Quote:
Originally Posted by GaylordWilshire
Google Street View
The top of the sign says "Catch One"... as in Jewel's Catch One. No mention on its website of its time as the Diana Ballroom, but ....
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I can see the "Catch One" sign on top, but on the side, where it says dancing nightly, just above that in what appears to be Neon as well.
and i just found it in my 1943 Telephone directory it's still open for business as, Diana Ballroom Strangers Social Club at the above listed address.
Looking at these google map pics, mistake me if i'm wrong, but the age of that building Looks like it is the place.
(the story behind Diana Ballroom is that, it was where all best dancers went. The Manager Ray Rand started a dance team using the young dancers, and they went on to appear in many films. This is where dance directors came in search for talent, such as Nick Castle, Louis Dapron, Judy Garland with her then boyfriend Ray Hirsch went there to social dance, because it was away from the more popular and expensive places, which tended to be full of squares. These Ray Rand dancers were just young Jitterbugs, but because of the Diana Ballroom and Ray Rand, they traveled, toured as far as Australia, did Feature Films...and many of these dancers would continue to be friends their whole lives. The last living member just passed away HAL Takier 1917-2012. But You can still catch a handful of 1930's and 40's dancers still swinging away every other Sunday at Golden Sails in Long Beach on PCH).