Balinese Room facts for kids
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Balinese Room
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Formerly listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
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Balinese Room in 2006
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 Balinese Room
Location in Texas
Balinese Room
Location in the United States
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| Location | 2107 Seawall Blvd., Galveston, Texas |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1942 |
| Architect | Rapp and Rapp |
| Demolished | September 13, 2008 |
| NRHP reference No. | 97000258 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 2, 1997 |
| Removed from NRHP | January 8, 2009 |
The Balinese Room was a famous club in Galveston, Texas. It was built on a long pier that stretched 600 feet (183 meters) over the Gulf of Mexico. For many years, it was a dance hall and a secret place for gambling.
The club was run by brothers Sam and Rosario Maceo. They used to sell alcohol when it was against the law. The Balinese Room was a very popular spot in the 1930s and 1940s. Many famous entertainers performed there. These included Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, George Burns, and The Marx Brothers.
Important people like Howard Hughes and wealthy oil business owners from Houston visited the club. In 1997, the Balinese Room was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it was recognized as an important historical site. Sadly, a powerful storm called Hurricane Ike completely destroyed the building on September 13, 2008.
The rock band ZZ Top even wrote a song about the club called "Balinese."
Contents
History of the Balinese Room
The Maceo brothers first took over a small restaurant called "Chop Suey." This was in 1929. They opened their own place called "Maceo's Grotto." It was one of many fun spots along the Galveston Seawall. Some of these places had secret gambling games.
In 1932, "Maceo's Grotto" was changed into a Chinese restaurant called "Sui Jen." A 200-foot pier was added, reaching out over the Gulf. This made it easy for guests from nearby hotels to visit.
Changes and Expansion
The club's name was changed to the more exciting "Balinese Room" in 1942. This happened after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The inside of the club was decorated to look like a place from the South Seas. The pier was also made even longer, reaching 600 feet.
The Balinese Room had a special back room with modern gambling equipment. The Maceos invited people who liked to play high-stakes games to "Come Down and Play on Galveston Island."
The Margarita Story
There's a fun story that the head bartender, Santos Cruz, invented the Margarita drink. He supposedly made it for singer Peggy Lee in 1948. He named it "Margarita" after the Spanish version of her name. However, some say the drink was found in Mexico years before this story.
Challenges with the Law
The club was well-known for its secret gambling games. These games were against the law. But the Maceo brothers had many friends in the local government and police. Because of this, they rarely got into trouble. The sheriff of Galveston County once said he couldn't get into the private club to stop the games.
In 1956, Will Wilson became the Texas Attorney General. He promised to close down Galveston's secret gambling places. The Texas Rangers tried to stop the club's games. They often raided the casino.
But the long pier made it hard for them. This was known as the "Rangers Run." By the time the Rangers ran to the end of the club, all the gambling tables and chips would disappear. They were hidden in secret wall and floor pockets. The band would often play the song "The Eyes of Texas" when the Rangers arrived.
At first, the Rangers just sat in the casino every day. This made customers nervous, and business slowed down. But the club still stayed open. Finally, a Ranger named Clint Peoples went undercover. He pretended to be a customer and saw the gambling. This helped the Rangers seize the gambling equipment. The club finally closed on May 30, 1957.
Later Years and Reopening
In 1961, Hurricane Carla damaged the building. Many of the supports for the pier were washed away. Over the next few years, the building continued to fall apart.
In the 1970s, an oil businessman named Johnny Mitchell bought the Balinese Room. He turned the casino into a dinner club and disco. Many famous people performed there during these years. After Mitchell passed away in 1996, the State of Texas owned the pier.
A local lawyer, Scott Arnold, leased the pier for 60 years. In 2001, he reopened the Balinese Room. It was used for live music, parties, and dining. The pier also had shops and a massage room with a glass floor.
Much of the original building and decorations had changed over time. But the South Seas style of the main ballroom was still there. It was restored to look like it did in the 1940s. The long hallway of the pier was filled with signed photos of past performers.
Destruction by Hurricane Ike
On September 12, 2008, Hurricane Ike came towards Galveston. The storm brought high water levels. Waves sometimes went over the Galveston Seawall. This sent water and debris onto the street.
Later that night, Hurricane Ike hit Galveston. The storm's center moved into Galveston Bay. The pier was higher than the seawall. But Ike's storm surge, waves, and wind were too much for the old building. The Balinese Room had survived many storms before. But this time, the famous club was completely destroyed. Only some wood, metal, and its famous red door were left after the hurricane.
