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The Pavilion, also known as Edgewater according to legal documents, was originally built in 1918. The dance pavilion was the centre of the social scene in Alberta Beach for many years. In the early years, there was a screened in porch area around the hall, where spectators could watch the dancers and listen to the music of the band. In later years, windows replaced the screens. People who wanted to dance would pay their money and go inside. Jitney dancing was held on Sunday afternoons. Everyone loved the old hall. Parents could sit around the outside and supervise kids while they danced. There was a stone fireplace at one end of the pavilion and a fire was lit when needed.

There were many orchestras that played music at the pavilion over the years. Early dance orchestras were Teddy Richardson and Darrel Robertson. Chet Lambertson's band is mentioned quite often in the records and he must have played the pavilion often in the early years.

In 1937, the Jazznocrats Orchestra was featured. Joe Johnson's orchestra played between 1938 and 1946. They played at the Trocadero in Edmonton during winter. Joe paid the village $300 each year. In 1947, the rent was increased to $600. In 1945, records show that dances were held from June 30 to September 3, including 4 midnight frolics, held on May 24, July 1, the August civic holiday, and Labour Day. They really were a "midnight frolic" in that they started at 12:01 am. In 1945 it cost 50 cents to attend a dance. There were also Sunday night dances held for the children. Joe Johnson left the beach in the middle of the 1947 season and Bobby Roberts took over for the rest of the season. A long time resident of the Beach remembers that Joe Johnson offered to build the village a whole new dance hall in exchange for a 10 year contract to play during the summers. After the 10 years he would walk away and the village would have the dance pavilion. The Village turned down his offer and so Joe left to play at Lakeview on South Cooking Lake near Edmonton.

In 1948 John Barabash's Rhythm Ramblers Dance band was featured and in 1949 it was Gaby Haas. The village routinely received letters from orchestras wanting to play at the pavilion. In a 1949 application, one group states that the members have been playing together for some time and that they were all "nice decent boys from good homes". In 1949, Wes Van Duesen supplied phonograph records to play on nights when no band was in attendance. Albert Belcourt looked after these phonograph dances.

In 1950-51 Ray Meurin showed National Film Board films on Sunday evenings from July 1 to September 5. The village paid Ray $3 for each film to a maximum of $54 for the season - there was no charge to the public to attend. A generator was used to power the projector, as there was no electricity at the Beach yet. In 1950, Cyrus Grimes paid $650 to provide orchestra music and records indicate that he may have been here in 1951 too. In 1952, Russell Burrell's orchestra "Happy Russell and his Prairie Ramblers" were featured. In 1953, Stan Adams was to pay $600 for the term but he did not have a profitable season due to heavy rains and flooding so the rent was reduced to $500. In 1954, Clarence Tomlinson's orchestra of Onoway played in the Community Hall until the summer season. They continued for a number of years. There are no records to indicate which orchestras were playing between 1954 and 1962. In 1962 a petition was signed by rate payers to have the Nomads play that year.

The dances at the pavilion were a big draw for visitors to Alberta Beach. Young people from Edmonton would come out to the Beach just for the dances. They would camp at the campground, stay with friends, or rent a cabin.

Records are sparse but it is believed that the dance pavilion burned down in late summer of 1965 and it was deemed to have been arson. There is a statement in files dated August 30, 1965 from Mr. George Ethier of Alberta Beach to James Taylor Co. Insurance agents that provide an estimate of $23,865.02 to replace the pavilion. The dance pavilion was never replaced.

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Dance Pavilion
1915
Main Beach, Alberta Beach, Alberta, Canada
TEXT ATTACHMENT


Credits:
Alberta Beach & District Museum & Archives Society

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Train Visitors Picnicking in Front of Dance Pavilion
1919
Main Street, Alberta Beach, Alberta, Canada
TEXT ATTACHMENT


Credits:
Alberta Beach & District Museum & Archives Society

4

Alberta Beach Pier and Surrounding Businesses
1930s
Main Beach, Alberta Beach, Alberta, Canada
TEXT ATTACHMENT


Credits:
Alberta Beach & District Museum & Archives Society

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Dance Hall and Hotel
1939?
Alberta Beach, Alberta, Canada


Credits:
Alberta Beach & District Museum & Archives Society

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The Jazznocrats Orchestra
1937
Alberta Beach, Alberta, Canada
TEXT ATTACHMENT


Credits:
Alberta Beach & District Museum & Archives Society

7

Dance Hall As Viewed From the Beach
Alberta Beach, Alberta, Canada


Credits:
Alberta Beach & District Museum & Archives Society

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Alberta Beach Dance Pavilion
1950s
Main Street, Alberta Beach, Alberta, Canada
TEXT ATTACHMENT


Credits:
Alberta Beach & District Museum & Archives Society

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Getting Ready for the Dance Behind Rolley's Bakery
Alberta Beach, Alberta, Canada
TEXT ATTACHMENT


Credits:
Alberta Beach & District Museum & Archives Society

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Dance Hall and Bridge Across Main Street
Main Street, Alberta Beach, Alberta, Canada
TEXT ATTACHMENT


Credits:
Alberta Beach & District Museum & Archives Society

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Dancing at the Pavilion
1955
Main Beach, Alberta Beach, Alberta, Canada


Credits:
Alberta Beach & District Museum & Archives Society

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Dancing at the Pavilion
1955
Main Beach, Alberta Beach, Alberta, Canada


Credits:
Alberta Beach & District Museum & Archives Society