Dear haycreek-ga;
Thank you for allowing me an opportunity to answer your interesting question.
The Wigwam Dance Hall was located west of Beloit on Highway 81 and was
a popular dance spot offering music by bandleaders like Sammy Eggen,
Don Peachy and Dick Rogers during the height of the swing and big band
era.
BELOIT DAILY NEWS
http://www.beloitdailynews.com/1198/3hor10.htm
The building was listed for sale at least once, in 1946, by Lloyd Eldridge Agency.
BELOIT DAILY NEWS
http://www.beloitdailynews.com/596/twiw8.htm
According to this archived document from 1947 the dance hall continued
on. Either it didn?t sell or the new owners continued to operate it
the locally famous dance hall in the same manner.
?August 8, 1947
(Tuesday) Dancing parties are a regular Saturday night feature at the
Melody Mill south of Beloit on Highway 51, Barney's west of Janesville
on Highway 11, Loretta's north of Beloit on Highway 51, the Waverly
Ballroom at Waverly Beach in Beloit, the Moose hall in Beloit, and at
the Wigwam, west of Beloit on Highway 81?
BELOIT DAILY NEWS
http://www.beloitdailynews.com/897/twiw8.htm
Apparently, toward the end of the Big Band era the club ceased to
function but the final disposition of the building is unclear. What is
clear is that there were many, many people who had great memories from
that period in their lives and wanted to continue the fun and
friendships they had found for many years to come. As such, there is a
Wigwam Dance Hall reunion is held annually for the past 10 years at
the Red Barn located in Evansville for all those whose memories from
that time are still alive and well.
Not much exists in the way of recorded history about the place but the
oral history must be quite rich and interesting indeed so I recommend
that it where you turn and I?ve taken the liberty of finding someone
who I believe can share quite a bit of information about the dance
hall. The host of the annual reunion can be contacted using the
telephone number found at the bottom of this page. The person was out
at the time that I called but they undoubtedly know much more about
the club and its atmosphere from first-hand experience that any
document you will find on the internet:
BELOIT DAILY NEWS
http://www.beloitdailynews.com/1101/2hor8.htm
I hope you find that my research exceeds your expectations. If you
have any questions about my research please post a clarification
request prior to rating the answer. Otherwise I welcome your rating
and your final comments and I look forward to working with you again
in the near future. Thank you for bringing your question to us.
Best regards;
Tutuzdad-ga ? Google Answers Researcher
INFORMATION SOURCES
BELOIT DAILY NEWS ARCHIVE
http://www.beloitdailynews.com/
SEARCH STRATEGY
SEARCH ENGINE USED:
Google ://www.google.com
SEARCH TERMS USED:
WIGWAM, DANCE HALL, BIG BAND, SWING, REUNION, CLUB, BELOIT |
