The Rainbow Ballroom (Denver)
Encyclopedia
The Rainbow Ballroom, at 38 E 5th Avenue (at Lincoln N Lincoln Street), Denver, was a dance hall that was one of the best known dance halls west of the Mississippi
, according to a 1946 Billboard article. Its capacity of 3,000 made it the largest indoor dance hall in Colorado during its 28 years of existence — from its opening day on September 16, 1933, to its closing day in 1961.
† On the opening night for Bennie Moten
's band at the Rainbow Ballroom in 1935, Bennie had stayed behind in Kansas City
for a routine tonsillectomy
. As the band got underway, the band found out from a phone call to Bus Moten, Bennie's brother, that Bennie had died on the operating table. Bus Moten took over the band for six months or so and then the band broke-up. After the break-up, Moten's pianist and arranger, known then as "Bill Basie," organized a small band of his own, composed of several leading musicians from the Moten band. Eventually (still in 1935), Basie enlarged the band at the Reno Club in Kansas City to the big band model that sustained him the rest of his career.
; d. 1981 Sun City, CA; married to Dorcas N. Farr), hired Rudolph Michael Schindler, a well-known architect, to design a conversion from an existing arena amusement hall that had been built in 1927. Schindler's task, essentially was to design the installation of a $50,000 dance floor.
The building, still in existence, is located on the southwest corner of 5th Avenue and Lincoln, Denver, Colorado
. Beyer was owner of the York Hotel in Denver and Norton was the owner of the Lewiston Hotel at 731 18th Street, Denver (both hotels may have been more like boarding houses).
Farr operated Rainbow Ballroom since its opening until selling in December 1946 to Felix Bernard Beyer (b. Sept. 28, 1888, Denver, CO; d. Oct. 4, 1977, Lakewood, CO) and James Raymond Norton (b. 1894, Prairie City, IA; d. 1990 Las Vegas, NV).
Verne Byers
, Felix Beyer's son, became manager of the Rainbow Room January 24, 1947. Byers continued the past policy of booking territory bands and name bands. The hall had a capacity of 3000 and was open six nights a week.
In 1948, James Norton purchased Felix Beyer's interest in the ballroom and then leased it for 10 years to Joseph Leher, an ex-GI.
At some point in the 1950s, Joseph Leher (1921–1990) purchased the Rainbow Ballroom.
concert/dance when an unidentified man kicked over the table of a man and woman who had just finished a dance – the man was African American and the woman was Caucasian. It took more than an hour to quell the disturbance which drew 18 police patrol cars, three police paddy wagons, and an ambulance. The police estimated that 40 different fights were going on when they arrived. Police estimated that were 2,500 people in the ballroom during the disturbance and that 40 different fights were going on when they arrived. The concert promoter, LeRoy Smith (1911–1989), estimated that 1,600 were in attendance and that only 4 fights had broken out. There were no serious injuries or damage to the ballroom. No arrest were made.
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
, according to a 1946 Billboard article. Its capacity of 3,000 made it the largest indoor dance hall in Colorado during its 28 years of existence — from its opening day on September 16, 1933, to its closing day in 1961.
Dance band era
The ballroom was host venue for national big bands (often referred to as orchestras) and territory bands. The bands included:† On the opening night for Bennie Moten
Bennie Moten
Bennie Moten was a noted American jazz pianist and band leader born in Kansas City, Missouri.He led the Kansas City Orchestra, the most important of the itinerant, blues-based orchestras active in the Midwest in the 1920s, and helped to develop the riffing style that would come to define many of...
's band at the Rainbow Ballroom in 1935, Bennie had stayed behind in Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
for a routine tonsillectomy
Tonsillectomy
A tonsillectomy is a 3,000-year-old surgical procedure in which the tonsils are removed from either side of the throat. The procedure is performed in response to cases of repeated occurrence of acute tonsillitis or adenoiditis, obstructive sleep apnea, nasal airway obstruction, snoring, or...
. As the band got underway, the band found out from a phone call to Bus Moten, Bennie's brother, that Bennie had died on the operating table. Bus Moten took over the band for six months or so and then the band broke-up. After the break-up, Moten's pianist and arranger, known then as "Bill Basie," organized a small band of his own, composed of several leading musicians from the Moten band. Eventually (still in 1935), Basie enlarged the band at the Reno Club in Kansas City to the big band model that sustained him the rest of his career.
Ownership
In 1933, its owner, Orlaf K. Farr (b. 1894 Ogden, UtahOgden, Utah
Ogden is a city in Weber County, Utah, United States. Ogden serves as the county seat of Weber County. The population was 82,825 according to the 2010 Census. The city served as a major railway hub through much of its history, and still handles a great deal of freight rail traffic which makes it a...
; d. 1981 Sun City, CA; married to Dorcas N. Farr), hired Rudolph Michael Schindler, a well-known architect, to design a conversion from an existing arena amusement hall that had been built in 1927. Schindler's task, essentially was to design the installation of a $50,000 dance floor.
The building, still in existence, is located on the southwest corner of 5th Avenue and Lincoln, Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
. Beyer was owner of the York Hotel in Denver and Norton was the owner of the Lewiston Hotel at 731 18th Street, Denver (both hotels may have been more like boarding houses).
Farr operated Rainbow Ballroom since its opening until selling in December 1946 to Felix Bernard Beyer (b. Sept. 28, 1888, Denver, CO; d. Oct. 4, 1977, Lakewood, CO) and James Raymond Norton (b. 1894, Prairie City, IA; d. 1990 Las Vegas, NV).
Verne Byers
Verne Byers
Verne Byers, aka Vern Byers, was an American bandleader of a territory band, a bassist, a concert promoter, and an owner-operator of several live music clubs and restaurants in Denver...
, Felix Beyer's son, became manager of the Rainbow Room January 24, 1947. Byers continued the past policy of booking territory bands and name bands. The hall had a capacity of 3000 and was open six nights a week.
In 1948, James Norton purchased Felix Beyer's interest in the ballroom and then leased it for 10 years to Joseph Leher, an ex-GI.
At some point in the 1950s, Joseph Leher (1921–1990) purchased the Rainbow Ballroom.
Affiliations
Its original owner, Orlaf K. Farr, was a charter member of the Midwestern Ballroom Operators' Association (MBOA), established in 1942.Closing
The Rainbow Ballroom closed in 1961. Subsequent to its closing as a ballroom, the building was used as a demonstration chamber for missiles by Martin Company, then a warehouse, then, in 2002, a renovated office building.Riot at the ballroom
In July 1959, a race riot broke out during a Fats DominoFats Domino
Antoine Dominique "Fats" Domino, Jr. is an American R&B and rock and roll pianist and singer-songwriter. He was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Creole was his first language....
concert/dance when an unidentified man kicked over the table of a man and woman who had just finished a dance – the man was African American and the woman was Caucasian. It took more than an hour to quell the disturbance which drew 18 police patrol cars, three police paddy wagons, and an ambulance. The police estimated that 40 different fights were going on when they arrived. Police estimated that were 2,500 people in the ballroom during the disturbance and that 40 different fights were going on when they arrived. The concert promoter, LeRoy Smith (1911–1989), estimated that 1,600 were in attendance and that only 4 fights had broken out. There were no serious injuries or damage to the ballroom. No arrest were made.