This is the dance floor of the Hollywood Palladium at 6215 Sunset Boulevard in 1943. On its star-packed opening night, October 31st, 1940, over 6,500 people enjoyed the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra and his lead vocalist, the soon-to-become-legendary Frank Sinatra. But god help you if you and your dance partner should ever be separated. You’ll never see each other again. Ever.
From my reading The Palladium dance palace was often referred to as “The Pally” and actually opened on October 1st, 1940. The manager was Maurice M. Cohen.
It was intended as a replacement spot for the Palomar Ballroom (which burnt down October 1939). The Pally was an upmarket dance spot supposedly with a capacity of 15,000 customers. Originally, the Palladium had a policy of no Afro-American or racially mixed bands.
“The Pally”?! I’ve never heard of that before!