was in Leroy (where North Vermilion High School is now) and it was called the ‘Barras Dancehall.’ Then in 1940 they moved it to Nunez (outside of Kaplan) and it was the ‘Air-o-way Club’.” LouisianaDancehalls.com reader comment by Becki Johnson: “My grandparents owned the club… From left to right: Irene Barras Castille, Ed Barras, Hazel Barras Faulk, Unknown, Edward Barras, Effie Landry Barras. Picture (taken in 1940) shows Highway 25 but it is Highway 35, in Nunez.” ...
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.” ...
Twenty Grand Club
Pictured in the October 2014 issue of “Bonnes Nouvelles,” submitted by Richard DesHotels Location and more information unknown ...
Jim Jarreau’s
Marsha Jewell Miller: “Located in the Jarreau area at the opposite end of False River from ‘town’ a/k/a New Roads, Anchor Inn was a short distance from Jim Jarreau’s, which had been a popular bar/dancehall/ restaurant. Jim Jarreau’s became the first restaurant that Ralph and Catherine Olinde opened in the space that had been the jarreau’s restauant when ‘Miss Eula’ Jarreau retired. Ralph and Kacoo went on to form a popular eatery chain, which we all know as RALPH and KACOO’S.” ...
Anchor Inn
Marsha Jewell Miller: “On Sunday afternoons from about 3:00-6 or 7:00 p.m. there was live music featuring bands from the New Roads and Baton Rouge areas. Dancers came from those areas too and had about a 50/50 mix of Pointe Coupee and Baton Rouge guys and gals. In earlier years, the Baton Rouge Boat Club hosted annual boat races there once a year. Year round it served mainly as a locals bar, particularly on the lower level and sometimes had free suppers for regulars. However, come Sunday afternoon, it was a whole ‘nother story when the upper room was filled with teenagers and young to old adults jitterbugging and twisting away the hours.Located in the Jarreau area at the opposite end of False River from ‘town’ a/k/a New Roads, Anchor Inn was a short distance from Jim Jarreau’s, which had been a popular bar/dancehall/ restaurant.” ...
Lake Cliff Club
Philip Dutton: “When I was in high school and college in the 70s there was a bar and dance hall on the north side of Cross Lake called The Lake Cliff Club. As I recall it was primarily a country western honky-tonk. I was only in it once. Long haired hippies were uncomfortable there. :))” ...