Monday, February 28, 2011

cloudland ballroom

I was visiting with my Aunty last week, this being my mother’s sister. She’s 13 years older than my mum to the day. The three of us were chatting, and seeing that I love to hear about ‘the old’n days’, we started to talk about various stuff.

The first being how rubbish used to be collected. I know, unlikely topic over a cup of tea and cake. My Aunty talked about how fit the rubbish collectors always were as they jumped over fences into each yard and ran the bins out to the trucks. I remember it too. My mother said that every Christmas they would leave a few tallies (big bottles of beer) for each garbage  man by the front door as a gift ... good ole beer.

The next topic was Cloudland. Well, you should have heard the girls … like two little birds in a nest.  Both of their faces lit up. Mum chirped on about who and how many gents used to ask her to dance and my Aunty tweeted about the atmosphere and how completely and utterly fabulous it was. This is it pictured below. Loving the palms lining the columns. If only I could find some colour shots.
It had chandeliers, hard timber floors, elegant curtains, domed skylights (as you can see above) and decorative columns. The Upper level had seating so you could watch down over the dance floor, this being another draw card for its popularity to hold concerts  … and a  handy viewing deck to spot potential beau's

What an enormous room 


I wish I could dance like that, how romantic, elegant and thrilling to be in the centre of that ballroom twirling around. Let me just daydream a sec ... so if i could jump back in time and hit that floor in the 50's I'm fairly certain that i would choose to look like this 


Wearing something along the lines of this
this
or this ... i'll have the car too
And dancing with a man that looked liked this
Who would then take me away to Paris so I could wear this
just had to work that last pick in ... love capes, and could Jon Hamm be any better looking? I don’t think so. Spunk Rat 220%!

Built in 1939-40, this magnificent piece of Brisbane history was originally named ‘Luna Park’ with the original intention of building a fun park to the side of it.  Built high on the hill at Bowen Hills, an ‘alpine railway’ was part of the design which would run up the hill from Breakfast Creek Road and would deposit passengers to the rear of the ballroom. With WWII breaking out, the premise was used as an American Military base and re-opened in 1947 as ‘Cloudland Ballroom’ and that is how it stayed until 1982.  I read that in 1948 Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh visited.

The Ballroom could be seen from various suburbs across Brisbane with the arch being illuminated at night. It was 18m tall. The ballroom was the host to thousands of dances and arguably the best ballroom and concert venue in the country. Buddy Holly being one of the main acts to grace it’s stage amongst many others.

It was also used for students to sit their Uni Exams for many years.

Although there were protests and strenuous calls for its preservation, Cloudland Ballroom was demolished by the notorious Deen Brothers in November 1982. The demolition took place despite there being no permit. It happened in the still of the night with not a word of warning.  By sunrise all that was left of this incredibly significent building was rubble.

The street’s were conjested and lined with destraught people who could not fathom that an icon could so quickly disappear.  

As people reminisce, they talk about a time when the street’s were safe to walk home. Women were wooed and courted, couples danced together, close, in unison with the music of the big band. If there’s one thing my Mother says as does my Aunty, it’s that those were the good years. The 50’s/60’s/70’s, were, simply put - the best. I wonder if people will feel that way about the 90's and 2000's? What's our icon?

10 comments:

  1. My mum had her first and blind date with my dad here and she like your mum and aunt could talk about cloudland till the cows come home. So sad it is gone. Ask your mum if she ever went to the kabana it was the first place to serve cappuccinos in brisbane in the 60's sadly it went in the late 80's too. I can see you in all those dresses xx katherine

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi There

      I have been reading through all these lovely entries reminiscing about Cloudland Ballroom, I am a singer, actor, entertainer and producer who is currently working on a show titled "Return to Cloudland Ballroom".

      You can follow the progress of it's development on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Return-to-Cloudland-Ballroom/250288061764007

      If you, or anyone you know is perhaps interested in coming along to experience Cloudland Ballroom as it was first hand.

      If you need any further info I can be contacted on:
      paul@phayman.com

      Delete
  2. Wow, what lovely vintage photographs of Cloudland. I wish so much those Deen Brothers never got their notoriously destructive hands on the place, what an amazing building it would be to visit today!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi There

      I have been reading through all these lovely entries reminiscing about Cloudland Ballroom, I am a singer, actor, entertainer and producer who is currently working on a show titled "Return to Cloudland Ballroom".

      You can follow the progress of it's development on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Return-to-Cloudland-Ballroom/250288061764007

      If you, or anyone you know is perhaps interested in coming along to experience Cloudland Ballroom as it was first hand.

      If you need any further info I can be contacted on:
      paul@phayman.com

      Delete
  3. Look on the bright side. Instead of magnificent Cloudland, we now have a block of very ordinary units to look upon. A definite improvement to our city scape. I think that was Joh's handywork too wasn't it?
    My god Don is magnificent! I could never tire looking at that man specimen.
    I asked my Dad, who's 80, which decade he has enjoyed the most. He said the 60s without even thinking about it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi There

      I have been reading through all these lovely entries reminiscing about Cloudland Ballroom, I am a singer, actor, entertainer and producer who is currently working on a show titled "Return to Cloudland Ballroom".

      You can follow the progress of it's development on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Return-to-Cloudland-Ballroom/250288061764007

      If you, or anyone you know is perhaps interested in coming along to experience Cloudland Ballroom as it was first hand.

      If you need any further info I can be contacted on:
      paul@phayman.com

      Delete
  4. The Deen Brothers were connected to so many more more magnificent buildings being demolished. And it absolutely was Joh's handywork. Ha, hmmm the units are so much more aesthetically pleasing...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi There

      I have been reading through all these lovely entries reminiscing about Cloudland Ballroom, I am a singer, actor, entertainer and producer who is currently working on a show titled "Return to Cloudland Ballroom".

      You can follow the progress of it's development on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Return-to-Cloudland-Ballroom/250288061764007

      If you, or anyone you know is perhaps interested in coming along to experience Cloudland Ballroom as it was first hand.

      If you need any further info I can be contacted on:
      paul@phayman.com

      Delete
  5. Another fascinating history piece here. Oh how wonderful it would be to turn back time... what a stunning building, and definitely a different era in fashion and fun!
    Donald Draper is 11/10.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi There

      I have been reading through all these lovely entries reminiscing about Cloudland Ballroom, I am a singer, actor, entertainer and producer who is currently working on a show titled "Return to Cloudland Ballroom".

      You can follow the progress of it's development on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Return-to-Cloudland-Ballroom/250288061764007

      If you, or anyone you know is perhaps interested in coming along to experience Cloudland Ballroom as it was first hand.

      If you need any further info I can be contacted on:
      paul@phayman.com

      Delete