Golden Gate Ballroom

The Golden Gate Ballroom, originally named the "State Palace Ballroom",^[1] was a luxurious^[2][3][4] ballroom located at the intersection of Lenox Avenue and 142nd Street^{[5][3][6][note 1]} in Harlem in New York City.^[2] It was allegedly the largest public auditorium in Harlem, with 25,000 square feet and a capacity of about 5,000 people on the dance floor in addition to several thousand spectators.^[1][8][7]

Golden Gate Ballroom

Address	New York City United States

History

The serial entrepreneur Jay Faggen led the project to open the Golden Gate Ballroom, which took place in October 1939.^[1][4] The site had formerly been the Douglas Theater.^[9] By mid-1940, it was taken over by the same owner and manager as the Savoy Ballroom.^[10][11] It was one of many Harlem jazz clubs located on Lenox Avenue^[3] and competed intensely with the Savoy Ballroom.^[12]

The Golden Gate closed around 1950.^[3]

Notable performers at the Golden Gate included Les Hite, Harlan Leonard, Claude Hopkins, Milt Herth, Jimmie Lunceford,^[12] Count Basie, Hot Lips Page,^[9] Josh White, Art Tatum, Billie Holiday, Hazel Scott,^[7] and Coleman Hawkins.^[13][9] The opening night stars were the Cotton Club Parade, Stepin Fetchit, and Louis Armstrong.^[14] The Teddy Wilson orchestra was the house band.^[4]

The ballroom was the first site used by pastor Alvin A. Childs' ministry in Harlem.^[15]

The Golden Gate Ballroom also hosted community events such as political rallies^[7] and the "Miss Fine Brown Frame" beauty pageant^[16][17][18] and served as a roller skating rink.^[1]

Notes

1. Korall says it was on 135th Street.^[4] Kernodle says 140th street.^[7] Perhaps it spanned all of these?