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Bienfait Social Life
Gatherings called Community
Affairs were frequently held in the earlier days.
Some of the buildings used
were the old Brick School and Boruk's boarding house,
which was situated west
of the Legion Hall.
The music was supplied
by such musicians as Mr. Clark and Mike Murdoph.
The most popular instruments
in those days were the guitar, violin, accordion and piano.
Both dancing and singing
comprised an evenings
entertainment with lunch being served at the end.
The first dances in early
Bienfait were held in the present day Anglican Church.
Dance steps popular in that
day were square dances, two steps,
highland fling, waltzes,
turkey-trot and Charleston.
The dances usually opened
with the grand march.
Dances in 1955 were held
in the Union Hall and Legion Hall.
Some Musicians
and Orcheatra's
from the past
listed here
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Mrs. Parkinson
Mr. McPeak
Mr. Clark
Mike Murdoph
Val Doerr
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Night Hawks
Ken Johns
Jack Fraser
Tig Mitchell
Frank Fairles
John Fraser
Saul Krivel
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Robert's Revellers
Robert Miller
Stewart Doerr
Mike Miller
Robert Walliser
Miss Elsa Backman (Piano)
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Blue J's
James Miller
Gerald Miller
Johnny Dunitz
Joe Meister
Peter Fahlander
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Jubileers
Jack Doerr
Judy Rohatyn
Dean Sane
Wayne Taylor
Murray Weppler
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The admission to dances was
75 cents with each member of the Orchestra
receiving about $5.00 for
his nights work.
They would start at 9:00
PM and end about 2 AM
If some of the people lived
far away, they would party till dawn
when it was safe to go home.
The most popular songs from
the early days were "Red Wing (PLAYING),
Charmaine, Over the Waves
and Let the Rest of the World Go By"
The dances were truly a
Social
The ladies would sit on
one side of the hall, and the men on the other.
The crowds would even include
the youngest members of the family.
Mr Hugh Fraser,
born in Bienfait
In 1926, has been kind enough
to inform me,
Of an omission to this page
of one band
That was very popular in
the 40's,
To correct this mistake,
I have listed the information
on the right.
Per Hugh, This band was
often booked
For up to a hundred miles
around;
This meant that on weeknights
They had to hurry home
For a couple of hours' sleep
before work!
Thanks for the Contribution
Hugh!
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"Playmates",
later
"Al's Playmates"
Jack Fraser- sax (Hugh's Father)
Alphonse Gisi - banjo, guitar
George Thompson - drums
Thelma Dunbar- piano
There were almost always
six on stage
and over the years the following
also played for varying
periods:
Cal Southernwood
- trumpet
Hugh Fraser- piano, clarinet
Mike Miller
- accordion
Robert Walliser - accordion
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There is someone out there
reading these pages,
which is great,
Larry Rohatyn sent me this
update
on another couple bands in the area
The Twilight Kings
In Larry's words
"this band was lead by my
brother Micheal Rohatyn
as singer and lead guitarist;
Larry Rohatyn on accordion;
Wilfred Sane on bass fiddle;
and Ron Erdman from Frobisher
on violin.
Later this group was joined
by Walter Senchuk of Estevan
on portable bass, guitar and vocal as
well.
This group played for many
a dances in the area,
and in particular the Union
Hall
and the Legion Hall in Bienfait."
June 1957 article says they were an Estevan Band
winner of the ACT-CKRM talent hunt show
in the Estevan Legion Auditorium
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Larry remembers another group,
but can't figure out the name they went by
so if anyone knows it, please
let us know,
Per Larry "Another
group was led by Ed Melher,
singer and guitarist;
Steve Rohatyn on accordion;
Matt Melher on violin;
and Garnet Clark on steel
guitar and bass fiddle"
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That's all for now, thanks
for the input!
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