Hometown Clinton - Fall 2015

The MeTropoliTan Supper Club
SuSan Marquez
Barbara and John Collier waited until they were both
in their early 40’s to get engaged in the summer of 1993.
John enjoyed cutting a rug on the dance floor, Barbara not
so much. But when John’s cousin invited the couple to join
a supper club that centered on dancing, they jumped at the
chance. “We attended mainly for the fellowship, but
I ended up enjoying the dancing more than I thought I
would,” said Barbara Collier.
The Colliers have been members of the Metropolitan
Supper Club ever since. “We’ve made some wonderful
friends over the years,” Collier said. “We see several of
them outside of the supper club. We’ve been through all
kinds of things together.”
The Metropolitan Supper Club was started by Stuart
C. Irby, Jr. and Dudley Hughes in 1992 to promote dancing
to live music in a 1940s supper club atmosphere. It was
organized to provide a place to listen and dance to big
band music, enjoy a good meal, and to have fellowship
with friends. Over the years, the club has met at various
locations and as often as three times a week.
Currently the club meets eight times a year at the Capital
Club in downtown Jackson. The dance is held on a Friday
night from 7:00 to 10:30pm. A buffet dinner is served,
and a cash bar is available. But the main attraction is the
music, always provided by a live band. The bands are the
Jackson All Stars, led by Dave Schommer, and The Sessions,
led by Bob Davidson. The two bands alternate each month.
When the club was organized, the membership
consisted of over 100 couples. In recent years, however,
the membership has not grown in proportion to the
number of aging members who have dropped out due to
ill health, moving or death. Today the club has 36 couples
from Brandon, Clinton, Madison, Canton and Jackson
who are members, with several potential memberships
pending. Membership is contingent upon being approved
by the board of directors. A couple may come as a guest one
time at a cost of $52. After the first visit, a couple may come
as a guest for $90 each time. The board of directors will not
approve those whose behavior makes others uncomfortable.
The cost to join the club is $240 per year. In addition,
the cost of the buffet meal with gratuity is $52 per couple
each time the couple attends. Reservations are made in
advance. There are two formal dances a year, one in March
and the other in December. Black tie is requested for the
formal dances, but not required. Dress for the other dances
during the year is coat and tie for men, while women may
wear a dressy pantsuit or a Sunday dress.
Being involved with the Metropolitan Supper Club
has been a joy for Barbara Collier. “It’s been so much fun.
We look forward to it each month!” Collier said she wishes
more young people would get involved. “It’s such a fun
activity for young couples, and like us, you grow old with
friends you meet in the supper club. Unfortunately, it’s a
well-kept secret, but we’re trying to get the word out!” ■
For more information on the Metropolitan Supper Club, visit their website at www.metsupclub.com.
Hometown Clinton •• 9