Nobody alive today can name all the bands and performers that have entertained at Oelwein’s historic Coliseum Ballroom over the last 70 years. Every big band you, your parents, or your grandparents can name except Harry James performed there. Even Willie Nelson had his turn.
On Saturday, May 3, a group of 25 musicians are gathering to support the Coliseum and carry Oelwein’s musical heritage into the future. Everyone is invited to come out. Live entertainment from 3 – 10 p.m. will include Lefty Schrage & the Wichita Band at 3 p.m., Oelwein’s own Chet Reagan on acoustic guitar at 4:30 p.m., The Reunion Band 6-8 p.m. as seen at Oelwein’s 150th Celebration with possible guest appearance of Danny & the Junior Mints, and B.F. Burt 8-10 p.m., an international blues award winner.
Following is an excerpt from a past edition of the Oelwein Daily Register highlighting some of the musical history that attendees can support this Saturday.
The Coliseum Ballroom in Oelwein opened its doors for the first time in 1928 with Paul Tremaine of New York providing the music for a capacity crowd. Vern Cecil purchased the business in the mid 30s and brought in big name bands.
In its heyday, the Coliseum ballroom used to feature numerous big bands (Sammy Kaye, Dorsey brothers, Les Brown, Guy Lombardo, Lawrence Welk, Glenn Miller, Tex Ritter, big Tiny Little, the Don Glasser Orchestra, the Bobby Hankins show, the Jeanne Garber Orchestra, the Floyd Warren show, Tony Hill, Bob and Bobby Thomas of the WGN TV Barn Dance and many others) throughout the 30s, 40s and 50s. In the 60s and 70s rock bands were the standard attraction at the Coliseum. Andy Doll owned and operated the Coliseum from 1963 to 1973. He bought the Coliseum in December of 1962 from Vernon and Edna Luther.
The late Ray Stoddard, retired Oelwein police chief, recalled the admission to Lawrence Welk on a Saturday night was $.50 per couple. He also remembered Sammy Kaye’s appearance in 1945 or 1946. Kaye drew 4100 paid admissions at $2.50 per person. When Orin Tucker appeared there with Wee Bonnie Baker those who could not squeeze into the ballroom danced in the street to music from speakers set up outside.
Over many decades countless thousands of people passed through the main entrance double doors, past the ticket booth and coat check rooms to the main bar. A double line of wooden booths lined the walls from the entry to the stage. A balcony sat atop the entrance to the dance floor area filled with booths for sitting and watching. The balcony also had a bar with food and offered such fair as hamburgers and pizza.
Heavy curtains blocked the tall window so the only light in the ballroom came from globe type lights (still there) suspended from the dull metal red ceiling. After the big band era waned the newest owner Andy Dahl gave teen dances a try and rock’n’roll music filled the air in the ballroom. By that time other parts of the Coliseum building had closed — the second story apartment was unoccupied and the six lane bowling alley in the basement shut down permanently in the 60s.
Andy Doll was a musician and in that same year that he bought the ballroom, he had a hit record “Wild Desire†on the national charts. He won the second-best country western dance band award from the National Ballroom Operators Association, behind the legendary Hank Thompson. The era of the Coliseum ended on July 14, 1973 when the ballroom held its final dance with music by Dave Dighton, one of the top bands in the area. Doll played the Coliseum’s famous grand piano for the final number at the final dance.
On Tuesday, July 24, 1973, the contents of the entire building, from the bowling balls to the drinking glasses were sold at public auction billed as a “wall to wall quitting business sale.†The Coliseum was one of Iowa’s grand old ballrooms and although that era is now a memory, The building has been converted into a wonderful museum piece by Dave Moore and the Oelwein Historical Society. The Coliseum ballroom was inducted into Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011.
The fundraiser on Saturday, May 3, is being held in anticipation of kickstarting regular monthly performance events by current musicians who want to share in the historic legacy of the Coliseum. Come out and support one of Oelwein’s treasures and true gems of musical history this Saturday night. There will be something for everybody!
Thank you in advance for your support of the Historic Oelwein Coliseum Ballroom.
