How many people are still around that remember Long Beach’s landmark dance hall the Cinderella Ballroom? It was located on the Northwest corner of Hart Place and East Seaside Way. From 1923 to 1966 the building known for its laminated stressed wood arches and romance graced the Pike. It was here that many couples met for the first time, dancing the night away to the music from the big bands. Others simply enjoyed the music by tuning in on their radios Tuesday evenings from 9-10 p.m. on KFWB---live from the popular Cinderella Ballroom in Long Beach.
Everyone going to the Cinderella had to be aware of the rules. If they weren’t they could end up with a six month jail sentence, a fine of $500 or both. “Hanky panky” of any sort was not allowed in any dance hall in Long Beach. In the early 1920s certain dances, such as the shimmy and the bunny hug, and any cheek to cheek dancing was blacklisted. Men could not dance with their right hand upon any portion of their female dancing partner except her back between her shoulder line and waist, or with their left hand in any position except extended from the body and holding the right hand of their partner. Females could not dance with their left hand upon any portion of the male partner except his right arm, or with their right hand in any position except extended from the body and holding the left hand of her dancing partner. Minors under 18 had to be accompanied to public dances by chaperones, specifically parents or guardians, not one of their older siblings. Also forbidden was “spooners' corner,” darkened areas of the dance hall. To alleviate this, a Long Beach ordinance required a 16 candlepower light for each 36 square feet of floor. This left no twilight zone for couples who “sat out” dances. All dances ended at midnight, except for New Year’s Eve.
Originally called the Arcadia Dance Hall, then the Rosegarden Dance Pavilion, the name Cinderella Ballroom was the name that stuck, perhaps because many a “Cinderella” somehow managed to meet her “Prince Charming” on the dance floor, despite all the city regulations.
In the 1920s and 30s ballroom dancing competitions were the rage and people flocked to the Cinderella Ballroom for the chance to win not only money, but a coveted trophy. The evening of April
Police had received a tip that an attempt was to be made to blow open the safe of the ballroom. With revolvers ready, and their pockets filled with extra bullets, the officers waited, expecting that the robbers might resort to gun play. Shortly before dawn, long after the ballroom had closed, officers saw a trio of men rip the screen from a window. When told to halt, the intruders whipped out their revolvers and opened fire. For ten minutes the shots were exchanged, one robber fleeing leaving behind his two wounded companions, one of which, Earl C. Davis, died shortly after with eleven bullet holes in his body.
Sadly the music stopped in April 1966 when the city purchased the landmark at 311 E. Seaside for $135,375. It was to be torn down to give better access to the Long Beach Arena and the Municipal Auditorium. Though that spelled progress for many,
Today only memories remain. Ironically, ballroom dancing has once again become trendy. Ah, if only the Cinderella was still with us.
I am sure glad to see something relayed about the Cinderella Ballroom. It was an important element in my childhood and also in the lives of my parents and other family members. I will return before too long to drop off some information as to why. Thank you! GIB
ReplyDeleteThank you for this info on Cinderella Ballroom history. The place figured in my childhood history and that of my family, too. I hope to return soon and tell why. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteMy Dad played there for many years.
ReplyDeleteI was a little Mexican boys in our family, In Signal Hill The owner of the apartment building Todd FaulknerWas the owner of the Cinderella ballroomHe would go and pick Us To clean his ballroom up
ReplyDeleteSo, as I was saying, the Cinderella Ballroom was an important element in my life and in my family's background. My parents frequented the ballroom beginning in the 1940's while courting, and I began accompanying them there in around 1961 when I was 10 years of age. My parents taught me the rudiments of ballroom dancing there, first upstairs in the refreshment cafe and balcony area, and then later down on the main floor. I remember that the Violet Bergren Orchestra was the mainstay band there in the 1960's; Violet was an imposing figure who vigorously played the piano and always dressed immaculately and in fairly impressive gowns. From time to time Violet would descend from the stage and mix with the crowd, greeting the dancers on the floor or at the box office. Oftentimes a tall, slender woman violinist, who I think was named Virginia, led the band on the large, elevated stage, which was located in the northeast corner of the hall. The band in those days was about 8 or 9 members strong. Once in a while the mustached and glasses-wearing bass fiddle player, whose name was Bill, did a vocal, including singing "Heartaches," and the words to songs played during the round dance mixers. The band played with sweetness and force. The drummer was a large man who wore his hair in a crew cut and who was known as "Boomer." The building was memorably cavernous, with a very high, curved ceiling that was criss-crossed with heavy wooden beams from which dangled some huge chandeliers and miscellaneous heavy wires that probably had held other lighting and decorative structures from decades past. Another interesting element was the way the music was organized and announced. Attached to the bandstand was a large sign that announced the order of dance music for the first half of the night, and when that first set was finished they put up another dance list for the second set. The announcement board looked like a ladder of information, and bass fiddle player Bill was in charge of the board. Dances including Waltz, Fox Trot, Viennese Waltz, Polka, Shottische, Round Mixer, Latin, and a few others were posted in a sequence so that the dancers could pick their partners in advance. Each announced dance usually consisted of three songs. At the conclusion of a dance set, Bill would take out the just-played set card and announce that it was time for the dancers to find their partners for the next dance set, at which time the floor exhibited a leisurely scramble of folks trying to find their intended partner for the next three songs. Yes, it was a sight to see this organized chaos unfold. After a couple of minutes all the couples, of which there were perhaps two hundred or more, stood ready and poised to take off dancing on the first note of musical sound. The polka was really fun to watch, if not dance, because the sound of high heels stomping in unison on the wooden floor was so distinctive and loud. The Polka was usually the last set of each group of dances. The air in the hall was strong with the scent of perfume. It was all so magnificent. Going to the Cinderella Ballroom was an important part of my youth and I feel blessed to have been involved. As the official narrative mentions, the orchestra changed venues to Alamitos Ave when the Cinderella was closed, and after that they moved for a while to North Long Beach, to the VFW Hall near Market St. and Dairy Ave, if I remember right. Well, I guess that's enough, because there are probably only twenty or fewer people still around anywhere who actually attended dances there, because as I write this in 2025, the Cinderella closed 59 years ago and I was one of very few attendees who were under 25 years of age. Most attendees were then in their 50's, 60's, and 70's, so none of them would be around today. Anyway, the Cinderella was a great place in a great time. Thank you!
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