Iowa Ballroom Project
The People
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
- 1948-1950 - Larry Geer, Ft. Dodge, Iowa
- 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
- -Rigadoon Ballroom, Sioux City
- Axon, John
- -Opera House, Tripoli
- -Completely renovated the Opera House in the 1990's
- Cass Family
- -Electric Park, 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
Andy Doll with his famous 'Double Guitar'
- Doll, Andy & Marjorie
- -Coliseum Ballroom, Oelwein, IA
- -Owned and operated the Coliseum 1963-1973 (Andy had to sell and retire because of health)
- -Bought the Coliseum in 1963 from Vern & Edna Luther
- -Andy also had a band (Andy Doll Band)
- -Marjorie still lives in Oelwein (2003)
- -Owned and operated the Coliseum 1963-1973 (Andy had to sell and retire because of health)
- 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
- -Brother of Laura Lawrence
- Geer, Larry
- -Fort Dodge
- -President of National Ballroom Operators Association (now NBEA), 1948-1950
- Green, Chuck
- -Fairyland Ballroom, Long Grove
- -Last known Owner/Manager
Hein, Darrel
- -Surf Ballroom, Clear Lake
- -President of National Ballroom & Entertainment Association (NBEA), 1976-1978
- Kann, William Hubert and Josephine
- -Lakeside Ballroom, Guttenberg
- -Built Lakeside in 1927
- Kerker, Leo
- -Col Ballroom, Davenport
- -Built the Col in 1914 to replace the original Coliseue which fell victim to fire
- Lawrence, Orville 'Shorty'
- -Cobblestone Ballroom, Storm Lake
- -Brother of Willard Jr, son of Willard and Laura
- -Shorty passed away in 1987
- -Brother of Willard Jr, son of Willard and Laura
- Lawrence, Willard and 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
- -Parents of Orville and Willard Jr
Jerry (Lawrence) Dahlen, Sep'03, from IRRMA web site
- Lawrence, Willard 'Junior' 'JR' and Geraldine 'Jerry'
- -Cobblestone Ballroom, Storm Lake
- -JR was brother of Willard Jr, son of Willard and Laura
- -Jr passed away in 1976
- -JR was brother of Willard Jr, son of Willard and Laura
- 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
- -Owned and operated the Coliseum ?-1963
- 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)
- -Third generation of Matter's ownership
- 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
- -Second generation of Matter's ownership
- Oleson, Darlowe
- -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 1972
- -Roof Garden Ballroom, Arnold's Park
- Otto, Christopher P. and Blance
- -Starline Ballroom, Carroll
- -Bought Starline about 1956
- -Chris died tragically in 1964 in a fall down a staircase
- -Bought Starline about 1956
- 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
- -William was President of National Ballroom & Entertainment Association (NBEA), 1971-1972
- Peck, A.L.
- -Roof Garden, Arnold's Park (owner)
- -Opened the Roof Garden June 23, 1923
- Petersoon, R. E.
- -Electric Park Ballroom, Waterloo
- -Bought the amusement park in 1922 and ran it as a family business
- 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
- Sampson, Lloyd and Sylvia
- -Skyline Ballroom, Esterville (1945-1969)
- -Lloyd passed away in 1983
- 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
- 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
- -President of National Ballroom Operators Association (now NBEA), 1967-1969
photo from the IRRMA web site
- Washinowski, Eddie 'Skeets'
- -Shore Acres Ballroom, Sioux City (manager 1963-)
- -Woodcliff Ballroom, Spencer (manager 1961-62)
- -Band Leader- Eddie Skeets Orchestra
- -Eddie passed away in October, 1995
- -Inducted into Iowa Rock n Roll Hall of Fame in 2002
- -Woodcliff Ballroom, Spencer (manager 1961-62)