From “Scars of Paradise: The Life and Times of Janis Joplin” by Alice Echols: Shady Rest was a “raunchy” state line bar that was frequented by Janis Joplin and her group of guy friends-“good girls” didn’t go there. The bar was attached to the Shady Rest Motel, which is currently slated to be converted into a Vietnam veteran retreat called City of Refuge when funds can be raised. If interested in assisting, please contact Jerry Gatch, Commander, Stark Õ64 Veterans Association, 5 Circle D, Orange, TX 77630, (409)-920-4601, or gatchergatch@gmail.com ...
Showboat
From http://www.orangeleader.com: “The most unique of all the clubs was the Showboat. It was an actual paddlewheel riverboat that had seen service in the Memphis, Tennessee area of the Mississippi. The ÒHarry LeeÓ was brought to Orange and docked on the left side of the highway in the ditch left from the dredging. The boat consisted of three decks, was 200 feet long and 43 feet wide. Over the years it would gain a reputation as being the roughest of the clubs. There was drinking, some prostitution, and much gambling at the Showboat. The owners wanted gamblers, but wanted them to lose. If a winner tried to leave the boat, he was usually faced by some employees who tried to intimidate him into staying until he had lost his winnings plus everything he had gone into the club with. There were a lot of fights, stabbings, some shootings and even a murder or two. The Showboat became known as a ‘bucket of blood.’ R. F. ÒBobÓ Bass was Chief of Police in Orange from December, 1942 until August, 1946. In those years he would occasionally be called about a problem. Even though he had no jurisdiction, he would go. In an interview his son, Harley, related that his dad once went to the Showboat to see about a body floating in the water. When the body was pulled out of the water and Chief Bass rolled him over, he found two bullet holes in his back. It was reported that when the water was clear enough to see the bottom from the gangway that went from shore to the boatÕs deck, that one could see literally hundreds of billfolds. It was not unusual for someone to be knocked in the head, have his billfold taken and emptied and the bill fold thrown in the water. Under somewhat strange circumstances the Harry Lee burned to the waterline. Fire trucks from Orange drove across the bridge to the burning boat but were unable to control the fire. The boat burned to the waterline. A smaller boat similar to the Harry Lee was brought in by barge and docked where the Harry Lee had been and business resumed as usual.” ...
Silvin Club
From http://www.texasfreeway.com: “On the right side of the road as Texans exited the east end of the mile-long bridge stood…Mud Lake. Just past Mud Lake, on the right, stoodÉSilvin Club…” ...
Stompin’ Henry’s
From http://www.texasfreeway.com: “On the right side of the road as Texans exited the east end of the mile-long bridge stood…Mud Lake. Just past Mud Lake, on the right, stoodÉStompinÕ HenryÕs.” ...
Texas Pelican Club
From http://www.texasfreeway.com: “On past Cemetery Road, as years passed, were built the Pelican ClubÉ” Johnny Allan played there several times from 1985-1987. ...
Rainbow Gardens Dancehall
From “Images of America: Ville Platte”, Arcadia Publishing, 2014 by Jean Keisel and Jane Vidrine: “The Rainbow Gardens dancehall stood across the street from the courthouse. It was also known as the fais-do-do. The entrance fee was 25 cents when Octave Fuselier was the proprietor. Only soft drinks were available in the dancehall. Someone who wanted an alcoholic beverage had to leave the dance and go to the saloon, conveniently located in another part of the building…Octave Fuselier owned the Courthouse Saloon and Restaurant, the Rainbow Gardens dancehall, a barbershop, and the Exchange Marketacross the street from the courthouse. The esablishment was open 24 hours a day. In the back room there were card games and slot machines, while a legal “bull pen” met inside the front door of the Rainbow Gardens.” From prairiedesfemmes.blogspot.com: “There used to be a big dance hall across from the Evangeline Parish courthouse in Ville Platte that people called the “Fais-Do-Do” but it was actually called the Rainbow Garden, or more commonly, “Le Hall ‘Tave” because it was owned by Mr. Octave Fuselier.” ...
Rendezvous
1636 W. Main Street: Was originally the Jungle Room- burned down in July 2013: http://www.katc.com/news/weekend-fire-destroys-iconic-ville-platte-restaurant/ ...
Snook’s Bar & Dancehall
Maurice Barzas and the Mamou Playboys Saturday night gig lasted 35 years after WW2, KBON Priscilla Alleman-Saturday night place: Hwy 22: by Teet’s Grocery ...
Social Club
Social Club/Dancehall on west side of W. Railroad Avenue North Avenue (then #109) next to People’s Bank Trust Co.- backed up to the RR tracks- info from 1925 Ville Platte Sanborn Insurance Map ...
Teen-Age Center
From “Images of America: Ville Platte”, Arcadia Publishing, 2014 by Jean Keisel and Jane Vidrine: “The Teen-Age Center opened in the 1950s in Ville Platte’s City Park. Civic clubs got together to erect the building, which had a wooden dance floor and space for tables along the wall. The Center offered food and recreation as well as dances. It also served as a meeting place for civic organizations. After the Teen-age center burned down, it was replaced by the Civic Center.” The inaugural Louisiana Cotton Festival opening Contra-dance was held there in 1964. ...