Yes, I went to the Blainese Room when I was little with my parents, and was told the stories of how the Rangers would run down the long rather narrow hall, and patrons would start singing "The Yellow Rose of Texas" as a signal to get all evidence of any gambling covered up. Walking in there, even as a kid, I remember feeling like we were going back in time, into a very cool place. The Island has such a rich history!
My parents were regulars. Both loved to hang out in the bar up front and people watch. The ballroom at the end of the pier was amazing! I was lucky enough to see a concert in the ballroom a month before Ike. Seeing it smashed to bits and the rubble piled along the Seawall was both surreal and tragic. Truly irreplaceable.
Yes, I had dinner once at the Balinese Room. Back in 1957 I saw Will Wilson taking out all the gambling equipment and loading it onto trucks. It was then, the trucks were driven onto the Ferry and about mid way to Bolivar, they were all dumped into Galveston Bay. A very sad day for Galveston!!!
Yes I did !! During the Lone Star Motorcycle Rally November 5 2005. There is So much History in this place with all the pictures hanging on the walls of the old Hollywood stars and VIPs that visited.They had a live band and their last song was a cover of Sleepwalk by Johnny and Santos. Man let me tell you I’ll never forget it.
Yes we did we had some fabulous times there. We meet Mr. Scott Arnold and enjoy the history and the ghost stories...........Loved it and Miss it. All that history about Peggy Lee, and the bartender who invented the Frozen Margarita there at the Balaniese.
Yes I worked for Johnny Mitchell singing in the back room as well as running the D J both when disco came out , when Mr Arnold had it my band played on the big stage with me doing my Tina Turner show I have a lot of history with the Mitchell's.
When I lived in Galveston, I went to the Balinese Room. I don't remember what was in the front (probably a souvenir shop?) but somewhere along the pier there was a cute little occult or new age shop (it was only there for a year or two, if that long) and I bought a fabulous little mirror encrusted with amethyst crystals.
Hey man, I played in the Joe Reichman band for the re- opening of the room in 1966. The gig lasted about three month’s. We had two shows a night with dance music played between shows.
Yes I went once for a private party and it was fabulous! I hate that Hurricane Ike destroyed it! It is such a historical part of Galveston! Perhaps someday it will be rebuilt! ❤🥂🍾🎷🎺🎹🎤
My connections to the Balinese Room. My mother was a dealers there during WWII. Yes, they used young women as well as men to run the tables. The criteria for selection the women was based on three things. First, their reputations must be beyond reproach. Second, (most important) they had to have beautiful hands. Third, attractive. Once chosen, they were then taught the art of card dealing. In the mid 1960's, she was in Vegas playing “21" in the Desert Inn. She was sitting at the table for only about 15 mins. A very well dressed security man came asking her to come with him. She was taken to the office. The manager greeted her warming. Surprised, she asked how he knew she was there. He took her to the security room. He show her the cameras. He was alerted of a women working the cards as a professional at a table. After all those years, the moment he saw her hands, he knew who it was. He was the assistant manager of the Balinese Room at the time she worked there.
As for myself, in the late 1960's I worked there during the Summers.
I went there as a child and as a young adult. In 1969 I had my wedding reception there..
Ate there many times as a kid. On one visit in the 70s, I asked the waiter if I could have a menu as a souvenir. Still have the menu today.
Yes, I went to the Blainese Room when I was little with my parents, and was told the stories of how the Rangers would run down the long rather narrow hall, and patrons would start singing "The Yellow Rose of Texas" as a signal to get all evidence of any gambling covered up. Walking in there, even as a kid, I remember feeling like we were going back in time, into a very cool place. The Island has such a rich history!
They sang " The Eyes of Texas"
My parents were regulars. Both loved to hang out in the bar up front and people watch. The ballroom at the end of the pier was amazing! I was lucky enough to see a concert in the ballroom a month before Ike. Seeing it smashed to bits and the rubble piled along the Seawall was both surreal and tragic. Truly irreplaceable.
Yes, I had dinner once at the Balinese Room. Back in 1957 I saw Will Wilson taking out all the gambling equipment and loading it onto trucks. It was then, the trucks were driven onto the Ferry and about mid way to Bolivar, they were all dumped into Galveston Bay. A very sad day for Galveston!!!
Yes I did !! During the Lone Star Motorcycle Rally November 5 2005. There is So much History in this place with all the pictures hanging on the walls of the old Hollywood stars and VIPs that visited.They had a live band and their last song was a cover of Sleepwalk by Johnny and Santos. Man let me tell you I’ll never forget it.
I lived just a few blocks away use to go see the bands at night and surfed the pier during the day, had a great little break on the right side.
I did get the chance to go to the Balinese. 2005 CV had a class reunion there. So, glad I attended that function.
Yes, I did! Thank God, I had the esteemed pleasure of doing so back in the late 70's!
Yes we did we had some fabulous times there. We meet Mr. Scott Arnold and enjoy the history and the ghost stories...........Loved it and Miss it. All that history about Peggy Lee, and the bartender who invented the Frozen Margarita there at the Balaniese.
wow your so right there ....
Yes I worked for Johnny Mitchell singing in the back room as well as running the D J both when disco came out , when Mr Arnold had it my band played on the big stage with me doing my Tina Turner show I have a lot of history with the Mitchell's.
When I lived in Galveston, I went to the Balinese Room. I don't remember what was in the front (probably a souvenir shop?) but somewhere along the pier there was a cute little occult or new age shop (it was only there for a year or two, if that long) and I bought a fabulous little mirror encrusted with amethyst crystals.
Hey man, I played in the Joe Reichman band for the re- opening of the room in 1966. The gig lasted about three month’s. We had two shows a night with dance music played between shows.
Was able to go in late 90s to check it out. Was with a friend who wanted to purchase at the time.
went to a dinner theatre show there in the mid seventies, great place the food was very salty
Lived in GTown for a long time but never got to go in. Really wish I had.
Yes I went once for a private party and it was fabulous! I hate that Hurricane Ike destroyed it! It is such a historical part of Galveston! Perhaps someday it will be rebuilt! ❤🥂🍾🎷🎺🎹🎤
I actually got to sing there one night,it was a blast,😎
My father was a cook at the Balinese.
I've been there!! Late 70s
That is not a picture of the Balinese Room's casino.
yes i went there and i work for scott in the granit room / VooDoo Loung....scott was and steel is a fun friend but seens then iv moved to montana.
seens then?
No, I never went there, although I would like to use this film in a Balinese Room exhibit!
Jennifer Wycoff where did you have an exhibit ?
My dad took me there for dinner
Yes before Ike.
Stood on the stage 2001
I say build back where it was and dare the state to move against it with what got built back after IKE it needs to be done
No I did not. Wish I had though.
My connections to the Balinese Room.
My mother was a dealers there during WWII.
Yes, they used young women as well as men to run the tables.
The criteria for selection the women was based on three things. First, their reputations must be beyond reproach. Second, (most important) they had to have beautiful hands. Third, attractive. Once chosen, they were then taught the art of card dealing.
In the mid 1960's, she was in Vegas playing “21" in the Desert Inn. She was sitting at the table for only about 15 mins. A very well dressed security man came asking her to come with him. She was taken to the office. The manager greeted her warming. Surprised, she asked how he knew she was there. He took her to the security room. He show her the cameras. He was alerted of a women working the cards as a professional at a table. After all those years, the moment he saw her hands, he knew who it was.
He was the assistant manager of the Balinese Room at the time she worked there.
As for myself, in the late 1960's I worked there during the Summers.
I've been there twice.