Golden era clubs and ballrooms that are still doing business

[Blackjack]

In the 20's-40's it was known as the O'henry ballroom. Today, the "Willowbrook" ballroom is still swingin and about to celebrate her 90th anniversary!! It's where my grandparents danced, where I played some of my first professional gigs, and still is a gorgeous ballroom. (ps- it's also home to Ressurection Mary, the famous Chicago ghost story)

 

[fortworthgal]

Cool thread idea! I don't know of any in my area, but Houston's Eldorado ballroom was built in the late 1930s and, although it closed in the 70s, was renovated and is reopened.

http://www.houstondeco.org/1930s/eldorado.html

 

[dhermann1]

Willowbrook made me think of Meadowbrook, in suburban New Jersey, where Glenn Miller (among many others) played in the 30's. It closed some years ago, but the building still exists, and while there's life, there's hope.
The Glen Island Casino was another similar place. It's on Glen Island, in New Rochelle NY, just over the NYC line into Westchester County. It's still going strong as a catering hall.
In Manhattan, Roseland Ballroom survives. It moved from its original location in the 50's but still has a full calendar of events.
In western New York State, where I grew up, there is a grand old pile called the Bemus Point Casino, right on Chautauqua Lake. Being a small tourist community, it has had difficulty keeping a booming business. But the village has managed to find a tenant to operate it every year, and they have one or two big band events every summer. Benny Goodman played there in 1938. It's one of the few buildings of this type left in small town America.
http://www.bemuspt.com/dining/casino.asp

 

[The Private Eye]

Unfortunately they are only a few to be still in the business in Paris.

The most interesting is the "Retro Republique" (near from the Place de la République) who was famous in the 30s.
A famous French show "La chance aux chansons" ("Opportunity for songs") and some films have been shot in this ballroom.

 

[Blackjack]

Unfortunately they are only a few to be still in the business in Paris.

The most interesting is the "Retro Republique" (near from the Place de la République) who was famous in the 30s.
A famous French show "La chance aux chansons" ("Opportunity for songs") and some films have been shot in this ballroom.

What about Django Reinhardt's famous club "La Roulotte"
It was at 63 rue Pigalle...

 

[Blackjack]

One of my favorite places to play years ago was the "Melody Mill Ballroom" on the south side of Chicago (now gone) It still had the radio booth on the side of the stage with the green "On the Air" and red "Off the Air" lights on top. I felt like I was back in 1940 sitting on that stage playing the same tunes that were being played 35 years before (at that time).

Still in operation and still going great guns in Chicago's Green Mill, once owned by Machinegun Jack McGurn, one of Al Capones enforcers. Every Thursday night Alan Greshik's big band does their swing dance/ 1940's radio show. It would make a great place for a FL get together...

 

[The Private Eye]

What about Django Reinhardt's famous club "La Roulotte"
It was at 63 rue Pigalle...

Ah ! La Roulotte !! In Pigalle... It was also a sort of refuge for homeless and for the Roma.
Ellington was here too in 1939 I believe...It doesn't exists anymore. It was also a cathouse you know...

 

[dhermann1]

In Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada, there used to be a wonderful amusement park named Crystal beach. Part of this park was a HUGE ballroom called Crystal Ballroom. The park closed in 1989, but the ballroom remains. I visited the park once in about 1985, and saw the ballroom. Staggering. Happily, it's still there.
http://www.angelfire.com/ny5/crystalbeachpark/ballroom.htm
Ooops! I just read the whole page and it says it was demolished in 1989. Darn!

 

[Tomasso]

Still in operation and still going great guns in Chicago's Green Mill, once owned by Machinegun Jack McGurn, one of Al Capones enforcers.

Rumor has it that there was a tunnel which led from the Green Mill across the street to the Aragon Ballroom, which I believe is still in operation though it has changed uses a few times.

 

[John in Covina]

I think here in the US it is fairly rare to have any type of business open for more than a generation. The number of businessees that are sold or simply close are enormous. We are lucky to have many business that are small family level one that have stayed open for a second or more generation. Those that are should for the most part be celebrated.

Clubs and ballrooms tend to be part of portion of life that is in the disgressionary spending area. It makes them part of the entertainment business that's subject to changes of the whims of the public.

Many old places eventually fade away and the history goes with them.

In LA we have a club that has not been around since the old days but does a good job of recreating the old days and that is the Cicada Club in the Oviatt Building. http://www.clubcicada.com/main.asp

 

[Tomasso]

The Catalina Casino

 

[Chas]

Railway Club, Vancouver BC. Mostly has garage bands now; club has been around since the mid '30s.

The Hollywood Palladium. No swing shows there anymore, pity 'cause its a wonderful dance floor.
The Commodore Ballroom: Vancouver BC. ditto as above. The douches at "Live Nation" dominate there now- their CEO has been openly scornful of jazz and swing and has publicly announced that "We're doing everything we can to eliminate jazz from American culture, so, no jazz!'' Mike Luba of Live Nation Artists told commissioners, eliciting a few "boos'' from the audience."

 

[Tomasso]

The douches at "Live Nation" dominate there now- their CEO has been openly scornful of jazz and swing and has publicly announced that "We're doing everything we can to eliminate jazz from American culture, so, no jazz!'' Mike Luba of Live Nation Artists told commissioners, eliciting a few "boos'' from the audience."

That was shocking so I searched the story and found that in an update to the story Mr. Luba said, “it was 100 percent a joke.” Even so, what an idiot......:eusa_doh:

 

[Rudie]

Openend in 1913 and still one of Berlin's most spectacular and picturesque locations: Clärchens Ballhaus. http://www.ballhaus.de The Spiegelsaal is especially amazing: http://www.spiegelsaal-berlin.de/home-290.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjuvd0Plxx4&feature=player_detailpage

 

[skyvue]

The Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa, is a gem. The original ballroom was built in 1933, and all the big bands played there. It burned down in 1947, but another Surf was erected across the street in 1948.

The Surf is not only an amazing spot for big band history, but also rock 'n' roll. It's where Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson played their final show before their ill-fated plane trip.

The Surf is a must-see. And just FYI, for anyone within driving distance, the Glenn Miller Orchestra is playing there on Sunday, September 11th.

http://www.surfballroom.com/

 

[Blackjack]

If your up in Waupacka Wisconsin for any reason theres the Indian Crossing Casino In the 20's - 50's a dance hall that saw everyone from Bix Biederbeck to the Everly Brothers. very historic and very cool....

 

[Chas]

That was shocking so I searched the story and found that in an update to the story Mr. Luba said, “it was 100 percent a joke.” Even so, what an idiot......:eusa_doh:

Yeah, he said was a joke after an outcry; it's called "damage control". Even so, during Vancouver 21010 Jazz festival there were NO jazz shows at the Commodore- only the world music/turntablist acts. The Commodore Ballroom was off the roster of venues at the Vancouver 2011 Jazz Festival. So I'm thinking it's not much of a joke.

 

[Connery]

The Breakers Palm Beach, Florida

The Breakers, today.

The Breakers II, c. 1910. The second Breakers was destroyed by fire in 1926, replaced with the current hotel modeled on the Villa Medici by architects Schultze and Weaver.

NW view into the Rotunda dining room.

Gold Room, South lounge, fireplace. 1972

Rotunda dining room.

The Breakers. Entrance. 1972.

 

[Tomasso]

Yeah, he said was a joke after an outcry; it's called "damage control". Even so, during Vancouver 21010 Jazz festival there were NO jazz shows at the Commodore- only the world music/turntablist acts. The Commodore Ballroom was off the roster of venues at the Vancouver 2011 Jazz Festival. So I'm thinking it's not much of a joke.

Well, if you look at their website you'll see that they do a lot of jazz around the country. I don't know the back story on the Jazz Fest/Commodore deal but I find it hard to believe that LiveNation is making a concerted effort to rid the world of jazz. But it seems that you're in the mood to hate on them so, carry on.

 

[John Bruner]

The Queen Mary is still kicking

First sailing in 1936, the ballrooms are still used for a variety of events and the very cool Observation Bar is still in full swing at the Queen Mary in Long Beach, CA.