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| From the Gowanda PennySaver News "Reflections" series compiled by Mary Pankow. issue date - August 7, 2005 |
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Dance Band, circa 1930 - Throughout the “Roaring Twenties” and into the early 1930s, dance music thrived as improvements in recording techniques and radio broadcasts from the nation’s leading hotels and ballrooms brought the sounds of live entertainment into the home. For 25 cents, you could dance to the music of Al W. Lay and his 10-Piece Orchestra every Wednesday evening from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the Legion Memorial Hall in Gowanda. Their dance poster described the hall as “One of the Largest and Best Dance Floors in South-western New York" with superb - Entrancing Dance Rhythms.” This photo shows the Lay band with 11 members, presumably featuring a female vocalist. The banjo and guitar player was Burnell E. Staffin (1909-1991) of Gowanda, shown in the accompanying publicity photo. The Legion Hall also served “Fish Fry - Beer and Refreshments” with free dancing every Saturday night from 9:30 p.m. until 2 a.m. (Photos from the Burton Staffin collection, courtesy of the Gowanda Area Historical Society) Anyone with information on this orchestra is asked to call Gowanda Historian Phil Palen at 716-532-4064.
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