The Riviera (Lake Geneva, Wisconsin) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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The Riviera
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 Location in Wisconsin
Location in the United States
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| Location | 810 Wrigley Dr., Lake Geneva, Wisconsin |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1932 |
| Architect | James Roy Allen |
| Architectural style | Italian Renaissance |
| NRHP reference No. | 86000616 |
| Added to NRHP | April 3, 1986 |
The Riviera is a special building right on the shore of Geneva Lake in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, United States. It's a place where boats can dock (a marina) and also a big hall used for meetings and events. Right next to it is Riviera Beach, a popular spot where people can swim and enjoy the lake every day.
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History of The Riviera
Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, became a popular vacation spot in the 1870s. People loved seeing its big steamboats with paddle wheels on the side. The area near Broad Street by the lake became the main place for water travel. This was especially true after the Whiting House Hotel was built there. The train station was also close by, about half a mile north on Broad Street.
Until 1902, there wasn't a road all the way around the lake. So, traveling by boat was the easiest way to get around Geneva Lake. Later, in 1912, the United States Postal Service even started delivering mail by boat from this spot during the summer. By the 1930s, people in Lake Geneva wanted a new fun place at this location.
Building The Riviera
Even though the Great Depression was happening and money was tight, local residents voted to spend $85,000 to build The Riviera. This showed how much they wanted a new community building.
Workers created a small island by piling up rocks and letting dirt settle around them. To make the building super strong, 280 long poles were pushed deep into the ground. The first pole went in on March 29, 1932. The whole building was finished quickly, ready for a dance on September 1 of the same year. A local architect named James Roy Allen designed the building. The final cost was actually less than expected, only $55,000.
In 1980, another local architect, Daniel Curran, helped fix up and update the building. The Riviera is important because it's the best-preserved old building linked to transportation in the Geneva Lake area. Because of its history, the National Park Service added The Riviera to the National Register of Historic Places on April 3, 1986.
Famous Performers at The Riviera
The Riviera was once a very famous place for music and dancing! From the 1930s to the 1950s, its ballroom hosted many of the biggest swing and jazz bands.
Big Bands and Jazz Stars
Imagine dancing to live music from legends like Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington, and Louis Armstrong. Other famous bandleaders who played here included Tommy Dorsey, Gene Krupa, Artie Shaw, and Count Basie. Many amazing singers also performed, such as Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Doris Day, Peggy Lee, Dean Martin, and Nat King Cole.
Disco Era Fun
In the mid-1970s, The Riviera ballroom changed its style and became a discothèque called Top Deck. It was a popular dance club until the early 1980s. Many disco stars performed there, including Donna Summer, Gloria Gaynor, Chaka Khan, Sylvester, and The Village People.
