Homepage History Nostalgia Ride Info Contact Us

THE RIVIERA

The Riviera Ballroom - Part III....The Dances and the Performers for the Teenage Generation

A PICTURE CAN REVIVE HUNDREDS OF MEMORIES, AND THE MUSIC WILL KEEP YOU YOUNG...!!

For the Teen set there were always the Friday or Saturday night Sock Hops of the Fifties and Teen Dances in the Sixties. In 1957, the weekly Harris Hop, hosted by TV and Radio Personality, Lee Harris, was started and turned into the place to be over the next few years of summer friday nights.. The later KIOA and KSO dances also were great draws and often presented the best of local bands as well as occasional national name talent.

The 1957 ad announcing the beginning of an era for the Riviera... Lee Harris starts his Friday night Record Hops.... During intermissions, the teens attending the dance get to ride park rides for free.

A couple of fellows that played guitar could get together and learn their favorite Venture songs....find a drummer to join in....and the result could be some Magic called Rock And Roll. Watch this next 1964 clip sent in to us, of a very young group sharing their own Magic in the ballroom.
The excitement comes through loud and clear with the bands energy and a young drummer loving what he is doing. The crowd is in Rock and Roll heaven.

A couple of Drake University and Iowa State University sponsored concert/dances were held at the Riviera and recorded for broadcast in the mid 60's. Enjoy all the recovered excerpts.

For Cable/DSL connections

Remember ?? A dance where you met that special one...

Click on the PLAY BUTTON (

) on the Media Player and allow a few seconds to load. Click PLAY BUTTON a second time if necessary.

Many area High Schools had their Proms at the Riviera. Are YOU in this medley of Prom clips taken from 1955 to 1968

View some Prom film footage-

A Harris Hop night 1958

Following the death of Elvis Presley in 1977, Ronnie McDowell came out of nowhere to dazzle the world with his heartfelt and self-penned tribute song "The King Is Gone". Ronnie drew 14,000 people to Riverview on a Sunday afternoon performing his Elvis tribute at the KSO free country concert at the park in 1977 The performance had to be moved to an outdoor stage because of the massive crowd that showed up.

View 1977 Ronnie McDowell's "The King Is Gone"-

Numerous name pop talents played the ballroom over the years. Many recording artists in the early years included The Riviera in their whirl wind tour schedules of one night stands. From The Everly Brothers, Bobby Vee, and many more until the end of the era when Chicago made a stop at the Riviera as did Smokey Robinson and the Miracles.

A Smokey publicity shot. Di writes in our Riverview Guestbook: "When I think of the park, I think of the 'good ole days'. I loved it. I remember the first time I ever saw Smokie Robinson and the Miracles. I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Thanks. "

Also many young local bands from around Iowa and the Midwest were favorites over the years..Many booked and brought in by the local radio stations that were sponsoring and promoting the weekly dances......Dominic and the Dominoes, The Cavaliers, The Spartans, The Pendletons, The Road Runners, The Echoes, The Novelles, The Missing Links, Tommy Tucker and the Esquires, The Pete Klint Quintet, Sir Richard and the Squires, The Rhythm Masters, The Pelican Peace Band... and the list goes on and on.

Watch two 1965 Dance / Concert clips featuring some crowd pleasers.

Click on the PLAY BUTTON (

) on the Media Player and allow a few seconds to load. Click PLAY BUTTON a second time if necessary.

(Left)Sir Richard and the Squires from Des Moines, Iowa and (Right)Pete Klint Quintet Poster. Another favorite band from Mason City, Iowa

Friday Nights in the 1960's ....Best Rock and Roll Fun!

For Cable/DSL connections

Click on the PLAY BUTTON (

) on the Media Player and allow a few seconds to load. Click PLAY BUTTON a second time if necessary.

Yes, the RIVIERA is gone, but this last clip of a television performance of a young band from the good ol' days says it all for many of us .......

For Cable/DSL connections

Click on the PLAY BUTTON (

) on the Media Player and allow a few seconds to load. Click PLAY BUTTON a second time if necessary.

The End of The Riverview Park Riviera Ballroom...

When The Park was closed by Adventureland many of the rides and attractions were moved to Adventureland Park. All of the remaining buildings except the Riviera Ballroom, the Merry Go Round Pavillion, and the park office building were torn down. The property was sold (donated) to the city of Des Moines for $1.00.

The abandoned Riviera was burned down by suspected arsonists in August of 1981. Sadly it was slated for possible inclusion onto the official list of Iowa's Historical Sites just prior to its destruction.

Back

Home