The Skyliner Ballroom was a
nightclub located on Jacksboro Highway in
Fort Worth, Texas. It was opened in the late 1930s and operated until 1966. The Skyliner evolved over the years, hosting
big bands,
jazz,
burlesque
A burlesque is a literary, dramatic or musical work intended to cause laughter by caricaturing the manner or spirit of serious works, or by ludicrous treatment of their subjects. ,
blues
Blues is a music genre and musical form which originated in the Deep South of the United States around the 1860s. Blues incorporated spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts, chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads from the Afr ...
, and eventually
rock & roll
Rock and roll (often written as rock & roll, rock 'n' roll, or rock 'n roll) is a genre of popular music that evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It originated from African-American music such as jazz, rhythm an ...
acts.
History
The Skyliner Ballroom was opened by recording artist George Campbell and his partner Gene Hames who wanted to capitalize on the growing entertainment business in Fort Worth.
When it opened, the Skyliner was the largest dance hall in Fort Worth, with a capacity of 500.
The venue featured a mural of the Fort Worth skyline.
Popular local bands and national acts performed at the Skyliner such as Denny Beckner and Louis Armstrong.
The Skyliner entertained black and white audiences, but not on the same night.
In 1953, the venue was raided for "moral perversions" when authorities were notified that white men were performing with black women.
Hames and Campbell could not afford to continue operating the Skyliner, so they sold it to F. A. Florence, who eventually sold it to W. D. Satterwhite.
Satterwhite hired a cast of female impersonators called the Jewel Box Revue, which increased business. By 1954, Satterwhite sold the Skyliner to Jimmy Levens and his partner, Emmett Spinks. Levens hired strippers Sherry Lynn and Tammi True to entertain guests.
In 1964,
Ike & Tina Turner recorded their performance at the Skyliner (along with their show at Lovall's Ballroom in
Dallas), and the recordings were subsequently released as two volumes.
The Skyliner closed after Levens died in 1966. In 1969, the abandoned building was condemned by city inspectors and demolished.
Notable performers
*
Charlie Applewhite
Charlie Applewhite (November 25, 1932 – April 27, 2001) was an American singer and radio host. The height of his fame came as a regular on the Milton Berle show in the mid 1950s, and he became a highly-paid entertainer, performing on records, ...
*
Louis Armstrong
Louis Daniel Armstrong (August 4, 1901 – July 6, 1971), nicknamed "Satchmo", "Satch", and "Pops", was an American trumpeter and vocalist. He was among the most influential figures in jazz. His career spanned five decades and several era ...
*
Bruce Channel
*
Nick Lucas
*
Delbert McClinton
Delbert McClinton (born November 4, 1940) is an American blues rock and electric blues singer-songwriter, guitarist, harmonica player, and pianist.
From his first professional stage appearance in 1957 to his most recent national tour in 2018, ...
*
Moon Mullican
*
Sally Rand
*
Jimmy Reed
*
Ray Sharpe
*
Mitch Torok[{{Cite magazine, last=Sachs, first=Bill, date=April 13, 1963, title=Country Music Corner, url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fgsEAAAAMBAJ&dq=Skyliner+fort+worth+billboard&pg=PA22, magazine=Billboard, pages=22]
*
Ike & Tina Turner
*
Rudy Vallee
*
Howlin' Wolf
Live albums
* 1965: ''
Live! The Ike & Tina Turner Show'' –
Ike & Tina Turner
* 1967: ''
The Ike & Tina Turner Show – Vol. 2'' – Ike & Tina Turner
References
1966 disestablishments in Texas
Defunct nightclubs in Texas
Music venues in Texas
Culture of Fort Worth, Texas
History of Fort Worth, Texas