Jolly Time Dance Club.Written by SogipoDuring the 1930's there was hardly enough money for bare necessities, let alone entertainment. The depression had not yet loosened it's grip on the country, and many heads of households were out of work or on government programs. Most families had to find their own means of relaxation or join with other families to do so. One such endeavor became the week-end responsibility of the Jolly Time Dance Club. This family-oriented organization held dances each Saturday Night year round in the upstairs room of the Amberg, Wis. town hall. This large room boasted hardwood flooring with a stage in the front and a small room off to one side that could be used as a dressing room when three-act plays were presented. Tall windows faced north, south, east and west; a wood-burning stove was situated just inside the upstairs door, and wooden benches, complete with backs for comfort, lined the walls. From babies to grandparents, residents began arriving before the 7pm opening, and stayed until closing at 1am when the band played "Goodnight Ladies" the dancers were expected to leave the premises. All too often though, clapping and stomping compelled the band to play "just one more". The dances were circle two-steps, broom dances (where one of the men tapped another on the shoulder, handed him the broom and danced away with his partner), square dances, polkas, and the ever popular waltzes. One of the dancers always got so carried away, leaping in time to the fast music that the dance was dubbed the "flea hop". Age groups were never isolated from one another, parents, grandparents, teenagers and young children enjoyed joining in the fun together, whether they were 8 or 80. Tickets to the dances cost only 10cents, and lunch was provided for 15 cents. Each week a committee was appointed to take charge of the evening’s preparations. Even the teenagers were included in this work. Two girls or ladies were appointed to prepare the lunch of sandwiches and coffee. They were also to go to the hall in the morning and build a fire, sweep the floor, dust the benches and set up the coffee pot and table for lunch. A dusting of cornmeal was used to help propel dancers around the floor. Laden with dust cloths, brooms, paper, kindling and lunch materials, the committee of two climbed the stairs in plenty of time to get the room ready for the festivities. A few minutes before 7pm, the band, seated on the miniature stage, began to warm up. Bill Huffman played his violin, Guy Monroe, the banjo, Art Morse, piano. Harry White, the drums. Dean Monroe, guitar and Ralph Hoyt, saxophone. All either were self-taught or had been instructed by a family member with musical talent. Waltzes, polkas, two-steps and square dances rocked the floor of the OLS Hall when the band began to play. At 10:30 or 11:00, the weary musicians called a halt for an intermission. This was also time for lunch, and everyone flocked around the table with their money for sandwiches and coffee. After a short interval the musicians again climbed onto the stage for the final hours of the dance, and at 1am tried to offer the finale, “Goodnight Ladies”, sometimes they were successful, but just as often they were not. By this time most of the babies and young children were stretched out on the benches, sleeping soundly inspite of all the noise and movement around them. Parents gathered their broods for the long walk down the stairs and the trek home. The following day the committee again climbed the stairs to do the cleanup, gathering and washing silverware and cups, sweeping the cornmeal from the floor and straightening the benches. Their work was over for the present. The following week a new committee would take over. As the depression receded into history, cars became more available and young people left to work in the cities. The Jolly Time Dance Club, along with many other community activities, became history, but the grand times that were offered at these Saturday Night outings will never be forgotten. (Reprinted by permission from the May 2004 issue of Good Old Days Specials Magazine, House of White Birches, Publisher, Bernie, IND 46711) 
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