Hangouts in the Bayou Region
Zoe Hebert Staff In South Louisiana’s Bayou Region, many hangout spots frequented by teens and young adults have closed or decreased in popularity over the decades. In the 1930s, teenagers were drawn to hangout spots that were simple like swimming pools, backroads, and parks. Located on the eastside of Houma, the Houma Airbase serves as a park for the community to use, but in the ‘80s, it was the perfect spot for teenagers to make out, drink, and fight. “I remember there was the FOP Lodge at the airbase,” says June Davis, who grew up in Bourg during the ‘80s. “It stood for the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge, which was a popular spot for people to have parties at. There was always a lot of fighting going on between the guys.” “It stood for the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge, which was a popular spot for people to have parties at.” June Davis In 2021, John Navy opened a splash park on the airbase for younger kids to use during hot days, modernizing the airbase for today’s youth. Another major youth activity for teenagers in past decades was swimming. The Legion Park Pool, located in Houma, offered kids a place to cool down in the Louisiana heat. It is now patched up and closed down. “As a former high school student swimmer, the Legion Park Pool was not only a fun place for us to hangout but it was also the pool where teams would practice,” says Paula Hebert, a resident of Houma. “I remember being five years old and going there for practices.” As time moved on, the hangout scene became a little more modernized with the popularity of malls. Southland Mall, located in Houma, used to be a booming hangout area for teens and young adults. Within the mall was a movie theater called Southland Cinema. Southland Mall was also the place where schools would do cheer and gym performances for the crowds, which is something that is never seen now. Houma native Brian Pellegrin says, “An entire strip of the mall is empty. There are no stores on that side and there’s not even a food court.” Southland Mall 2023 Splash Pad 2023 Houma Airbase Hill Lacache Middle School at Southland Mall Lacache Middle School Southland Mall 1999
Club Scene
Victoria Davis- Abad Staff Whether it is disco balls shining down on the dance floor or colored lights strobing across the floor. There are people having fun with their friends or making new ones with strangers. While the club scene has changed over the years in the Bayou Region, it has remained a place of entertainment for teenagers and adults alike. In the past, night clubs were almost everywhere in the Terrebonne and Lafourche Parish area. Places like The Safari Club and The Greenhouse were once popular, but those places that used to bring in a huge gathering have disappeared into almost nothing. The Safari served beer and mixed drinks to everyone who came to party in Galliano. It was set up right across the bayou, but a fire broke out during its prime time in 1977, burning the building to the ground. After the fire, a new disco club opened in The Safari’s place known as The Big Apple. “It was like Saturday Night Fever with John Travolta,” says Claudia Spencer, a Larose resident. “It was like Saturday Night Fever with John Travolta.” claudia spencer As people moved on from disco, The Big Apple changed its theme from disco to country and started doing more events to draw in the young adults. All that remains today is concrete that is used for parking. The Greenhouse became a club for young adults in Cut-Off in 1982. The club had themed nights that it became known for, but it closed in 2012 due to lack of maintenance. Lee Brother’s Dance Hall was a small building in Cut-Off where many people danced the night away; but now it stands abandoned on the side of the highway with boarded windows and holes in the ceiling. Even though there have been multiple clubs that have closed down, there still are some today that draw in crowds. As the years have changed, so has the club scene. Old clubs catered to a specific audience with disco clubs or bands with live music. The clubbing scene has dropped because of several factors. WHAT HAPPENED? In 2015, New Theory Magazine said the reason why the clubbing scene is decreasing is a lack of revenue because the newer generation does not go to clubs as often as the older generation. In January 2023. The National Public Radio covered a story of a shooting in a Louisiana nightclub that injured a dozen people. With certain violent incidents like shootings happening in nightclubs, the customers would not feel as safe going back to the nightclub. Another factor could be the location of said nightclubs. When people think of nightclubs, they will think of the heavily populated city of New Orleans. When people search clubs in Louisiana on Google, the ones that get the most attention are the clubs located in the big city. Not many people would remember the nightclubs that the Bayou Region has to offer. Although some of the nearby nightclubs will stand out to the young adult crowd in the area. Halftime and Androgyny are clubs that are available for young adults. Halftime is a popular club for college kids in Thibodaux and Androgyny is a night club in Houma that has special themed nights for visitors along with drag queen performances. Miranda Danos, a Nicholls student, said. “Androgyny is a great club, and I think it really helps foster the LGBTQIA+ presence in this area.” Although the past clubs have disappeared with only memories left behind, the clubbing scene will not vanish into obscurity because people, no matter how young or old, want a place to dance and hang out with their friends. Androgyny Nightclub- Houma The Greenhouse The Safari
Dancing
Quincy Evans Staff While dancing is popular with all ages, the dance scene has actually begun to dwindle due to changes in club atmospheres. More specifically, to some people, going out to bars and clubs doesn’t have the same appeal to them as it did in their youth. “See, back then, the dance scene was accompanied by the bars and clubs’ atmosphere; it had more of a feel,” says Gordon Vinning, a club DJ. “And by a feel to it, I mean that it had a more lively and homier atmosphere to it. Almost like everything surrounding the place was trying to keep you coming back to keep having a good time.” The atmosphere of a place is essential in a club because it sets the tone and puts people at ease to have a good time while dancing, he says. “They used to have a little dance hall here at Peppers, and a lot of people would come by on weekends and just enjoy themselves,” says Ryan Guidry. “Whenever I come here, I still see some people dance to the music playing, but it’s not as it was before.” “Whenever I come here, I still see some people dance to the music playing, but it’s not as it was before.” Ryan Guidry While local clubs and bars now may not have the same appeal as in the past, the music has stayed consistent. And music and dancing go hand-in-hand. “For dancing to mean something to a group of people, the right music must be played,” says Stuart Tully, history professor at Nicholls State University. “For example, in breakdancing, the music played has a lot of techno beats and is very fast-paced, which works well with the actual breakdancing style. Everyone around them who saw these kinds of moves got them excited and either cheered them on to do more or joined them. Having both the music and the dance styles there showed what type of energy was at a bar, club, or social event.” No matter what has changed and what hasn’t, bars and clubs are still there for people to enjoy themselves and dance the night away. “Seeing someone dance to the music that I’m playing at the time gives me a kickback,” Vinning says. “Even if they are moving side to side or just nodding their head just makes me feel good about what I am doing.”
Drinks by the Decade
Delaney Ligori Staff
Bars in the Bayou Region
Dominic Lasseigne Staff The bar scene was a centerpiece in the lives of Southeast Louisiana’s youth during the end of the 20th century. Every weekend, the young adults of Lafourche, Terrebonne and Assumption Parish would show up to their favorite bars and clubs for long nights of music, dancing, and drinking. The South Lafourche region hosted a thriving nightlife. The Safari, a club in Cut Off, was decorated with palm branches and bamboo. According to Matt Dufrene, a longtime Galliano resident, The Safari was the most ambitious club down the bayou. “The decorations weren’t really like anything we had seen before at that time,” Dufrene says. “It’s a lot like the bars and clubs you see in big cities today. They had a theme and they stuck to it.” “It’s a lot like the bars and clubs you see in big cities today. They had a theme and stuck to it.” Matt Dufrene Locals recall streakers running through the building one Saturday night, to the dismay of some of the older bar-goers. The Big Apple, a disco club that set itself apart with its very large size, grew popular after The Safari burnt down in 1977. It featured a light-up dance floor, a disco ball, and a large U-shaped bar. It later became The Little Apple in 1984 when the main club closed down, leaving just the bar. Not only did the setup and theme of bars draw in crowds, but so did the live music. Toby Melancon, the owner of The Greenhouse, a bar in Cut Off, says he was able to pull bands from all over the United States; and sometimes out of the country. Dream Junkies, DNA, Crush, Enter the Machine, The Stranger, and Uncrowned all performed on The Greenhouse Stage. In Assumption Parish, The Rainbow Inn was home to many swamp pop musicians, a South Louisiana genre of music combining country with cajun and creole traditional tunes. People would tune in to see artists like The Richard Brothers and Don Rich. The Southeastern Louisiana region was booming with many great bars. Thibodaux youth enjoyed the trifecta of Iron Horse, The Foundry, and Colonel’s Retreat. Other popular bars and clubs were also visited frequently such as Lee Brothers’ Dance Hall and The Shady Pecan. “It’s a lot like it was back in the ’80s these days,” says Julie Chouest, a native of Cut Off. “The kids will drive an hour or however long to Houma and Thibodaux to go drink. We did the same, but there was a lot more stuff to do here down the bayou then too.” WHAT CHANGED? Louisiana changed its legal drinking age from 18 to 21 on September 1, 1986. The change was a result of the National Minimum Drinking Age Act, which was passed by the United States Congress. Before the change, individuals 18 years or older could buy and drink alcohol. Nicole Boudreaux, assistant professor of Mass Communication at Nicholls State University, recalls the change in policy “I was almost 20 — so close,” Boudreaux says. “It was the weirdest thing. One day you had the right to drink legally, and the next day they were putting a big ‘X’ on your hand with a sharpie to indicate that you weren’t 21.” According to Boudreaux, the beginning was the most strict. If you were underage and caught with a drink, most bars would kick you out. She says that people were creative with erasing the ‘X’ mark, however. Many of these bars and clubs have since closed down: The Safari burnt down; The Big Apple exists but only as the Red Apple Inn; and the shopping center that The Greenhouse was located in wasn’t maintained after hurricanes, leading to its closure in 2012. The closures of these once popular bars and clubs have contributed to the decrease of activities for Southeast Louisiana’ youth to participate in and, consequently, a lost youth culture. The Iron Horse- 1980s Rox’s Bar 1965 Iron Horse Movie Night 1975 Greenhouse Bartenders and Band Iron Horse Stained Glass Sign 1974 ad bands playing at Safari
Before/After
Movies Southland Mall Cinema jet cinema Grand Theater HANGOUTS 3RD STREET FROSTOP ACTIVITIES WATERLAND USA WHEELS R ROLLIN
Keepsakes
Jeanne Marie Young photo editor As the local bars, clubs, entertainment, and hangouts have faded over the decades, often, all that’s left of them is the memories and memorabilia kept by the locals. While it can be difficult to recall a random Tuesday night spent in a bar years ago, many bars and hangouts utilized promotions and themed-nights to capture the attention of goers, which now allows them to recall and reminisce on the ‘good ole’ days’. Live music was always a crowd pleaser, so flyers from decades past often listed the bands that would be performing. If that didn’t draw in a crowd, there were also promotions put in place to make the night feel exclusive and keep these hangout spots busy all week long. This included ladies night, grad night, and the chance to get deals on drinks. Although time only causes the memories to fade, many locals have held on to the tokens and keepsakes that keep these places alive. Memorabilia such as old movie tickets, flyers, and glasses are things that allow people to remember the once thriving youth scene. The Safari Club Flyer Flyer from The Safari Club from a Saturday Night in the 90s. The Foundary Flyer Flyer from The Foundry Bar posted in the Nicholls Worth in the 90s. Southland Cinema Southland Cinema schedule of movies from the 90s. Rene’s Matchbook Matchbook from Rene’s Bar from the 90s. Last Call- Live Music 2017 Live acoustic music hosted at Last Call in 2017. Last Call Ladies Night Flyer Last Call hosts their annual Ladies Night on Thursdays in 2020. Last Call- Grad Night Last Call hosts a graduation party after the spring 2019 commencement. Grand Theater Ticket Tickets from The Grand Theater from the 80s. Grand Theater Flyer The Grand Theater’s schedule of movies from 1941. Goobers Flyer Flyer from Goober’s Bar in Thibodaux posted in the Nicholls Worth in the 80s. Goobers flyer Flyer from Goober’s Bar in Thibodaux posted in the Nicholls Worth in the 90s. Foundry Glass Glass from The Foundry Bar back in the 80s. Colonels Retreat Flyer Flyer form the Colonels Retreat posted in the Nicholls Worth in the 90s. Colonel Retreat Flyer Flyer form the Colonels Retreat posted in the Nicholls Worth in the 90s. College Inn Matchbook Matchbook from the College Inn Dance Lounge in the 90s. Bullwinkles Token Token from Bullwinkles Bar from the 90s.
Bowling in the Bayou Region
Kelby Toups staff In South Louisiana, bowling alleys created big communities that enjoy the sport both for casual and competitive players. However, with the decline in demand for these bowling alleys, there aren’t many locations left to enjoy. Creole Lanes is the only surviving bowling alley in the Houma-Thibodaux area. Located in Houma, Louisiana, Creole Lanes opened its doors in 1983. “In order for the bowling alley to stay in business, we always want to keep that middle ground to benefit from our competitive players and the families and friend groups,” says Zachary Jones, a long-time manager at Creole Lanes. “In order for the bowling alley to stay in business, we always want to keep that middle ground to benefit from our competitive players and the families and friend groups.” Zachary Jones Twenty years ago, Jones says “Evergreen Junior High would have their PE classes come every so often to give their students class credit to bowl.” While Creole Lanes is still up and running today, some bowling alleys were not as fortunate. In the Thibodaux area, there was Thunder Bowl, which went by a few names before ultimately shutting down. Johnny Craig, the original owner, opened the bowling alley as Sugar Bowl in 1965. It was later changed to Gator Bowl by Allen and Cindy Parks around the late ’80s. In the early 2000s, Buster Lagarde bought the bowling alley and changed the name to Thunder Bowl. In 2014, the bowling alley was then changed to Hickory Lanes. The bowling alley shut down officially in 2018. What Happened? David Boudreaux, a Thibodaux native, says “In a 12-lane house, you can bowl on lanes 1 and 2 and know what was going on at lanes 11 and 12. It was sort of a family atmosphere where everyone knew each other that would bowl there.” Thunder Bowl was mainly built for the competitive scene of bowling, but once they started losing their older and more frequent customers , they began to notice a big loss in revenue. Thunder Bowl shut down in 2018, but the building still stands today on Hickory Street right off of St. Mary Street in Thibodaux. Looking outside of the Houma-Thibodaux area, there is Steelwood Lanes which is located in Morgan City, Louisiana. Steelwood Lanes was built in 1961 and is still in business today. Unlike most other bowling alleys, Steelwood Lanes had a unique building layout. Dylan DuPree, the owner of Steelwood Lanes, explains, “One thing about Steelwood is that we are one of the only Brunswick bowling centers in the United States that was built with a second story.” This second story acts as a bar that allows guests to oversee the bowling lanes. The bar area is still there to this day, however, it is currently under renovation. When it comes to bowling, Steelwood Lanes shows its competitive side by hosting tournaments with the Morgan City USBC Bowling Association. Their tournaments allow everyone to take part in the fun while fundraising for different causes. Back in October of 2022, they hosted a tournament called “Strike Out Breast Cancer, Spare a Pair” in support of Breast Cancer Awareness. more bowling coverage
Bowl South
Kelby Toups staff Bowl South of Louisiana was one of the few bowling alleys located in Houma from 1992 until the damage from Hurricane Ida in 2021 forced it to close. “It did not just tear apart the building, it also took away something that meant the most to the community,” says former Bowl South employee Jason Ledet. Originally named East Side Bowl, it was renamed Bowl South of Louisiana in February 1992. The bowling alley consisted of a snack bar and grill, a sports bar, a pro shop, and 24 bowling lanes. Throughout its time, the bowling alley hosted many league tournaments, high school team matches, and fundraiser events for the community. “It was like my second home,” says Larry Grabert, a long-time bowler and employee. “Both owners Marie and Terry Lirette, who never had kids of their own, became like my second parents.” Like Grabert, it was considered by many as a second home with a large, and consistently growing community. “That place for countless bowlers was not simply a bowling center, but it was like home,” says RJ Ugas, a former mechanic for Bowl South. “That place for countless bowlers was not simply a bowling center, but it was like home.” RJ Ugas On August 29, 2021, Hurricane Ida made landfall in Port Fourchon making its way north through the Houma-Thibodaux area. The hurricane wiped out many well-known landmarks including Bowl South, destroying the building and causing Marie and Terry to shut down the business. Bowl South Branding Bowl South Bowl South 1992 The Classic League more bowling stories
Youth Survey
What Do Youth Want Today? A survey of 120 young people from four high schools and one university in the Bayou Region. Jace Paul Fanguy staff This semester, Grade Voir Ci looked at the declining activities for the more than 900,000 young adults and teens on the bayou. But one question has loomed, is there still a market for these activities? So we asked 120, 13 – 25 year olds from the Bayou Region what they thought. Responses were calculated using a Richter scale. As shown, most are still interested in the activities of the past like roller skating rinks, bowling alleys and clubs/bars. However, we also wanted to know what else they might want. Twelve respondents put “literally anything” as a response to the question, with some of them mentioning “anything that isn’t a Walmart.” Another trend in responses came from the lower Lafourche sample size, who expressed interest in more places to eat. Some quoting Panda Express, Canes, and a Chick-fil-A. This same group also said they would like a movie theater, mini golf, and an arcade. A small group mentioned they wanted to see a “Break Room.” A place where customers can let go of stress and anger by breaking whatever is in sight.