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from the NBEA web site: NBEA HISTORY
On March 7, 1938, a group of Iowa ballroom operators gathered to work out some mutual problems. This was the formation of the Iowa Ballroom Operators Association. At a meeting on July 14, 1941, it was decided to enlarge and become the Midwest Ballroom Operators Association. At the annual convention of the MBOA held in Chicago in 1947 the name was changed to the National Ballroom Operators Association because membership had expanded from coast to coast. The current name of National Ballroom & Entertainment Association was made in the 1970's to reflect the more comprehensive nature of the association. Past Presidents (from Iowa) of NBEA
• 1948-1950 - Larry Geer, Ft. Dodge, Iowa
• 1954-1956 - Tom Archer, Des Moines, Iowa • 1964-1966 - Darlowe Oleson, Arnolds Park, Iowa • 1967-1969 - Don Wachal, Davenport, Iowa • 1971-1972 - William Otto, Carroll, Iowa • 1976-1978 - Frances Archer, West Des Moines, Iowa • 1986-1988 - Darrel Hein, Clear Lake, Iowa
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Archer, Tom and Frances • Armar Ballroom, Marion
• Rigadoon Ballroom, Sioux City • Skylon Ballroom, Sioux City • Tomba Ballroom, Sioux City • Tromar Ballroom, Des Moines • Val Air Ballroom, Des Moines • Plus Frog Hop Ballrom, St. Joseph, MO; Chermot Ballroom, Omaha, NE; and Arkota Ballroom, Sioux Falls, SD. • Tom was President of Midwest Ballroom Operators Association (now NBEA), 1954-1956 • Frances was President of National Ballroom & Entertainment Association (NBEA), 1976-1978 Axon, John • Opera House, Tripoli • Completely renovated the Opera House in the 1990's Bess, Paul Lake Robbins Ballroom, Woodward - 1930s Bess, Pete & Wilma Bought Lake Robbins from brother Paul -1946
Cass Family • Electric Park Ballroom, Waterloo
• Built the original Electric Park Amusement Park which included the open air dance facility Cervantez, Michael (Quad-Cities Mexican American Organization) • Col Ballroom, Davenport
• Purchased the Col in 1994
Ehrich, Nate & Billie Woodcliff Ballroom, Spencer
Figi, Jake • Cobblestone Ballroom, Storm Lake
• Brother of Laura Lawrence • In partnership w/Willard and Laura Lawrence, opened Cobblestone in 1929 • Sold out his interest to Orville and JR in 1938 Green, Chuck •
Fairyland Ballroom, Long Grove • Last known Owner/Manager Greer, Larry & Margaret
• Laramar (Twilight), Fort Dodge • President of National Ballroom Operators Association (now NBEA), 1948-1950 Harder, Al Star Ballroom, Dakota City (1975-1992)
Hein, Darrel •
Surf Ballroom, Clear Lake
• President of National Ballroom & Entertainment Association (NBEA), 1976-1978 Kann, William Hubert & Josephine •
Lakeside Ballroom, Guttenberg
• Built Lakeside in 1927 Kerker, Leo •
Col Ballroom, Davenport
• Built the Col in 1914 to replace the original Coliseum, which fell victim to fire Kooker, Bart • Riviera Ballroom, Riverside Park, Des Moines
Kooker, Bill • Riviera Ballroom, Riverside Park, Des Moines
Lawrence, Orville 'Shorty' •
Cobblestone Ballroom, Storm Lake
• Brother of Willard Jr, son of Willard and Laura • Shorty passed away in 1987 Lawrence, Willard & Laura •
Cobblestone Ballroom, Storm Lake
• Parents of Orville and Willard Jr • In partnership w/Jake Figi, opened Cobblestone in 1929 • Willard passed away in 1936 • Laura retired in 1957, turning the family business over to her two sons Luther, Vern & Edna •
Coliseum Ballroom, Oelwein, IA
• Owned and operated the Coliseum ?-1963 • Sold the Coliseum in 1963 to Andy & Marjorie Doll (had to sell because of health, moved to Florida • After Edna's passing, Vern moved back to Oelwein where he spent his final years Matter, John and Emma •
Matter's Ballroom, Decorah
• Built and opened the ballroom in 1916 Matter, John and Suzanne •
Matter's Ballroom, Decorah
• Third generation of Matter's ownership • Managed Matter's Ballroom from 1970 to July 1, 1999 (1999 marked 83 yrs of Matter's ownership) • John is Executive Director of National Ballroom & Entertainment Association (NBEA) Matter, Leonard and Carol •
Matter's Ballroom, Decorah
• Second generation of Matter's ownership • Managed the Ballroom from shortly after military service in W.W.II until 1970 Oleson, Darlowe •
Built Ridotto Ballroom near Havelock in 1937
• Danceland Ballroom, Cedar Rapids • Roof Garden Ballroom, Arnold's Park • Owned five different ballrooms • President of National Ballroom Operators Association (now NBEA), 1964-1966 • Died in a plane crash in 1973 Otto, Christopher P. and Blance •
Starline Ballroom, Carroll
• Bought Starline about 1956 • Chris died tragically in 1964 in a fall down a staircase Otto, William P. and Regina •
Starlight Ballroom, Carroll
• William was President of National Ballroom & Entertainment Association (NBEA), 1971-1972 • Moved to Carroll in 1956 to help with 'family business' • Sold the Starline in 1973 when it became a bowling alley Peck, A.L. •
Roof Garden, Arnold's Park (owner)
• Opened the Roof Garden June 23, 1923 Peterson, R. E. •
Electric Park Ballroom, Waterloo • Bought the amusement park in 1922 and ran it as a family business Petitt, Hitch Plantation Ballroom, Whittemore
Phillips, Frederick •
Avalon Ballroom, Remsen
• Along with Jake Raveling, opened the Avalon on Labor Day, 1937 Raveling, Jake • Avalon Ballroom, Remsen
• Along with Frederick Phillips, opened the Avalon on Labor Day, 1937 Richard(s), Fred & Rose • Coliseum Ballroom, Oelwein
• Built and opened the Coliseum in 1928 • Sold to Verl Sissel in the mid-1930's Sampson, Lloyd & Sylvia • Marcon Ballroom, Iowa Falls • Skyline Ballroom, Esterville (1945-1969) • Lloyd passed away in 1983
Sissel, Verl • Bought the Coliseum Ballroom, Oelwein in the mid-1930's
Smouse, Harland • Starline Ballroom, Carroll
• Sold the Starline to Christopher P. and Blanche Otto around 1956 Telsrow, Dan • Matter's Ballroom, Decorah
• Bought Matter's Ballroom on July 1, 1999 Thomas, Percy Aronda Ballroom, Creston
Wachal, Don • Col Ballroom, Davenport
• President of National Ballroom Operators Association (now NBEA), 1967-1969 • sold Col to Quad-Cities Mexican American Organization (Michael Cervantez)-1994
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