Dreamland Ballroom

Title

Dreamland Ballroom

Description

The Dreamland Ballroom was located on the second floor of the Jewell building at 2221 North 24th Street. This ballroom in the heart of North Omaha was a popular venue for many jazz musicians and the Dreamland Ballroom held some of the greatest acts during its hayday in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s until its closing in 1965. Many of these acts included Louis Armstrong, The Count Baise Band, Preston Love Sr., Dizzy Gillespie, and Anna Mae Winburn and The International Sweethearts of Rhythm, just to name a few! The Dreamland Ballroom was known to be one of the best places to see live jazz music in Nebraska.

This collection of images includes publicity shots of several bands and musicians that performed at the Dreamland Ballroom, and photographs of the performances and the auidence members enjoying the music. These images portray the essence of the Dreamland Ballroom and its importance to the music scene of North Omaha. This collection was contributed at the 2011 North Omaha History Harvest.

Source

Dreamland Ballroom, North Omaha History Harvest, 2011

Rights

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Collection Items

The Clovers, 1954
This is a publicity shot for The Clovers, a popular jazz band who played the Dreamland Ballroom in 1954. Native Omahan, Preston Love, Sr.'s band played backup for The Clovers at the dance that night. For interviews and oral histories of this and…

Ruth Brown, circa 1949
Ruth Brown, a popular jazz , pop and R&B musician, shown here performing at the Dreamland Ballroom, ca. 1949. Ruth Brown was one of many popular musicians to play at the Dreamland Ballroom during the 1940s and 1950s.

The Lucky Millinder Orchestra, circa 1948
This photograph shows The Lucky Millinder Orchestra performing popular Big Band and jazz music at the Dreamland Ballroom, ca. 1948. Performances such as The Lucky Millinder Orchestra drew large crowds at The Dreamland Ballroom during the 1940s and…

Anna Mae Winburn and The International Sweethearts of Rhythm
Former Omahan, Anna Mae Winburn, standing right in this photograph, leading The International Sweethearts of Rhythm. The International Sweethearts of Rhythm performed their jazz and Big Band hits at The Dreamland Ballroom during the 1940s.

Woman standing outside of The Dreamland Ballroom
An unidentified woman standing outside of The Dreamland Ballroom located at 2221 North 24th Street in Omaha, Nebraska. The Dreamland Ballroom was located on the second floor of the Jewel Building and was a popular music venue during the 1940s and…

Anna Mae Winburn
This is a head-shot of Anna Mae Winburn, a former resident of North Omaha, who was the lead singer for the girls' group, The International Sweethearts of Rhythm. The International Sweethearts of Rhythm performed their jazz and Big Band hits at The…

Walter Barnes, "Chicago's King of Dance Rhythm" and the Royal Creolians
This photograph of Walter Barnes shown with a clarinet, was known as "Chicago's King of Dance Rhythm." He performed at venues like The Dreamland Ballroom with his "nationally famous" Royal Creolians.

Preston Love Sr. and his Orchestra, 1954
This is a photograph of native Omahan Preston Love, Sr. and his Orchestra in 1954. In 1954 they played backup for the popular jazz band, The Clovers, at The Dreamland Ballroom in North Omaha.

James Moody, 1948
This is a photograph of James Moody playing tenor sax with the Dizzy Gillespie Band at the Dreamland Ballroom in 1948. The Dizzy Gillespie Band, and other popular jazz and big band musicians brought a large crowds to The Dreamland Ballroom in North…

A couple dancing to the music of Big Jay McNeely and his band
A couple swing dance to the music of Big Jay McNeely and his Band while they performed at the Dreamland Ballroom in 1952. The Dreamland Ballroom located in the heart of North Omaha was a music venue that provided an opportunity for many couples to…
View all 31 items