new dance hall opens at aberdeen beach

Next week will be a red letter one in the history of Aberdeen's Beach improvement schemes. The new dance hall, restaurant and tea rooms are to officially opened by the Lady Provost, and steps are to be set on foot to transform the present restaurant into a waiting hall. Arrangements were made yesterday for the official opening next Friday afternoon of Aberdeen's new dance hall, restaurant and tea rooms at the Beach. The intention at first was to have the ceremony as part of the proceedings at Friday evening's carnival ball which is to set agoing the season's jollity in the buildings set up in attractive style by the Town Council and leased by J. H. Iles, who has also taken over and is equipping with many novel attractions the Amusements Park at the Links. Mr Bert Darley, manager of the dance hall, restaurant, and tea lounge, in order that the evening's merry-making at the dance may proceed without a break, has staged the official opening ceremony for 3 p.m. on Friday.

It will be a full-fledged civic affair. Lord Provost Lewis and the magistrates will attend in their robes and chains of office. With them will be the general body of Town Council members and leading officials, together with a representative company of leading public men and women to the number of about a hundred. It is intended that the Lord Provost should preside and that the Lady Provost make a speech declaring the buildings open for use. The guests are to be entertained to tea by the lessee of the dance hall and restaurant. Mr Iles is coming north to join in the opening proceedings. The ball which follows the evening has been organised on a magnificent scale, and will bring together, to give "hansel" to the spacious floor, 1000 gaily costumed and masked dancers. An orchestra of eight players conducted by Mr Chester Tunis, a noted violinist, will provide the music. Several surprise items are be projected into the programme, and an altogether memorable function is assured.

 Rendezvous in New Guise. A rendezvous popular with thousands of visitors to Aberdeen in the past is to disappear - or rather is to change its nature. Following upon the decision a short time ago of the Links and Parks Committee, the municipal tea refreshment rooms at the Beach are being dismantled, and sale by auction of the fittings and effects takes place on Monday. The building is being transformed into a shelter and waiting room for the convenience and comfort of visitors, of whom, if present expectations are realised, Aberdeen will have a record number this summer. The Town Council's decision was consequent upon the erection of the new dance hall and restaurant at the Beach.

 Play While Waiting. The new shelter, which will be capable of holding about 200 people, will be furnished with a plentitude of seats. It will be a place of amusement as well as a waiting-room. A number of novel penny-in-the-slot machine games, of an amusing nature, are being installed, while there will also be the usual chocolate and sweetmeat machines. For many years the walls of the old tearooms have been adorned by a large number of photographs of Aberdeen swimming club teams. Among them are pictures of some well-known swimmers, and the collection, which is regarded as being of considerable value, is to find a new home in the Bathing Station.

Source : Aberdeen Press and Journal Saturday April 27th, 1929