
During the Great Depression of the 1930s, photographers traveled across the United States to document how people lived and worked.

As part of the photographic unit of the Farm Security Administration, their task was to to capture images of the land they saw and the people they witnessed.

It was during his assignment in October 1938 that photographer Russell Lee happened across Danos' Nightclub, a roadhouse off Highway 1 in the tiny bayou community of Raceland.

Lee couldn't have timed things better as Danos's free weekly crab boil was getting underway.

He grabbed his camera to take photos of the locals blowing off some summer steam as they crunched and munched their way through piles of crabs and seafood.

In a small dive bar in Louisiana back in 1938, during the Great Depression, a photographer from the Farm Security Administration was sent to document how people lived around the country

Photographer Russell Lee stumbled upon a small alcoholic retreat called Danos’ Nightclub where he captured rice farmers, oyster fishermen, and other blue collar folks enjoying a Friday night out

Even during the Great Depression, hungry locals still managed to enjoy a night out to eat and drink to blow off some steam

Eating crabs hasn't changed too much over the years. You need some newspaper to eat from and wash it down with a beer

Danos' was a great place for all the girls to catch up on the latest gossip

Dinner then dancing - pretty swell for an Octobe night in 1938

It's hard to tell in this picture if the ladies are waiting in line for their crabs or learning a new dance move

The sign says it all - free crab boil every Friday night. And if there's a problem, they've got guns for protection!

A cozy nook with free crabs allows this couple enjoying the finest and freshest food of the Bayou

Lee was able to snap plenty of pictures without most of the patrons even noticing what he was up to on that October night

Late night drinkers gather around the bar to hear another tale while supping on a beer

The music slowed down for all the lovers and friends to head out onto the dance floor

Bars haven't changed much over the years. People still waited in line to be served with the pretty ones getting the attention

It was bottom's up when this picture was taken at Danos' Friday night crab boil

For just a few hours on a Friday night, everyone was able to forget about their troubles and their worries of the week

A few of the ladies adopt a carefree pose as Lee set about taking pictures of the establishment

The bar looks like a fun place to be on a Friday night when in the Deep South

Beer in one hand, giant crab with enormous claws in the other, with a slot machine just out of reach

It's free crabs all night long, and could also be a lucky night for this man who is enjoying some company

Everyone tucked into their crabs while photographer Russell Lee snapped away in the roadhouse