Encyclopedia Dubuque
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MELODY MILL: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:reservation.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Photo courtesy: Bob Reding]] | [[Image:reservation.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Photo courtesy: Bob Reding]] | ||
Opened to the public on August 8, 1934, the Mill became a center of entertainment. Described prior to its opening as "one of the largest and finest dance pavilions and cabarets in the middle West," it was located almost in the center of what had been [[NUTWOOD PARK]]. In later years it was the site of Dubuque's first airport. (1) After that it became [[WICKE'S LUMBER | Opened to the public on August 8, 1934, the Mill became a center of entertainment. Described prior to its opening as "one of the largest and finest dance pavilions and cabarets in the middle West," it was located almost in the center of what had been [[NUTWOOD PARK]]. In later years it was the site of Dubuque's first airport. (1) After that it became [[WICKE'S LUMBER AND BUILDING SUPPLY CENTER]]. (2) | ||
Melody Mill's pavilion had its own unique story. Designed for [[UNION PARK]] in 1909, it was originally a huge ballroom advertised as "the largest ballroom in Iowa." (3) When the park closed, the ballroom was dismantled in 1931 by [[AKINS, Everett|Everett AKINS]] and moved piece-by-piece to its new location. The dancing pavilion at Melody Mill measured 100 by 162 feet of polished maple dance floor. (4) Trusses supporting the roof were 100 feet long; each weighed four tons. (5) The stage was 32 by 16 feet. Under the cabaret was a 32 by 48 foot kitchen. Over the pavilion entrance was an electric sign 30 feet long with "Melody Mill" in letters three feet high. (6) | Melody Mill's pavilion had its own unique story. Designed for [[UNION PARK]] in 1909, it was originally a huge ballroom advertised as "the largest ballroom in Iowa." (3) When the park closed, the ballroom was dismantled in 1931 by [[AKINS, Everett|Everett AKINS]] and moved piece-by-piece to its new location. The dancing pavilion at Melody Mill measured 100 by 162 feet of polished maple dance floor. (4) Trusses supporting the roof were 100 feet long; each weighed four tons. (5) The stage was 32 by 16 feet. Under the cabaret was a 32 by 48 foot kitchen. Over the pavilion entrance was an electric sign 30 feet long with "Melody Mill" in letters three feet high. (6) | ||
Revision as of 03:21, 20 June 2017
MELODY MILL. Located along Highway 3/52 about one mile north of Dubuque, Melody Mill once featured the most popular big bands in the United States. The area had been swampland until being transformed in 1895 into NUTWOOD PARK. (1) In 1928 the site became Dubuque's first airport which was moved to CITY ISLAND in July of 1934.
Opened to the public on August 8, 1934, the Mill became a center of entertainment. Described prior to its opening as "one of the largest and finest dance pavilions and cabarets in the middle West," it was located almost in the center of what had been NUTWOOD PARK. In later years it was the site of Dubuque's first airport. (1) After that it became WICKE'S LUMBER AND BUILDING SUPPLY CENTER. (2)
Melody Mill's pavilion had its own unique story. Designed for UNION PARK in 1909, it was originally a huge ballroom advertised as "the largest ballroom in Iowa." (3) When the park closed, the ballroom was dismantled in 1931 by Everett AKINS and moved piece-by-piece to its new location. The dancing pavilion at Melody Mill measured 100 by 162 feet of polished maple dance floor. (4) Trusses supporting the roof were 100 feet long; each weighed four tons. (5) The stage was 32 by 16 feet. Under the cabaret was a 32 by 48 foot kitchen. Over the pavilion entrance was an electric sign 30 feet long with "Melody Mill" in letters three feet high. (6)
Transportation to Melody Mill was available by INTERSTATE POWER COMPANY buses. All Main Street buses carried passengers directly to Melody Mill every twelve minutes until 10:30 p.m. After the dances, special buses brought passengers back to 8th and Main. For those who drove, advertisements claimed parking space for hundreds of cars on the 70-acre level grounds illuminated with flood lights. (7)
Opening night featured Jean Fay, torch singer and "crooner of blues songs." She had just completed a year's engagement at the Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago. During the intermission, Clarence ZAHINA, "master of the accordion and a local favorite, performed. It was expected that each of the one hundred tables, each seating four people, would be reserved by noon of the opening day. (8)
The leading bands and orchestras in the United States were booked through the Music Corporation of America. Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, Guy Lombardo, and Wayne King were favorites. During an appearance of Eddie Howard in 1936, all the women were given little silver bracelets as souvenirs. From 1936 to 1940 the DUBUQUE AMUSEMENT CORPORATION contracted with radio station WKBB (later WDBQ) to broadcast big band music from Melody Mill.
Political rallies, organization dinners, public service affairs and wrestling and boxing matches arranged by Ken FENELON drew huge crowds.
In 1947, Vincent and Vi Schulting purchased the landmark. The Schultings booked the best of the big name entertainment as Andy Williams, Count Basie, Lawrence Welk and Louis Armstrong to please their hundreds of fans. Among the "might-have-been performers were Elvis Presley who was not booked because the owners feared his gyrations on stage might offend the conservative audience. Buddy Holly was scheduled to appear on February 10, 1959, but died in a plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa a week before. (9)
With the growth of rock 'n roll music, the couple made the decision to continue the format of bringing the bands people were demanding to see. Musicians appearing at Melody Mill included the Beach Boys, Brenda Lee, Frankie Avalon, the Everly Brothers, Gene Vincent, Jerry Lee Lewis, Jimmy Gillmer and the Fireballs, Bobbie Vee, Conway Twitty, Johnny & the Hurricanes, Freddy Cannon, Bobby Rydell, and the Ventures. They also booked country entertainers such as Johnny Cash, Wanda Jackson and Web Pearce.
Opening bands were needed for these national acts so the Melody Mill provided many Iowa ‘garage bands’ the opportunity to play. One of these, SHADES (THE) performed with Jerry Lee Lewis, Frankie Avalon, and Bobby Rydell before being inducted into the IOWA ROCK 'N' ROLL HALL OF FAME in 2003. (10) A favorite feature for many years was the Tuesday night wedding dances which offered couples who had met at Melody Mill a chance to celebrate. (11) Friday and Saturday nights were country or big band nights; Sunday was reserved for rock 'n' roll.
The last public dance at Melody Mill occurred on August 7, 1964 although an appreciation dance was held the following Tuesday. (12) Vincent Schulting sold the property to INTERSTATE POWER COMPANY. The building was auctioned for $1,040 to be torn down for salvage. The structure had been deeded to the Dubuque County Fair Board by Interstate Power that planned to use the land for industrial sites. (13)
An often repeated--but incorrect--story was that the flooring was reused in the Dubuque County Fairgrounds Ballroom. This story was discounted on July 19, 2009, when Gerald B. Hingtgen, the person who purchased the Mill, wrote an editorial in the TELEGRAPH HERALD.
Hingtgen recalled that materials were sold to many buyers from throughout eastern Iowa. The floor, however, was worn so badly-nearly down to the tongue and groove--that it was never reused at the fairgrounds. Some people purchased enough to floor a room in their homes and a Petersburg, Iowa, farmer bought a lot to line his grain bins. Wood for the fairground's ballroom came from the former PETER J. SEIPPEL LUMBER COMPANY.
In 2009 Melody Mill was inducted into the Iowa Rock'n Roll Music Association's Hall of Fame. (14)
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Source:
1. "Melody Mill Will be Formally Christened," Telegraph-Herald and Times-Journal, August 5, 1934, p. 6
2. Hellert, Susan. "Dancin' Days," Telegraph Herald, March 15, 2005, p. 1
3. Ibid.
4. "Melody Mill Will be Formally Christened.."
5. Ibid.
6. Ibid
7. Ibid.
8. Ibid.
9. Nevans-Pederson, Mary. "Our Love Affair With Melody Mill," Telegraph Herald, September 6, 2009, p. 7A
10. Ibid.
11. Hellert
12. Nevans-Pederson
13. Ibid
14. Nevans-Pederson
Kruse, Len. "Remembering Melody Mill," My Old Dubuque. Center for Dubuque History, Loras College, 2000, p. 326-327
Melody Mill Ballroom: http://www.iowarocknroll.com/inductee-details.php?id=217