Let’s Dance: A Celebration of Ontario’s Dance Halls and Summer Dance Pavilions

232 Pages·2002·26.6 MB·English

by  Peter Young

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A Celebration of Ontario's Dance Halls
and Summer Dance Pavilions
by Peter Young
Let's Dance: A Celebration of Ontario's Dance Halls and Summer Dance Pavilions
Peter Young
Copyright © 2002 Peter Young
All rights reserved. No portion of this book, with the exception of brief extracts for the purpose of literary or
scholarly review, may be reproduced in any form without the permission of the publisher.
Published by Natural Heritage/Natural History Inc.
P.O. Box 95, Station O, Toronto, Ontario M4A 2M8
www.naturalheritagebooks.com
National Library of Canada Cataloguing in Publication Data
Young, Peter, 1949-
Let's dance : a celebration of Ontario's dance halls and summer dance pavilions
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 1-896219-02-0
1. Ballrooms—Ontario—History. 2. Pavilions Ontario—History. 3. Dance-orchestras—Ontario—History. I.
Title.
FC3062.Y69 2002 647'.9686'09713 C2002-901424-4 F1057.8.Y69 2002
Front cover images:
Dorsey Brothers, courtesy of Don Mclndoe.
"Bren Gun Girl," courtesy of National Archives of Canada/PAl 19765
Back cover images:
Louis Armstrong— courtesy of Don Mclndoe, Ginny Mitchell— courtesy of Joan (Tibbs) Tanner,
Count Basic's bus— courtesy of Joe Showier, Mart Kenney— courtesy of Peter Young.
Title page image:
Courtesy of Toronto Harbour Commission PC 2/422
All visuals courtesy of the author unless otherwise indicated.
Cover and text design by Blue Sky Studio
Edited by Jane Gibson
Printed and bound in Canada by Hignell Printing Limited, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Natural Heritage / Natural History Inc. acknowledges the financial support of the Canada Council for the Arts
and the Ontario Arts Council for our publishing program. We also acknowledge the financial support of the
Government of Canada through the Book Publishing Industry Development Program (BPIDP) and the
Association for the Export of Canadian Books.
^ediccdia+i
To the memory of Joan (Livings) Young,
Whose love of singing and dancing was the inspiration.
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There was a time in Ontario when live music echoed from hundreds of dance halls and pavilions right across
the province, filling the air with memorable songs that have stayed with us to this day. In his book Let's
Dance, Peter Young takes readers on a nostalgic musical journey, visiting many of these popular dance
venues. Louis Armstrongs magical night at Dunns Pavilion, Canada's Big Band King Mart Kenney and his
famous Ranch, Rompin Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks at Port Dover's unforgettable Summer Garden,
lakeside dances at The Crystal Beach Ballroom ... Let's Dance recalls the places in which we loved to swing
and sway, as well as the legendary entertainers who made us dance.
John Dimon - Publisher, Big Band World
in
-table of
C
ontents

Forward i i i
Preface vii
Chapter One Introduction to the Era of Pavilions and Dance Halls 1
Growth, Owners and Operators, Booze and Brown Bags, Jitney Dancing, Jazz and Louis Armstrong,
Some of the Big Band Players, Changing Music and Dancing Styles
Chapter Two In Toronto and Surrounding Areas 13
The Palace Pier, Seabreeze Outdoor Dance Pavilion, Sunnyside Pavilion Restaurant/Club
Esquire/Club Top Hat, Silver Slipper, Palais Roy ale, CNE Tent, Mutual Street Arena, Fallingbrook
Pavilion, Balmy Beach Canoe Club, Masonic Temple, Toronto Island Pavilions, Elm Park, Mart
Kenney and His Ranch, Stanley Park Pavilion, Innis Lake Pavilions, Cedar Beach Park Pavilion
Chapter Three Around the Bay by Burlington to the Shores of Lake Erie 31
La Salle Park Pavilion, The Brant Inn, The Pier Ballroom, The Alexandra and Wondergrove,
Page Hersey Hall, Lakeside Park, Erie Beach Amusement Park, Crystal Beach Ballroom, Morgans
Point,Long Beach Pavilion, Summer Garden, Hillcrest Hall, The Roosevelt Dance Hall,
The London and Port Stanley Pavilion/The Stork Club
Chapter Four Across Southwestern Ontario from Woodstock to Amherstburg 51
Southside Pavilion, Green Grotto, The Casino/Tony Cry an and His Band, Pinafore Park,
West Pavilion/Circle K Dance Hall, Danceland, Riverview Pavilion, Wonderland Gardens,
Springbank Park Pavilion, The 401, London Arena, Delaware Town Hall, Primrose Gardens,
The Pyranon Ballroom, Rondeau Pavilion, Bob-Lo Dance Pavilion
Chapter Five Pavilions on Beaches from Owen Sound to the Shores of Lake Huron 67
Balmy Beach Dance Pavilion, McKenzies Pavilion, Danceiro, Sauble Beach Pavilion,
The Breakers Lodge, Cedar Crescent Casino, Inverhuron Pavilion, Kincardine Pavilion,
Goderich Pavilion/Harbourlite Inn, Jowetts Grove, Lakeview Casino, Ipperwash Casino,
Rose Gardens, Kenwick Terrace, Kenwick-on-the-Lake
Chapter Six From Brantford North to the Georgian Bay Area 81
Mohawk Park Pavilion, Arcade Ballroom, Rainbow Room, Embassy Club, Hotel Kerby, Demont's,
Lighthouse, Everglades, Kos-Var, The Highlands, Leisure Lodge & the John Kostigian Orchestra,
Butler's Pavilion, Barber's Beach Pavilion, Paradise Gardens, Ryans, The Frank Family Band,
Summer Gardens, Victoria Park Pavilion, Rosslyn Grove, The Dardanella, The Beacon,
IV The Strathcona, Watsons Pavilion, Ship-A-Hoy Pavilion, Chateau Gae Pavilion, Wagon Wheel, Circle
B Dance Pavilion, Blue Room, Bayview Dance Hall, Parkside Dance Pavilion, Pine Crest Dance
Centre, Orr Lake Dance Hall
Chapter Seven Around Lake Simcoe 97
The Pavalon, Lucky Star Pavilion, Miners Point Pavilion, The Embassy, Alcona Beach Club,
Peggys (Parsons) Pavilion, The Royal Casino/Peppermint Lounge, Mossington Park Pavilion,
The Lighthouse Dance Hall, Roni-Vern Pavilion, The Commodore
Chapter Eight Through the Haliburton Highlands Into the Kawarthas 108
The Golden Slipper, Medleys Dance and Bowl, Wonderland Pavilion, Crystal Pier Marina Dance Hall,
The Cameo, Greenhurst Dance Pavilion, Edgewater Pavilion
Peterborough and Environs 119
Chapter Nine
Ryes Pavilion, Brock Street Arena, Brock Street Summer Gardens, Brock Ballroom, Club Aragon,
Dan Sullivan's Pavilion, The Rendezvous, The Pines, The Palace, Viamede, Juniper Island Pavilion,
The Keyhole, Belvidere Hotel, Sunset Pavilion
Chapter Ten Through the Ottawa Valley to the Seaway Valley 133
Lakeside Gardens, Canadian Grill, Standish Hall, Gatineau Golf Club, Rose Room, The Lighthouse,
The Cedars, Town Hall, Sunny Dale Acres, Lakeside Pavilion, Gilmour's, Mac Beattie and his Ottawa Valley
Melodiers, Scott's Ballroom, Merrickville Armouries, Rideau Ferry Inn Pavilion, Antler Lodge, Lake Ontario
Park Pavilion, Bath Masonic Hall, Stella Dance Hall, Bayside Gardens, Gananoque Canoe Club,
The Golden Slipper, CNRA Dance Hall, Charleston Lake Pavilion, Iroquois Pavilion, Pearson Central
Ballroom, The Oasis, Collins Dance Hall, Cornwall Armouries, Green Valley Pavilion
Chapter Eleven Central Lake Ontario Area 156
Club Bay view, The Jubilee Pavilion, The Red Barn, The Avalon, Caesarea Pavilion, Bowmanville Beach
Pavilions, Cobourg Pavilion, Spring Valley Dance Pavilion, Little Lake Pavilion, Quick's Pleasure Palace,
Lakeshore Lodge, Cedardale, Tweed Park Pavilion, Beaver Lake Pavilion, Twelve 0'Clock Point, Rileys, Club
Commodore, Trianon Ballroom, Club Cedars, Idlewylde, Hillcrest, Palace of the Moon, Massassaga Hotel,
Crowe Lake Pavilion, Iroquois Pavilion, Glen Ross, Edgewater Park Pavilion, Riverside Pavilion
Chapter Twelve Dunn's Pavilion/The Kee to Bala 779
Chapter Thirteen Pavilions of the Near North 190
Top Hat Pavilion, Miami Beach Pav, Edgewater Pavilion, Olde Pavilion, Riverside Pavilion, Arcadia Dance
Hall, Oxville Hall, Chippewa Park Pavilion, Current River Park Pavilion, Elks Hall
The Last Waltz 195
Chapter Fourteen
198
Appendix I
201
Sources & Notes
209
Index
V
221
About the Author
The
P
1 avilion
Dancing at the Pavilion is always
associated with happiness. No matter
what the style of music, its infectious
rhythm calls people together, to start
moving, to dance, to have fun. People
meet people; friendships are made;
some fall in love. The love-songs the
bands play become a very personal
thing to lovers. The chord changes,
the lyrics, the melody all reach the
inner soul and the song becomes "our
song." The words may change, but
the feeling is always deep, true and
enduring.
So another summer at the Pavilion
brings exciting groups to provide
happy music for you to enjoy, to
dance and to make friends.*
vi
Reprinted from a 1972 Sauble Beach Pavilion events poster
T here was a time in Ontario at least one dance hall operating
when the May 24th long anywhere from two to six nights a
weekend was the traditional open- week. But as time marched on, these
ing date for most of Ontario's palaces of musical pleasure began to
dance pavilions. During this fall like bowling pins. Some build-
annual salute to summer's pending ings were torn down, some mysteri-
arrival, wooden shutters would be raised, the dance ously burned, while others were converted into
floor lovingly polished until it gleamed in prepara- marinas, auto body shops and flea markets.
tion for another season of dancing feet, the refresh- Scant physical evidence remains of most
ment booth stocked up. Posters announcing the sea- dance halls which played such an integral part in
son's attractions would be distributed throughout our lives for so many years, but in some cases there
cottage country. are reminders of the places where music once
Summer romances, moonlight strolls, the reigned supreme. For instance, the breakwall with
unforgettable music of our youth and hot cars— carved dancers marks the spot where Fort Erie's
there was so much fun to cram into July and August famous Crystal Beach Ballroom once stood. A stone
when the days were long and warm and the evening monument where the Humber River empties into
breezes gentle. Throughout the province music Lake Ontario commemorates Toronto's Palace Pier.
soared from dance halls and beckoned us. And we A foundation with a set of stairs leading to a field of
responded to the call. Practically every night of the weeds on Highway 2 is all that's left of the Golden
week there was a dance within driving distance of Slipper where many a person from Kingston and
your home or cottage. Whether you swayed to the area danced the night away.
mellow sounds of the Big Bands or rocked and As a number of people who love Ontario
rolled to some of Ontario's best rock groups, danc- nostalgia are discovering today, it's an adventure to vii
ing was the highlight of people's summers for well make a personal visit to sites around the province
over 50 years at some locations. where some trace of the past may still remain. To see
At one time in Ontario there were literally an old foundation or walk through a door where
hundreds of dance halls and dance pavilions. crowds of people once danced, can be a very intense
Practically every town, city and lakeside resort had experience. With this book you have the opportunity
LET'S DANCE
This writing about buildings has been more
than just a chronicling of structures. What did these
halls and pavilions mean to people? Why were they
special places? What was so magical about a wooden
building that was, in many cases, a large barn-like
shell? Yes, I wanted to document the halls, but also I
wanted to write about people. Researching this
book began strictly as a project about Ontario's
wooden summer dance pavilions—unheated gather-
ing spots that would open on the long weekend in
May, and close down on Labour Day or
Thanksgiving weekend. However, it quickly became
obvious that there were just too many other dedicat-
ed dance halls—or ballrooms—which operated on a
year-round basis and should also be included. It is
Bunny hoppers snake around a dance floor during the
hoped that you will see your favourite hall in the
1950s. World-Wide Photo, courtesy of Jack Lomas
book.
to embark upon a journey of musical discovery, Much of this book has been made possible
searching for places where you may remember danc- because of information provided from interviews
ing, or sites where perhaps your parents or even and letters from hundreds of generous people—
grandparents first met. But this book is not solely a former dance pavilion and dance hall owners, man-
trip down memory lane. Fortunately there are a few agers, staff, musicians, and of course, those who
dance halls still in operation, such as London's came to dance. Thanks to their recollections,
Wonderland, Toronto's Palais Royale, Oshawa's
Jubilee Pavilion, The Kee to Bala (formerly Dunn's The Modernaires performed at most of Ontario's major
dance halls, such as Wonderland in London and
Pavilion), The Dard at Wasaga Beach and others. All
Grandbend's Lakeview Casino during the Big Band era.
of these sites will be visited. Courtesy of Jack Lomas
PREFACE
This is a story about people of
all ages whose lives have been
touched by music
personal insights, photographs and
printed material which they so will-
ingly shared, I feel that Let's Dance
is more than simply a slice of
Ontario's social history. Rather, it is
a story about people of all ages
whose lives have been touched by
music, romance and soft summer
nights.
It was the music that
brought out the people, and so I
have tried to devote space to a sam-
pling of the talented local musicians
who have played throughout
Ontario. These people were the
troupers, the road warriors who
gigged around the province.
Is this a book of nostalgia?
Well, due to the nature of the sub-
ject—dance pavilions—much of
the material is based on the era
when these halls were running full
tilt, that is predominately the years
between the 1930s to the 1960s.
Some background is provided about
dancing in the 1920s and earlier,
and I have brought the book up to
date in terms of the halls that are
still operating today. Although the
emphasis is on the Big Band era, a
number of pavilions were able to
make the transition from swing
music to rock 'n' roll in the early
1960s. Some of these halls enjoyed
ix
their most successful period as they
began to cater to the Baby Boomers
Edith and Marshall Louch sway across
the dance floor to the sound Big Bands.
Courtesy of the late Marshall Louch.