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{{Infobox NRHP
| name = Surf Ballroom
| nrhp_type =
| nrhp_type2 =
| designated_other1_name = Historic Rock and Roll Landmark
| designated_other1_abbr = HRRL
| designated_other1_color =
| designated_other1_link = Historic Rock and Roll Landmark
| designated_other1_date = January 27, 2009
| partof =
| partof_refnum =
| image = Surf Ballroom Feb 1988.JPG
| image_size = 250
| alt =
| caption = The Surf as it looked 29 years and a few days after "The Day the Music Died".
| locmapin = Iowa
| map_label =
| map_width = 235
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
| lat_degrees = 43
| lat_minutes = 8
| lat_seconds = 24
| lat_direction = N
| long_degrees = 93
| long_minutes = 23
| long_seconds = 22
| long_direction = W
| coord_parameters = region:US_type:landmark
| coord_display = inline,title
| coord_format = dms
| location = [[Clear Lake, Iowa]]
| area =
| built = 1948
| builder =
| demolished =
| restored =
| restored_by =
| architect =
| architecture =
| visitation_num =
| visitation_year =
| mpsub =
| governing_body = Private
| sigdate1_label =
| sigdate1 =
| added = September 6, 2011<ref name=weekly>[http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/listings/20110916.htm Weekly List Of Actions Taken On Properties: 9/06/11 through 9/09/11]</ref>
| designated_nrhp_type =
| designated_nrhp_type2 =
| refnum = 10000261
}}

The '''Surf Ballroom''' (the Surf) is a [[Historic Rock and Roll Landmark]] at 460 North Shore Drive, [[Clear Lake, Iowa|Clear Lake]], [[Iowa]]. The Surf is closely associated with the event known colloquially as "[[The Day the Music Died]]" - early [[rock and roll]] stars [[Buddy Holly]], [[Ritchie Valens]], and [[The Big Bopper|J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson]] gave their last performances at the Surf on February 2, 1959 as part of the "Winter Dance Party Tour".

On September 6, 2011, The Surf Ballroom was added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name=weekly/>

==History==
The original Surf Ballroom opened on 17 April 1933.<ref>"Opening Night Dance: Easter Monday April 17th," Mason City (IA) Globe-Gazette, 11 April 1933. Many sources incorrectly give its opening as 1934.</ref> It burned down on 20 April 1947 at an estimated loss of $250,000.<ref>"Dance Hall at Clear Lake, Iowa Burns," Winona (MN) Republican-Herald, 21 April 1947</ref> On 1 July 1948 it reopened,<ref>"Announcing the New Surf Ballroom," Mason City (IA) Globe-Gazette, 30 June 1948</ref> having been rebuilt across the street from its original location.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.surfballroom.com/about.html|publisher = www.surfballroom.com|title= Surf Ballroom & Museum|accessdate = 2011-02-03}}</ref> It still hosts numerous events year round and has a [[seating capacity]] of 2,100 and a {{convert|6300|sqft|m2|adj=on}} dance floor.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.surfballroom.com/surf_history.html|publisher = www.surfballroom.com|title= Surf History|accessdate = 2011-02-03}}</ref> The facility includes a museum of music memorabilia, a Wall of Fame including many of the many famous artists who performed at the venue, and a souvenir shop.

The Surf Ballroom is currently owned by the Snyder family of Clear Lake and is open to the public daily. The exterior of the ballroom has changed very little since the 1950s. Backstage, in an area known as "''The Green Room''," acts that have performed on the ballroom's historic stage, such as [[Little River Band]], [[Loverboy]], [[The Righteous Brothers]], [[The Temptations]], [[The Beach Boys]], [[Waylon Jennings]] and [[Bobby Rydell]] have signed their names on the whitewashed walls, as well as have had photos of themselves placed on a wall alongside those of early rock-and-roll pioneers.

The [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum]] designated the Surf Ballroom a historical landmark on January 27, 2009. The ceremony giving landmark status to the site kicked off a week-long celebration of the 50th anniversary of the February 2, 1959, "Winter Dance Party" concert and the tragic incident of February 3, 1959.<ref>"Surf Ballroom Recognized", Mason City (IA) Globe Gazette, Peggy Senzarino, Thursday, January 29, 2009</ref>

==The Day the Music Died==
{{Main|The Day the Music Died}}
Holly, Valens and Richardson left The Surf immediately after the show, going to the nearby [[Mason City, Iowa|Mason City]] airport and chartering a small plane to take them to [[Fargo, North Dakota]] to prepare for their next show at the Moorhead Armory in [[Moorhead, Minnesota]].<ref>Minneapolis Star/Tribune January 25th, 2009</ref> The plane took off at 12:55 AM Central Time on Tuesday February 3, 1959. Shortly after takeoff, the plane crashed killing everyone aboard.

A concrete monument was erected outside The Surf, and the ballroom is adorned with large pictures of the three musicians. A street flanking the facility's east property line is named Buddy Holly Place in his honor.

==Winter Dance Party Tribute Event==
Each February since the 1979, the Surf Ballroom hosts a "Winter Dance Party" tribute show to honor the lives and legacies of the three stars.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.surfballroom.com|publisher = www.surfballroom.com|title= Winter Dance Party|accessdate = 2011-02-03}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.surfballroom.com Official website]

{{Music venues of Iowa}}

[[Category:Buildings and structures in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa]]
[[Category:Iowa culture]]
[[Category:Music venues in Iowa]]
[[Category:Commercial buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Iowa]]
[[Category:Historic Rock and Roll Landmarks]]

Revision as of 16:11, 24 September 2015

Surf Ballroom
The Surf as it looked 29 years and a few days after "The Day the Music Died".
Surf Ballroom is located in Iowa
Surf Ballroom
LocationClear Lake, Iowa
Built1948
NRHP reference No.10000261
Significant dates
Added to NRHPSeptember 6, 2011[1]
Designated HRRLJanuary 27, 2009

The Surf Ballroom (the Surf) is a Historic Rock and Roll Landmark at 460 North Shore Drive, Clear Lake, Iowa. The Surf is closely associated with the event known colloquially as "The Day the Music Died" - early rock and roll stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson gave their last performances at the Surf on February 2, 1959 as part of the "Winter Dance Party Tour".

On September 6, 2011, The Surf Ballroom was added to the National Register of Historic Places.[1]

History

The original Surf Ballroom opened on 17 April 1933.[2] It burned down on 20 April 1947 at an estimated loss of $250,000.[3] On 1 July 1948 it reopened,[4] having been rebuilt across the street from its original location.[5] It still hosts numerous events year round and has a seating capacity of 2,100 and a 6,300-square-foot (590 m2) dance floor.[6] The facility includes a museum of music memorabilia, a Wall of Fame including many of the many famous artists who performed at the venue, and a souvenir shop.

The Surf Ballroom is currently owned by the Snyder family of Clear Lake and is open to the public daily. The exterior of the ballroom has changed very little since the 1950s. Backstage, in an area known as "The Green Room," acts that have performed on the ballroom's historic stage, such as Little River Band, Loverboy, The Righteous Brothers, The Temptations, The Beach Boys, Waylon Jennings and Bobby Rydell have signed their names on the whitewashed walls, as well as have had photos of themselves placed on a wall alongside those of early rock-and-roll pioneers.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum designated the Surf Ballroom a historical landmark on January 27, 2009. The ceremony giving landmark status to the site kicked off a week-long celebration of the 50th anniversary of the February 2, 1959, "Winter Dance Party" concert and the tragic incident of February 3, 1959.[7]

The Day the Music Died

Holly, Valens and Richardson left The Surf immediately after the show, going to the nearby Mason City airport and chartering a small plane to take them to Fargo, North Dakota to prepare for their next show at the Moorhead Armory in Moorhead, Minnesota.[8] The plane took off at 12:55 AM Central Time on Tuesday February 3, 1959. Shortly after takeoff, the plane crashed killing everyone aboard.

A concrete monument was erected outside The Surf, and the ballroom is adorned with large pictures of the three musicians. A street flanking the facility's east property line is named Buddy Holly Place in his honor.

Winter Dance Party Tribute Event

Each February since the 1979, the Surf Ballroom hosts a "Winter Dance Party" tribute show to honor the lives and legacies of the three stars.[9]

References

  1. ^ a b Weekly List Of Actions Taken On Properties: 9/06/11 through 9/09/11
  2. ^ "Opening Night Dance: Easter Monday April 17th," Mason City (IA) Globe-Gazette, 11 April 1933. Many sources incorrectly give its opening as 1934.
  3. ^ "Dance Hall at Clear Lake, Iowa Burns," Winona (MN) Republican-Herald, 21 April 1947
  4. ^ "Announcing the New Surf Ballroom," Mason City (IA) Globe-Gazette, 30 June 1948
  5. ^ "Surf Ballroom & Museum". www.surfballroom.com. Retrieved 2011-02-03.
  6. ^ "Surf History". www.surfballroom.com. Retrieved 2011-02-03.
  7. ^ "Surf Ballroom Recognized", Mason City (IA) Globe Gazette, Peggy Senzarino, Thursday, January 29, 2009
  8. ^ Minneapolis Star/Tribune January 25th, 2009
  9. ^ "Winter Dance Party". www.surfballroom.com. Retrieved 2011-02-03.

External links