PAUL VERNON CHESTER

Manouche Maestro

Django in Lincoln - Pla Mor Ballroom?

but was it Kansas City or Nebraska for the Pla Mor Ballroom - conflicting info out there.

Well, I've tried to find the answer, as it is confusing, but Django actually played both cities in 1946.  The pictures you show are from the Kansas City Pla-Mor ballroom.  Living in Kansas City for most of my life, I can confirm that as fact.  In fact I lived about 2 blocks away.  In the '70s before it was called 'Freedom Palace', and a lot of rock acts of the day played there as well.  I saw BB King open for The Who.  Of course, by that time, it was far from it's glory days.  The Pla-Mor in Lincoln was not very helpful in getting info about their history. Maybe, no one saved anything from those years.  Still, if I get up that way, I'll see what I can find in the library archives.  Somewhere in my research files, I have an ad for the concert that appeared in the Kansas City Star for that date.  I'll see if I can find it and scan it, if you're interested.  Thanks for your web info, enjoying it.-

Pla Mor KC

15th November 1946

Lincoln show - Lincoln had six big ballrooms and one was operated by Will Wittig: the "PLA-MOR". After Duke Ellington passage, Wittig declared that he will no more book big names for concerts as he only grossed $3.700 when Duke played there.

Another operator of the same area that booked Duke for the Kansas City concerts said that Duke played twice grossing $3.800 for a concert (with Django) but he added that he grossed $5.600 the following day for dance with the same orchestra (probably without Django).

The lack of radio promotion was one of the reasons why the concerts were not crowded, in the same area (Des Moines) the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra netted $9.500 with a good pre-advertising through radio and newspapers.

Pla Mor KC

the Pla-Mor Ballroom was considered for blacklisting by the Musicians Union for an 'racist' attack on Cab Calloway, who was attempting to enter the ballroom to visit his buddy, Lionel Hampton. The door ticket taker was a KC off-duty policeman, and refused to admit him and his buddy because, it was 'whites-only'. Even though, Cab told him who he was and that he was there at the invitation of Lionel. The disagreement gave way to pushing, shoving, cussing, and eventually Cab was pistol whipped and arrested. I did find an article on that event, but not much on Django's visit except the ad for the Nov. 17, 1946 date, and the lone review which did not mention 'Diango'. (That's the spelling used in the both ads.)

Located at Linwood and Main, the Pla-Mor Ballroom was part of an entertainment complex which included a hockey arena, swimming pool, bowling alleys, a roller skating rink and a baseball diamond. Known as the "million dollar ballroom," the Pla-Mor opened Thanksgiving, November 23, 1927, to the music of the 16-piece Jean Goldkette Orchestra.

The Pla-Mor was lushly appointed with carpets and velour drapes. It boasted a 14,000-square-foot, spring-loaded dance floor that could accommodate 3,000 dancers.

Django at the Pla Mor with L5 Gibson

The Pla-Mor featured legendary artists such as Duke Ellington with Django Rhinehardt and the best known radio and recording bands including Glen Gray, Jan Garber, Jimmie Lunceford, George E. Lee, Count Basie and Andy Kirk. Legend has it that Hoagy Carmichael introduced "Stardust" while a member of the Pla-Mor's house band.

The Pla-Mor closed after one last dance on June 14, 1957.  The Pla-Mor was then converted into the seventh largest bowling alley in the nation. The bowling alley closed in 1966. In 1970 the building became Freedom Palace, a rock venue that featured national touring acts including the Who and Canned Heat. The Pla-Mor was demolished March 31, 1972

This picture is claimed as Paris 1945 but more likely in the USA 1946 with Gibson ES300 Guitar Is that an easel with Django's painting of a reclining female?

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Last modified: 13/09/2011