Balinese Room

Balinese Room
Balinese Room in 2006 before its destruction by Hurricane Ike
Balinese Room is located in Texas
Balinese Room
Balinese Room
Balinese Room is located in the United States
Balinese Room
Balinese Room
Location2107 Seawall Blvd.,
Galveston, Texas
Coordinates29°17′24″N 94°47′08″W / 29.2900°N 94.7856°W / 29.2900; -94.7856
Arealess than one acre
Built1942 (1942)
ArchitectRaymond R. Rapp
DemolishedSeptember 13, 2008
NRHP reference No.97000258[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPApril 2, 1997
Removed from NRHPJanuary 8, 2009

The Balinese Room was a famous nightclub in Galveston, Texas, United States built on a pier stretching 600 feet (183 m) from the Galveston Seawall over the waters of the Gulf of Mexico.[2] For decades a dance hall and illegal casino, the Balinese Room was remodeled and reopened in 2001 without a casino. During the early morning hours of September 13, 2008, the structure was destroyed by Hurricane Ike.[2]

Operated by Sicilian barbers-turned-bootleggers Sam and Rosario Maceo, the Balinese Room (also known as Maceo's Grotto) was an elite spot in the 1930s and 1940s (Galveston's open era), featuring entertainment by Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, George Burns, The Marx Brothers and other top acts of the day.[2] Patrons of the private club included Howard Hughes, Sophie Tucker and wealthy oil barons from nearby Houston.[3]

In 1997, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Balinese is featured in pop culture; Rock group ZZ Top wrote and performed a song about the club called, "Balinese".

  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
  2. ^ a b c KPRC 2 News (September 13, 2008). "Balinese Room, Galveston Landmark, Destroyed". KPRC TV - Click2Houston.com. Archived from the original on September 15, 2008. Retrieved September 16, 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ "Stars of Yesteryear". Balinese Room