One of the things I wanted to portray in this part of the story was the deeply rooted Texas music history. Imagine, if you will, dance halls often set in the middle of nowhere, and yet people would travel for miles around to attend a music show. Folks worked hard, and they played hard. They craved entertainment. Only a few in the more remote areas had TVs, so they flocked to live music shows.
One of the oldest and most iconic dance halls is located in the tiny town of London, Texas, in the Hill Country.
This excerpt is a glimpse into that scenario.
EXCERPT: CHAPTER 19
The picturesque, rambling dance hall sat nestled amidst a grove of giant oak trees as Red pulled the Lincoln to a stop in front of the building. Christmas lights twinkled around the front roof line, giving off a festive glow in the fast-fading Texas Hill Country sunset.
London Hall was like a scene out of a 1920s movie. The way Luke had described it didn’t begin to do it justice. The age of the building, the oak floors, the fold-out wooden windows, and the preservation of its original structure took Darlina back in time.
The only modernization she could see was electric lights and one inside bathroom for ladies. Men had to use an oak tree outside.
There was no back way to unload the band trailer. Red and Luke unhitched it from the car at the front door.
Posters lined the walls, and Darlina pointed to ones she recognized. Easy Adams and the Top Hands, Adolph Hofner, Luke Stone and The Rebel Rousers, Doug Sahm, Augie Meyers, Fiddling Frenchie Burke, and numerous other artists were on display.
As they viewed the posters, Luke explained, “Easy Adams is a good friend of mine, and he wrote Bandera Waltz. He once told me I sang it better than anyone he’d ever heard besides himself. That was a real compliment to me.”
As Red had predicted, people ranging from ninety to tiny babies crowded into the ancient dancehall.
***
People packed the dance floor. Children danced with each other and with older folks. Grandmas danced with grandpas, and sometimes, two women cut a rug together. Darlina sat in amazement, taking it all in. She could imagine how it must’ve been fifty years ago if she closed her eyes.
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Texas isn’t the only state with ancient establishments like this one. Have you ever visited or toured one? Let’s talk!
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