Aragon Ballroom
This venue was located at 315 So. Fifth Street.
See Dreamland Dancing Pavilion.
By the Fall of 1934 the building was called the Aragon Ballroom, and remained so until at least New Year’s Eve 1935. The Aragon Ballroom Orchestra was broadcast over WTCN radio.
The Aragon was more of a venue for the small Minneapolis black community, as evidenced by ads for dances in the Minneapolis Spokesman. I will list the ones I found:
The Clover Leaf Club Presents Joe Billo and His Band: 12 Artists
Monday Nite, September 17, 1934
ARAGON BALLROOM (Formerly Acadia)
Come and Dance to One of the Nation’s Greatest Bands
THE BIG DANCE OF THE SEASON!
The Clover Leaf Club Presents Eli Rice and His Cotton Pickers
15 Superb Musicians and Entertainers
Next Monday Night, October 1, 1934 at ARAGON BALLROOM (Formerly Acadia) Everybody Will Be There!
Dance at the ARAGON (Opposite the Court House) Monday Night, June 17, 1935, Featuring The Harlem Play Girls – First Time Girls’ Band to appear in Minneapolis. Their Only and Last Appearance Before Leaving for Tour of the West Coast. Admission 40c Make up a Party!
Coming Monday Night, July 15, 1935 – Carroll Dickerson and His Orchestra, Direct from the Grand Terrace Cafe, Chicago. Also Recently Featured: 14 CBS Radio Artists at the ARAGON BALLROOM, MINNEAPOLIS
For First Time Hear and Dance to the Music of Earl Fraser and His Band at the Beautiful and Spacious ARAGON BALLROOM (formerly Arcadia) – Across from Court House. Monday Night, September 16, 1935. “Everybody Attends Dances at the Aragon” Come out, hear the newest and most sensational band in Northwest
Coming Monday Night, October 7, 1935: Walter Barnes and His Famous Royal Creolians (Chicago’s Favorite Band) ARAGON BALLROOM Biggest Dance of the Season Admission 50c
FITE-BAKER and their HARLEM HI-HATTERS
ORCHESTRA AND REVUE
FLOOR SHOW FEATURING BUDDY SHORT, VELDA SHANNON, CARROLL WATKINS 10 ARTISTS AND ENTERTAINERS
ARAGON BALLROOM Monday Evening, October 28, 1938.
Admission 50c
“The Event of the Season” Reese Martin presents
RED PERKINS and his Dixie Ramblers playing for a Dance at the ARAGON BALLROOM, Monday Night, November 25, 1935. Dancing 10 pm to 2 am. Four Thanksgiving Turkeys Given Away Free
BIG NEW YEAR’S EVE DANCE
Featuring Walter Erickson’s Red Hot Band at the Spacious ARAGON BALLROOM, 315 South Fifth Street
The first time in the Twin Cities that the colored people have been able to ssecurie such a lovely ballroom on a holiday. For reservation call Bridgeport 3519.
FAVORS GIVEN AWAY FREE Dancing from 9:30 to 4:30
COURT HOUSE GARAGE
From August 1936 to 1945 the building was used as a public storage garage.
HERTZ
In July 1945 the building was purchased by the Hertz Driv-Ur-Self System for $50,000. Hertz used it for storage and servicing its cars. Hertz intended to construct a second story and connect them with ramps, but permit records do not indicate that this was done, and postwar building material restrictions probably made this plan unworkable. The building was purchased from Mrs. Alice Strass/Straus Landers of St. Paul/Pasadena.
The building was demolished in October 1961.