The "Las Vegas" Ballroom: Opened February 6th, 1962.
In the 1960's this venue ROCKED....!!
Located on the Dublin Road, still there to-day, to the side of which once was the HI-WAY Ford Garage and Showroom,, the ballroom was built by Con Hynes from Portumna and opened on February 6th, 1962.
The names listed on the dance license application mentioned local Tuam musician Johnny Flynn, and his band did play the opening night. Like Con Hynes' other Las Vegas ballrooms, it was state of the art, of the time, and included the standard 4500 sq ft spring maple floor to the glee of many 1960's dancers.
The showband era split into pop and country factions and many ballrooms (including the Las Vegas) decided to go with country and was renamed The Country Club in 1970.
By 1973 the hall had been repurposed into a sports facility and was renamed the "Sports Centre". It continued to run dances though for a couple a years.
In 1975, the club was closed and refurbished and re-opened as the "new ballroom" called Club Amarillo.It continued under this name for 5 or 6 years, before the hotel, discos and supper dances came to prominence, and it became a snooker hall, which included a gaming license.
In 1982, the building went up for sale.
This building is trully an icon of a bygone era, of rocking loud entertainment, but to-day alas is steeped in loud silence, held in fond memory by many.
Located on the Dublin Road, still there to-day, to the side of which once was the HI-WAY Ford Garage and Showroom,, the ballroom was built by Con Hynes from Portumna and opened on February 6th, 1962.
The names listed on the dance license application mentioned local Tuam musician Johnny Flynn, and his band did play the opening night. Like Con Hynes' other Las Vegas ballrooms, it was state of the art, of the time, and included the standard 4500 sq ft spring maple floor to the glee of many 1960's dancers.
The showband era split into pop and country factions and many ballrooms (including the Las Vegas) decided to go with country and was renamed The Country Club in 1970.
By 1973 the hall had been repurposed into a sports facility and was renamed the "Sports Centre". It continued to run dances though for a couple a years.
In 1975, the club was closed and refurbished and re-opened as the "new ballroom" called Club Amarillo.It continued under this name for 5 or 6 years, before the hotel, discos and supper dances came to prominence, and it became a snooker hall, which included a gaming license.
In 1982, the building went up for sale.
This building is trully an icon of a bygone era, of rocking loud entertainment, but to-day alas is steeped in loud silence, held in fond memory by many.
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