Trocadero Ballroom, 1940 to 1959, a story by Phyllis Ellis

I remember fondly the Trocadero Ballroom.


The old Empire Theatre on 103 Street and a half block north of Jasper Avenue, which had been a litany of major musical productions, had closed. Extensive renovations began and included a hardwood dance floor built over top of the seats, just in case the building ever reverted to a theatre again. Because of the style of dancing done in those days - jitterbugging to name one - plus the fact that dancing was a very popular form of entertainment and recreation, the floor had to be huge.


The decorative fronts of the balcony and loges were removed and replaced with a five bar iron railing representing a music staff with notes and clefs placed appropriately on them around the balcony and down the gracious staircase which people descended to the perfectly sprung dance floor.


The liquor laws in Edmonton during the 40s and 50s didn’t allow for drinking but ways were found to skirt the law. Women carried the bottle under their coats or in their handbags as inspectors at the door “frisked” the men to make sure they weren’t carrying any liquor. Conveniently, they avoided the women.


As we arrived and were shown to our reserved tables and took our seats, just by coincidence there was a shelf placed conveniently under the table to hold the “contraband.” The profit to the establishment came from the exhorbitant prices charged for Ginger Ale or other highball mix. We weren’t very sophisticated drinkers.


We danced and danced and danced to the big band music of Bob Lyons and his orchestra and vocalist Faye Thom who played “The Troc” for years and brought so much enjoyment to us all.


I remember also listening to the famous Mills Brothers there. They were great!