In this special episode, Rebecca Archer - a UH graduate student in Art History - tells the story of the Eldorado Ballroom, Houston’s “Home of Happy Feet.” Established in 1939 by Anna Dupree, this historic, black-owned music venue in the Third Ward launched the careers of many entertainers and featured some of the greatest acts of the 20th century. 

This episode was researched, recorded, and produced by Rebecca Archer for the Center for Public History at the University of Houston.

To learn more: 

Cutler, Leigh. 2006. “Eldorado Ballroom.” Houston History Magazine 4.1. https://houstonhistorymagazine.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/eldorado-ballroom.pdf

"Eldorado Ballroom." Texas State Historical Association Handbook of Texas. https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/eldorado-ballroom

"The Historic Eldorado Ballroom." Project Row Houses. https://projectrowhouses.org/space-rental

Govenar, A.B. 1990. The Early Years of Rhythm and Blues: Focus on Houston. Rice University Press.

Wood, R. and Fraher, J. 2003. Down in Houston: Bayou City Blues. University of Texas Press.

Oral Histories from the Houston History Project (Special Collections, UH Libraries):

Attwell, Ernie. Nov. 12, 2004. https://digital.lib.uh.edu/collection/houhistory/item/570/show/569

Brown, Hazel Jewel. Feb. 22, 2013. https://digital.lib.uh.edu/collection/houhistory/item/1623/show/1622. 

Burney, Zinetta. July 14, 2006. https://digital.lib.uh.edu/collection/houhistory/item/173/show/172. 

Music provided by:

Digital History:
“That Thing Called Love” Performed by Mamie Smith
“You Can’t Do What My Last Man Did” performed by Ethel Waters
Public Domain

Free Music Archive:
“Wooden Championships” and “Old River Boat” by Lobo Loco
CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

“Snake Rag” performed by King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band 
“Memphis Tennessee” performed by The Gulf Coast Seven 
“Strut Miss Lizzie” performed by Mary Stafford and her Jazz Band 
Public Domain

The Center for Public History at the University of Houston. https://uh.edu/class/cph