Crystal Ballroom , originally built as Cotillion Hall , is a historic building in Portland, Oregon, United States. Cotillion Hall was built in 1914 as a ballroom, and dance revivals were held there through the Great Depression. Starting in the 1960s, the hall has also been host to many popular pop, rock, folk, blues and jazz artists, as well as beat poetry and other entertainment.
History
Originally owned by Montrose Ringler, the ballroom fell victim to heavy persecution of jazz and dance and Ringler lost the ballroom in the early 1920s. The ballroom was bought by Dad Watson in the mid 1920s, and largely held square dances during that period. After Watson's death in the 1930s, Ralph Farrier bought the ballroom and renamed it the Crystal Ballroom. He continued in Watson's footsteps, holding square dances through the 1950s.
In the early 1960s, due to flagging revenues, new acts were brought in, such as gypsy brass bands and R&B performers, such as James Brown, Marvin Gaye, and Ike & Tina Turner.
In 1967, largely psychedelic acts such as the Grateful Dead, Blue Cheer, and The Electric Prunes performed in the ballroom. This was cut short in 1968, due to concerns about what such music was doing to the youth of Portland.
From the 1970s through the mid 1990s, the ballroom was not used for any public events. It became a residence for squatters, artists and bohemians, who used it as studio space, and occasionally private invite-only parties were given. In 1979, the building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Cotillion Hall.
In 1997, the ballroom was re-opened by McMenamins, featuring a bar/restaurant on the first floor, a brewery and a new dance floor on the second floor, and the restored main ballroom on the third floor. The main ballroom features a mechanical "floating" dance floor, thought at the time of its building to be the only one on the West Coast, and is potentially the only one still in existence in the United States.
There are ballroom dance lessons each Sunday available to the public.
Facilities
The Crystal Ballroom—the third floor of the building—has high ceilings, a balcony, grand chandeliers, murals, and wide floor-to-ceiling arched windows.
The room can be rented for group meetings of up to 1,000 people or, in concert configuration, up to 1,500 standing persons or 850 seated.
References
- ^ "Ringler's History" (PDF). McMenamins . http://www.mcmenamins.com/bin/history.ringlers.pdf . Retrieved 2007-10-05 .
- ^ a b The PDX Guy. "Crystal Ballroom Portland - Bust A Move!". Uniquely Portland . http://www.uniquely-portland-oregon.com/crystal-ballroom-portland.html . Retrieved 2009-06-30 .
- ^ Stephen Leisy. "A brief history of Portland's Crystal Ballroom". Examiner . http://www.examiner.com/x-6655-Portland-Landmarks-Examiner~y2009m3d30-A-brief-history-of-Portlands-Crystal-Ballroom . Retrieved 2009-06-30 .
- ^ "McMenamins-Crystal Ballroom". Eventective Inc. . http://www.eventective.com/USA/Oregon/Portland/43517/McMenamins-Crystal-Ballroom.html . Retrieved 2009-06-30 .
- ^ "Crystal Ballroom Promoters brought to you by McMenamins". McMenamins . http://www.mcmenamins.com/index.php?loc=2&id=142 . Retrieved 2009-06-30 .
External links
- Cotillion Hall listing at Archiplanet wiki, with interior photos
- List of bands who played at Crystal Ballroom during the R&
Crystal Ballroom Calendar brought to you by McMenamins
Portland, OR 97209 Directions Contact Us: Home >Crystal Ballroom >Calendar >Wednesday, December 31 at Crystal Ballroom
Crystal Ballroom (Portland, Oregon) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Crystal Ballroom, originally built as Cotillion Hall, is a historic building in Portland, Oregon, United States. Cotillion Hall was built in 1914 as a ballroom, and dance revivals ...
UO Ticket Office
University of Oregon Ticket Office ... All Events; Crystal Ballroom; Portland
Crystal Ballroom - Portland OR - PortlandBarFly.com Review
Vda in the Crystal Ballroom, Hosted by Vj Kittyrox: Sat 11/28 @ 8:00 pm: The Helio Sequence ... © 1999-2009 BarFly Industries Inc - Portland, Oregon Our privacy policy details how ...
Scott Avett at the Crystal Ballroom in Portland, Oregon | The Official ...
The Avett Brothers played two shows at the McMenamins Crystal Ballroom on West Burnside Ave. in Portland, OR on May 22-23, 2009. The Saturday night show was Awesome!
McMenamins Crystal Ballroom - Sights, attractions, museums, wineries ...
The World >North America >United States >Oregon >Portland >McMenamins Crystal Ballroom ... McMenamins currently has 15 breweries in Oregon, each year ...
McMenamins Crystal Ballroom Brewery in Portland Oregon - Travel ...
McMenamins currently has 15 breweries in Oregon, each year collectively producing more than 200 different recipes. Since our first brew at Portland's Hillsdale Brewery and Public ...
McMenamins Crystal Ballroom Portland OR (Other)
The Bravery & Airborne Toxic Event - 94/7 December To Remember is taking place on Wednesday, December 9, 2009 at McMenamins Crystal Ballroom (1332 West Burnside) Portland, Oregon ...
Seth Avett at the Crystal Ballroom in Portland, Oregon | The Official ...
The Avett Brothers played two shows at the McMenamins Crystal Ballroom on West Burnside Ave. in Portland, OR on May 22-23, 2009. The Saturday night show was Awesome!
UO Ticket Office
University of Oregon Ticket Office ... All Events; Portland; Crystal Ballroom