- Acadian Club, Crowley
- Abe's Palace, Eunice: This was above Ardoin's department store in Second St.
- Airport Club, Vermilion Parish: This dance hall was on Hwy. 14 between Abbeville and Erath.
- A.J.'s Club, Basile
- Alamo Club, Lafayette: It was on Cameron Street where the Jacobs' shopping center is now. Gabriel Elias ran it.
- Alcée Richard Dance Hall, Grand Marais
- Alex Hernandez' Club, Ridge
- Avalon Club, Basile: The owner was Quincy Davis.
- Babineaux Dance Hall, Mire
- Bamboo Club, Lake Charles
- Bayou Club, Lafayette
- Belvedere Club, Erath
- Big Oaks, Vinton: Owner was a Mr. Hébert.
- Bloody Bucket, Coteau Holmes
- Bloody Bucket, Lake Arthur
- Blue Goose Club, Rayne: The owner was Oneziphone Guidry.
- Blue Moon, Lake Charles
- Bon Ton Rouley, Lafayette: Owner was Leodias Trahan.
- Boni's Club, Vermilion Parish: This club, west of Erath, was owned by Boniface Suire.
- Boundary Club, Breaux Bridge highway: Until relatively recent times, everything in Lafayette closed at midnight on Saturday, but clubs in St. Martin
Parish did not have to close. Pierre LeBlanc built the Boundary Club on the Breaux Bridge highway just across the parish line in the early 1940s. Jules
Savoy from New Orleans was a popular singer there, singing mostly contemporary popular music. A Miss Trahan cooked gumbo each weekend. Shorty
Johnson ran gaming tables.
- Bourque's Club, Lewisburg: Owner was Leon Bourque. Mrs. Bourque continues to operate it today.
- Bradford's White Eagle, Opelousas
- Brass Rail, Mamou
- Bucaneer Club, St. Martinville
- Camille Romero's Club, Duson
- Candlelight Club, Abbeville
- Casa Blanca Club, New Iberia
- Cedar Lane, Opelousas: This was described as "a real classy joint owned by Toby Veltin."
- Charles Matte's Dance Hall, Eunice
- Chicken Shack, old Crowley Road, Eunice
- Chinaball Club, Bristol
- Clem's Club, Abbeville: The owner was Clément Hébert.
- Clover Club, Lacassine: Owner was Spencer Landry.
- Club 26, Eunice: Hwy. 13 used to be Hwy. 26
- Club 90, Iowa
- Club La Louisiane, New Iberia: Owner was Billeus (Bruce) Broussard.
- Club La Lune, Bosco
- Club Rendezvous, Ville Platte
- Colonial Club, Estherwood: Owned by a Mr. Bonin.
- Colonial Club, Hesmer
- Cormier's, Cankton, owner was Clarence Cormier.
- Courtableau Inn, Port Barre: This club was owned by the grandfather of swamp pop singer Rod Bernard. He says in Shane Bernard's book, "Swamp Pop,
Cajun and Creole Rhythm and Blues," that regular performers there included Aldus Roger, Papa Cairo, Jimmy C. Newman, and zydeco pioneer Clifton
Chenier.
- Coz's Blue Goose Lounge, Eunice: It was originally called just The Blue Goose: Charles Cardela owned it.
- Dears', Iberia Parish
- Dixie Club, Eunice
- Dud's Drive Inn, Erath
- Duhon Dance Hall, Scott: According to Noelie Provost there was a Duhon Dance Hall in the country south of Scott. Doc Guidry and his band played
there.
- Dupré LeBleu Dance Hall, Marais Bouleur
- Dup's Beer Garden, Eunice
- Edgewater Club
- Ernest Sonnier's Club, Duson: This was a round building.
- Evangeline Club, Eunice
- Evangeline Club, Ville Platte
- Espera Douguet Dance Hall, Bosco
- Fais Do Do Club, Ville Platte
- Fontenot's Bar, Basile
- Foreman's Dance Hall,. Scott: According to Noelie Provost, "Mr. Felix Foreman Sr., who lived in a two- story house on Cyret Street in Scott, opened a
dance hall. The dances were held upstairs. The musicians were Bill Landry's Band and the Louisiana Six. He had fans but the ceiling was very low and it
was very hot. Mr. Foreman was very strict. There were benches all around the outside walls. Sometimes he would put the lights out for a few seconds.
- Forest Club, Breaux Bridge highway: This club was also opened by Pierre LeBlanc, who owned the Boundary club. It catered to a more traditional crowd
and featured mostly French music.
- Four Corners, Evangeline
- Four Roses, Duson: It was named for the popular brand of bourbon whiskey.
- Fred's Lounge, Mamou: Named for the owner Fred Tate.
- French Casino, Mamou: The owner was Fred Manual.
- George's Club, Lake Arthur
- Gib's Place, Jeanerette
- Girard Forestier's Club near Carencro
- Golden Rocket, Lake Charles
- Golden Spur, Henderson
- Green Lantern, Lawtell: The owner was Jack Joubert.
- Green Wing, Eunice
- Guidry's Club, Arnaudville
- Guidry's Club, Lewisburg
- Gym-side Inn, Lawtell
- Halfway Club, between Abbeville and Erath
- Hamilton's Place, Lafayette: Where Lafayette discovered zydeco.
- Hébert's Dance Hall, Ossun: Ecta Hébert was the owner.
- Hester's Club, Crowley
- Hilltop Club, Lafayette: This was where the Hotel Acadiana is now.
- Hix Wagon Wheel, OpelousasVille Platte Hwy.
- Holiday Club, Mamou: Ed Manuel owned this place.
- Hollywood Club, Rayne
- Jay's Famous Lounge & Cock Pit
- John Bell's, Bell City
- Jolly Rogers, Forked island
- Jungle Club, New Iberia: A Mexican entertainer, Filo Gonzalez, was a regular here.
- Jungle Lounge, Ville Platte
- L'Acadien Club, Lafayette: This was on Jefferson Street, where Antler's is now.
- Lake Shore Club, Lake Arthur: Owner was E.J. Ayo.
- Landry's Palladium, Lafayette
- La Poussière, Breaux Bridge: This club was opened in the 1940s. The name means "the dust," because the dancers would kick up the dust on the dance
floor.
- La Salle de Tee-Gar Guidry, Mermentau Cove
- Lassiegne Dance Hall, Catahoula: This was an old school gymnasium.
- LaToupee, Breaux Bridge: Owner was Kearney (Fatty) Thibodeaux. In English, it was called "the top." It was a circular building that looked something
like a spinning top.
- Lou Ann's, Vinton
- Mac's Roller Rink, Marksville
- Martin Dance Hall, Scott: According to Noelie Provost "The Alex Martin School was closed in the early 1920s and became the Martin Dance Hall. Two
brothers, Leo and Alex Martin, bought the building. The dances were held every other week. The Louisiana Six from New Iberia were the musicians. They
sold pop, gum, and cigarettes. The men were not allowed to smoke in the dance hall. They had to go out on the porches. The.men also wore coat and ties.
They would come in car but most of the people rode in a buggy. There were two deaths in the family, so the dance hall was closed.
- Martinez Club, Morse
- MB's, Lafayette: Owner was Matilde Babineaux
- Midway Club, Breaux Bridge highway: Owner was Norris Breaux. It burned.
- Millers Beer Garden, Eunice: Mayaus LeBoeuf owned it.
- Moonlight Inn, Opelousas: Jessie and Cliff Manuel were owners.
- Moore's Club, Abbeville
- Moulin Rouge, Lake Charles: Owner was Hammie Fontenot.
- Newman's Country Club, Midland
- Oak Grove, Lafayette: This club was first opened at Four Corners by Edgar Derousselle. He sold it to Toby Veltin, and it became Toby's Oak Grove, then,
later, simply Toby's.
- OST Club, Rayne: It was so named because it was on the Old Spanish Trail. Owner was Joe LaTour.
- Palomino Club, Vinton
- Palumbo's, Vermilion Parish: This club was north of Abbeville on La. 167 in Palumbo's Curve.
- Paul's Playhouse, Sunset
- Pelican Club, Kaplan
- Pelican Club, Marksville
- Purple Onion, Jeanerette
- Purple Peacock, Eunice
- Quincy's Lounge, Basile: Owner was Quincy Davis.
- Rainbow Club, Basile
- Raphael's Inn, Opelousas
- Rayne Drive Inn Dance Hall
- Rendez-Vous Club, Henderson highway: This club was run by Mulatte Guidry before he opened what is now Mulatte's.
- Rendezvous, Ville Platte
- Reno Club, Kaplan: Owner was a Mr. Seaux.
- Richard's, Lawtell: This was one of the original zydeco clubs.
- Richard's Casino, Bristol: See Tee Maurice.
- River Club, Mermentau: Owned by a Mr. Bonin.
- River Oaks, Abbeville: This club was off La. 82.
- Rockaby Club, Forked Island
- Robin's Dance Hall, Lafayette: This club was at Four Corners where the Alamo Motel is now. Joe Falcon played his first dance here after making his
historic 1928 recording of "Allons à Lafayette."
- Rose Club, Opelousas
- Rose Club, Verdunville
- Seulae Babineaux Dance Hall, Marais Bouleur
- Shady Oaks, Loreauville
- Shep's Club, Marksville
- Signorelli's, St Martinville: Where swamp pop began?
- Silver Dollar, Lake Arthur
- Silver Slipper, Eunice (Lakeview Park): VL. Devillier
- Silver Slipper Pecaniere
- Silver Star, Lake Charles: Owner was Herbert Fuselier.
- Siracusa's, Morgan City
- Slim's Club, Kinder: The owner was Slim Naquin.
- Slim's Y-Ki-Ki Opelousas: Zydeco put Slim's on the map.
- Smiley's, Erath
- Soileau's Dinner and Dance Club, Opelousas
- Southern Club, Opelousas: Owner was Lionel (Chic) Vidrine.
- Spanish Lake Club, Iberia Parish
- Speedy's Broken Mirror, Lake Charles
- Star Club, Henderson
- Step-Inn Club, Lawtell
- Sunset Game Club, Sunset
- Teche Club, New Iberia: Band leader Philip Comeaux reminisced about this club, known for its fights, in Shane Bernard's book, "Swamp Pop, Cajun and
Creole Rhythm and Blues." "Rubic Blanchard, he was a tough guy ... and he owned that club," Comeaux said. "His place was a pretty nice place, nice
looking. ... but kinda rough at times. And, boy, when you had a fight there, I mean this was a war, it was a big to-do. ... He'd tell us when a fight broke out
'Pick out a fast number and don't stop till I tell ya.' And man! We'd be playing for 45 minutes!"
- Tee-Gar Guidry's Club, Mermentau
- Tee Maurice Club, Vatican: Winston Richard supplied this information. "My father was Ellis Richard who was the owner of 'Tee Maurice,' also known as
Richard's Casino. The club was originally owned by his father, Maurice Richard. This club was located in the Bristol-Boscoe area and was popular in the
'30s and '40s. Many great Cajun musicians got their start there. Iry Lejeune, Jimmy C. Newman, Lawrence Walker, Jo-el Sonnier, Belton Richard, Walter
Mouton, and Johnnie Allan are just a few. Not only was it known for music, but also for horse racing, drag racing, sulky racing, rodeos, gambling, trail
rides, and wedding dances. The song 'Tee Maurice' was written about the club by my father and Doc Guidry while reminiscing over the good times they
had there. My father was a farmer during the day. When there was a dance in the evening, he and his workers would gas up the rice truck and ride through
the area picking up passengers for the dances. Twenty-five cents would get you a ride to and from the dance as well as admit you to it."
- The Green Lantern, Lawtell
- The Lovely Inn, Chenier Comminute: This was just before the bridge to Grand Isle. According to Joe Borg of Lafayette, "My father had a camp with a
convenient board walk through the marsh to the back door of this place before its demise by a hurricane. This was a magical place for me as a child, as it
was the first place where a true fair-dodo was held seemingly every night. People would gather in large groups around the tables that fined the periphery of
a wooden dance floor. The tables would be filled with mounds of steaming shrimp and crabs and the air would be filled with music. One dance that got
everyone on the floor, including kids like me, was the "Mexican Hat Dance."
- Therrits Club, Henderson levee
- The Roof Garden, Lafayette
- The Y, at Rendell, between Vile Platte and Mabou
- Town & Country, Riceville: Owner was C.J. Brossard.
- Triangle Club, Frilot Cove
- Triangle Club, Scott
- Tuxedo Club, Erath
- Twin Oaks, Vinton: See Big Oaks
- Veroni Dance Hall, Evangeline
- Webster's, Cecilia
- Welcome Club, Crowley: Owner was a Mr. Abshire, who bought it from Joe Falcon.
- Whit's Lounge, Lafayette: Owner was Whitney Leger
- Wild Cherry, Breaux Bridge
|
