Imagine Detroit in 1929. The Vanity Ballroom is designed by Charles N. Agree. It is a flamboyant venue. People socialize dance and hear music here.
The Vanity Ballroom quickly becomes a major venue. Bands from the 1930s and 1940s play here. Tommy Dorsey Jimmy Dorsey and Duke Ellington grace its stage. Benny Goodman Red Nichols and Russ Morgan also perform. Art Mooney Woody Herman and Pee Wee Hunt complete the star-studded lineup. The Vanity bills itself as Detroit’s most beautiful dance rendezvous.
The Vanity Ballroom Building stands at 1024 Newport Street. This is at Jefferson Avenue in the Jefferson-Chalmers Historic Business District. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Let’s talk about the Vanity Ballroom’s design. It is a two-story building. Originally it houses five retail shops on the first floor. The ballroom is on the second floor. The style is Art Deco with an Aztec or Mayan Revival theme. It measures 125 by 121 feet. The building is made of steel and reinforced concrete. It is faced with orange brick darker brick and cast stones. There is a three-sided entrance pavilion at the corner. The facades along Jefferson Avenue and Newport Street are nearly identical. Multi-paned windows on the second floor are flanked by pilasters. They are topped with Art Deco geometric designs. These designs echo those of the Aztecs.
Inside the Vanity Ballroom could host 1000 couples. It features a 5600-square-foot maple dance floor. A stage or bandstand stands ready for performers. A promenade lines three sides. The dance floor is built on springs. These springs compress under the weight of the dancers. This gives them a bounce as they move. The stage backdrop showcases a scene representing Chichen Itza.
Three of the retail shops had interiors designed by Agree. These interiors echo the Art Deco Aztec theme. Agree uses wood marble trim and terrazzo floors. However the exteriors of the first-floor stores have been substantially changed. Many Mayan elements have been torn off.
In its heyday the Vanity hosted huge crowds. Up to 1000 couples danced on the sprung maple floor. Patrons paid 35 cents to enter. They ascended a grand staircase. The ballroom transported them to an ancient Aztec temple.
The Vanity Ballroom also had theme nights. Wednesdays and Thursdays were stag nights. On Sundays up to 900 couples danced. They swayed to the music of Woody Herman Orchestra.
The Vanity is the sister of the Grande Ballroom. The Vanity catered to the city’s east side. The Grande lured those on the west side. Both were designed by Agree.
The Vanity Ballroom closed in 1958. It reopened in 1964 for one night a week. It was eventually shuttered. It played a small part in Eminem’s film 8 Mile in 2002. Despite this cameo it remains closed and dilapidated.
The Vanity is hurting yet salvageable. It remains the last intact ballroom of Detroit’s great dance halls. It has largely been spared the ravages of scrappers and vandals. Still its walls have crumbled in places. There is water damage and some paint has lost its luster. The dance floor is mostly intact. Most of its ornate Aztec features remain.
The renovation of the Vanity is the cornerstone. It is part of $121 million in rehab construction projects. East Jefferson is eyeing a $14 million rehab. The retail storefronts would be renovated and reopened. The developers are seeking community input. They want to know how to activate the second-floor ballroom. Ideas include co-working offices. They could also include access for residents to use the space. It could be used for fine arts or theater. The Vanity Ballroom may once again become a vibrant part of Detroit’s cultural scene.