File:Fire Hall Ballroom.jpg

Summary

About the 10,000 square feet ballroom at the firehouse, Sonny Cannon told the Washington Post in a feature story on Brunswick:

"All the big names have played here. Guy Lombardo played here 7 Easter Sundays in a row. Duke Ellington--you shoulda seen his face when he saw the size of this place.

Jimmy Dean played here every Saturday night for 2 years before he tied up with Connie Gay and made the big time.

You ought to come here on New Year's Eve. They all come up from Washington and Baltimore. We have 700 tables and still have a 40x90-foot dance floor. Where else can you have a good time for $5 on New Year's Eve?"

Karen Griffith-Seymou: don't forget Les Brown and his band of reknown

Connie Silliman: And Count Basie for sure. My parents and I never missed a big band dance. Love those times. Memories are grand!

Jake Castle: When we were kids, we would go see Jimmy Dean and patsy Clien. He and others would play for awhile and then it was time to move the chairs away and have a dance.

Patricia Moore Snoots: Boogie and I attended many dances there. When Jimmy Dean and his band played on Saturday night, Buck Ryan, Roy Clark and Jimmy would come down on the dance floor and participate in the "Paul Jones" dances. I have danced with all three numerous times!! What great memories!!