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THE BIG PAVILION - EARLY YEARS
In last winter
installments of the Big Pavilion story we recounted the plans, the whirlwind
construction and the grandiose opening in July 1909. By early 1910 it was
revealed the owners had built the place with shoestring financing and unpaid
lien holders were ready to force bankruptcy. But with confidence inspired by
the first summers success, more capital was obtained and the owners sailed
into the future loaded with optimism.
The Big Pavilion was on a run – built at the right time, in the right place,
an awesome dance hall with big city orchestras, brand new electric lighting
(colors even), and most importantly, eager customers looking for a good
time. For a small admission charge gawkers and hopeful wallflowers could
watch from seats behind the railing. Dancers bought tickets for eight cents
each or seven for fifty cents. Deac Weed and Frederick Limouze – managers,
part owners and masters of cermony – ran the operation and the dance floor.
Unattached males and females in particular were subjected to strict house
rules of decorum. Dancing partners had to maintain a “proper” distance.
Buttoned suit coats were a requirement. On busy nights, the length of each
dance was monitored by Weed with a stopwatch.
The Commercial Record reported: “Crowds are great. The crowds
continue to increase at the big pavilion and special cars (Interurban) bring
large numbers from Holland and the Black Lake (Lake Macatawa) resorts nearly
every evening especially on nights when special features are presented. Last
week Wednesday there were 1800 paid admissions and this week Wednesday fully
as many.”
Innovative and new entertainment schemes were devised. Theme dances and
parties were favorites. Prizes were plentiful for winners. On the floor in
front of the stage were painted numbers used at special dances. When the
music stopped dancers would rush - ala musical chairs - to get a number.
Popular parties were the annual Farm and Barn Party, Mardi Gras night,
Ticklish Party (feather ticklers for all) and the Pajama Party.
In 1912 the first movies came to Saugatuck in the form of open air arcades
and by 1913 the Pavilion had its own on the south end beyond the dance
floor. This was the beginning of a love affair between the public and the
Pavilion Movie Theater that was to last for half a century. Eventually the
building was extended to include a theater that could seat hundreds and
showed a new feature every night. In 1918 the building was repainted red
with white trim and lights highlighting the towers, doors and windows. This
color scheme remained the trade mark for the entire life of the building.
There were six flag poles – two on the roof and one on each tower.
In 1927 with the radio craze sweeping the county, a radio broadcasting
station was installed to pick up and broadcast dance floor music. Music live
from the Big Pavilion was a show carried by many new stations.
More Big Pavilion is on the way. Stay tuned.
by Jack Sheridan
My thanks to
Kit Lane and her book “Saugatuck’s Big Pavilion:
The Brightest Spot on the Great Lakes”.
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