The Savoy Ballroom

On March 12, 1926 the legendary Savoy Ballroom opened it's doors for the first time. Located at 596 Lenox Ave between 140th and 141st Streets in Harlem, New York, the ballroom took up one city block and could accommodate 4,000 people with two band stands, a pink interior, carpeted lounges, mirrored walls, colored lights and a spring loaded dance floor. During a year's time over 70,000 people would visit making an annual profit of $250,000 in it's peak years when admission was from 30 to 85 cents. The dance floor would have to be replaced every three years from the constant beatings from "Happy Feet". There were 90 permanent employees ranging from musicians, waiters, cashiers, administrative assistants and porters to tuxedo wearing bouncers and hostesses who would show you the latest dance steps.

The owners were white entrepreneurs Jay Faggen and a reputed gangster, Moe Gale and it was managed by African-American real estate businessman Charles Buchanon. Unlike many ballrooms of that era, the Savoy had a no-discrimination policy. On any given night the black/white ratio could be from 85% black/15% white to 50/50. People were judged by how well they danced and not by the color of their skin, a remarkable thing in pre-civil rights times.

The Savoy was the birthplace of the Lindy Hop (among many dance fads) and the northeast corner of the dance floor was dominated by the best dancers. To the people downtown it was known as the "Home of Happy Feet" but to the dancers of Harlem it was known as "The Track" because of the dance floor's elongated shape. It was the home of Whitey's Lindy Hoppers, the most celebrated dancers of the era, many of whom went on to professional careers on Broadway and in Hollywood.

Over 250 name and and lesser known bands played at the Savoy with house bands that included those lead by Fess Williams, Chick Web, Erskin Hawkins and Al Cooper's Savoy Sultans. The double band stand allowed for seamless, continuous music as one band took up where the other band left off. A huge draw was the "Battle of the Bands", the most famous being between Chick Webb's house band and Benny Goodman's band when they were both at their peak of popularity (Webb won).

The Savoy closed it's doors in 1958 and despite efforts to save it and the nearby Cotton Club, it was demolished to make way for a housing project.