New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1926-09-03
new TYPE DANCE
HALL is FOUND
Volunteer ChaperoneS Make APP
pearance in Chicago

Chicago, Sept Up - Luxurious
public bathrooms, entertaining
amusement seekers who decade
ago would have viewed a public
dance with elevated brows, have be-
come In the last five years notable
part OF Chicago's recreation facitli.
ties. 49,.
The success of such ventures as
are typified here in the Trianon and
Aragon bathrooms and a dozen SINH
lar dance palaces is attributed by
managers to self-imposed restric-
tons which have removed the stig-
ma from the public dance hall and
have forestalled city regulation with
its UNIV elcome element of police sup
ervision.
Managers agree that the biggest
factor in popularizing dancing has
been the chaperone system sponsored
by them with the aid at first of the
Juvenile Protective association, a
group of Chicago women.
voluntary Action
An Italian fruit dealer complain
ed In 1921 that a neighborhood
dance hall kept him awake, and Mrs.
Elizabeth Crandall of the protective
association suggested that the man.
ayers remedy conditions themselves
before the city stepped in. Out OF
the meeting came the National Ball
room association with Mrs. Crandall
as secretary.
what can we do to make our
dance halls more respectable" the
managers asked. and a group OF
women studied the problem and
made a report.
speed up your music" was the
first suggestion.
Within "a hours every orchestra in
the ballroom group had doubled the
tempo Of its melodies. The toddle,
the shimmy and kindred slow synco-
pated motions were impossible at the
brisk pace tho music set, and the
managers found most of the bad
dancing eliminated.
Tact Replace Bouncers
The chaperone system suggested
itself as an outgrowth of the host
ess devices employed during the
war In army cmaps. TIL echaperones
agreed at the outset that their meth
DDS must be tactful and not arbl-
trary.
The league of chaperones now
known as hostesses have worked out
plans of lance hall government by
which chronic. offenders are made
unwelcome at all the bathrooms
Young people are urged to attend In
groups, and thousands do. But
strangers may meet young men and
women. introduced by the hostess TO
dance with them for the evening.
Some Examples
Lately a youth entered a dance
hall with a bullying hip. The chaper-
one did rot call police nor the man.
ager, but slipped up to the young
man and whispered: Let me take
that bottle" He surrendered 1t
sheepishly.
'.Did you throw It away" he ask
ed her few moments later.
NO" she answered. you'll find
il checked with your wraps. I'm not
q. prohibition officer I'm just keep
ing this dance hall straight"
\ young girl came to ballroom
under alcoholic influence. The chap
erone took her arm and said quietly
Come on dear. were going home. :
The girl accompanied her to taxi
cab with some misgivings, admitting
presently that she feared to go home
intoxicated. The hostess sheltered
the girl for the night in her own
room, phoning her mother that she
would not be home.
You're a good scout" the erring
maid told her. She comes often to
the dance hall, and since that night
has conducted herself flawlessly.
Women Of the Juvenile Protective
association call the bathrooms re-
clamation 'the most important piece
OF social work ever done in Chica-
90.
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