February 21, 2009

Arcadia Ballroom in Uptown Chicago: Dance Hall, Roller Rink, Boxing Ring

One of our regular readers found a great article on the Arcadia Ballroom, which was built in Uptown in 1910, served some time as a Boxing Ring and a Roller Rink, and burned down in the 1950s. The site is now part of the Wilson Yard project. Here's an excerpt of the article, with link to the rest of the story, which has some photos:

Arcadia Ballroom
4432-4456 North Broadway
Opened 1910

Opened in 1910 as a combination dance hall and skating rink, the Arcadia Ballroom, situated along the west side of Broadway just north of Montrose Avenue, was one of the Uptown district's best known entertainment destinations. During the 1920s, the ballroom became one of the city's most popular dance establishments and stood as one of the few places in the city where white audiences regularly danced to the music of all-black jazz bands. The driving force behind the Arcadia's popularity, particularly during the late 1910s and 1920s, was sports and dance promoter Paddy Harmon, whose interests included the Dreamland Ballroom and Chicago Stadium on the near west side.

At a time when most of the city's ballroom managers drew a strict color line in the hiring of bands to entertain their predominantly white patrons, Harmon willingly hired all-black jazz bands from the south side to play at the Arcadia. This made the ballroom one of only a handful of north side venues...

For complete article, go here: Arcadia.

9 comments:

clarendon park said...

I remember the Arcadia roller rink. I would go there on saturdays to skate in the mid 50's. One morning I grabbed my skates and walked there, only to find that it had burned down. After that rhey built a Martin Gas Station on that site, what a bummer.

George Whitey Heist said...

Hi Oldtimers,
I was thrilled to find this site. I skated at the Arcadia in 1952-1954. I skated in the speed club and the Junior Roller Derby. Leroy Bernadine was the rink manager at the time. I skated in the RSROA speed meets all over the midwest and qualified for the Nationals in 54 in Denver. I loved skating at the Chicago Coliseum on the banked track when the Chicago Westerners were in town. Thanks to to Internet in recent years I have located some of my old Arcadia friends. I would love to connect with more. George "Whitey" Heist E-mail
mmbuzzard@aol.com
I have many memories and stories from the years that I skated at
4444 N. Broadway.

Anonymous said...

We lived across the street from the Arcadia Ballroom. I remember being woken up by my parents when the Arcadia burned down. The firemen were covered with icicles and I remember our neighbor who owned the music store next to our house letting the firemen into his store to warm up.

Roller skates for women said...

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Bobbill said...

Anonymous, I recall the book store on the west side of the street. Walked past often and even went inside once.

I lived at Sheridan and Irving until 1954, and used to walk to the Uptown or Riviera theaters every week and Critenton's record shop, next to "the Riv"...

The Arcadia rink was off limits for us, though I had some friends who went to St. Mary of the Lake grammar school who went there often.

Girl friend and sister went there every Sat. Recall the skate cases etc...red/green metal, some with stickers and tape.

I think I went to the rink once, for a high school dance party just before the fire, in 1955, am guessing. Only time I was there. I do recall the blue floor.

I also remember well the Bowlium, the small store at the 6-corners intersection of Monrose/Sheridan/Broadway, The center memorial, Wilson station, and much more.. The New Lawrence Hotel and pool, the Ritz, Aragon, Marine Room, The city water works pump station on Montrose near Marine Drive, "the Eagles nest," rocks and Clarendon recreation off Sunnyside near the Cuneo. We moved to Carmen Ave near Foster and Glenwood in 54. Life was fun and simple.

Bobbill said...

I meant to write, facing west on the east side of the street...sorry. Seem to recall second hand goods there also...but likely confused...

Bobbill said...

And "Cricket Hill."

Anyone have info on the fenced-in properties tween Marine Dr and Clarnendon off Hutichison...maybe 8 abandoned homes and street abandoned. We used to cut through there looking for "ghosts...etc.

Bobbill said...

By the way, if you have not thought about it...basketball players used to be called "cagers" and if you recall the Clarendon facility, it had a small basketball court...eompletely enclosed by a cage, wth doors at ends and middle sides.

The property noted above was north of Montrose a block or so.

And I think now "Crittenton's above should have two "t's as in this sentence.

AndrewKevin said...
This comment has been removed by the author.

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