The Balinese Room is gone. Many famous people graced their presence there. The building had a rich history, especially during prohibition.
The Balinese Room was fabulous: air conditioning, casino gambling, superb food and drinks, and stellar entertainment. The Maceos booked top stars at the Balinese Room. Headliners included Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Groucho Marx, Jack Benny, George Burns and Gracie Allen, Duke Ellington, Mel Torme, Jayne Mansfield and Gene Autry. Also appearing were Sophie Tucker, Joe E. Lewis, the Ritz Brothers, Peggy Lee, Marjorie Reynolds, Phil Harris, Guy Lombardo, Ted Mack, and Jimmy Dorsey. ZZ Top wrote the famous song “Balinese†in 1973: “And everybody knows, it was down at the Balinese.â€
Here is the history
History of the Balinese Room.
Here is an old postcard. The Balinese Room is the long pier in the back. (You can also see the Galvez Hotel in the back, which still stands. The pier in the front is where the current Flagship Hotel stands)
Here is a letter just sent out from the owner today;
THE PASSING OF THE BALINESE ROOM PIER, GALVESTON TX
Dear friends :
As I am sure you know, the Balinese Room Pier was completely destroyed by Hurricane Ike on Saturday, September 13, 2008. Her remains were located mostly on Seawall Boulevard, mixed with the wreckage of the neighboring Murdoch’s and Hooter’s piers, in a pile of debris as wide as the Seawall and stretching for several blocks.
I have received dozens of emails, texts and phone calls expressing heartfelt condolences. So many people have taken this as a personal loss, as of course, it is.
Thank all of you for your kind thoughts and wishes.
One particularly eloquent email was received from Casey Smith, and I think it expresses so well what I have heard from so many of you:
I am so sorry for what has happened. I have been to the Balinese Room many, many times and you have always made me feel welcome. I went to the Balinese Room right after you opened and have watched you rebuild and make it a beautiful place. Only those who walked the Balinese Room will ever know what it was like and how it made us feel, as if we were in a different time and as if we were in the presence of all those who have entertained and visited years ago. My heart goes out to you for believing in the Balinese Room. We will never forget the Balinese Room.
Sincerely,
Casey Smith
Gun Barrel City, Texas
Thanks to Casey and each of you.
Luckily, there is some insurance in place which will help mitigate the financial loss. Of course, we remain at the mercy of the insurance companies and hopefully they will be fair.
I do retain the rights to rebuild at the site. Economically, that is impossible but I will entertain realistic proposals from serious investors.
Luckily, I have retained copies of many of the photos and other framed artifacts formerly located at the Balinese. A Texas Historical Commission representative is currently sifting the wreckage for any remaining architectural salvage. I am contemplating re-creating a much smaller Balinese Room themed club and “museum†at a building I own on Market Street near the Strand, or at some other location.
Our email is balineseroom@sbcglobal.net. Please feel free to email us personal pictures, stories, etc from the Balinese. I want to continue to archive the history of the Balinese, and help preserve the legend for the future. I would particularly like to hear from any eyewitnesses to the actual slide into the ocean. My phone is 713 227 6653.
We have heard that there was some removal of artifacts from the debris. If you know of anything that was recovered, please let us know. The City of Galveston has been helpful in protecting these items. You may also contact Lori Schwarz with the City at shwarzlor@cityof galveston if you know of any such removal.
Googling “balinese room ike†will yield many links to national, international and local news coverage about the Pier and its destruction. There is a nice story by National Public Radio at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94729672 CNN, Geraldo Rivera and others have shared the Balinese Room story with the whole country.
As Casey Smith reminds us “we will never forget the Balinese Room†Please be assured that , with your help, the story of the Balinese will live on.
Sincerely,
Scott Arnold
Owner
Balinese Room
The Famous Balinese Room of Galveston Was Destroyed by Ike