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In 1926, Port Stanley opened up what would become the largest and most famous dance hall in Ontario at the time, measuring 13,000-square-feet. The club was originally named the L&PS Pavillion, but renamed the Stork Club in the early 1950s. It was located at the other end of the boardwalk from Hopkin's Casino and built partially out over the water on pilings. The Stork Club opened its doors to the public on July 29th, 1926, with over 6,500 people in attendance to dance to The Vincent Lopez Band.
Being known as the “Coney Island of Canada,” Port Stanley’s beach offered several dance clubs, a Ferris Wheel, two carousels, a bowling alley, two theaters, restaurants, a swimming area with water slides, a penny arcade, miniature golf, and numerous games and refreshment stands along the stretch of boardwalk that led right to the Stork Club, where almost everyone would end up each night. The Stork Club was the place to be on hot summer evenings as the building’s large windows overlooking Lake Erie were usually open to let in the cool breeze. The focus in the creation of the Stork Club was to create exciting night life as a compliment to the sun, sand, and water activities that were popular at the time.
Being known as the “Coney Island of Canada,” Port Stanley’s beach offered several dance clubs, a Ferris Wheel, two carousels, a bowling alley, two theaters, restaurants, a swimming area with water slides, a penny arcade, miniature golf, and numerous games and refreshment stands along the stretch of boardwalk that led right to the Stork Club, where almost everyone would end up each night. The Stork Club was the place to be on hot summer evenings as the building’s large windows overlooking Lake Erie were usually open to let in the cool breeze. The focus in the creation of the Stork Club was to create exciting night life as a compliment to the sun, sand, and water activities that were popular at the time.
The Stork Club was famous for swing dance and attracted some of the biggest bands in North America at the time including; Count Basie, Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington, Guy Lombardo, Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman and, the last group to ever play at the Stork Club, Day Break. The band most closely associated with the Stork Club, however, was the Johnny Downs Orchestra, the house band through most of the 1950s. In an interview in 2003, Downs said: “I had always wanted to play Port Stanley because it had been Guy Lombardo’s hopping-off stop. We never found a better place than the Stork Club.”
The main swing and jazz bands of that era circled the great lakes in both the USA and Canada, particularly revolving around Lake Erie each summer attracting large crowds of people to their music.
Along with the big bands, came the big crowds. Port Stanley drew thousands of tourists each year from 1926-1979 to hear these Big Band stars. The largest crowd ever was 7000-plus on September 6th, 1950 for Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians
Admission in the Stork Club was 15 cents - except on Tuesdays and Thursdays, which were free for the ladies. The cover charge got them as far as the promenade around the hall, where they could lean on the rail and listen to the bands play, but couples had to pay an additional 5 cents per song to dance. However, signs were posted before each dance indicating what type of music it would be. Thus waltz fans, or those who preferred other types, could decide if they wanted to enter the floor or not.
Along with the big bands, came the big crowds. Port Stanley drew thousands of tourists each year from 1926-1979 to hear these Big Band stars. The largest crowd ever was 7000-plus on September 6th, 1950 for Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians
Admission in the Stork Club was 15 cents - except on Tuesdays and Thursdays, which were free for the ladies. The cover charge got them as far as the promenade around the hall, where they could lean on the rail and listen to the bands play, but couples had to pay an additional 5 cents per song to dance. However, signs were posted before each dance indicating what type of music it would be. Thus waltz fans, or those who preferred other types, could decide if they wanted to enter the floor or not.
The dance hall was completely refurbished over the 1973-74 winter only to have the last event a few years later; a performance by Day Break on New Year’s Eve 1978/79. Twelve days later, the famous Stork Club was set ablaze from a dumpster fire, damaging the building too heavily to save it, and the dance hall was never reconstructed. Not long after the fire, Johnny Downs and some of his friends stood on the charred stage and played a few numbers as a symbolic farewell to the Stork Club.
A group of Port Stanley residents who were regulars at the Stork Club wanted to help preserve the memory of the Stork Club. The group’s efforts resulted in the creation of a museum - the Stork Club Music and Memories Interpretive Centre was in downtown Port Stanley and housed a life size mural of the Johnny Downs Orchestra performing at the Stork Club, a white grand piano - believed to have once belonged to Guy Lombardo, and other big band memorabilia.
The Stork Club was a space to dance like nobody's watching and find your first love, including Johnny Downs, who met his wife on the boardwalk of the Stork Club. Unfortunately now all we can do is reminisce on the pictures and memories made at the Stork Club, and enjoy the fun times that were spent there.
The Stork Club was a space to dance like nobody's watching and find your first love, including Johnny Downs, who met his wife on the boardwalk of the Stork Club. Unfortunately now all we can do is reminisce on the pictures and memories made at the Stork Club, and enjoy the fun times that were spent there.
It was the time of my life, running the bulldozer in beach cleaning operations every morning at 7am, flipping burgers to performing in the Len Langley Big Band and New Society Orchestra's.
The McManus family followed us in trying to make it go for 2 years.
The Achilles heel to its failure ultimately was as follows:
Despite its incredible successes in the past which were fueled by the L&PS Railroad with folks riding the train from London & St Thomas - IT was pretty much the only game in town within the region since very few had vehicles to go to the beach.
Once everyone had an automobile or two many other options were there to choose from Grand Bend, Sauble Beach etc etc then add the drive factor after partying late at night ....liquor laws and driving.
Nevertheless, my takeaway was the rich experience of it all.... the original ticket stubs and autographed photos from worlds famous greats that became a part of its heritage -Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Woody Herman and many more to the more current (1969) Soul Brothers Six( Some kinda Wonderful) Bluesmen Review top London group ever so popular with Western U's Frosh Hops.
My relationship with big band leader Johnny Downs still continues today with his descendants.
As a matter of fact after we left the Stork Club, I continued performing at Johnny & Dorothys amazing Latin Quarter in London which unfortunately was since gobbled up by "progress" - a landmark never to be forgotten along with the Orchid in east London also a part of my genesis. BTW my website link includes many photos of The Stork Club's ticket stubs & photos and even some Latin Quarter yesteryear images.
I am very grateful for this article memorializing an ICON of a place at a simpler time of life in a wonderful area to live life and grow . Thank you so much Railway City & elgin County Archives
KUDOS !!
We cottaged in Port Stanley from 1958 and made it our home in 2017.
Still the same place on First Street right down from the ball park.
I have been lucky enough to meet your friend Bob Tribner. Prior to the pandemic, we played pool together every other Thursday.
If you ever get back this way (Bob tells me every now and then) it would be great to catch up. We were kids back then, but did we ever have a lot living in Port. Top off the end of the week with baseball on Sunday at 2:00 the old park. Cheers
My grandfather, Dennis Stone, was a bandleader in Toronto in this era and I'm curious if he ever was a guest bandleader at the Stork Club.
Is there a website or archive I can search that indicates all of the bandleaders that played there?
Thank you.
https://goo.gl/photos/jM7J1JQDxxGWg5Ma8
Jerry, member of the LJO
I remember awakening to the smell of dead fish, running barefoot across a stony and sandy beach, avoiding dead fish, building sand castles, playing tag, eating hot dogs, fries, popcorn and orangeade at Mackie's and being lulled to sleep by the sounds of the big bands.
On the 28th of September I'll be returning for a brief visit with my family including 3 young grandsons, planning to make more memories.
Thanks for sharing. Jo-Anne Lake
When at uwo they had a year end bash there
Who were some of the singers and bands ?
Ronnie Hawkins?