Dreamland Ballroom has hosted an incredible array of musicians and performers in it 105 years on West 9th Street. The 1930s – 1950s featured some of its most iconic shows. Performers were local, regional, national, and international. Below you will find a very comprehensive list of these performers with their Dreamland Ballroom performance dates.
“I know, ‘cause I was there.”
Most of the records for these performances are found via newspaper articles from the Arkansas State Press, the black owned and operated newspaper that was printed next door to Taborian Hall. Other articles, as well as oral histories, contributed significantly to our knowledge of life on The Line. The dates provided are primarily from those that attended the event. Many of the oral histories give date ranges. Usually something like: ‘Oh, I saw Otis Redding in the summer of 1937 or ’38 … maybe it was earlier, in the Depression, 1932 or ’33 …” So, while these accounts are usually detailed and match other similar oral reports that confirm Otis Redding played in the Dreamland Ballroom, it is difficult to know the exact dates.
Pinpointing the venue
This list also only notes the performances that we know took place in Dreamland. Since the ballroom in Taborian Hall has the longest legacy of any other venue on West 9th Street, many of the accounts can be a little confused. Did they perform at the Dreamland or right across the street at the Flamingo Club ... or maybe it was down at the Mosaic Templars or the Gem Theatre or any of the other numerous small and medium size venues that came and went on 9th Street. Newspaper articles and ads show us that in the late ‘40s and ‘50s, a lot of black musicians were being booked at the Robinson Auditorium. A 9th Street promoter did most of the booking for Robinson at the time. For example, Ella Fitzgerald only played once in the Dreamland Ballroom but she came to Little Rock regularly throughout the 1940s playing at Robinson.
The Lengthy Musician List and Performance Dates
Duke Ellington – Appears in Dreamland in 1936 with several other performers: Fats Waller and W.C. Handy.
Miss Etta Motan, Noble Sissle, Andy Kirk, Chick Webb appear with lesser known artist in 1937.
Jimmie Lunceford – the played in 1937, 1940, 1941, 1945, 1946.
Cab Calloway – played in Dreamland in 1934 and 1937.
Johnny Otis and Little Ester – played in 1952.
B.B. King – Played Dreamland in both 1952 & ‘53 with Billy Harvey & Orch.
Louis Armstrong – brought his All Star Esquire Combo: Earl Hines, Sidney Catlet, Jack Teagarden, Barney Bigard, Arvel Shar & Velma Middleton, to Dreamland in 1949.
Etta James – Came to Club Morocco in 1956 with Floyd Dixon and Orch.
Sammie Davis Jr. – played the Dreamland Stage in approx. 1936.
Peg Leg Bates – played in Dreamland during the Depression years, exact year unknown, came back the Dreamland Stage in the early 1940s.
Red Foxx – performed in Dreamland in 1937. Oral histories suggest regular visits to 9th St for many years.
Ella Fitzgerald – plays in Dreamland in 1940 with Chick Webb and again in 1946 with Dizzy Gillespie & Orch.
Count Basie – played the Dreamland stage in 1940 with his Orch, James Rushing and Helen Humes. Again in 1942 for the Ninth St USO in Taborian. This time with Tiny Bradshaw, Erskine Harkins, Les Hite, Lucky Millinder, Noble Sissle, and Doc Wheeler.
Lil Green – 1947 - ’48 with Cornshucks & Johnny Otis, Roy Milton, Harlem Hep Cat Orchestra, Big Joe Turner, and Snookum Russell.
Sister Rosetta Tharpe – AR native, comes to Dreamland at the height of her career in 1942 touring with Lucky Miller and Orch. and Trevor Bacon. She played again in 1943 with Lucky, Trevor, The Ink Spots, and Peg Leg Bates.
Dizzy Gillespie – possibly played Dreamland 1940 but definitely in 1945 with this 18 piece Orch., Pattison & Jackson, June Echstine, and Lovey Lane. Also, in ’46 with Ella Fitzgerald.
Ida Cox – brought her Elaborate Road Show to the USO Dreamland in 1942 with her Darktown Scandals
Louis Jordan – played with Claude Trenier in the 9th St USO in 1942
Others that Played the Stage
Otis Redding
Al Hibbler
Sam Cook
Lightnin’ Hopkins
Willie Mabon
Pigmeat Markham
Albert King
T Bone Walker
Big Maybell Walker
Clarence Carter
Joe Simmon
Sonny Thompson
Tab Smith
Chuck Young
Roy Brown and His Mighty
Ruth Brown
Willis Jackson
Betty (Miss Blues) Ford
Joe Turner
Christene Henderson
Willie Johnson
Jimmie Liggins
Herman Manzy
Lewis and Parker
The Little Rockers
Chester Guyden
Shirley Lee with Roland Cook
Woody Herman and the Third Herd Orchestra
Jimmie Lofton
Satchel Mouth Baby
Atomic Mama
Groovie G
Just One More Drink
Erskine Hawkins
Cootie Williams
Jack McVea
Howling Wolf
Erksine Hawkins
Buck and Bill Douglas
Lionel Hampton
The Rockets
Harlan Leonard
Ike Barlett's Vamping Babies
Pha Terrell
Doctor Clayton
Andy Kirk and his 12
Clouds of Joy
June Richmond
Benny Carter
Keep Dreaming, Matthew
Our Mission: Friends of Dreamland celebrates the community of historic West Ninth Street, shares the legacy of Dreamland Ballroom, and preserves the original intent of Taborian Hall.