GALVESTON.COM: Rosenberg Treasure: The Balinese Room

For the duration of the thirty day period of January, the Rosenberg Library is exhibiting illustrations or photos and things from The Balinese Room.

On January 17, 1942, the opulent Balinese Room opened to the general public at 21^st road and Seawall. There, on a 600 foot pier hovering above the Gulf of Mexico, locals and tourists appreciated the magnificent and extravagant natural environment of drinks, dancing and amusement. The again space, even so, was a non-public club for huge spenders who wanted the thrill of gambling.

By that time, gambling had turn into illegal in Texas. The whole Balinese Room was built with this in mind and was crafted with lure doors, concealed compartments, and pretend walls in the infamous B-place. The long stretch of the pier, infamously regarded as “Rangers Operate,” supplied ample time to completely transform the gambling mecca into a seemingly innocent atmosphere. Just about every staff member experienced responsibilities when warned of a raid, including the band, which was needed to participate in The Eyes of Texas and loudly introduce the getting into Texas Rangers to the viewers! The camouflage, coordination, and mixed three-space-stroll to the again of the pier kept the Balinese Home safe for decades.

Along with gambling, top rated-rated nearby amusement could be found at the Balinese Area, like massive countrywide functions this sort of as George Burns, Jayne Mansfield, the Marx Brothers, Bob Hope, and Frank Sinatra about 3 times a year. These stars not only arrived to accomplish, but to dine, dance, and gamble. When not featuring a national act, Sam and Rose employed local musicians to participate in the latest new music and entertain and fill the dance flooring. The locale was nationally recognized and boosted tourism to the island everyone wished to working experience the Balinese Place.

At first founded as the ultimate incarnation of a sequence of undertaking sites, the Balinese Area was owned and operated by brothers Salvador (Sam) and Rosario (Rose) Maceo. Close to 1910, the Maceo brothers immigrated to Galveston and ended up quickly followed by the relaxation of their relatives. With company perception, a rumored mafia upbringing, and impeccable timing, these brothers swiftly capitalized on the passage of the 18^th Modification, which prohibited liquor use.

All through this time, Sam and Rose began opening and operating establishments that available unlawful liquor and gambling to their clientele. The to start with of these institutions was termed Chop Suey in 1923, followed by The Grotto in 1928. The Grotto was shut within a calendar year by the Texas Rangers because of to the rampant liquor and gambling violations.

In 1932, the Maceo brothers opened a 3rd institution at the stop of a 200-foot pier. Named the Sui Jen Café, it was regarded for its Oriental identify and decorations. Area lore claims that the Maceos decided to rename and renovate the café right after understanding about the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

In 1941, those alterations birthed the institution we know today as the Balinese Home, this time redesigned with a South Pacific theme by a designer that Sam located named Virgil Quadrie. Quadrie reworked the club in a month’s time and gave The Balinese Space its identify. The new décor bundled a substantial aquarium that took up one wall of a lounge, palm trees, lights, a bandstand, and an elegant eating space. Almost nothing was way too fantastic for the prepared establishment. Only the best would do for the developing design and style, team, and amusement.

As a outcome of its status and location in the heritage of Galveston, the Balinese Home inevitably gained a listing on the National Sign-up of Historic Sites. Regretably, it was destroyed by Hurricane Ike in 2008, leaving only its historic entrance arch on the seawall.

But Galvestonians retain the famous name of the Balinese Area alive. Request everyone, and the tales will contain mixtures of reality, embellishment, and fiction. It’s not really hard to consider why. The Balinese Room made available decadence, unlawful thrills, and a pair of brothers who ended up bigger than lifetime and incredibly substantially in cost.

The Treasure of the Thirty day period is situated on the library’s historic second floor in the vicinity of the East Entrance. It can be considered through common library several hours, 9:00 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. Monday by means of Saturday and from 9:00 a.m. – 8:45 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. For additional facts, remember to call Ivy Albright, Museum Curator at 409.763.8854 Ext. 125 or at [email protected].