Neighborhood News: Nearly a century of entertainment at Uptown’s Aragon Ballroom
“Bringing The Hits Since 1926”
Aragon Ballroom’s website
In 1926, Chicago’s Jazz Age was in full swing. In this Prohibition-era environment, Uptown’s Green Mill speakeasy entertained the likes of Al Capone and his gang.
It was into this environment that brothers William and Andrew Karzas built the Aragon Ballroom, 1106 W. Lawrence Avenue.
Legend has it that there are secret tunnels under the Green Mill that led to the Aragon’s basement. For what reason? We can venture a guess, I think.
History of the Aragon Ballroom
With a plethora of speakeasies already in the area, the brothers, who had made their fortune in nickelodeons and movie theaters, decided that their new ballroom would be a classy dance hall.
They named it after a region of Spain (Aragon) and had architects design it as a Spanish palace courtyard, replete with crystal chandeliers, mosaic tiles, and a star-studded ceiling, with artificial stars and projectors that create a sky-like effect. The ballroom’s exterior was designed in the Spanish Baroque style, with a stucco exterior.
As Choose Chicago notes, the Aragon was the most elaborate venues of its time, soon after its opening, the Aragon Ballroom was called “the most beautiful ballroom in the world.”
Men were obligated to wear jackets and ties, women semi-formal evening wear, according to the blogsite Jazz Age Chicago. Smoking was prohibited on the second level. And tuxedoed floorwalkers prevented close dancing or jitterbugging. The Aragon’s elegance and orderliness contrasted sharply with the more youthful and trendy atmosphere at the neighborhood’s other major dance hall, the Arcadia Ballroom.
Thanks to its proximity to the CTA’s Lawrence Avenue (Red Line) stop, the ballroom quickly became a popular venue for social dancing, radio broadcasts, and later, rock concerts, drawing from both the City of Chicago and its suburbs.
The Aragon thrived because it hosted big bands, including Glenn Miller, Guy Lombardo, and Lawrence Welk in the early decades, and its success lies in each owner’s ability to change with the times.
Additionally, the nearly new WGN Radio station began live broadcasts from the ballroom and reaching around the world, further boosting its fame.
For the next three decades, the ballroom thrived. Then …
According to Wikipedia sources, a fire at an adjacent cocktail lounge in 1958 forced the Aragon to close for several months. After the reopening, crowds declined significantly, to the point that regular dancing ended in 1964.
A succession of new owners used the Aragon as a roller skating rink, a boxing venue, and a discothèque, among other uses. There were also occasional efforts to revive it as a traditional ballroom.
In 1973, Latin promoters Willy Miranda and Jose Palomar, who had promoted Hispanic dances and concerts in Chicago for years, became owners of the Aragon. They soon teamed up with rock promoters Arny Granat and Jerry Mickelson, owners of Chicago-based Jam Productions, who used the hall for their rock concerts, which were often “monster rock” marathons of rock music acts often lasting six hours or more.
Numerous live recordings also took place at the Aragon, including 1975’s Kraftwerk electronic music, and March 1978’s classic rock band Aerosmith, who later released the recordings of “Sweet Emotion” and “Lord of the Thighs” on their 1978 Live! Bootleg album.
World championship boxing made its way to the Aragon Ballroom on December 15, 1982, when the World Boxing Association’s world Cruiserweight champion, Puerto Rican Ossie Ocasio, successfully defended his title by beating challenger Eddie Taylor by a 15 rounds decision.
Today: Inclusion, Accommodations and Great Shows
While many venues of its kind from that era have closed down, the Aragon Ballroom thrives, while retaining its original charm. Live Nation owns the now-named Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom, and produces a variety of English language and Spanish language pop and rock concerts.
As their website states, they “strive to ensure that all of our guests have a great time at our venue.”
They have designated space in their balcony for accessible seating, and the building is equipped with an elevator. If a guest is hearing impaired, they request contacting them at least a month prior to your show to arrange for an interpreter.
For all accommodations, please email them at aragonhelp@livenation.com.
If you are unable to email the Aragon ahead of time, their team can still accommodate you day of show if you stop by Guest Services in the lobby after entering the venue.
Accessibility for All
Live Nation partnered with KultureCity as a sensory-inclusive location, and their staff has been trained to assist fans with sensory needs. They have headphones, fidget tools, and strobe-blocking glasses available for use. Please stop by Guest Services podium in the lobby for assistance and to check out sensory items.
BY THE WAY … Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom is fully cashless. All main concession and merchandise stands accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express card payments.
For information and tickets to the latest shows, click here.
