Rene Torres
By Rene Torres
Valley Heritage
Rene Torres is a retired assistant professor at the University of Texas-Brownsville and Texas Southmost College. He has a long-standing history in the Rio Grande Valley as an educator, sports historian, and humanitarian, with extensive community service to his name.
While the Great Depression presented numerous concerns, it also sparked a new craze, marathon dancing.
Marathon dancing gained popularity in the United States during the Roaring Twenties as the Jazz Age became a media sensation and a small industry, earning some money during the dark days of the Great Depression, even though most contestants went home with only pennies tossed at them by spectators.
Marathon Dance in the Rio Grande Valley
In June 1930, near the Arroyo Colorado Bridge, the popularity of dance contests reached its peak.
Some dancers had to perform a specific move, like the Charleston, for the entire duration. Others simply stayed upright with their feet constantly moving and knees never touching the floor. Dancers were permitted a 50-minute rest or sleep break every 45 minutes of dancing.
It was a Thursday night when the local stage at the Arroyo hosted a huge endurance dance contest. Many Valley swingers took the floor right at 8 p.m. for a chance to win $1,000 in prizes. It was a day-and-night event.
The participates
The contest was open only to “reputable” dancing couples and “whites.” To enter, contestants were asked to visit the dance pavilion between 7 and 10:30 p.m. on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
The Casino Park Dance Pavilion on the San Benito-Harlingen Highway was open for public dancing and entertainment every day. Admission was 50 cents from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., and 25 cents from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
You could also enjoy the entertainment on the radio. KRGV was there to broadcast live every night from 10 to 10:30 p.m.
Valley contestants, if they weren’t on the winning stage, also took advantage of free meals since some venues served food throughout the night. A free meal during tough times was always appreciated.
One last note: According to the History Link Essay, “In truth, the marathons were usually somewhat rigged, or at least stacked, toward certain couples. Endurance was required, and the contest’s demands grew increasingly brutal over time. The audience failed to understand the extent to which the floor judge and the emcee, both employed by the marathon promoter, worked together to shape events and spin the flim-flam.”
Recent Comments