Encyclopedia Dubuque
"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
Marshall Cohen—researcher and producer, CNN
Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
MELODY MILL: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 4: | Line 4: | ||
[[Image:reservation.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Photo courtesy: Bob Reding]] | [[Image:reservation.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Photo courtesy: Bob Reding]] | ||
Opened to the public on August 8, 1934, the Mill became a center of entertainment. | Opened to the public on August 8, 1934, the Mill became a center of entertainment. It was described prior to its opening as "one of the largest and finest dance pavilions and cabarets in the middle West." It was located almost in the center of what was a stretch of swamp land, which was later reclaimed and transformed into [[NUTWOOD PARK]]. In later years it was the site of Dubuque's first airport. (1) | ||
Melody Mill's pavilion had its own unique story. Designed for [[UNION PARK]] in 1909, it was originally a huge theater seating 2500 people. When the park closed, the ballroom was dismantled in 1931 by [[AKINS, Everett|Everett AKINS]] and moved piece-by-piece to its new location. The dancing pavilion at Melody Mill measured 100 by 162 feet of polished maple dance floor. (2) Trusses supporting the roof were 100 feet long; each weighed four tons. (3) The stage was 32 by 16 feet. Under the cabaret was a 32 by 48 foot kitchen. Over the pavilion entrance was an electric sign 30 feet long with "Melody Mill" in letters three feet high. (4) | |||
Transportation to Melody Mill was available by [[INTERSTATE POWER COMPANY]] buses. All Main Street buses carried passengers directly to Melody Mill every twelve minutes until 10:30 p.m. After the dances, special buses brought passengers back to 8th and Main. For those who drove, advertisements claimed parking space for hundreds of cars on the 70-acre level grounds illuminated with flood lights. (5) | |||
In 1947, Vincent and Vi Schulting purchased the landmark. The Schultings booked the best of the big name entertainment as Andy Williams, Count Basie, Lawrence Welk and Louis Armstrong to please their hundreds of fans. | Opening night featured Jean Fay, torch singer and "crooner of blues songs." She had just completed a year's engagement at the Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago. During the intermission, [[ZAHINA, Clarence|Clarence ZAHINA]], "master of the accordion and a local favorite, performed. It was expected that each of the one hundred tables, each seating four people, would be reserved by noon of the opening day. (6) | ||
The leading bands and orchestras in the United States were booked through the Music Corporation of America. Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, Guy Lombardo, and Wayne King were favorites. During an appearance of Eddie Howard in 1936, all the women were given little silver bracelets as souvenirs. From 1936 to 1940 the [[DUBUQUE AMUSEMENT CORPORATION]] contracted with radio station WKBB (later WDBQ) to broadcast big band music from Melody Mill. Political rallies, organization dinners, public service affairs and wrestling and boxing matches arranged by [[FENELON, Ken|Ken FENELON]] drew huge crowds. | |||
In 1947, Vincent and Vi Schulting purchased the landmark. The Schultings booked the best of the big name entertainment as Andy Williams, Count Basie, Lawrence Welk and Louis Armstrong to please their hundreds of fans. Among the "might-have-been performers were Elvis Presley who was not booked because the owners feared his gyrations on stage might offend the conservative audience. Buddy Holly was scheduled to appear on February 10, 1959, but died in a plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa a week before. (7) | |||
[[Image:musicdied.png|right|thumb|250px|Melody Mill advertisement announcing a concert that never happened (The Day the Music Died). Following a performance in Mason City, Iowa, the plane carrying Buddy Holly; Richie Valens; and J. P. Richardson, "The Big Bopper" crashed on February 3, 1959 killing the pilot and all three musicians. The appearance of the Winter Dance Party scheduled for Dubuque on February 10, 1959 featured replacement stars including Frankie Avalon and Jimmy Clanton. Photo courtesy: https://nortonsafe.search.ask.com/web?q=You+Know+You%27re+From+Dubuque&o=APN11957&l=dis&prt=NIM&chn=RETAIL&geo=US&ver=5&locale=EN&gct=kwd&qsrc=2869]]With the growth of rock 'n roll music, the couple made the decision to continue the format of bringing the bands people were demanding to see. Musicians appearing at Melody Mill included the Beach Boys, Brenda Lee, Frankie Avalon, the Everly Brothers, Gene Vincent, Jerry Lee Lewis, Jimmy Gillmer and the Fireballs, Bobbie Vee, Conway Twitty, Johnny & the Hurricanes, Freddy Cannon, Bobby Rydell, and the Ventures. They also booked country entertainers such as Johnny Cash, Wanda Jackson and Web Pearce. | [[Image:musicdied.png|right|thumb|250px|Melody Mill advertisement announcing a concert that never happened (The Day the Music Died). Following a performance in Mason City, Iowa, the plane carrying Buddy Holly; Richie Valens; and J. P. Richardson, "The Big Bopper" crashed on February 3, 1959 killing the pilot and all three musicians. The appearance of the Winter Dance Party scheduled for Dubuque on February 10, 1959 featured replacement stars including Frankie Avalon and Jimmy Clanton. Photo courtesy: https://nortonsafe.search.ask.com/web?q=You+Know+You%27re+From+Dubuque&o=APN11957&l=dis&prt=NIM&chn=RETAIL&geo=US&ver=5&locale=EN&gct=kwd&qsrc=2869]]With the growth of rock 'n roll music, the couple made the decision to continue the format of bringing the bands people were demanding to see. Musicians appearing at Melody Mill included the Beach Boys, Brenda Lee, Frankie Avalon, the Everly Brothers, Gene Vincent, Jerry Lee Lewis, Jimmy Gillmer and the Fireballs, Bobbie Vee, Conway Twitty, Johnny & the Hurricanes, Freddy Cannon, Bobby Rydell, and the Ventures. They also booked country entertainers such as Johnny Cash, Wanda Jackson and Web Pearce. | ||
Opening bands were needed for these national acts so the Melody Mill provided many Iowa ‘garage bands’ the opportunity to play. Friday and Saturday nights were country or big band nights; Sunday was reserved for rock | Opening bands were needed for these national acts so the Melody Mill provided many Iowa ‘garage bands’ the opportunity to play. A favorite feature for many years was the Tuesday night wedding dances which offered couples who had met at Melody Mill a chance to celebrate. (7) Friday and Saturday nights were country or big band nights; Sunday was reserved for rock 'n' roll. | ||
[[Image:melodymill.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Melody Mill being torn down. Photo courtesy: Bob Reding]] | [[Image:melodymill.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Melody Mill being torn down. Photo courtesy: Bob Reding]] Melody Mill closed for the last time on August 7, 1964. Vincent Schulting sold the property to [[INTERSTATE POWER COMPANY]]. The building was auctioned for $1,040 to be torn down for salvage. The structure had been deeded to the Dubuque County Fair Board by Interstate Power that planned to use the land for industrial sites. | ||
Vincent Schulting | |||
[[Image:melodymill.gif|left|thumb|300px|Well-known bands and orchestras made Melody Mill a popular ballroom.]] | [[Image:melodymill.gif|left|thumb|300px|Well-known bands and orchestras made Melody Mill a popular ballroom.]] | ||
| Line 25: | Line 28: | ||
Hingtgen recalled that materials were sold to many buyers from throughout eastern Iowa. The floor, however, was worn so badly-nearly down to the tongue and groove--that it was never reused at the fairgrounds. Some people purchased enough to floor a room in their homes and a Petersburg, Iowa, farmer bought a lot to line his grain bins. Wood for the fairground's ballroom came from the former [[PETER J. SEIPPEL LUMBER COMPANY]]. | Hingtgen recalled that materials were sold to many buyers from throughout eastern Iowa. The floor, however, was worn so badly-nearly down to the tongue and groove--that it was never reused at the fairgrounds. Some people purchased enough to floor a room in their homes and a Petersburg, Iowa, farmer bought a lot to line his grain bins. Wood for the fairground's ballroom came from the former [[PETER J. SEIPPEL LUMBER COMPANY]]. | ||
In 2009 Melody Mill was inducted into the Iowa Rock'n Roll Music Association's Hall of Fame. | In 2009 Melody Mill was inducted into the Iowa Rock'n Roll Music Association's Hall of Fame. (8) | ||
| Line 37: | Line 40: | ||
Source: | Source: | ||
1. "Huge Dance Palace and Cabaret Will Blaze with Lights and Music," Telegraph Herald, Aug. 5, 1934, p. 6. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Rc5BAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2akMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3055,4522125&dq=everett+akins+dubuque&hl=en | 1. "Huge Dance Palace and Cabaret Will Blaze with Lights and Music," ''Telegraph Herald'', Aug. 5, 1934, p. 6. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Rc5BAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2akMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3055,4522125&dq=everett+akins+dubuque&hl=en | ||
2. | 2. "Melody Mill Will be Formally Christened," ''Telegraph-Herald and Times-Journal'', August 5, 1934, p. 6 | ||
3. Ibid. | 3. Ibid. | ||
4. Ibid. | |||
4. "Huge Dance Palace..." | |||
5. Ibid. | |||
6. "Melody Mill Will be Formally..." | |||
7. Ibid. | |||
8. Ibid. | |||
9. Ibid. | |||
Kruse, Len. "Remembering Melody Mill," ''My Old Dubuque''. Center for Dubuque History, Loras College, 2000, p. 326-327 | Kruse, Len. "Remembering Melody Mill," ''My Old Dubuque''. Center for Dubuque History, Loras College, 2000, p. 326-327 | ||
Revision as of 02:43, 20 June 2017
MELODY MILL. Located along Highway 3/52 about one mile north of Dubuque, Melody Mill once featured the most popular big bands in the United States. The area had been swampland until being transformed in 1895 into NUTWOOD PARK. (1) In 1928 the site became Dubuque's first airport which was moved to CITY ISLAND in July of 1934.
Opened to the public on August 8, 1934, the Mill became a center of entertainment. It was described prior to its opening as "one of the largest and finest dance pavilions and cabarets in the middle West." It was located almost in the center of what was a stretch of swamp land, which was later reclaimed and transformed into NUTWOOD PARK. In later years it was the site of Dubuque's first airport. (1)
Melody Mill's pavilion had its own unique story. Designed for UNION PARK in 1909, it was originally a huge theater seating 2500 people. When the park closed, the ballroom was dismantled in 1931 by Everett AKINS and moved piece-by-piece to its new location. The dancing pavilion at Melody Mill measured 100 by 162 feet of polished maple dance floor. (2) Trusses supporting the roof were 100 feet long; each weighed four tons. (3) The stage was 32 by 16 feet. Under the cabaret was a 32 by 48 foot kitchen. Over the pavilion entrance was an electric sign 30 feet long with "Melody Mill" in letters three feet high. (4)
Transportation to Melody Mill was available by INTERSTATE POWER COMPANY buses. All Main Street buses carried passengers directly to Melody Mill every twelve minutes until 10:30 p.m. After the dances, special buses brought passengers back to 8th and Main. For those who drove, advertisements claimed parking space for hundreds of cars on the 70-acre level grounds illuminated with flood lights. (5)
Opening night featured Jean Fay, torch singer and "crooner of blues songs." She had just completed a year's engagement at the Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago. During the intermission, Clarence ZAHINA, "master of the accordion and a local favorite, performed. It was expected that each of the one hundred tables, each seating four people, would be reserved by noon of the opening day. (6)
The leading bands and orchestras in the United States were booked through the Music Corporation of America. Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, Guy Lombardo, and Wayne King were favorites. During an appearance of Eddie Howard in 1936, all the women were given little silver bracelets as souvenirs. From 1936 to 1940 the DUBUQUE AMUSEMENT CORPORATION contracted with radio station WKBB (later WDBQ) to broadcast big band music from Melody Mill. Political rallies, organization dinners, public service affairs and wrestling and boxing matches arranged by Ken FENELON drew huge crowds.
In 1947, Vincent and Vi Schulting purchased the landmark. The Schultings booked the best of the big name entertainment as Andy Williams, Count Basie, Lawrence Welk and Louis Armstrong to please their hundreds of fans. Among the "might-have-been performers were Elvis Presley who was not booked because the owners feared his gyrations on stage might offend the conservative audience. Buddy Holly was scheduled to appear on February 10, 1959, but died in a plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa a week before. (7)
With the growth of rock 'n roll music, the couple made the decision to continue the format of bringing the bands people were demanding to see. Musicians appearing at Melody Mill included the Beach Boys, Brenda Lee, Frankie Avalon, the Everly Brothers, Gene Vincent, Jerry Lee Lewis, Jimmy Gillmer and the Fireballs, Bobbie Vee, Conway Twitty, Johnny & the Hurricanes, Freddy Cannon, Bobby Rydell, and the Ventures. They also booked country entertainers such as Johnny Cash, Wanda Jackson and Web Pearce.
Opening bands were needed for these national acts so the Melody Mill provided many Iowa ‘garage bands’ the opportunity to play. A favorite feature for many years was the Tuesday night wedding dances which offered couples who had met at Melody Mill a chance to celebrate. (7) Friday and Saturday nights were country or big band nights; Sunday was reserved for rock 'n' roll.
Melody Mill closed for the last time on August 7, 1964. Vincent Schulting sold the property to INTERSTATE POWER COMPANY. The building was auctioned for $1,040 to be torn down for salvage. The structure had been deeded to the Dubuque County Fair Board by Interstate Power that planned to use the land for industrial sites.
An often repeated--but incorrect--story was that the flooring was reused in the Dubuque County Fairgrounds Ballroom. This story was discounted on July 19, 2009, when Gerald B. Hingtgen, the person who purchased the Mill, wrote an editorial in the TELEGRAPH HERALD.
Hingtgen recalled that materials were sold to many buyers from throughout eastern Iowa. The floor, however, was worn so badly-nearly down to the tongue and groove--that it was never reused at the fairgrounds. Some people purchased enough to floor a room in their homes and a Petersburg, Iowa, farmer bought a lot to line his grain bins. Wood for the fairground's ballroom came from the former PETER J. SEIPPEL LUMBER COMPANY.
In 2009 Melody Mill was inducted into the Iowa Rock'n Roll Music Association's Hall of Fame. (8)
---
Source:
1. "Huge Dance Palace and Cabaret Will Blaze with Lights and Music," Telegraph Herald, Aug. 5, 1934, p. 6. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Rc5BAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2akMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3055,4522125&dq=everett+akins+dubuque&hl=en
2. "Melody Mill Will be Formally Christened," Telegraph-Herald and Times-Journal, August 5, 1934, p. 6
3. Ibid.
4. Ibid.
4. "Huge Dance Palace..."
5. Ibid.
6. "Melody Mill Will be Formally..."
7. Ibid.
8. Ibid.
9. Ibid.
Kruse, Len. "Remembering Melody Mill," My Old Dubuque. Center for Dubuque History, Loras College, 2000, p. 326-327
Melody Mill Ballroom: http://www.iowarocknroll.com/inductee-details.php?id=217
Telegraph Herald, July 19, 2009