Willowbrook Ballroom (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780738583990)

The Willowbrook Ballroom was originally built as an outdoor dance pavilion named Oh Henry Park by Austrian immigrant John Verderbar. Wildly successful, it was enlarged and fully enclosed in 1923, and a 10[-a-dance policy was implemented. Destroyed by fire in 1930, a determined Verderbar hired a crew of 200 carpenters, and a new facility was built to the tune of a then-staggering $100,000. In 1959, it was renamed the Willowbrook Ballroom, and dancers have since enjoyed the big band sounds of Count Basie, Teddy Lee, Harry James, and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. As record crowds flocked to the 6,000-square-foot dance floor, the Willowbrook also became a favorite setting for weddings, proms, and other once-in-a-lifetime events. Today, at the height of its popularity, the Willowbrook is one of only five ballrooms of its magnitude in the United States and the only one remaining in the greater Chicagoland area.

Author: Bonnie Classen
ISBN-10: 0738583995
ISBN-13: 9780738583990
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing (SC)
Language: English
Published: 10/31/2011
Pages: 128
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.65lbs
Size: 9.10h x 6.40w x 0.40d