Collection Spotlight: The Wonder Club

Archivists believe that, ideally, Louisiana documents should remain in Louisiana, archival collections created in France should remain in France, etc. This helps preserve unique local cultural histories, community identities, historical context, local knowledge, and can greatly simplify research. 

To put it another way, it is not an archives’ responsibility to just collect documents; instead, it is an archives’ responsibility to ensure that documents are preserved in their most appropriate repository. Therefore, when the Nevada State Museum found photographs of the Wonder Club among their holdings, they contacted TUSC to see if we wanted the photographs transferred to us, and we enthusiastically said “yes!” 

Originally called the Wonder Bar, the Wonder Club (1933-1972) was a female impersonation club opened by Emile Morlet in 1933 in the French Quarter, just after the end of Prohibition. In 1936, due to continuous police harassment and raids, Morlet moved the bar to the West End, on the shores of Lake Pontchartrain, and renamed it “The Wonder Club.” In the 1940s, the Wonder Club was renamed once again and became the famous Club My-O-My, hosting both regular performers and touring drag artists. It was rebuilt after a fire in 1948 and continued to be a popular tourist spot for several decades, but Club My-O-My closed permanently after another fire in 1972. 

This collection consists of 19 interior photos of the Wonder Club, dated February 1941, and a 4-sided pamphlet advertisement. Interior photos of businesses are often scarce, and these photographs document the stage, band, emcee Bobby Leonard, performers, and patrons. The flier advertises the club and the performers Bobby Bell, Francis David, Poppy Lane, Bertie LaPage, Francis Parker, and Cleo Renee.

A guide to the collection is available online.

Published 8/4/2025