FORT WORTH (dpa) – Hundreds of guests in cowboy hats and boots, checked shirts and suede fringe jackets are eating, drinking, playing pinball, talking and dancing.
On stage, through a swathe of smoke and the beam of spotlights, a band is playing deafening country rock.This is Friday night at “Billy Bob’s Texas”, the legendary night- club in Fort Worth, Texas, that is this year celebrating its 20th anniversary.In this U.S. state where everything is bigger than usual, “Billy Bob’s” immodestly calls itself “the biggest honky-tonk in the world”. And even if the term “honky-tonk” originally described tawdry, unpleasant drinking saloons, this night-club wears its nickname with pride. This enormous venue covers 11,760 square metres (127,000 square feet), larger than a football field.The 40 bars, as well as a restaurant, souvenir shop, video games room and a huge dance floor, can host a maximum of 6,000 guests. And it is the first night-club in the world to be able to boast its own indoor rodeo arena. On weekends, it hosts bull-riding contests in which professional cowboys match some of the toughest bulls in Texas.All the biggest country music stars have appeared at “Billy Bob’s” over the years, from Willy Nelson to Jerry Jeff Walker, Clint Black, Alabama, and the young Texan LeeAnn Rimes. But other pop and rock greats such as ZZ Top and Gloria Estefan have also played here. Many of the concerts were broadcast on television.Dances are also on a grand scale at “Billy Bob’s”. On Sundays entrance is free. In this hot-bed of country and western style, you will see the two-step, the three-step, waltz, push and the traditional western dance line.The building, dating from 1910, was originally a cattle auction hall with 1,200 stalls. That is why the floor sinks slightly towards the middle – it made it easier to clean after auctions. In 1963 a prominent tower was added to the building. During World War II it was converted into a factory making parts for airplanes, and for a short time after 1952 it was sometimes used as a department store. “Billy Bob’s Texas” opened in 1981 and since then has been open daily from midday until 2 am.Its size and lively western atmosphere makes it a popular film set location. It has featured in numerous music videos for country and western stars, some episodes of the TV series “Walker, Texas Ranger” were made here, and it has also featured in the world popular TV drama Dallas, and Sylvester Stallone’s action film “Over the Top”.Billy Bob’s Texas, 2520 Rodeo Plaza, Fort Worth, Texas, 76106. Internet: http://www.billybobstexas.com.
