Each year, the month of April is recognized as Texas DANCE HALL Month. It's a time of freshness. A time to gather with family and friends. A time to appreciate the modern cultural that the many different Dance halls across Texas have influence.

The Texas dance hall originated as a nineteenth century phenomenon, deriving from the confluence of waves of central European immigrants with a social dancing culture on the southwestern frontier. The earliest halls were probably at the beginning of German settlement in the 1850s, with the sudden appearance of large numbers of halls in the 1870s. We are just beginning to learn about these earliest halls according to Texas Dance Hall Preservation Inc.

It was a way to gather with friends and neighbors socializing. Saloons tended to be male establishments unlike the early dance halls which aimed towards families for an evening of food, music and dancing. The only other place of gathering during the week would likely be the church on Sunday.

The dance hall was often a inviting friendly place with great music. The early days long before radio, juke boxes or downloading to your Ipod was the only way to hear the sounds of the many music artist like "Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys" who traveled across the state performing. Folks from miles around would travel to the local halls often bringing side dishes for the pot luck gathering as they Dosi Doe to the Cotton Eye Joe. Men never lined dance like they do today and group dancing was to songs like the Cotton Eyed Joe or Shoddish.

Most would include pool tables though they were not consider pool halls. Couples with children would come out along with elderly family members sometimes seating four generations at the tables. Kids played together and sometimes learned to dance from being with their parents. A tradition that today has seem to fade. Although, for Brewster Street Ice House located in Corpus Christi, Texas returned this family atmosphere providing great food and exceptional music from musicians like Pat Green, Kevin Fowler including many local groups. It's not a legendary dance hall but established its business on the same principals being open to families.

Many halls also had open air patios for summer enjoyment while keeping a fire pit for cooler nights. Construction ranged from locate materials although most simply built as single story structures with either wood or concrete dances floors. It was common practice to sprinkle saw dust or soup flakes across the dance floor that would allow the leather soles of boots scoot while dancing one of the many western swings. Polka dancing was also common.

Growing up in San Antonio, it was not uncommon for my friends and I to head out to John T. Floore's Country Store located in Helotes, Texas. Once miles outside of town now rest on the borders city limits. Floore's was built much later in 1946 were they offered Tamales, Chili, set-ups and a variety of beer. Of course, I was under age and drank Dr. Pepper. I saw Willie Nelson play there before he was known across the nation.

The Saturday night bath might just have come to term, just to head out to these dance halls back in the late 1800's. Washing off the week of dust and changing into clean clothes adding some smelly sauce. "Cologne" before going to the weekly hoe down. I can remember my old friend Andrew state, "We're fix'in to meet some pretty gals", and pretty gals we did meet. Although, men young and old alike held gentleman values polity asking the ladies for a dance. If she was already accompanied, they would ask her escort first, be it be, her boyfriend, husband or Daddy. However, there might be an occasional flare up between males perhaps over manners, ex's or the sort. Rare was a cat fight and surely if your started a brawl you would be asked to leave if it meant the owner pulling out his double barrel shot gun, saying "Partner, I believe it's time for you to go". Though, this never happen with me.

Many of the Texas Dance Halls, as those across the United States were funded through groups like the ODHS (Sons of Hermann) hall, founded by Germans, the SPJST (a Czech fraternal organization) hall, and the Catholic church’s parish hall. Catina's frequent by the Hispanic culture were inviting as Juke Joints hosting mostly blacks. It was OK to come out and listen to the different music providing you were either invited or had good friends inside. However, it may have been, I remember being an Amigo at one cantina where on one occasion they cooked Cabrito on the spit. It was really good. Additionally, I visited a hole in the wall juke joint where the sounds were blues. Playing turns like Robert Johnson "At the Cross Road". I had just been at Pop Walton's barbecue on La Salle Street in Waco, Texas where they highly recommended the place. At first, I was a little uncomfortable, but that seem to change as folks didn't mind me listening to music and minding my own business. Although many Cantina's and Juke Joints were not as often a family place. Just as much most dance halls today do not promote for a family crowd.

The music and legends live on today in many of these halls that have been restored and cultural history preserved. Much to the credit of the Texas Dance Hall Preservation, Inc. Some dance halls have also become legendary and even sung about as Waylon Jennings song, "Let's go to Luckenbach, Texas" which was formerly a post office before being turned into a dance hall. In London, Texas there's the London Hall 90 miles from San Angelo and 115 miles northwest of San Antonio near Junction, Tx. It claims to be the oldest dance hall in Texas and rightly so, it darn near is. However, the second oldest is in the town of Goliad, Texas called Schroeder Hall constructed and opened for business in 1890. However, most Texans agree that Gruene Hall, pronounced "Green" which was built next to a gist mill in Gruene, Texas is the oldest. Built in 1879 and has continually been a running dance hall in Texas, and the birthplace to many great songwriters and musicians. Including George Strait. Ace in the Hole, Jerry Jeff Walker, Lyle Lovett, Joe Ely, Robert Earl Keen, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Hal
Ketchum, Charlie Robinson, and many more.

Music could be appreciated from Tejano, Blues, folk or Country. Every community offered the social dance hall. A place where memories were made, communities gather and individuals can look back upon thinking "Remember when".

Story by Roger Edison, South Texas Cowboy