10-13-2006 Dance the Night Away 5th Annual New Year's Eve Gala at the Palais Royale!

Home Browse Search

PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 13, 2006 CONTACT: Mary Ellen Smith Assistant Director— Administration&Marketing PERFORMING ART'S CENTER SOUTH BEND, IN Morris Performing Arts Center 211 North Michigan Street South Bend,IN 46601 574-235-9160 mesmith @Morris Center.org DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY! FIFTH ANNUAL NEW YEAR'S EVE GALA AT THE PALAIS ROYALE! The Morris Performing Arts Center is pleased to host its fifth annual New Year's Eve gala event on Sunday,December 31, at the Palais Royale —South Bend's Premier Banquet Facility. By popular request, this year's event once again features The Tom Milo Big Band, an 18-piece big band well-known to dance couples, playing a wide selection of music, ranging from the Glenn Miller tunes of the 40's,to Frank Sinatra, to the contemporary hits of artists like Whitney Houston and Billy Joel. Many of the band members have toured with top name musicians such as Stan Kenton, Les Elgart, Duke Ellington, and others. Join us on New Year's Eve for a fine dining experience and the opportunity to ring in the New Year on the area's most historic dance floor. Again this year,black tie is optional. The Palais Royale Ballroom opened in 1922 and hosted all the major big bands of the day. Duke Ellington, Tommy &Jimmy Dorsey, Harry James, Guy Lombardo and Cab Calloway are just a few of the great bands seen at the Palais in its heyday. There were dances every night of the week and the Palais was the place for countless celebrations, performances, dances and gatherings. In the 1940's, the Palais was used as a WWII serviceman's center. After the war the ballroom was transformed into a boxing arena,bowling alley and roller hockey rink. In 1967, the Palais became "The Top Deck" a teen nightclub. The ornately decorated walls were spray-painted with 140 gallons of flat black paint and neon cartoon decals were pasted on the walls. Within a year, the venue was shut down and remained virtually unused for over 30 years. Having been neglected and severely damaged during its years of vacancy, the ballroom underwent an extensive 12 month restoration at the cost of$ 6.9 million, reopening on New Year's Eve 2002. Today the Palais has become the premier banquet facility in South Bend hosting a variety of celebrations from weddings to business and private functions. Proceeds from the event will be added to the Palais Royale Endowment Fund to assist with continued historic preservation of the ballroom. Your attendance at the event will help keep the Palais shining! The South Bend Tribune is sponsoring this years New Year's Eve. For the fifth straight year in a row, the Palais Royale is sure to be the HOTTEST SPOT on New Year's Eve! Hurry and purchase tickets by calling the Morris Box Office NOW at 574-235-5584.