Home | Virginia Beach History | John Wareing Monument | Princess Anne Country Club | Virginia Beach Convention Center | Association for Research & Enlightenment | The Cavalier | Cavalier Beach Club | Recreation & Leisure | 31 Ocean | Ocean Beach Club | Wyndham Virginia Beach Oceanfront | Contact
Cavalier Beach Club
The Cavalier Beach Club is the perfect place for ballroom dancing.
|
On Memorial Day in 1929, the Cavalier Beach Club opened for the first time, to the music of the McFarland Twins, the former saxophonists of the Fred Waring Orchestra. The club was the forerunner of all beach clubs, and none of those that followed ever overtook it or even kept pace with it. For the next three decades, The Cavalier was the largest hirer of big bands in the world. Every major big band of the time played here including: Sammy Kaye, Les Brown, Benny Goodman, Vaughn Monroe, Cab Calloway, Harry James, Jimmy Dorsey, Woody Herman, Artie Shaw, Lawrence Welk, and Glen Miller. Buddy Rodgers would play, while his wife Ginger Rogers watched from the audience. Bing Crosby also performed at the Cavalier when he was one of the Rhythm Boys. One of the worst hurricanes in Virginia Beach history tore through the Cavalier Beach Club in 1933. It was rebuilt quickly, and the dancing continued.
The back of the Cavalier Beach Club. Notice the stage in the center of the dance floor is perfect for musicians to entertain the dancers in-season.
|
The entrance into the Cavalier Beach Club. Notice that there is an indoor ballroom for the winter months as well as a convention center inside the building.
|
