Weekly attendance regularly topped 18,000 during the 20's, 30's, and 40's. Men were obligated to wear jackets and ties. Attire for women was semi-formal evening wear. Smoking was prohibited on the second floor and tuxedoed floorwalkers prevented close dancing or jitterbugging. It was the place in Chicago to meet single men and women.
Many couples meet for the first time at the Aragon later to be married.
Acts like Frank Sinatra, Lawrence Welk, Tommy Dorsey, Glenn Miller, Guy Lombardo, Dick Jurgens, Harry James, Xavier Cugat, Eddy Duchin, Carmen Cavallaro, Kay Kyser, George Olsen, Benny Goodman, Sammy Kaye, Art Kassel, Artie Shaw, Ted Fio Rito, Jan Garber, Frankie Masters, Russ Morgan, Orrin Tucker, Griff Williams, Ben Bernie, Tommy Tucker, Abe Lyman, Henry King, Bernie Cummins, Shep Fields, Gus Arnheim, Ted Weems, Eddy Howard, Wayne King and many more frequented the Aragon. Eras have a way of ending. By 1955 an era in which an estimated 50 million people had danced at the Aragon to the very best of America s orchestras was in decline. They danced through Prohibition and danced during the Depression. They danced when World War II was over.