1940s RENDEZVOUS BALLROOM
Photo of the Rendezvous Ballroom at the Crystal Pier.
Rendezvous Ballroom was huge and there were many stages and ballrooms.
The photos on the following three pages are identified as taken at the Rendezvous Ballroom but at three different stages.
Photo from the Rendezvous Ballroom - Stage 1.
In May of 1947, Al Otto, Jack Lewerke and this writer organized a "New Orleans Jazz Society' for the sole purpose of presenting jazz on L.A.'s Westside.
Following a single appearance of Kid Ory's Creole Jazz Band at the Brentwood Country Club in West Los Angeles, a regular series of Sunday evening jazz-dances were inaugurated at the Rendevous Ballroom in Santa Monica.
The Kid Ory band remained the feature attraction for Some weeks, or until Billy Berg lured the band away from us with the promise of a steady gig at his currently popular Vine Street bistro.
The success of the venture at the beach seemed to warrant its continuation and, following some brief speculation regarding the availability of other groups, it was mutually agreed upon that it would be a good idea to contact Nappy Lamare.
