Iowa Ballroom Project

Present and Past
project posted Feb 27, 2003
updated Jan 17, 2004
Go here to find the latest updates!

While working on my iowadance.com web site I have learned of the existence of many ballrooms (present and past) in the State of Iowa. Along the way I have been jotting down notes and it has finally gotten to the point that it all needed to be organized. Most of this information is readily available on the web, but it is scattered about.

I am hoping that this web site might inspire you folks to help me gather information on these great old ballrooms before it is lost forever.

If you have any information on any ballrooms, listed here or not, and if you would like to share, please send me an e-mail. Let me know if you want me to use your name as a contributor. I will give credit where it is due!

There are discrepancies! For example, was the big fire at Electric Park in 1934 or 1936? We will attempt to solve these mysteries along the way.

Note: Debbie Renner of is gathering information in hopes of writing a book on the old Riviera Ballroom in Janesville, IA. Click here to read a letter from Debbie.

LETTERS: From R J Myers of Humboldt, IA with his memories of some of the old Ballrooms in Western Iowa.
[Active Ballrooms] [Ballrooms of the Past] [The People] [Credits]
[What's New To This Site] [Historic Preservation Links]
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Ballrooms Across The Border [IL] [KS] [MN] [NE]
Iowa Rock n Roll Music Association (IRRMA)

I can't work on this web site without constantly referring to the IRRMA web site and talking to their directors and members for a lot of the information on these pages. These folks are leading the charge to preserve the history of Rock n Roll in Iowa and consequently preserving the history of the venues where it all happened.

If you are like me, at one time or another, you have wished you could do something to bring back the hay day of these old ballrooms. Well there isn't a lot any of us can do individually, but there is something we can do together.

We can support the IRRMA by visiting their museum, by attending their events and by becoming a member.

Please visit the IRRMA web site and become a participant!
Some Classification of Ballrooms and Dance Halls

Webster simply defines ballroom as 'a large room used for dances.' (Some purists define ballroom as having a floating dance floor.) So obviously, going by Webster's definition, I have a lot of leeway on this project.

Maybe I should call this the 'Iowa Dance Hall Project' as I believe that, for example, the Opera House in Tripoli had as much impact on the surrounding community as the Val Air had in Des Moines.

So where am I going? Well, I am not sure. Right now I guess I want to look at this as a historical project. As time goes by, I hope to make this THE resource site for 'Iowa Ballrooms' of the first half of the 20th century.

Bottom line, this site will grow and change. We'll see where it goes.
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