Spanish Ballroom

Spanish Ballroom before 1950 (Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, Theodor Horydczak Collection, LC-H824-T-1690-015)

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Glen Echo Park Historical Buildings

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Since Glen Echo Park became a full-fledged amusement park in the early 1900s, there has always been a ballroom where the day’s most popular big bands performed and people danced the night away. The first ballroom was the 7,500-square-foot Crystal Ballroom.

Crystal Ballroom, Glen Echo, Maryland, ball room. Between 1923 and 1926. Image. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/npc2008012532/.

In 1933, the Crystal Ballroom was torn down and the Spanish Ballroom, reflecting the Spanish mission architecture that was popular at the time, was built in its place. The house bands of Paul Kain and Sammy Ferro played most nights, but national acts such as the Dorsey Brothers and Lawrence Welk also performed at Glen Echo. In 1954, the era of rock-n-roll was ushered in with Bill Haley and the Comets, and from 1959 until the early 1960s a weekly D. C. area dance show similar to American Bandstand was broadcast from the ballroom. And keeping with the times, when the popularity of social dancing waned, the ballroom was converted into a ride called Jungle Land, which operated from 1964 until the park closed in 1968.

Stage of the Spanish Ballroom

Spanish Ballroom Stage c. 1933-1947. Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, Theodor Horydczak Collection, LC-H824-T-1690-005

Spanish Ballroom (photo by Carla)

Spanish Ballroom c. 1940

The Spanish Ballroom was renovated in 2003 and now hosts public dances that are open to all ages. For the cost of admission you get a free lesson prior to the dance. Each night a different dance style is featured, such as blues, contra, swing, tango, salsa, and waltz. See the Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture’s Dancing at Glen Echo Park web page for the latest schedule. The ballroom can also be rented for private events. Call (301) 634-2233 for rental information.

Spanish Ballroom

Spanish Ballroom (Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, Theodor Horydczak Collection, LC-H814-T-1690-010)

Spanish Ballroom

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