My musical heritage

This evening I was sitting at my desk at home.  I was just relaxing after an afternoon run and shower. Letting my mind wander, I looked up and took in an old photograph that hung in front of me.  I’ve enjoyed staring at it many times: a picture of my Papaw playing guitar back in the late 40’s or early 50’s. Often, it replays in my mind the scratchy 45 recordings of The Gene Hyde Orchestra I used to hear when I was a kid. A few things make the photo special to me: the big smile on Papaw’s face as he is playing with his band, the beer bottles scattered on the tables, and my Nanaw’s handwriting along the photo’s border documenting the names of the band members and the name of the dancehall the photo was taken: Al Boyce – Steel Guitar, Steve Lightsey – Bass, Gene – Guitar, Wiley Bryant – Piano, Victor Roby – Fiddle.

The dancehall: Dessau Hall in Pflugerville, Texas.  Papaw headed several bands over his lifetime, mostly covering country-swing from the likes of Gene Autry and Roy Rogers, and eventually adding a horn section to cover big band tunes.  He also performed on live radio in Austin back in the day, where they broadcast using one microphone set in the middle of the room for the entire band.

Being a musician myself, I’ve always wanted to visit places where my Papaw played to get a sense of my musical heritage. I remember asking long ago if Dessau Hall still existed, and the answer came back, “No, I don’t think so. It’s been too long ago.”  The old 45’s are now missing which saddens me, too. But, I’m blessed to have the very guitar (restored) my Papaw played (shown in the photo).

This evening I went to searching and found the article below (thank you Google), a local press release announcing the reopening of Dessau Hall.  It looks like I’ll get a chance to visit after all.  Happy trails.

Below is the photo and a few others.

By Pam Stephenson

Friday, 07 August 2009

PFLUGERVILLE — Dessau Hall reopened June 13 to a capacity crowd. A line wrapped around the building as many waited for patrons to leave so they could enter, per fire code regulations.

History

For decades Dessau Hall has provided a venue for dancing and music, and with the historic venue reopening under its original name, the tradition continues. Scores of musicians have performed there since German immigrants established it in 1876. The early days featured German music and traditional polka dances.

In the 1930s and 1940s, dancing to the sound of big bands was popular. Some of the well-known bands that played Dessau Hall during this era include Harry James, Glen Miller, Guy Lombardo, Tommy Dorsey and Woody Herman.

“I remember when we returned from the war [World War II] in 1945, everyone headed to Dessau Hall to dance and listen to the big bands,” said Joe W. Neal, a 92-year-old retired professor of intercultural communication at The University of Texas. “It was one of the most popular entertainment spots at that time.”

As country western music became popular, numerous artists performed at Dessau Hall. Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Willie Nelson, Jimmie Heap, George Strait, Hank Williams, Ruben Ramos, Merle Haggard and Bob Wills are just a few performers who played before becoming the famous musicians they are today.

Elvis Presley even played the hall twice. The first time, he played to a nearly empty hall in 1956. However, his second appearance the next year was sold out.

The building

The first Dessau Hall was a two-story building built in 1876. It burned in the early 1940s, and a new hall was erected at the same location. The single-story building was known for the huge tree that grew in the center of the dance floor. It was the site of many German May Fete celebrations and other family events. But in 1967, it also burned. The existing building was built in 1969 and features the largest floating wood dance floor in Texas at 3,000 sq. ft.

New owner’s vision

Robin Bagley of East Texas purchased the building in May with plans to rekindle the tradition of the old Dessau Hall.

Bands that played regularly at the hall years ago, The Debonnaires and People’s Choice, are booked again.

“There’s a lot of history here,” Bagley said. “We wanted to go back to pure country and western the way it was in the ’60s and ’70s. The best thing we could do was bring it back to where it was. Word is getting around. The crowds are getting bigger, and people are happy to see it back.”

The hall has been refurbished to a similar look and feel as its glory days. The walls were painted red to mirror the original red velvet walls, and many of the old light fixtures were found in storage and have been polished and rewired for use again. Red velvet curtains hang on the stage, and old newspaper clippings found at the hall have been framed and hang on the walls. An old chandelier found hanging from the rafters above the dropped ceiling is being refurbished and will soon hang over the refinished dance floor.

The iron cage that was used to detain those who broke the law in the small community of Dessau in the late 1800s was found behind the hall. It is now displayed to the right of the hall’s main entrance.

via Dessau Hall reopens.

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