Snapshots of History
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send your username and password to you.
The former Maloy Dance Hall in 2011.
I took this week’s picture on November 12, 2011. The building is the former Frank Carr dance hall and it is still standing.
The last I knew, Don Ray was the owner.
On June 17, 1931, a fire destroyed most of Maloy’s business district including the St. Mary’s Catholic Church. So, 1932 was a rebuilding year.
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church was started as were several other buildings. In July and August 1931 Frank Carr’s filling station and post office were constructed and that building still stands today.
I don’t know when the dance hall was built to the east of the filling station but I found an informative advertisement in the June 7, 1945 Record-News.
Carr’s Tavern & Hall would be open on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings for dining and dancing. The ad also boasts the hall was in possession of a “new Wurlitzer machine.”
The word “jukebox” was relatively new in 1945 but I have a 1940s matchcover from Frank Carr’s Hall advertising a “nickelodion” (nickelodeon). When no live band was present the jukebox provided the music.
But, there was plenty of live music.
An advertisement in a 1947 Record-News newspaper announces “Toby & his Ranch Hands” from KSIB Radio would be playing at Carr’s Hall on April 2nd.
Live bands performed at the hall until at least the late 1960s.
The Maloy Centennial Book says the hall closed in 1972 and I did see a couple of hospital admissions for Frank in 1972.
A Record-News ad announces a closing out sale on August 25, 1973 for Frank’s Grocery Store and Dance Hall. I don’t know who bought the buildings.
The loss of the dance hall created a void but live music dances were common by the mid-1970s.
I attended dances at the Grant City Skating Rink, the tavern at Blockton, The Alibi in Creston, The K-Bar-C in Lamoni, The Cellar in Mt. Ayr, and Caldwell’s Restaurant and Lounge north of Redding.
Many of those were short-lived but Carr’s Dance Hall was a Ringgold County staple for at least 25 years.
Frank passed away on April 17, 1987.
I’m in the process of collecting information on Johnny Warin’s gas and oil business career. I found a brief note that he bought his first station in October 1935.
The station was located halfway between the north and south junctions of Highways 2 and 25 on the Ringgold-Taylor County line.
I’m always accepting photo albums, scrapbooks, maps, manuscripts, yearbooks, etc. Thanks!
