This Ballroom was Built for Dancing!
Hit the
SCHEDULE
button for
more Band listings
Wilma with good friends, Marge, Judy, & Helen
We are in the middle of corn fields.
We are 2 miles south
& 2 miles west of
Woodward
(1 mile South of Hwy 141 from the North Side)
A little over 2 miles west of Hwy 141
from the East side)
72 Years for Wilma
with the Ballroom.
Wilma married Pete Bess
in 1944. (Previous owners.)
.... but She started
dancing at the Ballroom
in '37 or '38 In her
high school years.
(that's 79 years)
............................................................
We are so sorry to lose some more of
our old friends & dancers.
Ray Duffee 2/23/14
Jean Zmolek 3/30/14
Dave Barnes 5/15/14
Margaret Lee 5/18/14
Coloma (Kip) Shannon 6/21/14 (our ticket Lady)
Max Wheelwright 6/28/14
Joseph Book 7/30/2014
Evelyn Dagnillo 9/16/14
Rhonda Armstrong 11/28/14
We heard Everett Boyer
passed away in June 2019
What a great lost. His first job with his band was at Lake Robbins. He told me he was always greatful to Wilma for given his band a chance.
His band was always one of the favorites at the Ballroom. We sure have missed his wonderful music.
RESERVATIONS
We do take reservations
On regular dances you may call in or let us know. We do not guarantee a certain table but will try to get you close to the area you like.
We have employees taking reservations all the time & sometimes the table may already be spoken for & we're not aware of it.
Reservations are 1st come 1st serve bases.
Some of our regular dancers have favorite tables
& have let the waitresses know they are coming.
They usually get the same table all the time.
On Special Events (Some events we do NOT take reservations)
There are no regular tables. If you want a table you need to reserve. We need to know you are coming. It is 1st to reserve gets the table. So if you have a favorite it is best to reserve early. (Weeks ahead).
Some special events are reservations only with advanced tickets. The day before or day of
will not get you close to the dance floor.
My dancers reserve early to get the best tables.
We are trying hard to be fair with reservations & we have had some big screw ups & we're sorry it happened. Please be patient we are trying to make it better. We have had some big nights, but we have never ran out of room. So please don't let not having a reservation stop you from coming. We will find you a table.
We are so sorry to lose
more Friends
Al Godfredsen 2/6/15
Pinky Redman - 2/17/15 Al Welsh Orchestra's drummer for 60 years.
Del Martin 1/2015
Helen Cunningham 11/18/2014
Johnny Saunders 2/8/2015
Gary Grant 2/20/2015
Vince Morris 2/21/2015
Eleanore Meier 8/3/2015
Lou Greco 8/17/2015
Marilyn Meyer 8/31/2015
Howard Clemons 9/ /2015
Jack Vierling 11/3/2015
Josephine Thiel 11/7/2015
Robert Ziesman 12/4/2015
Larry Schultze 12/6/2015
Bill Cardwell 1/7/2016
Reta Williams 1/28/2016
Alice Jenkins 2/21/2016
Lester Menke 3/5/2016
Karen Swenson 6/11/16
Conrad John 6/17/16
Wilma Jean Bess 7/2/2016 (Previous Owner)
Arlene Hendrixson 7/17/16A
Duane (Bud) Young 7/23/16
Jeanne Robbins Phillips 9/17/16 ( Father & Grandfather built Lake Robbins)
Charles Heinz 10/16
Dick Smith 11/26/16
Norman Gore 1/29/17
Arlyce Nichols 3/2/17
Jeanette Ziesman 3/6/17
Don Kinnison 5/16/17
Michael Westaby 5/17/17 (Gloria & Marlo's son)
Gary "Hatch" Hatcher 6/30/17
Patsy Capen 7/1/17
Belle Maring 8/31/17
Tim Dawson 10/13/17
Nada Shannon 11/24/17
Betty Greif - Feldmann 2/13/18
Anoka Stratton 4/25/18
Noah Bess 5/14/2018 (Wilma & Pete's son)
Bryan Idso 7/9/18 (Karon's son & our PT Cook)
Howard Hammond 7/23/18
Maggie Radebaugh 7/27/18
Velma Bailey 9/17/18 (one of the Bouton ladies who helped us.)
Charles Radke 10/12/18 (keyboard in Al Welsh & Everett Boyer's bands)
Horace Young 10/19/18
Wendall Eike 11/6/2018
Gordie Strain 2/9/19 (with Midwest Rock & Soul Revue Band)
Helen Bush 2/21/19
Jon Stafford 3/13/19 (According to Hoyle Band)
Ross Leeper 4/11/19 (Al Welsh & Everett Boyer's Bands)
Joan Lindner 4/14/19
Everett Boyer 6/2019 (his 1st job with his band was here at Lake Robbins)
Maxine Martens 7/4/19
Nancy Dean 8/28/19 (Tex Dean's wife)
Keith Knight 10/2/19
Owen 10/6/19
Jack West 10/22/19
Nadine Christensen 12/4/19
Carol Reeves 4/12/20 (She was a great help .. kitchen & serving)
Loren Roiger 4/25/20
Tex Dean 6/2020 (Drummer for Everett Boyer, Stardusters, Sentimential Swing)
Russell Dent 6/23/20
Noel Friday 7/2020
Mary Louise McLain 9/21/20
Don (Beans) Welder 10/2020
Jerry Stenstrom 12/2020 (Played Trumpet for Everett Boyer)
Gloria Westaby 1/9/2021
Alvin Cole 1/12/2021
Royce Winge 4/8/2021
Dorothy Reutzel 2/23/2021 (Dorothy & Erv played at LR for many years)
Erv Reutzel 8/10/2021
Tom Steinkoenig 9/12/2021 (Sentimental Swing )
Jan Paschell 11/24/2021 (our Brother)
Helen Bush
April 9, 1919 - Feb. 21, 2019 *************
I'm not sure what year this was taken but this is the north side of the Ballroom. It's changed a bit.
Just a Reminder
We DO NOT allow Water - Food or Alcohol
to be brought into
the ballroom.
We sell bottled & pitchers of Water - Pop - Food -
Beer & Alcohol.
(This helps us pay for the overhead) Thank you
DANCE WAX
It has been Brought to my attention some of you are bringing in Dance Wax.
PLEASE DON'T
I have had some people fall & a number of complaints because the Floor is tooo slick. We have some wax by the stage (right side)
If your shoes are rubber
soles ... that is why you want more wax.
Most dancers wear leather shoes ... tooo much wax makes it terribly slick for them. We don't want anybody falling.
PLEASE DO NOT
bring it in.
THANK YOU
Our Ticket Lady for 81 3/4 - 82years
We are like every other place ...
short handed ...
Please be patient with us. The cook in the kitchen is getting old & not as fast as she was. no one else seems to want the job.
Our hearts go out to
their families.
A lot of fond memories in remembering them out here dancing.
She was
105
So sorry to lose Tex Dean
he was the drummer for
Everett Boyer, Stardusters,
Al Welsh, Sentimential Swing,
One of the Best
He was one of the first to win
on the Ted Mack Show.
He was also the drummer for
Pat Boone many years ago.
FOOD is always available when open
26726 150th St
Woodward, IA 50276
515-438-2305
Bryan Idso
July 24, 1986 -July 9, 2018
Karon's son & our Friend
He also was our part time cook/bartender
You will find more dance dates on the Schedule page.
************************
AED
the Automated
HEART SAVER - DEFIBULATOR
A specialThank Youto our Dancers, Bands & Friends
for the Contributions so that we can have one here at the Ballroom. A Very Special THANK YOU
for the ones who promoted & made it happen.
What can I say .... we have the best !
Available for Weddings & In House Catering
See our Wedding page
*DANCE LESSONS*
Saturdays ... Nov.. ...
*CW 2-Step .. 5:30 - 6:30 .. $5
Sundays ... Nov. ....
* Samba... 3:30 - 4:30 pm .. $5
Instructor - William Paugh .. Lesson - Beginners
*Nov. 27... RiviEras.. 7-10 .. $10
Oldies/Sock-Hop/Swing ...
*Nov. 28 ... Al Godfredsen
Big Band.... 5-8:30 ... $13
November 11, 2021
90th Anniversary
for Lake Robbins
Celebrating
November 14, 2021
with
the All Star Big Band
(17 piece made up with our
Lake Robbins Sunday Bands)
Feb. 1, 1923 - July 2, 2016
Wasn't Gaylin's
Birthday Party fun!
So many showed up!
As Gaylin said
We all wish it could be
that way all the time.
Thank you Gaylin ...
I had a good time!
I think everyone did
We were so sorry to hear of Dorothy (2/23/21) & Erv (8/10/21) Reutzel
Their band play at Lake Robbins for many years. There will be a memorial at a later date.
And Tom Steinkoenig
(Sentimental Swing) 9/23/21
Memorial will be 10/28/21
A lot of fun dances with both bands
Christmas Formal
December 10 ... 7-10
??Bobby Layne
Orchestra
New Years Eve
December 31, 2021
Gaylin Sudik
Big Band
8:30 - 12:30
With a little help from our Friends (Actually a lot of help)
The crowds have been small, but they're looking better.
The bands had agreed to lower their
fee until we can get more people.
100 a night & they get their
regular pay... & don't they deserve it ..
THEY have been GREAT! Let's help them out .. Bring some more friends !
We also went up a $1 on the door.
in hopes that we can make enough
to cover expenses & ride out the virus. We're getting there. Thank you ...
for all that have helped.
We really have some
GREAT & WONDERFUL
people out here! Thank you so much
it really means a lot
to us that you care
Thank You!
Yes .... There was a Lake.
Mr. Robbins made a man-made lake
put an 8 sided cabin on it with a board walk.
This was in the beginning of 1920's.
He started building the Ballroom in 1929
It opened November 11, 1931.
Herbie Kay out of Chicago was the
Orchestra. His female vocalist was
Dorothy Lamour.
She was 17 years old.
We will be Celebrating the Ballroom's
90th Anniversary
with our All Star Band
Sunday Nov. 14, 2021
(actual date is 11/11/1931)
We have Perry Como's autograph
from when he sang out here with
the Ted Weems Orchestra
We know Ronald Regan danced out
here when he worked for WHO .................
10 more years & we'll be 100 years