Blue Moon - Bunkie Chamber of Commerce

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HISTORY OF THE BLUE MOON NIGHT CLUB
BUNKIE, LA.
April 28, 1975
By John Deshotel
Rt. 1 Box 287
Plaucheville, La.
SUMMAY
The Blue Moon was just a Saturday night dance hall when Mr. and Mrs.
Vines Harris stopped by on their return to Melville, Louisiana from their
trip to Chicago. Thus, the stage was set and the die was cast, and the
Blue Moon night club came into being.
After years of successful operation, they saw that their facilities were
much too small and obsolete. They built a new, brick Blue Moon club
and opened it to the public only eighteen months after arriving in
Bunkie.
Nationally famous orchestras appeared, and the public was captivated,
and the fame of the Blue Moon spread like wildfire throughout the
United States and abroad through the travels of both soldier and
civilian. Movie stars, statement, financiers, generals, and even a
president have passed through the threshold of the Blue Moon. War
time only served to make the Blue Moon flourish. Private, civic, and
social gatherings of all types were held at the Blue Moon.
The anit-gambling administration of Governor Kennon in the 50’s
marked the beginning of the Blue Moon’s demise.
In 1958 the Blue Moon was rented to an antique dealer and served him
well for three years until a tragic fire in December of 1961 left nothing
but fond memories.
Table of Contents
ORIGIN---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1
FAMOUS BANDS-----------------------------------------------------------------------3
ANTI-GAMBELING LAWS-------------------------------------------------------------5
THE GREAT FIRE------------------------------------------------------------------------7
CONCLUSEION--------------------------------------------------------------------------8
BIBLIOGRAPHY-------------------------------------------------------------------------9
HISTORY OF THE BLUE MOON
In April of 1936, Mr. and Mrs. Vines Harris stopped at the Blue Moon Club on
a return trip from Chicago. Everyone at the club, which was formerly a skating
rink, was having a good time. Sitting on the side lines, the Harris’ started thinking
and figuring and saw good prospects for the operation of a fine
Mr. Harris won $1200 in a dice game the first night there. The next time he
came he won $800 more. The Harris finally found an outlet for her bottled up
musical talents. During the last fifteen years, they had lived in Melville, Louisiana
and had worked for the Mills Lumber Company running the Mill Commissary
Store which in those days carried everything from hairpins to caskets. Mrs. Harris
said she could birth’em and bury’em, but her musical talents were virtually being
wasted.
At that time the main asset was the dance floor which was made of beech
wood and was said to be the best dance floor in the state. They set up a bar,
kitchen, bandstand and night club room and engaged “Bud Scott “of Natchez,
Mississippi for their opening dance. Two hundred and fifty couples came on their
opening Saturday night. From then on Bub Scott filled regular engagement’s every
two weeks and provided a dance that the people within a one hundred mile
radius of Bunkie looked forward to with great anticipation.
Mr. Harris bought the old frame building and two acres of land for $2200.
Through the years he has accumulated a total of 300 acres of land upon which he
build his beautiful, brick farm house in 1949.
They stayed in this old building eighteen months before the new Blue Moon
opened. Mrs. Harris sent out 500 cards a week to advertise the new Blue Moon
besides running radio and newspaper advertisements.
As for the meals, they were superb. Martin Emil was the chef. He is now the at
Diesi’s Little Capitol Restaurant in Krotz Springs, Louisiana. The Blue Moon served
steak, chicken, and seafood. The steaks must have been good as Russ Morgan ate
one before and after he finished his show one night.
Before expansion to the new Blue Moon, the daily operating cost was $10, which
looked big then. One porter, “Murphy”, one bar tender, Smiling Sam Oakley” and
Mr. and Mrs. Harris composed the entire operating force. After the first year of
operation, they were convinced that the Avoyelles area wanted a first class place
of amusement. They decided to expand.
The new brick Blue Moon had its grand opening Saturday, 18 December 1937
with Joe Brocato’s University Band of Baton Rouge furnishings the entertainment.
After a two week’s holiday engagement, Billy Yates, with his fourteen piece
orchestra, opened the New Year (1938) at the new Blue Moon with a crowd of
eight hundred. Successful wasn’t the word for it. After the first year at the new
Blue Moon expenses were running $75 a day.
One of Wayne King’s musicians asked the bartender, “What is this fine club doing
in the sticks?” He said, making money.” Another question, “How can you get an
organist here?” Answer, “She owns it.”
In its brief history (2:May 1941), the new Blue Moon Club had the reputation of
having played the finest names bands available. Bands such as Russ Morgan,
Henry Busse, Count Bassie, Duck Ellington, Cab Calloway, Al Donahue, Dick Mills,
Dick McMillen, Earl Hines and others, ranging in cost from $1000.00 to $1700.00
for just four hours of entertainment. In effect, the new Blue Moon put Bunkie, La.
on the map. The Harris also always provided a strictly high class band to play
every night of the week. Clubs in Opelousas, Lafayette, Baton Rouge, and other
surrounding towns never booked any of the bands that played the Blue Moon as
all their for five weeks before and after they played the Blue Moon to see them.
April and May 1941 were spent remolding and grooming the exterior making the
new Blue Moon the last in beauty, comfort, and attractiveness. The front bar and
dining room were done over in two tones, of blue. Besides this, beautiful inlaid
linoleum covered he floor. Fluorescent lights were installed, not to mention the
modern air conditioning. A modernistic bar was added and table space for dining
and cocktails was increased. The seating capacity was now eight hundred. These
additions transformed the new blue room at the Blue Moon onto the most
beautiful place of its kind in the state.
The ball room walls were done over in new wood, while the ceiling had been
finished in sky blue. New tables and chairs, hand figures and made of gum, were
also provided for the comfort of the guest.
The guest single addition was the new and spacious banquet room which was
used exclusively for special and private banquets, dinners, or business meetings
for any and all organizations, associations, or other gatherings in the area.
The orchestra stand stood as one of the most beautiful and artistically arranged in
any night club in the state. A massive gilt column stood at each end of a solid back
wall of mirrors. These mirrors reflected the players in the orchestra and
presented an unusual and unique optical panorama. Dancers were also reflected
making room much larger, but mainly it reflected the Blue Moon’s namesake, the
revolving crystal which hung from the ceiling. This crystal has received favorable
comment and admiration of visitors from all over the United States.
The past rooms were done over in two tones of blue and old ivory and were
enlarged. Lights, dressing tables, and chairs were provided for the lady patron.
At this time (May 1941) the new Blue Moon was the finest, largest, and most
modern night club in Louisiana. Twenty-five people were employed weekly with
ten extra on weekends pushing the payroll to more than $100 a day.
More than 1000 patrons entered the new Blue Moon each week including visitors
from at least ten other states, thus advertising Bunkie and Avoyelles parish
continually.
The honesty of the gambling hall can be attested to by this story of the rich
Oklahoma man who stopped and wanted a steak and to play diced in the club
room. This was in a dance night, and there was no one to play dice the club room.
This was on a dance night, and there was no one to play with; so Mrs. Harris
played with him to keep him happy. She lost and kept losing. She ran out of cash
and had to borrow more to keep playing. People gathered around and began to
sit in on the game.
The Oklahoma man’s fortune changed and lost a total of $7000. He was broke and
asked Mr. Harris to cash a $20 check to get to New Orleans. Mr. Harris gave
him$50. The man said he was disappointed at losing. He also said he was an
experienced gambler and saw no one cheating. Three weeks later this same man
came back and won$3000.00. Mrs. Harris was happy as that was good for
business. She didn’t want the place to get a bad reputation.
When Robert Kennon was running for governor on an anti-gambling platform, ha
came to Bunkie to campaign. He meant to do away with all slot machines, dice
tables, roulette, and blackjack all of which the Blue Moon offered. Mr. Harris met
with Mr. Kennon at the Bently Hotel where Mr. Kennon promised that the Blue
Moon would continue as always, despite the anti-gambling laws. Mr. Harris then
donated $400 to the Kennon campaign. Mr. Kennon won and had his antigambling laws passed. Three weeks later the sheriff said to move the slot
machines and gambling tables upstairs; all but one slot, that is, which was kept in
the kitchen and was forgotten. This machine was christened “Joe Davis” by
Negroes in the kitchen. The sheriff came to inspect and found it in the kitchen. A
Negro porter came out and saved the day. He said “That’s Joe Davis, He no good.
He broke.” The sheriff just left as he came.
In 1956 the Harris gave the Blue Moon to their son who managed it until its close
in 1958. The Harris’ wanted to get out of the business and travel. Their plans were
stopped when Mr. Harris had a stroke. Two years later they were able to travel,
but in the meantime, the anti-gambling laws were bad for business and Sonny
closed the Blue Moon and rented it to Mr. Griffin, the local antique dealer.
Officers and men and their wives stationed at Camp Claiborne, Beauregard,
Livingston, and Polk also became acquainted with the hospitality of the Blue
Moon. Mr. Vines Harris is an ex-serviceman who was awarded the Purple Heart
and other citations when on the fixing line in France at the age of eighteen. Some
soldiers were musicians, gamblers and bartenders who helped out at the Blue
Moon and even asked for jobs after the war. These men provided free
advertisement when they went home. In fact, Mrs. Harris still receives frequent
phone calls from ex-servicemen from as far as Chicago and New York who want to
know if the Harris family and the Blue Moon are still around.
The Blue Moon was the second home to many of these soldiers. Many wonderful
marriages were a result of an introduction made by the management of the club.
Company dances, banquets, and special parties were a weekly affair y the
servicemen because of the untiming effort of the Harris’ in securing the finest
young ladies from all over the parish to help entertain and take part in the parties
with the servicemen. Transportation was furnished to and from town for these
lovely young ladies after each party, and always with an escort from the Blue
Moon.
In the guest log is a note from the band leader Bob Crosby, when he was in
training at one of the Army camps, which says, “The first all American dream I
have ever visited.” Willard Parker, star of the famous “The Texas Rangers” show
on television was one of many famous visitors the Harris’ have received.
The late President “Ike” Eisenhower, then a general, was also a guest when he
attended a company retirement banquet where he officially retired some officers
from the service. By the way, it is not commonly known but Mrs. Harris claims the
distinction of having coined the slogan of “We Like Ike.”
The guest Howard Hughes was a visitor who played the roulette wheel and won.
Paul Harvey was also a guest with a group of speakers from Alexandria. According
to Mrs. Harris, Alexandria has never had a real night club, so naturally the Blue
Moon had the business of the best. Wedding receptions, Rotary, Lions, Chamber
of Commerce, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and all high class
affairs were held at the Blue Moon.
But as all good things must come to an end, as the saying goes, so
did the Blue Moon. On Thursday night, December 14, 1961, the Blue Moon went
away in a spectacular blaze that only left a skeleton. For three years it was rented
to Mr. Griffin, an antique dealer. Losses ran between $30,000 and $35,000, Mr.
Harris said he thought it could have been saved if there had been a supply of
water available. All the firemen had was what they had brought. At that time Mr.
Harris said it would cost $60,000 to replace the building. It was partially insured,
but did not exceed $25,000. The building was empty when it was thought that a
cigarette ignited some nearby cleaning fluid. One witness was quoted, “That is the
most beautiful fire I have ever seen. Colors of the rainbow in flames licking across
the highway and with a little concentration, there’s music in the air…it’s like
seeing a ghost of beautiful memories.” (2:14 Dec. 1961)
The Blue Moon was known abroad almost wherever our soldiers traveled.
A book of Blue Moon patches was found in the pocket of a fatally wounded
soldier of World War II. Such memories can no fire destroy. One night a year, the
club donated the net proceeds of their bingo game to the Don Boscoe.
Boys Home in Cottonport, Louisiana. This was a big thrill for the homeless
children, and it meant shoes and needy gifts for Christmas. The last year’s
proceeds totaled $1200. One night a very young and very pregnant wife won $800
in the bingo jackpot. She was thrilled and said, “Thank goodness, I can now have
my baby in a good hospital—I’ll have the money to pay.”
Yes, the Blue Moon is gone, but the memory still survives. The Blue Moon
was hub and focal point of the community. Bunkie kids never missed a Saturday
night at the Blue Moon. Girls from Marksville and other towns said that whenever
a boy asked for a Saturday night date, they first asked him where he would take
them. If he said anywhere but the Blue Moon, he was turned down. The quiet
week nights were a time when the whole gang would gather there to talk and
dance to the music of the juke box. The Blue Moon also meant a lot to the parents
as well. They never had to worry where the kids were. They were at the Blue
Moon where the Harris’ kept a friendly and watchful eye on them.
From reading the above comments and history one soon realizes that the
Blue Moon wasn’t just fancy night club; it was an institution that was alive in the
hearts of the Bunkie and surrounding communities.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
(1) Personal interview with Mrs. Harris, owner of Blue Moon Club
(2) Bunkie Record Newspaper
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