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Show vwexeevt “THE OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Page 9 February 1, 2005 Dancing at the White City Ballroom By Jerry Harrop On November 20, 1928 an ad ran “Candy Dance tonight. Candy and jelly beans free to everyone attending. Admission 25 cents. WHITE CITY GARDENS. Carnival and grand Opening of our New Ballroom Saturday.” The following Saturday an ad stated: “Gala Opening tonight. New ballroom, Utah’s largest. Plenty of room, a big night—free noisemakers & serpentine. Admission 35 cents. White City Gardens. Home of the Happy Crowd.” The Peery Estate ran the very popular and impressive White City Ballroom located on 25th Street between Washington Boulevard and Adams Avenue in Ogden. Another ad in Entertainers and Smiling Mel Little and his ang of 12 artists. Featuring Mel and Bud on their new Squeeze boxes. Two super ballrooms, two super bands. Plenty of room for 000.” An ad for the rival Berthana Ballroom (24th Street between Kiesel Avenue and Grant Avenue) said, “We lead. Chas, Lockwood and His Enlarge Orchestra. Dance with the Crowd.” Local musicians formed bands that played at the White City. On one occasion trumpeter Otto Larsen took time off for a vacation and Les Johnson, who played bass horn, suggested to the band leader Olie Reeve that Vern Harrop be asked to play. Vern was kept on permanently. Vern and his wife Madeleine Marriott Harrop lived at 311 Ogden Canyon for nine years from 1934 to 9. The band played Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays with a high school or church dance on Friday. Eventually, Olie’s band was retired and the Byron A. oe Orchestra was hired. They alternated the Oscar Browning Band. Vern San played trumpet in each of these bands. Additional musicians in the dance orchestras who played at the White City were Delbert Marriott, guitar/drummer; Earl Butters and Ray Yeamon, trumpeters; Billy Yeamon, trombonist; Vern Youngman an Aud DeBloois, Saxophonists; Ed Berry, organist; Maurice Campbell, bass violinist; Byron Knapp, drummer; George Turnquist, pianist; and Charles Letts, Pete Lashes, and Burney Hutchinson. A variety of Weber County residents who danced at the White City reminisce. Marline Martinson Povey recalls times that she and her future husband Leon Povey danced at the White City. Leon was taking trumpet lessons from Vern Harrop. One time the national bandleader Stan Kenton came to Ogden to play at the White City. He brought a small group of his musicians and then hired locals to expand the instrumentation. Vern was asked to play that night with the Stan Kenton Band. Vern telephone Leon and asked him to come too, and Leon sat in ona number of pieces. Dee Sparrow of Roy remembers other national paride playing there—Jan Garber, Tommy Dorsey, and Jack Teagarden. Local bands were “at the ready” to play if for some reason the national band did not arrive. Norma Taylor Brown of Ogden said, “It was such a big, beautiful dance hall. We would go as a group of girls, or I might go with one of my good friends—Florence Smith Mumford of Huntsville. “These were just the best days. There was no drinking and no problems. Everyone WHITE CITY cont. on page 10 Historical Photo |e 4 ae White City Ballroom Orchestra members- October 28, 1938 Back row: George Turnquist, Maurice Campbell, Vern Harrop, Oscar Browning, Byron Knapp, Unknown, Charles Letts. Front row: Unknowns, Aud DeBloois last man. If you can identify any of the unknowns, please call Shanna Francis at 745-2688 or Jeannie Wendell at 745-2879. Photo courtesy of Jerry Harrop of Ogden. Byron Knapp Orchestra on bandstand at night- March 7, 1938 Back row: Delbert Marriott, drummer; Maurice Campbell, bass violinist; Vern Harrop, Earl Butters, unknown, trumpeters. Front row: George Turnquist, pianist; three unknown women, Aud DeBloois, saxophonist; Byron Knapp, band leader; Ed Berry, organist. Photo courtesy of Jerry Harrop of Ogden. The OGDEN VALLEY NEWS is looking for Ogden Valley and Ogden Canyon historical biographies, stories, and photos to use in its publication. Please mail, email, or call Shanna at 745-2688 or Jeannie at 745-2879 if you have material you would like to share. St. Florence Catholic Community | Sauna oi aoe Sam. Phone: 745 - LORD Huntsville, Utah 10:1 WEEKDAY MASS: Tuesday: 6:30 p.m. followed by The Rosary Sy PASTORAL ADMINISTRATOR: - Fr. Charles Cummins 399-9531 » Byron Knapp Orchestra taken in daytime (Dance #5) - circa 1938 Back row left to right: Maurice Campbell, bass violinist; Byron Knapp, band leader (drummer); Vern Harrop, trumpeter, unknowns, George Turnquist,pianist; Delbert Marriott, guitarist; Aud DeBloois, saxophonist; unknnowns; Ed Berry, organist. Photo courtesy of Jerry Harrop of Ogden. Come celebrate with RECONCILIATION: 30 minutes before Mass us God’s good news. Intersection of Highway 39 & Snowbasin Road Ogden Symphony Ballet ssociation Ballet West's e resents Cinderella fh Friday & Saturday, February 25 & 26 7:30 p.m a. Val A. Browning Centnier Weber State University i Ticket Prices: $14, $20, $26, $32, $35 It's glass slipper meets musical pointe eAUTO ACCIDENTS °SPORTS INJURIES shoe in this magical production of Cinderella. Set to Sergif Prokoriev’ * CORRECTIVE Ss * WALK-INS believing in magic long before the stroke of midnight. EWS BOK Is ICL lar tickets and information call wincsymphonyballetorg CARE WELCOME LOCATED IN EDEN, NORTH OF, VALLEY, MARKET,»2580 NORTH, Hwy,162 |