Stork Club

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

When & why was the Stork Club built?

In the 1920s, Port Stanley was a thriving tourist attraction. As a beach resort, it afforded visitors fun, relaxation & amusement. The L&PS (London & Port Stanley Railroad) brought throngs of visitors from London & St. Thomas to Port Stanley, to enjoy the beach, the Casino dance pavilion, the Cafeteria and many restaurants, Picnic Hill & the Incline Railway, and a number of hotels & attractions. Several trains daily were needed, especially on weekends!

The Railway Commission decided to build a second dance pavilion (east of the Casino) on the beach, due to the growing popularity of dance in society. The new L&PS Pavilion opened July 29, 1926, and would later become known as The Stork Club.
What made the Stork Club so special?

It was huge & built as close to the water as possible. The smooth wooden dance floor covered 24,000 sq. feet, and was surrounded by a wide promenade for seating. Its floor construction was unique, being made of select maple woods designed to be absorbent & “floating”, able to withstand the most vigorous of dance vibrations. It was a good thing....6500 people attended the opening night! Everyone remembers the enormous hanging Chinese Lanterns, and the refracted light dancing off the spinning mirrored globe overhead. Many a sweetheart romance began on that dance floor!

Over the next 40 years, it was the star attraction in Port Stanley, hosting all the Big Band names and premier entertainers in North America. Its mere mention still evokes a wistful look of fond memories from all who had the privilege of being entertained there over the years until its demise in 1979.
What was the connection between the L&PS and the Stork Club?

The L&PS brought affordable transportation to Port Stanley from London and area, at a time before the automobile age and before international travel became possible & popular. During the War years (1939-45), many soldiers spent their leave here, crowding onto the L&PS for the train ride from nearby barracks in Fingal & the London area.
Who was the first band to perform at the Stork Club?

The enormously popular Vincent Lopez Band played to capacity crowds every night, for 2 weeks!
What is the story on the white piano in your Orientation Centre?

This piano was the first Stork Club artifact acquired by the Stork Club Big Band Museum & Hall of Fame. At one time, it graced the stage in the Stork Club, along with a smaller white baby grand piano. It was said that Guy Lombardo always brought 2 white grand pianos to his performances, but we have not been able to confirm if this was one of them. This particular piano was acquired by the Kernahan Family and was housed at Alma Villa in Orchard Beach, Port Stanley for many years. In January, 2007, Garry & Morena Morritt donated it to our organization. It will require substantial restoration to be in playable condition, when funds allow.
What recreation facilities were on the Beach during the 20s, 30s & 40s?

Port Stanley was called the "Coney Island of the Great Lakes". It had a large Cafeteria on the beach, food concessions, an incline railway to Picnic Hill overlooking the harbour, an outdoor theatre and bathhouse, a public pool next to the Stork Club, a Ferris wheel and roller coaster, excursion boats and a huge water slide! Of course, Mackies was a favourite destination for its famous orangeade and fries, as it is today. Several ferries dropped visitors from Cleveland on a daily basis.
What different names did the Stork Club have?

Originally when it was built, it was referred to as “The New Pavilion”. The Railway Commission had launched a contest to name it, but no name was recorded as the “winner”. It came to be known as the “L & PS Pavilion" for many years. Then the more popular name of the “Port Stanley Ballroom” was adopted. In the early 50s, the current & final name the “Stork Club”was coined, along with the tap dancing Stork logo. The current Stork Club Big Band Museum & Hall of Fame has obtained copyright to that logo. The Stork Club name was cloned from the popularity of its namesake in New York City.
What is “jitney” dancing?

This was the practice of paying for each dance, in advance. It was customary for most dance halls like the Stork Club, in the 20s & 30s to charge admission to the dance hall (15 cents). Once inside the building, couples were escorted to a roped off area (promenade), where they purchased tickets for 5 cents per dance. There were a prescribed number of dances: 16 per hour. Between numbers, “rope boys” cleared the dance floor & collected the money for the next number.
What “local bands” played there?

London was the birthplace of the Guy Lomabardo Orchestra. They played at the Casino at the beach in Port, prior to the building of the Stork Club. By 1926, they were on their way to Cleveland then to Chicago and international fame. Locally, the Johnny Downs Orchestra became a household name at the Stork Club. Others included the Jack Pudney Orchestra, Ted Pudney, the Casa Loma Orchestra, Jan Garber, Alf Tibbs, Mickey McDougall, Archie Cunningham, Angelo Russo, Frank Crowley, John Campbell, Doug Baker, Benny Palmer, Len Langley, Larry Dennis, Ronnie Hart Band, Richard Avande, the Mountaineers, and many others. Many a musician had his start in the bands that played here.
What Big Bands played there?

All the Big Bands of the era played at the Stork Club. In fact, even during its last year of operation in 1978, long after the popularity of big band dancing had waned across the rest of North America, the Stork Club continued to attract the big name bands such as Glenn Miller, Guy Lombardo and Les Elgart!

Other examples of bands & entertainers who played over the decades were Benny Goodman, Eddy Duchin, Count Basie, Lionel Hampton, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Dorsey Brothers, Les Brown, Xavier Cugat, Woody Herman, Bob Crosby.... and the list goes on!

Note: For those interested in finding out more about these musicians, see the biographies on www.londonbigbands.ca
How did your organization come about?

A group of 5 Port Stanley residents who were interested in the Stork Club and preserving its unique history, got together late 2006 and formed a registered charitable organization called: the Stork Club Big Band Museum & Hall of Fame.
What kinds of activities do you do?

We have held dances, participated in Communities in Bloom (and been nominated twice for an award), held displays for Doors Open (2006 - present), offered ongoing Ballroom and Latin Dance classes since September 2008, created an Orientation Centre (now called the 'Interpretive Centre') located at 302 Bridge Street in Port Stanley where there is a display of music memorabilia and Stork Club artifacts, and launched this web site, www.musicmemories.ca.
How do you choose Bands for the Hall of Fame?

We have a committee that researches bands and popular performers, and recommends possible recipients. Our first Inductee (2007) was the Johnny Downs Orchestra, a local London band that was a mainstay for Saturday night dances at the Stork Club during the 50's & 60's. Our second Inductee (2008) was the Glenn Miller Orchestra, which had the most engagements at the Stork Club of any of the popular big bands of the era. Both of these are pictured in our display in our Interpretive Centre.
How do I make a donation?

Donations of money are gratefully accepted.... simply email us using our contact form, or contact any of the Directors who will see that you receive an official tax receipt for gifts of $25 or more.

As for artifacts and music memorabilia, 1920 -1980, contact the Chair of Acquisitions, Craig Cole, using the contact form on our website. We have a reciprocal arrangement for joint collections with the Elgin County Museum, St Thomas, ON.
How do I join your group?

We welcome new members and volunteers! You can sign up at the Interpretive Centre, or through the web site using our “contact us” page.
How can I learn more about your group?
- You can check out the remainder of our website at www.musicmemories.ca
- Send us an email using the “contact us” page
- Visit the Interpretive Centre at 302 Bridge St, Port Stanley, Ontario (inside the Festival Theatre Building)
- Register for Dance Classes on our website or email johnrobinson777@rogers.com
- For all other inquiries, call 519-782-4563